Startup Myths vs. Reality: Insights from Leland’s Founder Panel

September 20, 2025

Starting a company has long been romanticized—visionary founders, big funding rounds, hockey-stick growth. But as any entrepreneur quickly learns, the reality is far messier.

That was the core message of a recent webinar hosted by Leland, a platform connecting founders, VCs, and coaches. The event featured Rohit Mittal (“Rohi”), Co-founder of SoFi and now GM at MassMutual; John Koelliker, Founder and CEO of Leland and former LinkedIn/Uber operator; and Marissa (“Missy”) Wu, founder of an autism care startup acquired last year, now advising late-stage health tech companies. Together, they pulled back the curtain on the myths founders often believe—and the grounded lessons they’ve lived through.

Myth 1: The First Year Brings Clear Momentum

The panelists agreed: the first year is often chaos. Rohi described the excitement of hiring his first team, only to misjudge channel–market fit as interest rates shifted. John recalled launching early and being met with silence—forcing him to confront “delusional optimism” head-on. Marissa’s accidental founding journey showed the opposite: you can bootstrap healthcare operations with nothing more than spreadsheets and grit.

Reality: Early momentum rarely comes neatly. Progress is uneven, and resilience matters more than polish.

Myth 2: Fundraising Is About the Pitch

Many founders assume fundraising boils down to the perfect deck. In reality, as Marissa shared, it’s often the hardest “hat” to wear: balancing authentic storytelling with investor expectations. John advised founders to focus on conviction in the customer’s problem, not chasing validation from investors. Rohi added the importance of running competitive processes and vetting firms upfront.

Reality: Fundraising is a relationship-driven process, not a one-off pitch. The best outcomes come from alignment, diligence, and persistence.

Myth 3: Growth Solves Problems

Conventional wisdom suggests more customers, more revenue, and more hires will smooth everything out. The panel pushed back. Scaling too fast, Rohi warned, can expose cracks—particularly in enterprise readiness. Marissa noted that growth required her to stop resisting service delivery and embrace what customers truly needed. John stressed disciplined hiring, putting culture fit above pure productivity.

Reality: Growth amplifies both strengths and weaknesses. Scaling well requires discipline, clarity, and a culture-first mindset.

Myth 4: Founders Must Do It Alone

The popular image of the founder as a lone hero persists. But Rohi reminded attendees that entrepreneurship isn’t a solo act—“support is abundant if you ask.” John emphasized the need for balance across life domains, while Marissa highlighted the importance of proactive communication with partners to preserve energy and perspective.

Reality: Sustainable entrepreneurship depends on networks, advisors, and personal well-being—not solitary heroics.

The Bigger Picture

The panel closed with a reminder that there are no silver bullets in startups. Success, John noted, is the compounding of small wins over time. Failure isn’t a verdict; it’s a learning mechanism. And most importantly, building a company is less about chasing myths and more about navigating reality—chaotic, humbling, and rewarding in equal measure.

For founders looking to cut through noise and prepare for the journey ahead, Leland continues to host free community events and coaching sessions. As the panel made clear, the best preparation isn’t believing the myth of overnight success—it’s equipping yourself for the messy, human, and ultimately transformative reality of building something from scratch.

Sources

• Leland Webinar: Startup Journeys, Myths, and Realities (Panel with Rohit Mittal, John Koelliker, Marissa Wu) – Leland

• Christensen, C. (1997). The Innovator’s Dilemma. Harvard Business Review Press.

• Blank, S. (2013). The Four Steps to the Epiphany. K&S Ranch.