From Solo Founder to 9-Figure Exit: Anna Skaya on the Truth Behind Startup Success

The Headlines Don’t Tell the Whole Story

When Anna Skaya announced the acquisition of her company, Basepaws by Zoetis, the headlines read like a founder’s dream: a 9-figure cash exit, a category-defining product, and an inspiring journey from solo founder to industry innovator.

But as Anna openly shares in this interview, what didn’t make the press release was far more important — and far more human.

An Unfiltered Look at the Startup Journey

Basepaws wasn’t an overnight success. It was an eight-year grind. Built as a “23andMe for cats,” the company pioneered the first at-home DNA test for feline health. Anna started with a clear vision and very few resources.

“I was always raising,” she says. “Some form of fundraising vehicle was open for eight years straight. It wasn’t a clean Series A, Series B journey like you read about. It was constant.”

That pressure was magnified by early decisions, like raising money from close friends, and the emotional weight of firing a co-founder within the first year. The result was a cocktail of pressure, pride, fear, and resilience.

The Emotional Cost of Building Alone

While solo founding gave Anna full ownership of the company’s direction — and ultimately, a larger piece of the exit — she’s candid about the toll it took.

“It’s really lonely on top,” she shares. “You make thousands of decisions alone. And while you keep all the equity, you carry all the weight.”

She reflects on the experience of constantly proving herself as a woman, as a solo founder, and as a disruptor in a space with very few exits. That pressure, while motivating, also took a toll on her mental health.

“I didn’t believe in work-life balance. I thought that if you were running a company, you shouldn’t have one.”

The Value of Coaching: What She Wishes She Knew

Reflecting on her journey, Anna admitted that having a coach would have made a huge difference, both during her time as a founder and after her exit. 

“I never did any of it. I simply didn't prioritize it because the pressure was so high. I wish I had listened to the signs and integrated them earlier. I simply didn’t. I didn't have a work-life balance that was balanced, and I didn't believe in it. I thought if you’re running a company, you shouldn’t have one.”

Without the constant demands of running a company, she found herself questioning who she was beyond the title. 

“I identify very much with my job. So failing at the job, in our world, maybe our parents didn't have so much at stake, for me and my friends around me, our work is who we are, very often. So failing at the job is in some ways failing as a person.”

After the Exit: A New Kind of Challenge

Post-acquisition life has brought a different kind of reckoning.

“There’s this idea that after the exit, you’re on top of the world. But what no one talks about is that your inbox goes quiet. Your calendar clears. And if your identity was your business, you’re left wondering who you are.”

For the first time, Anna found herself exploring things she’d never had time for — like cooking, decorating, and self-reflection. She started working with a therapist. She began breathing exercises. And she allowed herself to ask: What do I actually like outside of work?

The Future of Pet Health — and Female Founders

Despite the personal intensity of her journey, Anna remains deeply passionate about the pet health space.

“It’s a space full of emotion and resilience. People start these companies because they’ve lost a pet or want to improve pet health. It’s incredibly personal. But exits are rare. There are too few acquirers, and too many startups.”

She also continues to advocate for more visibility and support for women in entrepreneurship. While she acknowledges the increasing VC interest in female founders, she’s honest about the uphill battle.

“In a group of 70+ post-exit founders, I was one of three women. That has to change.”

Lessons Worth Sharing

Anna’s story offers more than just inspiration — it’s a mirror for any founder navigating the intense emotional and operational complexity of building something meaningful.

Her advice?

• Don’t glamorize the process — expect it to be hard.
• Don’t raise from friends unless you’re prepared for the emotional pressure.
• Don’t go it alone if you don’t have to.
• And don’t forget who you are beyond the company.

Because while the outcome may be celebrated publicly, it’s the process — raw, painful, and deeply personal — that truly shapes who you become.

🎥 Watch the whole interview on our YouTube channel.