From the Desk of Dave Saunders

Baltimore/DC, 6:52 a.m.

You’re not here to play startup.

Most founders don't fail. They stall.

You know the feeling. The adrenaline of the "big idea" has worn off. The TechCrunch fantasy is gone. Now you're in the middle—the quiet, boring, terrifying middle where the real work happens.

Maybe you’re buried under tasks that don't move the needle. Maybe you’re second-guessing your roadmap. Maybe you’re waking up tired, bitter, and checked out, wondering if you’ve built a business or just a job with unpaid overtime.

I know. I’ve been there.

I’m not a guru. I’m not a "20-year-old visionary" pretending I’ve never made a mistake.

I’ve spent 30+ years in the trenches. I’ve been a research manager at Lucent Bell Labs during the peak. I’ve done turnarounds, restarts, and exits. I’ve built products that scaled, and I’ve walked away from startups that were rotting from the inside out.

I’m writing a book called Founders Who Finish because I’m tired of seeing smart people get crushed by "startup theater."

I don't care about unicorns. I care about finishers.

I am looking for the founders who want to build something real. Sustainable. Profitable. A machine that runs without burning you out or costing you your family.

Join me, and let’s get to work.

When you enter your email below, you aren't just joining a "newsletter." You’re getting a virtual coach in your inbox.

Here is my promise to you

  • No Fluff: I will never send you "hustle porn" or generic motivational quotes.

  • Real Tactics: You’ll get the frameworks I use to fix broken companies—from cash-flow sanity checks to hiring people who don't need babysitting.

  • The Truth: I’ll tell you the stuff other advisors won’t—like when to fire yourself from a role, or when to kill a zombie product.

I only write when I have something worth saying. Unsubscribe whenever you want.

The book launches soon.

The work starts now.