Month 1 Reboot check in: Coffee, Connections, and Clear Lessons (day 31)

So here is my first monthy check in - this month I have tried to be extremely intentional around networking and exploration. To date I have met:

• 14 VC partners

• 9 industry leaders (mostly CEOs and former founders)

• 15 potential co-founders, including:

  • Three partnerships explored and concluded

  • Two ongoing conversations at early stages

  • One potential opportunity with a foundry/accelerator as a co-founder

Building in Public:

• Launched this documentation of my journey (working on consistency)

• Tested X as a platform - recognized it as a current time sink

• Initiated a joint venture with my brother - not the "big idea" but a practical, fun, stepping stone to get more hands-on experience and maybe even some revenue

Key Insights from Month One:

1. Co-founder chemistry is complex - alignment needs to happen across multiple dimensions simultaneously and this is much harder than I anticipated. It really is like finding another life partner. 

2. A clear ask and respect for time opens doors - people genuinely want to help when you make it easy for them

3. Trust is transferable currency - your network becomes your strongest advocates

4. Opportunity doesn't follow a linear path - stay open but trust your gut when something doesn't feel right

5. Navigate VC relationships strategically - while valuable, focus on those you have established rapport with. Remember that early impressions in their CRM can create lasting narratives

6. Balance authenticity with discretion - while genuine connection matters, carefully choose when and with whom to share uncertainties

7. It is easy to get lost in an interesting technology or space but the business application is key and should be at the foundation of any deep dive, flipping this rarely works 

8. Gender dynamics remain a reality - one partnership dissolved explicitly due to gender, and the overwhelming majority of connections are male. This needs to change.

Next Month's Focus:

1. Relationship Development

   • Double down on 1-2 promising partnerships

   • Continue curating meaningful connections

2. Personal Development & Building

   • Dedicate time to building domain expertise and identifying problems in target areas

   • Hands-on building through the joint venture app

   • Define strategic goals for this documentation (if any) - currently just focus on making it my “accountability partner”

This month taught me that while coffee meetings fill the calendar, the real work happens in the spaces between - in the reflection, the pattern recognition, and the decisive moments to pursue or pass on opportunities. I have discovered that there is a special form of joy that comes from doing what you believe is truly aligned with your aspirations and this is the joy and drive that I need to sustain this journey that no doubt will have many obstacles, first of which is the will to 'just find someone' and move on to building. 

Day 31/365, keeping it real and learning to be patient and enjoy the journey