This founder ran the long game — and won

How startups are like marathons, and what founders can learn from one founder’s finish line — and why it’s only the beginning.

Hey friends 👋

When we talk about startup success, we often focus on the finish lines.

The raise, the launch, the exit.

But for those who’ve been in the arena, the real story is in the miles.

The daily grind.

The moments you keep going when most people would stop.

That’s why it was such a full-circle moment for JDM and me to sit down with Marc Krichman just days after the announcement that his company had been acquired by IRTH Solutions, a Blackstone-backed industry leader in infrastructure damage prevention.

It was a win for Marc. For 811Spotter. And for the Traction Lab.

As we talked about the past, present, and future, one metaphor kept surfacing in our conversation:

A marathon.

Let’s dive deep 👇

Marc knows a little something about marathons, too.

We (Cam and Marc… definitely not JDM) ran the California International Marathon (CIM) together last December, and as we traded stories about the final miles of that race and the final months of his acquisition process, the parallels became clear:

Startups — just like marathons — aren’t about the finish line.

They’re about who you become on the way there.

A strong start in Mile 0 begins with mindset.

When we first met Marc, 811spotter already had substantial progress — a product in market, early traction, and a clear pain point: the complexity and risk associated with locating underground utility lines, and preventing damage.

Contractors and utility providers needed smarter, faster tools, and Marc had been in their shoes.

But what made Marc stand out wasn’t just the “idea”. Nor that he had substantial industry experience.

It was his mindset.

From the beginning, he approached 811spotter with the same mentality endurance athletes bring to race day: respect the distance, trust the training, and put one foot in front of the other.

Mostly, Marc showed up. Week after week.

He showed up with clarity, curiosity, and a willingness to be wrong — but only so he could learn what was right.

That’s what we call Traction Science.

The difference between burning out and breaking through is fuel.

Marc got that. He knew how to resource his run.

In a marathon, that’s sports beans, hydration, pacing, and cheering squads at mile 20.

In a startup? Milestones, mentors, and validation. It’s timely wins that give you just enough energy to keep pushing through the hard miles.

What fueled Marc?

• Gritty, unglamorous execution

• Real feedback from paying customers

• A willingness to ask for help — and listen

• A team that believed in the mission and showed up

He didn’t always move fast. But he always moved forward.

Evidence over emotion. Validation over vibes.

Marc’s work inside the Traction Lab embodied the belief that startups don’t scale on hype… they scale on evidence.

Every move should be a testable investment.

And that the most important component of building a startup is evidence and validation that provides a concrete signal.

Marc treated each piece of traction like a mile marker — a sign it was time to double down. And it was always based on the evidence found in the market or on the marathon course.

Never on the “vibes”.

Running a marathon isn’t about being fast. It’s about not quitting.

Building a startup isn’t about being flashy.

It’s about sustained problem-solving, evidence gathering, and continually pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.

Marc often talked about how his growth as a founder mirrored his mindset as a runner: not obsessed with outcomes, but dialed into the daily work:

• Did we talk to customers today?

• Are we building on validation or vibes?

• Did we learn something new this week?

• Did we make the product better in a way that matters?

It’s the “grit mindset” — the daily discipline of going to the market, validating assumptions, and investing time/energy based on evidence.

And that’s the muscle founders build when they embrace the marathon, not the medal.

Only the chosen few finish the race.

According to industry data, less than 10% of funded startups reach a meaningful exit.

Not of all startups. Of funded startups.

And of the 1.1 million people who train for a marathon each year, fewer than 1% actually finish one.

The Venn diagram? Close enough to call it a photo finish.

Because both journeys are long.

Unforgiving.

They require more persistence than polish, more feedback than fanfare.

Marc ran both races.

And he crossed both finish lines the same way:

• With humility

• With hunger for what’s next

• With deep respect for what it took to get there

We are excited to see how he will continue to grow 811spotter within IRTH Solutions.

Because we know he’s just preparing for the next race.

The finish line isn’t the end.

Here’s what they don’t tell you about finishing a marathon, or getting a successful exit:

It feels incredible… for a moment.

And then?

You want to run again.

Because once you’ve trained your body to operate with that kind of focus, clarity, and drive… you crave the next challenge.

Marc isn’t done. Far from it.

He’s proud of what he built. Excited for where it’s going. And already lacing up for what’s next.

Because that’s who Marc is.

A builder. A learner. A long-distance runner.

If you’re early in the race — remember Marc.

You don’t need to sprint. You need to train smart.

You don’t need hype. You need signal.

You don’t need to win every mile. You just need to keep going.

Surround yourself with the right team. Fuel with the right resources. Show up when it’s boring. Push through when it’s brutal. And celebrate when the finish line finally comes into view.

Then?

Lace up again.

Take care,

—Cameron

PS: If you’re running your own marathon, we’re in your corner. Let us know how we can support your next mile.