u/Crenshaw99

I'm AuDHD. Like a lot of us, I eventually hit a wall with traditional jobs. The masking, the sensory overload, and trying to fit into environments that were never designed for my brain became harder than the work itself.

I started building my own app instead. It began as something I needed, and over time I realized there are a lot of neurodivergent people building products, art, and businesses from lived experience.

One thing I've learned is that building is only part of it. If you're trying to crowdfund, you still have to find your own supporters and tell people why your work matters. That can be difficult when self promotion is the part that drains you the most.

Because of that, I recently started the Neurodivergent Builders Fund on Artizen. It's a community fund for neurodivergent creators building products, creative work, and accessibility tools. Artizen uses matching funds to help projects raise more, but founders still have to build their own community and bring people along. I liked that it didn't pretend there was a shortcut.

I mainly wanted to share this because I know there are people here quietly building things who may not realize opportunities like this exist.

Has anyone else here found that creating your own work has been a better fit than traditional employment?

I'm AuDHD. Like a lot of us, I eventually hit a wall with traditional jobs. The masking, the sensory overload, and trying to fit into environments that were never designed for my brain became harder than the work itself.

I started building my own app instead. It began as something I needed, and over time I realized there are a lot of neurodivergent people building products, art, and businesses from lived experience.

One thing I've learned is that building is only part of it. If you're trying to crowdfund, you still have to find your own supporters and tell people why your work matters. That can be difficult when self promotion is the part that drains you the most.

Because of that, I recently started the Neurodivergent Builders Fund on Artizen. It's a community fund for neurodivergent creators building products, creative work, and accessibility tools. Artizen uses matching funds to help projects raise more, but founders still have to build their own community and bring people along. I liked that it didn't pretend there was a shortcut.

I mainly wanted to share this because I know there are people here quietly building things who may not realize opportunities like this exist.

Has anyone else here found that creating your own work has been a better fit than traditional employment?

Anyone else crowdfunding the app they’re building? I’ve been using Artizen and have raised about $5,000 so far. Curious what platforms others are using and how your experience has been.