Sunday Startup Newsletter: Aligning Your Purpose, Overcoming 2024, and Building for 2025 

This Week’s Video: Founders, You Have One Main Job 

In this week’s video, we discuss the one main job every founder must master. Success in business isn’t just about strategy; it’s about alignment—with God’s purpose and your mission. This involves these four ingredients:

 1. Discovering God’s Plan and Purpose: Your startup isn’t just a business—it’s a calling. Discover God’s purpose for your life and align your venture with His mission.

 2. Developing Faith to Do the Impossible: Faith isn’t passive. It’s active, bold, and visionary. When faith meets action, what once seemed impossible becomes reality.

 3. Developing the Playbook to Land Investors: Investors need more than a vision—they need a roadmap. Build a playbook that demonstrates clarity, preparation, and a path to growth.

 4. Developing the Playbook to Land Customers: Customers are the lifeblood of your venture. A solid customer acquisition strategy is non-negotiable.

Topic Two: What If Your Startup Fell Short in 2024? 

Let’s face it—2024 may not have turned out the way you hoped. You’re not alone. Every founder faces setbacks, but here’s the truth:

 • Setbacks are setups for comebacks.

 • Failure is feedback, not defeat.

Reflect on what didn’t work. Was it your product? Your pitch? Your alignment with God’s purpose? The answers to your challenges are often right in front of you.

This week’s Startup Church video dives deeper into overcoming failure and using it as a stepping stone for 2025.

Topic Three: The Answer Is Right in Front of You 

Founders often overcomplicate their journey. But here’s the secret: God’s guidance is always near.

 • Pray for clarity.

 • Take deliberate action.

 • Trust that He will provide the resources and direction you need.

This truth applies whether you’re struggling to land customers, secure funding, or discover your next move.

This Week’s Stories 

Post 1: It All Starts With God 

Every venture begins with a simple idea from God. Aligning with His plan (Matthew 6:33) turns dreams into action. Faith combined with execution yields fruit—no matter the season.

Post 2: The Calm Phenomenon 

Calm scaled to $2B by solving a massive problem: mental wellness. But their success also reveals a deeper issue—burnout and stress in today’s culture. Let’s celebrate their innovation while rethinking how we live and work.

Post 3: Embrace Your First Times 

From hitting $10M to making the Inc. 500, every milestone matters. Whether it’s your first win or your first failure, embrace it. These moments shape the founder you’re becoming.

Post 4: A Startup Playbook That Works 

93% of startups won’t break $1M in annual revenue. Why? They lack a viable playbook. It’s time to stop chasing theory and start building a foundation for real growth—customers first, then investors.

Post 5: Reading the Room—VC Edition 

Decoding your pitch effectiveness isn’t just about words—it’s about reading your audience. This week’s lighthearted post on VC facial expressions reveals the unspoken language of funding.

Post 6: Searching for the 1% 

CanaGlobal isn’t chasing unicorns; we’re planting oak trees. We’re seeking faith-driven founders who align with God’s purpose and have the potential to join the rare 1% of startups that surpass $10M.

Looking Ahead to 2025: A Word of Encouragement 

2025 is a fresh start. Whether you’re recovering from setbacks or building on success, remember:

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have poverty.” – Proverbs 28:19

Work your land. Be faithful with what God has entrusted to you. Focus on purpose, take bold steps, and trust His timing. This isn’t just another year—it’s your year to plant, build, and prosper. Let’s make it count. Together, we’re building ventures that last for decades, aligned with God’s eternal purpose.

Here’s to the mighty oaks we’ll plant in 2025!

Until next week,

Gerald 
Managing Partner, CanaGlobal

PS — Follow me,  Gerald Duran for daily startup and VC mentorship, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘁 from CanaGlobal's faith-driven venture studio and startup incubator.

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