The Reality of Being a Young Tech CEO in Silicon Oasis

By : Kelvin Tran , Co-Founder of Solisa AI & Silicon Oasis Ambassador Being a CEO at 23 isn’t glamorous. When we started Solisa AI , my co-founder Evan Barnes and I weren’t building from a shiny office or with a big support team. We were sitting on painter stools in a half-finished room we called our office — working through the night until sunrise, eyes bloodshot, running on hope and hustle. We didn’t leave that space for months. I was still working full-time and carrying a full computer science course load. We were coding, designing, pitching — anything to keep moving forward. There were moments I wanted to drop out. Moments I felt like a kid trying to lead people twice my age. Moments I questioned every decision I made. But I didn’t stop. Not because I had all the answers, but because I knew what we were building mattered — and I knew why I was doing it. Leadership isn’t flashy. It’s not hype or headlines. It’s heavy. It’s quiet. It’s waking up to problems no one else sees and choosing to carry them anyway. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Kelvin Tran is the founder and CEO of Solisa AI , an AI startup focused on the insurance-lead industry that is based in Arizona. He is also a proud ambassador for Silicon Oasis , helping unite the next generation of Arizona founders.

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