YC vs Bootstrapping to $1M ARR, Kathryn Cross (Anja Health( and Rajya Atluri (Coral AI)

Dec 19, 2025

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Kathryn Cross, founder of Anja Health, and Rajya Atluri, founder of Coral AI join The Luba Show to share their unique startup journeys and insights. One has raised over 6M in funding, while the other bootstrapped her company to 1M ARR. We discuss imposter syndrome, why they think it's overrated, and how keeping a positive mindset can open up many opportunities. We compare notes on bootstrapping vs raising venture, the importance of having a supportive network, and how female friendships have played a key role in their journeys.

In this episode, we dive deep into:

→ Why they believe imposter syndrome is fake
→ The "have you raised?" trap: How bootstrapped founders get dismissed despite having more revenue
→ Stepping away from a profitable YC company and why investor pressure was actually self-imposed
→ Being unapologetically girly in tech: The "strive to be a 7" advice and why they ignore it
→ Lucky girl syndrome: How believing you'll be lucky actually makes you lucky
→ Bootstrapped to $1M ARR vs. raising millions—which path is actually better?

…and much more

Timestamps
(00:00) Intro
(00:56) Meet the Founders: Kathryn and Rajya
(01:17) Dealing with Uncertainty in Startups
(02:49) Therapy and Startups
(05:40) The Startup Journey: From College to Launch House
(10:33) Bootstrapping vs. Raising VC
(20:06) The Role of Female Friendships in Their Lives
(21:57) Imposter Syndrome Revisited
(31:03) Choosing Positive Narratives
(32:02) The Drive to Build Again
(33:36) Motivations and Interests
(34:07) The Intersection of Social Apps and Dating
(34:51) The Joy of Creating and Founding
(37:41) The Reality of Fundraising
(40:20) Co-Founder Dynamics
(42:51) Balancing Personal Identity and Startups
(58:56) The Pressure of Raising Capital
(1:09:35) Embracing Individuality and Attention
(1:10:09) Women in Tech: Community and Connections
(1:12:26) The YC Experience and Startup Culture
(1:15:39) Living and Building in Different Cities
(1:30:21) Influential Founders and Role Models
(1:37:45) Reflecting on Personal Values and Friendships
(1:41:36) The Importance of EQ and Marketing in Tech
(1:44:11) Ending

Links

Kathryn Cross
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-cross/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathrynjcross/
X: https://x.com/kathrynjc7

Rajya Atluri
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajyaatluri/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rajyaatluri/

Luba Yudasina

Instagram: https://instagram.com/lifeoflubaa

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/yudasinal
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/lifeofluba
X: https://x.com/lubayudasina