The Sesqui-time Founder

When I started to read about entrepreneurship one of the first things I read about fundraising and investors was that being a second time founder was one of the most important characteristics that would help you to fundraise and get investors onboard on your project. And I used to find it really hard to understand what this special “difference” second time founders had. Today, I think I’m finally starting to understand.

I used to think that if you read all the books about being an entrepreneur, if you read or watched all the most important biographies and documentaries of the greatest founders and companies, if you worked for long enough in meaningful industries and had the hard and people skills, if you started some side activities or an actual business as a solopreneur, you would have the same knowledge and experience as someone who starts a venture backed startup, the same experience as someone that actually did it, after all, how different can it actually be…? And I was wrong.

The controlled environment of theory, and the perfect environment in which you are looking into the past, will never prepare you for the day to day challenges that come with reality and the unknown future. Today I understand that no amount of studying or preparing will actually be a substitute for the unpredictability and intensity of being a startup founder. The lessons learned from the failures and successes of your first venture are invaluable. It’s not just about the knowledge acquired, but the transformation that occurs within you.

In my first journey as a founder, I learned that knowledge from books and biographies, while invaluable, often glosses over the grit and relentless adaptation required in the entrepreneurial world. It’s one thing to read about market pivots, investor negotiations, and team management; it’s entirely another to live through these moments, making high-stakes decisions with real consequences, having 20 people looking for leadership and betting their family’s financial safety on these decisions.

When you start your first venture, everything is new. You’re not just building a business; you’re also building your identity as a founder. You face challenges you never anticipated, from managing cash flow to handling complex team dynamics. You make mistakes, often costly ones, and you learn from them. This experience shapes your approach, hones your instincts, and refines your decision-making process.

I’m not a second time founder, and I still have immense amounts of learning to do. However, I feel like the past 2 years have been a trial of growth. There is a path to exit and liquidity that still needs to be walked, but I do believe that if you raised, developed, pivoted and stayed alive between 2022 and 2024, you gained some unique skills and expertise in one of the hardest macro environments to be a founder in years. And so I started to wonder: Isn’t anything between the first time founder and the second time founder? Or maybe that’s just copium?

And then, as I usually do, I went into some research. And I discovered something really cool. There is a word in Latin for the exact meaning “one and a half” and it’s “sesqui”. So I created a new concept: The Sesqui-Time Founder! It’s a founder that’s not a second time founder, and also not a first time founder at the same time! And how’s that possible you might ask? Because of the learnings!

In the past 24 months I truly feel like I’ve lived 20 years of practical, hands-on, real life learnings. Starting as a founder with a vision, I quickly learned that vision alone isn’t enough. You need resilience to face the numerous rejections and failures. You need empathy to understand your team and customers deeply. And above all, you need a growth mindset — the understanding that each setback is an opportunity to learn and evolve. The understanding that you will never know everything and to pursue continuous learning.

I’ve learned to embrace uncertainty and thrive in it. Where I once sought to control and predict every aspect of my business, I now understand that is and always will be impossible. Instead, the true value is focusing on being agile and responsive, and that’s easier said than done, and also how a startup can compete with an incumbent.

With each passing week and month, I have a clearer sense of ‘what’ needs to be done, and a deeper understanding of ‘how’ to navigate the complex in and outs of startup life — managing investor relationships, leading a team through ups and downs, pivoting strategies based on market feedback, and maintaining a work-life balance in the midst of chaos.

Moreover, I’ve grown as a leader. The challenges I faced taught me more about myself than any book could. I learned my strengths and, more importantly, my weaknesses. I’ve learned the importance of building a team culture that values adaptability, continuous learning, and a shared sense of purpose. I learned the importance of self-care and mental health in sustaining long-term leadership effectiveness.

And finally, today, I truly understand the special difference between second time founders. The special difference of second-time founders lies in their lived experiences. These experiences can’t be taught; they must be lived. They shape a founder’s perspective, decision-making, resilience, and leadership in profound ways. The “difference” of a second-time founder lies in the depth of their real-world experience, the resilience built through overcoming challenges, the maturity of their leadership, and a refined vision shaped by past lessons.

So, while first-time founders should certainly study and prepare, they should also be ready to embrace the unique learning journey that only a startup can provide. Basically, no amount of preparation can prepare you better than actually starting to do it! And perhaps, like me, they will find that the challenges and growth of these years are what truly teaches them. The most profound learning comes from doing!

The true essence of entrepreneurship goes far beyond what is written in books or portrayed in documentaries. It’s about the grit, the resilience, and the unwavering spirit to turn visions into reality against all odds.

To my co-founders, partners and team,
Our journey has been one of relentless challenges, yet each obstacle has been a stepping stone towards greater understanding and capability. Our path forward is clear: To keep learning from each challenge and to use these lessons to propel us forward.

Looking ahead, I see a future replete with opportunities. The lessons of the past 2 years have equipped us with a deeper understanding of our market, focus, our niche, a more agile approach to business, and a clearer vision of where we want to go.

We’re no longer just a group of people working together; we’re a team.

So, let us move forward with confidence, knowing that the trials we’ve faced have prepared us for the successes that lie ahead. Together, we will continue to break new ground, redefine the standards of our industry, and create lasting value for our customers, our stakeholders, and hopefully, to the world at large.

To our investors and advisors,
Thank you for being an integral part of this remarkable journey.

Let’s keep pushing forward,

Sincerely,

Daniel Victorino
Sesqui-time Founder & CEO at Galaxies