A2 · Elementary · Work · 150 words · ~2 min read

🚀 Interview with a Startup Founder

Language focus: Present Perfect & Past Simple · achievements

Before you read

An interview about achievements is the natural home of the present perfect, and this story pairs it constantly with the past simple. The rule is the same one you have been practising: stated time, past simple; open time, present perfect.

Today, a journalist is interviewing Aisha, a young founder who has built a successful tech startup. “How did you begin?” the journalist asks.

“Two years ago, I came up with a simple idea in my bedroom,” Aisha says. “I set up the company with one laptop and a lot of energy.”

“The business has grown quickly,” she explains. “We have hired twelve people, and our app has taken off all around the world.”

“My advice? Be patient and never give up,” she smiles. The journalist thanks her and writes down her inspiring words.

Aisha has raised money from two investors, and she has been working seven days a week since the launch. The company has become the fastest-growing startup in her city.

She has not taken a proper holiday yet. “Next year I am going to hire a manager,” she says, “and then I will finally take three weeks off.”

Key vocabulary (8 words)

foundernoun: A person who starts a company or organisation.
startupnoun: A new, usually small, company.
journalistnoun: A person who writes news for papers, TV or websites.
investornoun: A person who puts money into a business to make a profit.
appnoun: A program you use on a phone or computer.
successnoun: The achieving of a goal you wanted.
patientadjective: Able to wait calmly without getting annoyed.
energynoun: The strength and enthusiasm to do things.

Phrasal verbs in this story

set up — To set up a company means to start or establish it.
take off — To take off means to suddenly become very successful.
come up with — To come up with means to think of an idea or plan.

The grammar in this story

Present perfect for the record so far

“a young founder who has built a successful startup”, “The business has grown quickly”, “We have hired twelve people”, “our app has taken off”. None of these names a date, because the point is the result that exists today. This is the tense of CVs, profiles and interviews.

Past simple once a time is given

“Two years ago, I came up with a simple idea.” “I set up the company with one laptop.” The moment two years ago appears, the past simple is compulsory. Notice how the journalist’s question also uses it: How did you begin?

Superlatives with the

“the fastest-growing startup in her city”. Superlatives almost always take the in English: the biggest, the most successful. Short adjectives add -est; longer ones take most. Note the hyphen in a compound like fastest-growing.

set up, take off, come up with

Set up = establish or found. Take off = become suddenly successful (also what a plane does). Come up with = think of an idea. The last is a three-part phrasal verb and none of the three words can be dropped or reordered.

Phrases you can reuse today

I set up the company two years ago.: Past simple with a stated time.
We have hired twelve people.: Present perfect for the record so far.
How did you come up with the idea?: Come up with = think of. Note did plus base verb.
The app has really taken off.: Take off = become successful quickly.

Comprehension quiz

Who is the journalist interviewing?
- A startup founder
- A football player
- A teacher
Show answer
A startup founder
When did Aisha start her idea?
- Ten years ago
- Two years ago
- Last week
Show answer
Two years ago
She ___ the company with one laptop.
- set up
- closed
- sold
Show answer
set up
How many people has she hired?
- Two
- Twelve
- Twenty
Show answer
Twelve
Her app has ___ around the world.
- taken off
- broken down
- run out
Show answer
taken off
“Come up with” means to…
- think of an idea
- give up
- arrive late
Show answer
think of an idea

Now use it yourself

Reading builds recognition; writing your own sentences is what turns it into something you can actually say. Three short tasks:

Write four things you have achieved, with no stated time.
Now add a date to two of them. Which tense do you need?
What idea have you come up with recently? Describe it in two sentences.