The Power 12

As a venture capital investor, founder, and endurance athlete, I founders and team members often ask me: “How do you stay motivated and committed to achieving something as tough as an Ironman?” The answer isn’t simple, but it resonates with the qualities I see in successful founders daily. Every founder who has built and exited a company is an endurance athlete, embodying the passion, resilience, endurance, and commitment required to reach the finish line. These qualities — sometimes even more than the technology itself — that drive success.

As an investor, I look for founders with the grit to cross that finish line and stride across their red carpet of success.Through decades of experience and countless real-life examples, I’ve seen common traits emerge in founders who build, scale, and ultimately exit great companies. These 12 essential traits are drawn from the journeys of seasoned entrepreneurs who overcame enormous challenges to create lasting impact.

1. Visionary Thinking: Envision Success Beyond Current Limits

Every Ironman race starts with a powerful vision — the belief that the finish line with its red carpet is within reach, even though 1.8 km of swimming, 180 km of biking, and a full marathon lie ahead. I remember standing on that start line with the day stretching out before me, mentally picturing the finish and feeling that powerful, grounding sense of purpose. For a climate tech founder, it’s this picture of impact that fuels them through late nights, tough feedback, and countless setbacks. Like athletes, they hold this vision as a mental image that carries them through gruelling times, and it keeps both founder and athlete fully committed, no matter what lies ahead.

Tip for founders: Craft a clear, impactful and purpose-driven statement and revisit it often. Let this vision anchor you through setbacks, reminding you of the greater purpose behind your work.

2. Passion to Succeed: The Driving Force Behind Every Great Achievement

Whether it’s an athlete on the starting line or a founder in front of investors, passion is the essential spark that fuels commitment and inspires belief. Without a genuine passion for the sport, an athlete won’t have the drive to endure the relentless hours of training or the pain of competition. Likewise, for a founder, it’s their passion to make a difference that captures the interest of investors and clients alike. A business plan or a technology alone doesn’t convince someone to write a check; it’s the founder’s passion — visible and contagious — that inspires confidence and belief in their ability to build a great company.

Tip for founders: Practice showing your passion through storytelling, sharing your journey, or speaking about the problem you’re driven to solve. Remember, the art of showing passion can be honed, and doing so authentically will make others believe in your mission as deeply as you do.

3. The Daily Grind: Be Consistent and Have Discipline

Ironman preparation is a lifestyle commitment. Many mornings, my alarm went off long before dawn. I’d quietly get out of bed while the world was still asleep, with three hours on the bike ahead of me before my workday began. I remember the chill of slipping into cold water for winter swims, the endless rainy runs, and choosing training over dinners with friends or family time. For climate tech founders, this discipline looks different but feels the same: long nights refining pitch decks, weekend meetings, balancing work and social commitments, and the drive to keep moving forward. Daily work and showing up build resilience to overcome challenges. Consistency is a force, and when founders commit to the daily grind, they reinforce their resolve to push through obstacles toward their vision.

Tip for Founders: Establish a daily ritual to drive progress. Set aside time each morning to step out of the grind. This intentional pause helps you focus on what matters, bringing daily achievement and alignment with your long-term vision.

4. Strategic Foresight: Lay the Roadmap for Success

Training for an Ironman isn’t about random hours of biking, swimming, or running; it’s about precision. Every workout has a purpose. There were rides where I’d focus on reaching specific power outputs, and intervals where the goal was to build endurance step by step. Without these milestones, it would be easy to over-train or under-prepare. Founders, too, need a high-level vision and a precise, actionable roadmap to get there. It’s not about one glossy presentation; it’s about knowing when critical milestones are due and how they’ll drive the next capital raise. Each small win along the way builds confidence for the team and momentum for existing and potential investors.

Tip For Founders: The best founders don’t just see the end; they create and stick to a clear strategic roadmap that transforms big goals into defined markers of progress, driving their company forward, step by step. Align these milestones with your main stakeholders and investors upfront to ensure everyone is on the same page, creating a roadmap that reinforces commitment and accountability as you move forward.

5. Build a Coalition: Attract Key Partners and Stakeholders for Lasting Impact

Ironman may seem like a solo sport, but it’s far from it. My journey depended on the expertise and encouragement of trainers, nutritionists, friends, family and my fellow partners at Extantia. They kept me going through challenging times, providing support I couldn’t have done without. For climate tech founders, this support network includes co-founders, investors, advisors, and stakeholders who bring diverse resources and perspectives. Serial entrepreneurs, especially, know the power of building these coalitions. Successful founders know that lasting impact comes from collective effort, attracting partners who elevate their mission beyond individual ambition.

Tip for Founders: Cultivate a network of mentors, advisors, and peers. Check-in with those stakeholders regularly and receive their feedback. Sometimes it only requires small outside impulses to ensure you are on the right track.

6. Trust Your Inner Confidence and Judgement: Filter Noise to Make the Final Call

Ironman athletes often have detailed training plans, with specific power targets, interval speeds, and distances. But at the end of the day, it’s up to each athlete to know when to push harder and when to hold back. There were days I had to listen to my own body over the numbers on my training plan, adjusting on the fly based on how I felt. Founders face a similar challenge. With advice constantly coming in from all sides, it can be easy to lose one’s way. This flood of input can be overwhelming and lead them off course. You have to learn how to filter this noise, take the best insights, and blend them into a unique approach that fits their vision. Balancing guidance with inner confidence enables founders to navigate challenges and steer their companies forward with conviction.

Tip for Founders: Trust your instincts when advice conflicts. Take the insights that resonate with your vision, but ultimately, make the final call that feels right for you and your company while ensuring that you have not ignored the advice from your stakeholders — they often have experienced similar challenges and have had the opportunity to learn from mistakes.

7. Learn Resilience Under Pressure: The Why is Your Driving Force

In the middle of an Ironman, everything can hurt, and the finish line feels unreachable. During one of my toughest races, I hit a low point where exhaustion took over. But then, as I rounded a bend, I saw my family cheering me on. Their faces and the posters with “Papa you are an Ironman” reminded me why I was doing this — to push my limits, to show them that we’re capable of more than we think. That moment became my anchor, reigniting my resolve. Founders also need a “why” that goes beyond themselves and partners who cheer them on when the going gets tough. For climate tech founders, the why often the drive to create real change. When setbacks pile up, this deeper purpose anchors them to keep pushing forward.

Tip for Founders: Get clear on your why from the start. What problem drives you to show up every day? When obstacles arise, reconnect with this core purpose. Also, find your trusted partners and “fans” that can lift you up when you feel low. Be open and honest with your closest allies and share moments of weakness.

8. Adapt: The Unexpected is the Only Constant

In Ironman races and startups, the unexpected is the only constant. I remember a race where a sudden downpour turned the bike course into a slippery challenge or when swimming through a carpet of jellyfish, forcing me to adapt my pacing and tactics on the fly. Adaptability became my best asset. For founders, setbacks and roadblocks come as part of the journey. Market shifts, technology failures, and unexpected expenses all test a founder’s ability to pivot. Success isn’t just about reacting to these shifts but using them as opportunities to improve. Founders who thrive in this environment are the ones who can stay calm, agile, and see setbacks as valuable chances to innovate.

Tip for Founders: Embrace flexibility as a strength. Be open to pivoting when needed, but stay true to your core mission. And remember: communicate any significant changes early with your main stakeholders and trusted advisors. Keeping others in the loop avoids surprises and strengthens alignment, ensuring that your adaptability becomes a shared asset rather than a solo journey.

9. Unwavering Conviction:Inspire Confidence in Self and Its Environment

Conviction is the foundation of resilience and success for founders and athletes alike. In one Ironman race, doubts could creep in but a strong belief in my training and goals kept me focused. Just prior to my first Ironman race my trainer and mentor wrote me a note; “you have done all the work, you are an Ironman…now go and enjoy the race!” Founders face similar challenges: maintaining conviction when the outcome seems uncertain, rallying their teams around a shared mission, even when setbacks arise.

Tip for Founders: Show conviction without veering into overconfidence; it’s about conveying grounded confidence that reflects both belief in your mission and an honest assessment of the challenges ahead. This balanced conviction strengthens your own resolve and builds trust, inspiring those around you to believe in and commit to the journey with you.

10. All About Positivity and Celebration: Reinforce Progress through Milestones

During Ironman training, I experienced the same plateaus many athletes know well — periods when fatigue sets in and progress stalls. But with time, those sessions build a lasting foundation, fueling acceleration later on. For founders, there are moments when progress feels slow and goals seem out of reach. Celebrating milestones, large or small, reinforces positivity and strengthens the team’s commitment. Each win — like a successful funding round or product breakthrough — recharges motivation, helping the team strive for the next goal with renewed energy.

Tip for Founders: Recognize and celebrate every milestone with your team. Small wins build morale and reinforce a sense of progress, even when the big results are still on the horizon. Foster a positive mindset, especially during challenging times, as it will keep your team motivated and focused on the journey ahead.

11. Be Versatile: Embrace Multiple Roles with Confidence

Mastering Ironman requires excelling in swimming, biking, running, and building mental resilience as well as managing nutrition. As founders, versatility is equally essential: raising capital, developing technology, building teams, and managing sales all require distinct skills. Embracing the growth mindset enables founders to tackle these roles, expanding their skill sets as the company’s needs evolve. In climate tech especially, founders must stay nimble and keep pace with a fast-moving industry.

Tip for Founders: Get comfortable wearing many hats. Embrace each role as a learning opportunity, and actively seek advice from those who have been in similar positions. Learn from others who have fulfilled specific roles and leverage their insights to expand your skills across all areas of the business. This adaptability and openness to learning will make you a more effective founder.

12. Lifelong Drive: Pursue Continuous Improvement Beyond One Finish Line

Crossing an Ironman finish line is a personal triumph, but for me, it was just the beginning. True athletes and founders alike are driven by a passion for continuous improvement, a drive to make their impact more lasting. Serial entrepreneurs, even after a major exit, often return to build again, this time with purpose beyond profit. In climate tech, these founders are creating solutions to address pressing global issues, transforming industries and leaving legacies that extend far beyond themselves.

Tip for Founders: Think of each success or exit as a stepping stone. Commit to using your knowledge and resources for even greater impact, especially if it means solving problems that go beyond personal gain.

Completing an Ironman is a deeply personal achievement, one that redefines what’s possible and cements a belief in the power of perseverance. In the same way, successful founders know that their journey is about more than any one accomplishment; it’s about driving meaningful change and leaving a legacy that will endure. Those who share this passion — founders, investors, athletes — are united by a relentless drive to shape a better future, fueled by purpose and resilience.

And just as an Ironman athlete steps up to the next race, founders continue pushing boundaries, daring to tackle greater challenges and inspire those who follow. This shared journey — toward a vision of impact and transformation — is what powers not just great companies, but a lasting mark on the world.

I would love to connect with founders, entrepreneurs, and like-minded individuals who seek guidance on building transformative companies — or those inspired to take on the challenge of an Ironman.

With insights drawn from years in the venture capital landscape and personal experience in endurance sports, I can offer a unique perspective on achieving ambitious goals. For inquiries or advice, please reach out directly to explore how to turn vision into reality, whether in business or in athletic pursuits.