An open letter to the start-up heroes

Dear start-up heroes,

No, not you founders out there, although you are insanely heroic. I am writing to the women and men who fought tirelessly along side you in those critical early years. When it was all about to fail at any moment. To the heretics and weirdoes who pushed the boundaries and did crazy shit because they cared passionately about your vision and became it’s caretakers.

To the people who started with almost nothing, no process, no framework, no rules but were able to make things happen. Without complaint, or entitlement or in a lot of cases a desk or even much money.

To the people who were not afraid to fuck up, because we all knew it would make us stronger.

To the people who didn’t count the hours. They just did what they needed to do, sometimes doing it at 2am.

To the people who looked out for each other, made fun of each other, pushed the boundaries, argued with each other but never with malice because they were only thinking about what would make us and our customers better.

I have said goodbye to many of these start-up heroes over the years. I always struggle to find the words to say thank you. But it’s never goodbye. These weird women and men go on to do it again, and again. The world becomes a better place because of them. And they will always be my friend and I will always be infinitely grateful for everything they do. Even when we forget to say thanks because we are too busy doing stuff with nothing, fucking up and getting stronger, being edgy, burning the midnight oil, having fun, challenging each other, getting shit done, and focusing everything on what makes our customers better.

These are the start-up heroes. They don’t need a parade. Because they love what we do.

Thank you every one of you. You weirdoes.