The four of us raised our glasses, toasting innovation and disruption. We were all CEOs of corporate startups, but instead of celebrating our successes, we gathered to commiserate. We called ourselves the "Broken Hearts Club"—and for good reason.
We didn’t talk about markets, tech, or competition at these meetings. 90% of the conversation was navigating internal corporate politics. How do I get this decision through? How do I stay on good terms with that executive? How do I prevent unwanted appointments from corporate HQ? These were our daily battles.
When we were hired, we were sold a dream: challenging projects, groundbreaking technologies, and limitless growth opportunities. And we got those projects—just without the independence or support we were promised. Which made the challenges that much harder.
Here’s my takeaway for scale-ups looking to work with corporate partners: guard your independence fiercely. The moment you let a corporation dictate your operations is the moment you lose control. You won’t be developing strategies or perfecting your tech; you’ll be spending 90% of your time managing corporate politics.
Got your own heartbroken stories? Share them in the comments or drop me a message—let’s set up a call. 💔