That’s about how long the average startup journey lasts—from founding to exit, acquisition, or sometimes… letting go.

Not early enough to feel the high of “just getting started.” Not late enough to see the finish line. Right in the messy middle—the part most people don’t talk about.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Optimism isn’t naïve. It’s a strategy.

When you stay on the path—consistently, patiently, and with the right intent—things have a strange way of aligning.

Of course, some days feel like waves crashing harder than we imagined. Product-market fit feels just out of reach. Investors say, “Maybe next quarter.” A key hire quits.

But just like in surfing, the goal isn’t to avoid the waves. It’s to stay on them.

And every time you ride one through—no matter how shaky—it builds your founder muscle. The one that whispers: You’ve got this. Stay the course.

In a world where seed funding is tightening and AI is rewriting the rules weekly, the real advantage isn't always tech. It’s tenacity. It’s emotional endurance.

So if you're in the middle of your 1095-day journey—maybe day 383 like me—here’s my ask:

What keeps you on the wave? What gives you the strength not to pivot… but to persist?

Let’s talk about that more.

Because I believe that in this market, the founders who endure—intentionally—are the ones who win.