💭 What to do when fear becomes your co-founder.
How to keep building when self-doubt and fear sit in every meeting — quietly making all the decisions
As a founder, you need to be aware that the fear of failure comes up as part of the job — not a sign that you're doing something wrong.
I’ve felt it all:
Fear of starting
Fear of fundraising
Fear of being rejected by VCs
Fear of scaling too fast — or too slowly
Fear of hiring the wrong person
Fear of not pivoting in time
Fear of not having enough money to pay salaries
Sometimes the fear shows up as hesitation. Sometimes, as self-doubt. Sometimes you don’t even realize you’re scared — you just keep finding excuses to delay the thing you know you need to do.
😰 Where Fear Comes From
For most, fear often comes from stories.
Stories we’ve heard about how hard it is to raise money. Stories of startups that failed. Stories of embarrassment, public failure, and shutdowns across media blogs.
But here’s the thing:
Stories are data — not destiny.
You don’t have to inherit someone else’s outcome and let it paralyse you from making moves that could move your business forward to becoming the next SpaceX.
🛠 Some Ways to Beat Founder Fear
1. Be Growth-Oriented
Fear of mistakes is real. But worse than failing is standing still.
The founders I admire most are the ones who move — fast, smart, and consistently.
They fail, adjust, and try again.
Action shrinks fear.
Inaction feeds it.
Don’t overthink the perfect moment. Just take the next bold step.
2. Embrace a Strategic Mindset
Don’t wing it.
Build confidence by being proactive, not reactive.
Create a plan — even if it’s not perfect.
Know your numbers. Understand your runway (i.e. time before you run out of cash). Build a roadmap. Fear decreases as clarity increases.
Stay close to market trends, customer behavior, and your own internal metrics. That’s where better decisions come from.
3. Surround Yourself with Founders
The founder journey doesn’t have to be lonely.
When I started Termii, some people weren’t doing what I was doing — but they understood what it meant to build in uncertainty. And that was enough.
Join a community.
Message someone who's one stage ahead.
Ask questions. Share what you’re stuck on.
There is power in proximity to others who get it.
4. Seek Financial Guidance Early
One of the biggest founder fears? Money.
Cash flow. Fundraising. Burn rate (i.e. how much cash you are burning to keep the lights on). Don’t carry that weight alone.
I’ve helped founders manage runway and build wealth structures around their businesses. The difference between fear and flow is often financial structure.
Find someone who can walk you through the financial terrain — so you don’t let money anxiety kill your momentum.
5. Prioritize Learning
You’re not supposed to know everything.
But you are responsible for learning.
Take the course.
Watch the masterclass.
Hire the coach.
Attend the dinner.
Read the books.
Every new insight = less uncertainty.
Every upgraded skill = less fear.
💡 Final Word
Walk in faith, and stay humble enough to ask for help — from mentors, from your community, and from God. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” What’s on the other side of that fear is exactly why you started this journey in the first place. Grace meets you where hustle ends.
— Emmanuel Gbolade
📩 Subscribe to Beyond Startup for lessons on building infrastructure, capital, and legacy. Originally published on aidiventures.com/blog. Looking to get dedicated advice on how to grow your business? Connect with my family office team here