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vechain
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An Open Letter From Sunny Lu — A Message to VeFounders
An Open Letter From Sunny Lu — A Message To VeFounders
Dear VeFounders,
This year marks the 10th anniversary of VeChain (where does time go?!), as well as my own decade-long journey as a startup founder and CEO. Looking back, the road has been both humbling and exhilarating. I’ve experienced the restless energy of the early days, the doubts and sleepless nights, the hard-won breakthroughs, and the quiet but profound joy of seeing an idea take shape in the real world. Through it all, one constant has remained: the unshakable conviction that founders are a rare breed of builders. A special type of person willing to embrace uncertainty in pursuit of a vision.
Every founder begins as a doer, sleeves rolled up, ready to take on anything. But as the journey unfolds, even the most capable of us eventually discover that we can’t do everything alone. We become the bottleneck to our own mission if we don’t learn to grow the right people and place them in the right roles. And in today’s world, startups often operate globally from day one, which means navigating across cultures, languages, and beliefs. It is as inspiring as it is challenging — demanding resilience, adaptability, and the ability to orchestrate teams with diverse talents and perspectives.
These are the everyday realities of being a founder, alongside countless other responsibilities. Whether planned or unplanned, loved or loathed, the life of a founder is never about ease or glamour, even if those moments occasionally appear. It is about persistence, grit, and staying true to a purpose bigger than yourself.
The Three Pillars of Being a Founder
FundingBefore anything begins, funding comes first. Resources are always scarce compared to ambition. Balancing what you want to achieve with what you can afford is a delicate and ongoing challenge.
StrategyEvery founder starts with an idea that is both beautiful and often unrealistic. Time and reality reshape it, but the true art is knowing when to protect the core vision and when to adapt — responding to shifts in the market, industry, or team dynamics.
PeopleThis is the hardest, and also the most important. Founders live in a constant state of anxiety — whether it’s making tough strategic calls, building and optimizing teams, launching products, or even deciding something as small as a marketing detail. You must motivate others while finding your own strength, be the General in the back office and the soldier at the front line. Resilience must replace comfort, and failure must be accepted as part of the climb toward success.
Why We Climb
The founder’s journey may feel “anti-human” at times. Founders set the course, endure the hardship, and in return, grow immensely as individuals. We get to solve problems, innovate, build from scratch, and perhaps leave a mark on the world that outlives us. We create what others may never dare, and along the way, may even build generational wealth.
Being a founder is like climbing a mountain. You see the peak, take the first step, and know the path will be long and grueling. The muscle aches, the sweat pours, sometimes the blood boils — but you accept it, because deep down you know the truth — the view from the top is the greatest.
And it all begins with the first step: Starting
That’s why I’m excited to invite you to the VeFounder Program by VeChain — an initiative created to support and celebrate those bold enough to take the leap to becoming a founder.
Together, let’s climb higher.
Sunny.
_________________________________________________________________
Visit the VeFounder homepage to explore the program:
VeFounder Homepage
An Open Letter From Sunny Lu — A Message To VeFounders was originally published in VeChain on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
Dear VeFounders,
This year marks the 10th anniversary of VeChain (where does time go?!), as well as my own decade-long journey as a startup founder and CEO. Looking back, the road has been both humbling and exhilarating. I’ve experienced the restless energy of the early days, the doubts and sleepless nights, the hard-won breakthroughs, and the quiet but profound joy of seeing an idea take shape in the real world. Through it all, one constant has remained: the unshakable conviction that founders are a rare breed of builders. A special type of person willing to embrace uncertainty in pursuit of a vision.
Every founder begins as a doer, sleeves rolled up, ready to take on anything. But as the journey unfolds, even the most capable of us eventually discover that we can’t do everything alone. We become the bottleneck to our own mission if we don’t learn to grow the right people and place them in the right roles. And in today’s world, startups often operate globally from day one, which means navigating across cultures, languages, and beliefs. It is as inspiring as it is challenging — demanding resilience, adaptability, and the ability to orchestrate teams with diverse talents and perspectives.
These are the everyday realities of being a founder, alongside countless other responsibilities. Whether planned or unplanned, loved or loathed, the life of a founder is never about ease or glamour, even if those moments occasionally appear. It is about persistence, grit, and staying true to a purpose bigger than yourself.
The Three Pillars of Being a Founder
FundingBefore anything begins, funding comes first. Resources are always scarce compared to ambition. Balancing what you want to achieve with what you can afford is a delicate and ongoing challenge.
StrategyEvery founder starts with an idea that is both beautiful and often unrealistic. Time and reality reshape it, but the true art is knowing when to protect the core vision and when to adapt — responding to shifts in the market, industry, or team dynamics.
PeopleThis is the hardest, and also the most important. Founders live in a constant state of anxiety — whether it’s making tough strategic calls, building and optimizing teams, launching products, or even deciding something as small as a marketing detail. You must motivate others while finding your own strength, be the General in the back office and the soldier at the front line. Resilience must replace comfort, and failure must be accepted as part of the climb toward success.
Why We Climb
The founder’s journey may feel “anti-human” at times. Founders set the course, endure the hardship, and in return, grow immensely as individuals. We get to solve problems, innovate, build from scratch, and perhaps leave a mark on the world that outlives us. We create what others may never dare, and along the way, may even build generational wealth.
Being a founder is like climbing a mountain. You see the peak, take the first step, and know the path will be long and grueling. The muscle aches, the sweat pours, sometimes the blood boils — but you accept it, because deep down you know the truth — the view from the top is the greatest.
And it all begins with the first step: Starting
That’s why I’m excited to invite you to the VeFounder Program by VeChain — an initiative created to support and celebrate those bold enough to take the leap to becoming a founder.
Together, let’s climb higher.
Sunny.
_________________________________________________________________
Visit the VeFounder homepage to explore the program:
VeFounder Homepage
An Open Letter From Sunny Lu — A Message To VeFounders was originally published in VeChain on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
Disclaimer: Includes third-party opinions. No financial advice. May include sponsored content. See T&Cs.