I’m dating a founder and it feels like a relationship on steroids. I’ve had to take a backseat to my dreams— but with the right person, it’s worth it.
A personal essay detailing the challenges and intensity of dating a startup founder. The author describes the necessity of setting boundaries and maintaining a strong sense of self while supporting a partner's entrepreneurial journey.
Why it matters
It highlights the intersection of personal relationships and the high-pressure lifestyle of modern entrepreneurship.
Maria Diaz Valdez and her partner Emil. Maria Diaz Valdez Maria Diaz Valdez has been dating her partner, Emil, since he became a founder about four years ago. She says she put her dreams on the back burner to help him grow, but she knows it will be worth it. Diaz Valdez says dating a founder requires a strong sense of self, boundaries, and a support system. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maria Diaz Valdez, a 29-year-old based in Spain. It's been edited for length and clarity. I feel like a relationship with a founder is a relationship on steroids because it's so intense in the trust and patience it requires. I've had to be committed to his journey, but I'm not in charge of it, and that's very scary.
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