Getting back home from Web Summit was both a relief and a harsh reality check. I landed in Copenhagen with a mountain of motivation, but during the flight, I found myself reflecting while listening to a “Persuasive Sales” masterclass. It struck me that success—what we all chase so fiercely—has another side, one we don’t often talk about.

Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve always shared the positive side: growth milestones, new achievements, and the shiny moments. Rarely do I let people into the harder parts of my journey—what the bottom of the bungee jump looks like before you’re slingshotted back up.

One of the most impactful moments at Web Summit wasn’t the headline speakers but a small startup roundtable.

A founder opened up about being stuck—99 rejections, no funding, no path forward. He used his last money to attend Web Summit, looking for advice and ways to pivot. It was raw, honest, and deeply relatable. That openness—acknowledging the struggle—was a reminder of how often entrepreneurship feels like you’re hitting rock bottom before finding a way up. (Its not just hitting its going trough with the full force of gravity).

For me, Web Summit is a testing ground—not just for businesses, but for entrepreneurs themselves. It’s where you’re forced to look inward, to question your decisions, and to confront both your strengths and your weaknesses.

My last blog talked about my Web Summit journey from 2019 to 2024, highlighting the wins and growth. But let me pull back the curtain: running a business is a never-ending series of bungee jumps. The leap is exhilarating, but the fall can be terrifying. And just when you think you’re about to hit rock bottom, the slingshot of success propels you upward—only for it to happen again and again, magnified over years.

Entrepreneurs often hear about mental health, work-life balance, and taking time for yourself. It’s a lovely theory, but for most of us, it’s just that—a theory. The reality? You eat, sleep, and breathe your business. You are your business. Work-life balance? Forget it. Mental health? It’s a constant fight. And yet, it’s this relentless focus that drives innovation and success.

At Web Summit, I noticed a pattern: day one was highly motivating, but by day two, I felt disoriented. Session after session, speaker after speaker, I kept wondering why their stories felt familiar. Was I ahead of the curve? Or was I behind? Why wasn’t I on stage sharing my journey? Despite our success, that nagging voice questioning every decision I’ve ever made was louder than ever.

Yes, I’ve made decisions that make me shake my head in hindsight. But I’ve also had moments of clarity where everything falls into place, like divine intervention.

Returning from Web Summit felt like hitting a wall. Motivation aside, reality came crashing down: client demands, production challenges, internal projects, finances, legal, HR—you name it. My first week (or, to be honest, 2 days in) was a jampacked marathon of catching up, a sharp contrast to the inspiration of the Summit.

This is the reality of being a tech CEO. One moment, you’re at the forefront of innovation, energised and visionary. The next, you’re knee-deep in the grind, battling the endless to-do list. It’s exhausting, but it’s also the price of building something meaningful.

Web Summit reminded me of two truths. First, success is built not just on motivation but on the willingness to face the lows with resilience. Second, every leap—no matter how terrifying the fall—brings lessons that propel you higher the next time.

For anyone navigating their own bungee-jump journey, remember: the slingshot moment is coming. It’s the grind in between that makes it all worthwhile.

Stay bold. Keep innovating. And as I learnt at Web Summit, never be afraid to share the other side of the story. It’s where the real growth happens.

Getting back home from Web Summit was both a relief and a harsh reality check. I landed in Copenhagen with a mountain of motivation, but during the flight, I found myself reflecting while listening to a “Persuasive Sales” masterclass. It struck me that success—what we all chase so fiercely—has another side, one we don’t often talk about.

Like many entrepreneurs, I’ve always shared the positive side: growth milestones, new achievements, and the shiny moments. Rarely do I let people into the harder parts of my journey—what the bottom of the bungee jump looks like before you’re slingshotted back up.

One of the most impactful moments at Web Summit wasn’t the headline speakers but a small startup roundtable.

A founder opened up about being stuck—99 rejections, no funding, no path forward. He used his last money to attend Web Summit, looking for advice and ways to pivot. It was raw, honest, and deeply relatable. That openness—acknowledging the struggle—was a reminder of how often entrepreneurship feels like you’re hitting rock bottom before finding a way up. (Its not just hitting its going trough with the full force of gravity).

For me, Web Summit is a testing ground—not just for businesses, but for entrepreneurs themselves. It’s where you’re forced to look inward, to question your decisions, and to confront both your strengths and your weaknesses.

My last blog talked about my Web Summit journey from 2019 to 2024, highlighting the wins and growth. But let me pull back the curtain: running a business is a never-ending series of bungee jumps. The leap is exhilarating, but the fall can be terrifying. And just when you think you’re about to hit rock bottom, the slingshot of success propels you upward—only for it to happen again and again, magnified over years.

Entrepreneurs often hear about mental health, work-life balance, and taking time for yourself. It’s a lovely theory, but for most of us, it’s just that—a theory. The reality? You eat, sleep, and breathe your business. You are your business. Work-life balance? Forget it. Mental health? It’s a constant fight. And yet, it’s this relentless focus that drives innovation and success.

At Web Summit, I noticed a pattern: day one was highly motivating, but by day two, I felt disoriented. Session after session, speaker after speaker, I kept wondering why their stories felt familiar. Was I ahead of the curve? Or was I behind? Why wasn’t I on stage sharing my journey? Despite our success, that nagging voice questioning every decision I’ve ever made was louder than ever.

Yes, I’ve made decisions that make me shake my head in hindsight. But I’ve also had moments of clarity where everything falls into place, like divine intervention.

Returning from Web Summit felt like hitting a wall. Motivation aside, reality came crashing down: client demands, production challenges, internal projects, finances, legal, HR—you name it. My first week (or, to be honest, 2 days in) was a jampacked marathon of catching up, a sharp contrast to the inspiration of the Summit.

This is the reality of being a tech CEO. One moment, you’re at the forefront of innovation, energised and visionary. The next, you’re knee-deep in the grind, battling the endless to-do list. It’s exhausting, but it’s also the price of building something meaningful.

Web Summit reminded me of two truths. First, success is built not just on motivation but on the willingness to face the lows with resilience. Second, every leap—no matter how terrifying the fall—brings lessons that propel you higher the next time.

For anyone navigating their own bungee-jump journey, remember: the slingshot moment is coming. It’s the grind in between that makes it all worthwhile.

Stay bold. Keep innovating. And as I learnt at Web Summit, never be afraid to share the other side of the story. It’s where the real growth happens.