In June, twelve founders from our portfolio and network spent three days in the mountains with our team. No slides, no laptops — just a long climb, cold mornings and conversations that rarely happen in an office.
Why mountains
Building a company and climbing a mountain have more in common than it seems. Both reward preparation, punish ego and depend on the people next to you. Both look impossible from the bottom and obvious from the top.
Five lessons from the ridge
- Pace beats speed. The founders who reached the summit first were the ones who never stopped, not the ones who started fastest.
- Turn back early. Knowing when a route is wrong is a skill, not a failure.
- Carry less. Every extra kilogram — or extra priority — slows the whole team.
- Talk about the weather. The best teams name risks out loud before they arrive.
- Celebrate the camp. Milestones matter, especially on long journeys.
I came for the summit and left with three people I can call on my worst day as a founder.Founder, portfolio company
What’s next
Horizon Circle will run two expeditions and a sailing regatta next year, alongside monthly founder dinners. Portfolio founders get priority; a few places are open to founders we are getting to know.
