This is just an observation. I am just pausing the review process of the application, when I realized that going from a two member situation into a growing community has its own bumpy road. When you do this for the first time, you don't have anything to compare it with.
But now I see the foundation forming and strengthening. Because, I went from I to we, and then forming the actual process that makes applying for grants suddenly credible. Upskilling in a way that fits everyone's schedule.
I also noticed that it took an insanely long time for me to post in groups on Discord especially about AI. Having your own product goals helps with filtering. From wrestling through fake profiles, finding the real ones. Yes, a part was showing up, but I argue that openness creates slow forming trust. Where, you receive ridicule first, then they realise that a person has something to say and ask.
Helping others first.
From the main project; we also work on a professional project. What was an abstract innovative idea became suddenly something to be proud of. I find it always a good sign when I love to open an app. It means that it has value and meaning. Not just technical flows.
They say what you represent attracts. That's true. More and more people seem to find something meaningful in the conversations and the unusual interactions.
The informal onboarding process of volunteer/collaborators is fun. No stress. Broken connections; picked up conversations. Quite human-like interactions. Resumes ceased to be about selection; they became just a stepping stone for exploration and a cheat sheet for conversations.
Someday in the future I will give birth to the first swarm company in this world. Why? Because, I like it that way and to get it, is to build the infrastructure for it. Slowly as a growing flock of people collaborating.