In the world of startups, we often hear about “founders” after the spotlight hits — when products go viral or funding rounds close. But there’s another kind of story — the kind still in the making. I’m Hakem Alhumaidi, and alongside my brother Fahad Alhumaidi, I co-founded Kuwait Mart. We're still building. We're not there yet. But this is our story — or at least a piece of it. Hakem Alhumaidi Fahad Alhumaidi Kuwait Mart It’s a story of two brothers who decided to build something meaningful, from scratch, with no funding, no team, and no guarantees — just shared belief. A Vision We Shaped Together A Vision We Shaped Together From the very beginning, Fahad wasn’t just “the tech guy.” He was in every conversation, every decision, every whiteboard sketch. We shaped the concept together, debated priorities, explored long-term goals — and when it was time to build, we built. Yes, Fahad wrote the code.But he also shaped the direction.He made the technical decisions that defined our infrastructure, our flow, and our ability to scale. He wasn’t implementing my idea — he was building our vision. my our The Weight of Building Without a Safety Net The Weight of Building Without a Safety Net In a startup, there’s no one else to blame.When things break, you fix them.When things get stuck, you figure them out. We were just two people, often alone, trying to make something work.While I focused on the business side — partnerships, logistics, planning — Fahad was building the system that made it all possible. That didn’t mean we were working in silos.We shared every challenge.And when something failed, we both faced it — together. The Loneliness of Building From Scratch The Loneliness of Building From Scratch People rarely talk about how lonely building a startup can feel. You're writing code that no one may see.You're fixing bugs no one understands.You're staying up late, solving problems that shouldn't exist — just to keep the dream alive. There were nights when things didn’t work.When it felt like we were stuck.When it felt like no one believed in what we were doing. But Fahad kept showing up.Not just as a developer, but as a co-founder — with discipline, clarity, and quiet strength. That’s not something you hire.That’s something you’re born with — or build through fire. Kuwait Mart is Still Growing — And So Are We Kuwait Mart is Still Growing — And So Are We We haven’t “made it.”There’s no big team, no media coverage, no grand launch party.But we have something far more important — trust. Kuwait Mart continues to grow, evolve, and improve.And everything it is today — and everything it will be tomorrow — carries Fahad’s fingerprints. To Fahad Alhumaidi:You didn’t just write the code.You carried the weight.You brought our shared vision to life — and you never let it go. Fahad Alhumaidi Written by Hakem Alhumaidi, Co-founder of Kuwait Mart — in gratitude to my brother, my partner, and the builder who believed when no one else did. Written by Hakem Alhumaidi, Co-founder of Kuwait Mart — in gratitude to my brother, my partner, and the builder who believed when no one else did.

The is an opinion piece based on the author’s POV and does not necessarily reflect the views of HackerNoon.

When Code Becomes Family: Building a Startup With My Brother From Scratch

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