Thousands of headlines flood your feeds every day, making it easy for founders to drive noise with funding rounds, product launches, and the latest unicorns. That’s why we should be aware of those voices that have overcome the hype.
One of them is Alex Turnbull, founder of Groove and Apeatly. His newsletter is not Sugarcoat’s startup life. It tells the stories that founders really need to hear. And today, Alex shared something that hits particularly hard.
It all started with a coffee meeting.
He raised $33 million, built a $195 million startup, and then came the coffee that changed everything.
Alex was sitting across from her friend. The $33 million raised, expanding a team of over 100 people, earning a $195 million valuation in 2023.
From the outside, it was a dream that most founders would pursue.
But something was off.
“Want to hear something scary?” his friend asked him that he was visibly shaking while he held his coffee.
He hadn’t slept for several weeks.
The numbers he shared were calm:
And then the really stabbed line came:
“Your five-person company makes more profits than mine.”
From founder hype to founder fatigue
Two years ago, the founder was a venture success story. Today he tackles unrealistic expectations, high burns and the unforgettable knowledge that mathematics no longer works.
He is not alone.
As Alex pointed out in his newsletter:
“Most venture founders won’t get a fairy tale exit. Most people will sell less than they have raised.
Cycles are familiar:
And finally, a crash.
Venture Treadmill
The early days of raising capital can feel like rocket fuel. It comes with perks such as media coverage, office upgrades, team expansion, and verification.
However, the machine rarely slows down.
Behind the curtains, many founders struggle to float. The board wants to grow. Teams need direction. Burning rates are a weekly topic. And the founders begin trading sleep for survival.
As Turnbull said:
“They know that maths aren’t going well. They see the end coming. But they can’t stop the machine…”
The rise of quiet profitability
While some founders are following the review headlines, others are quietly building profitable and sustainable businesses.
Lean Team
Real customer
Measured growth
There is no external pressure
They are not available on the TechCrunch homepage. But they are not awake at night.
They are building for freedom. It’s not a hype.
Choose wisely
This is not an anti-VC rant. Venture funds have their location. But every founder must choose his own path and understand what comes with it.
So before chasing the next round or hiring another 50 employees, ask:
Is this growth necessary or is it expected?
Do you want a board or control it?
Do you exchange sleep for a rating heading?
There is no correct answer for everyone.
But for Alex’s friends, and many like him, the cost is hard to ignore.
Final Thoughts:
In a market where exits are rare and burns are cruel, quiet businesses may be smart.
Build for freedom.
Build for control.
Build to keep your company up.
Credit: This story was originally shared by Alex Turnbull in his newsletter. He is the founder of Groove and help me.
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