If You’re Not There Yet, You’re Not Behind: The Case for Late-Stage Founders

Author

Benjamin Friedman
July 28, 2026

Morning beehiivcommunity!

This newsletter tackles the dilemma, “How do I know what I don’t know?” with pointed predictions, practical takeaways, and curated NYC events to help founders and CFOs expand options and build resilience.

Founders Who Built Their Biggest Companies Late

“I was an overnight success all right, but thirty years is a long, long night.” – Ray Kroc

Not every founder’s breakthrough comes early.

Even founders with conviction, adaptability, and intelligence can fail. Aside from luck, your creative genius may simply need more time to mature.

Research on creativity points to two paths: “conceptual innovators,” who peak early with bold ideas, and “experimental innovators,” who hit their stride later through trial, error, and accumulated wisdom.

Some of the world’s most iconic founders fall into the second group. They spent years building deep domain expertise. They survived major setbacks such as being fired, pushed out, or stuck in roles that don’t fit. And when markets shifted and opportunities opened, their experience and resilience made them ready 

If you’re in the trenches today, you may not be behind schedule. You might feel frustrated, but you’re actually building the foundation for a towering success.

Click HERE to read the full post.

CFOs Worst Days, Toughest Calls, and the Lessons That Stuck

Every CFO has a moment when things almost fall apart.

Last week, the New York Tech CFO group brought together finance leaders to discuss the moments that permanently change how they lead. 

The event featured: 

A few patterns were clear between them all:

Diversify Proactively. If one customer, one system, or one person failing would materially hurt the business, that's already a risk. Fix it before it becomes a crisis.

Act Constantly. In high-pressure moments, waiting for the "right" answer is often the biggest mistake. Communicate early, act with the best available data, and keep moving.

Work Objectively. A crisis can be upsetting and off-putting, but success can be intoxicating and eventually distracting. Stay rigorous and hold others accountable even when it feels unnecessary.

I really appreciate the panelists for sharing so openly. These conversations move finance leaders forward.

The NYT CFO Group appreciates ​IOmergent for supporting this event. ​IOmergent helps organizations to design, build, and operate strategy-aligned, AI-ready security programs.

Expert Tips for Startups

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Confidence is Built by Facing Fear, Again and Again

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face." – Eleanor Roosevelt

Startup leaders build confidence the same way they build companies: by facing fear repeatedly, learning from experience, and moving forward.

In my work, when things go well and appear “easy,” that follows countless mistakes beforehand. When bad news comes, I know what it’s like to sulk, but I push myself to move quickly to the place where I test options.

Every unexpected loss, hard conversation, rejected pitch, and uncertain decision becomes a chance to grow stronger and lead with more conviction.

Discover Opportunities While Reducing Risk

Founders often fail because of unseen gaps, broken processes, and missed goals.

Build Scale Grow helps startups avoid costly mistakes and scale with intention. We bring real-world experience, including multiple M&A outcomes, to lead cross-team projects, install and measure clear metrics, and reduce the risks that derail progress.

If you’re building something meaningful, email us at [email protected] or click HERE for a free consultation.