I see a lot of hustle porn and romanticization on the timeline about becoming a successful founder. The reality is much less glamorous, especially in crypto.
For months (sometimes years) your startups' X posts get almost no engagement. You cold-DM hundreds of potential users, partners, and investors with no response. Competition is everywhere. It’s just you, maybe a cofounder, your laptop, and Claude grinding day after day.
But then small signals start to break through.
The first retweet. The first thoughtful reply. A user who actually sticks. Competitors begin to fade. Convincing someone talented to join you full-time. These moments are rare, yet matter disproportionately. You hold onto them and they become fuel.
A huge part of becoming a successful founder is simply enduring long stretches of ambiguity, rejection, and silence until you find even a hint of PMF. And when you do, it doesn’t get easier. You just earn the right to solve bigger, more complex problems.
This life isn’t for everyone. It’s uncertain, isolating, and often thankless.
However, builders who persist and survive in the arena long enough do have a chance at creating a product that makes a meaningful impact.
If that is calling you, then join
@Colosseum's hackathon. If you end up winning, we may invest to provide that first gallon of fuel.