Founders, you have a few core jobs: 1. Don’t run out of money 2. Build something people actually want 3. Build a team that can carry it forward ----> Everything else is noise. Building a company has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done. And that’s after immigrating twice, building a career from scratch in 2 countries, climbing the corporate ladder, giving birth and raising teenagers. I built Foodom from 0→1—a marketplace connecting families with chefs for weekly meals—and led it through a complex strategic partnership with a national player, navigating everything from first conversations to legal and deal execution. I’ve lived the uncertainty, the pressure of paying the team during difficult times, and the constant question of whether to keep pushing or pivot. What I share is not theory—it’s what I’ve actually done: - How to extend runway and not run out of money - How to structure partnerships for growth and later on for an alternative exit path - How to build and balance marketplaces (supply, demand, network effects) - How to build teams and culture, happy to share practical templates—values, hiring, all-hands, and operating rhythms—so you don’t have to start from scratch. And just as important—how to be a mindful human while building all of this: - Leading with clarity and grounded decision-making - Avoiding burnout and creating boundaries - Navigating personal relationships and life while building something so intense and exciting (Most founders don’t talk about this—but it matters.) Recently, I started doing stand-up comedy. As an immigrant, it’s my way to break the language barrier, understand culture more deeply, and become a better presenter. It’s uncomfortable, humbling, and very real—just like building a company. Before Foodom, I led product marketing, business operations and strategy at Intel, SanDisk, and Western Digital, driving growth in complex, global technology businesses. Today, I apply that same rigor to public health, building systems that use food as medicine to prevent and manage chronic conditions at scale, through real meals, not prescription. But beyond sick care—this is about food as power: building strength, resilience, and extending health span to create stronger humans. I believe the future of healthcare starts at home—in how we eat, move, sleep, and live—and I’m building it. The best way to predict the future is to create it. If you’re building and need clarity—I’m in your corner. www.renetajenik.com