Breaking Up with Disappointment

SDS 075: Breaking Up with Disappointment

Hey! thank you for reading issue 075 of Startup Definition Sunday (SDS). You can read past issues here.

SDS is the only newsletter that is redefining support for Africa's emerging founders. Every other Sunday, we cut through the fundraising and ecosystem noise to bring actionable insights to 2,327 emerging founders.

Final Issue of SDS for 2025

Welcome to the 3rd annual end-of-year issue of SDS and the final edition for 2025! 

It’s amazing to think that what began as a passion project for just 48 readers three years ago has grown into a global community of 2,300+ founders and aspiring founders across Africa and beyond, all with zero dollars spent on marketing. Thank you for discovering and subscribing to this newsletter, no matter how you stumbled upon it. 

As is now tradition, the last issue of the year is less about actionable startup insights and more about a big reflection I’m carrying into the new year. If you missed previous end-of-year reflections, you can check them out here and here. 

Last week Tuesday, I had dinner with a great friend and found myself swapping stories about the unpredictable journeys that bring us to where we are today. It was a wonderful conversation, but one theme stuck with me: disappointment.  

Reflections on Disappointment

Disappointment is a strange thing. Whether it’s a funding round that didn’t close, a promotion that never came, or revenue targets that fell short, we’ve all had to grapple with it at some point. 

What I’ve learned is that disappointment can be sneaky. It has a way of quietly limiting your belief that things can get better. You may not say it out loud, but it shows up in subtle ways. Maybe you don’t ask for that raise or promotion because “they didn’t give it to me last time.” Or, you approach next year’s budget more conservatively because “my investors were tough when I missed my targets.” 

These small adjustments might seem prudent, but that’s the trick of disappointment. If you keep taking smaller bets to avoid the sting of failure, you might protect yourself in the short term. Yet, over time, you may find yourself far from where you hoped to be. 

I’m not speaking theoretically here. This year, I became well-acquainted with disappointment.

When Disappointment Took the Wheel

Many of you know that I launched a second newsletter, Jasiel & Friends (P.S. — subscribe here, it’s free!). My goal was to spotlight the rising stars in Africa; people who aren’t yet famous but are destined to be household names in music, art, tech, and even tea farming. 

When I shared this idea with a friend, their reaction was, “Why would I care about people who aren’t famous?” It was an offhand comment, but it hit hard. I spent a month second-guessing myself, wondering if the newsletter was even worth publishing. 

I ended up taking smaller bets. I didn’t promote Jasiel & Friends as aggressively as I had planned. Growth was slower than I wanted, and looking back, I can pinpoint the exact moment when disappointment settled in and dulled my excitement. 

My Two Pesewas: Breaking Up with Disappointment in 2026

But here’s the thing: I’m done with disappointment. In 2026, I’m taking big bets again. I’m leaving behind the fear of failure, and I’m inviting you to do the same. 

Whatever disappointment you’ve carried this year, let’s break up with it together. Let’s take bold risks, dream big, and chase surprising wins in the new year. 

If you found this helpful, share this newsletter with a fellow founder who might need a nudge as the year winds down. Let’s grow together.

That's all for today. As always, thank you for being an engaged reader. Let me know your thoughts on this issue.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Merry Christmas. I’ll see you in 2026.

Until then,

Jasiel

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The information contained in this newsletter is intended for discussion purposes only. This newsletter contains the current, good faith opinions of the author but not necessarily those of Accion Impact Management, LLC (“AIM”). The newsletter is meant for educational purposes only and should not be considered as investment advice or a recommendation of any type.  The documents may contain forward-looking statements.  These are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that ultimately may prove to be inaccurate. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and may be affected by various factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made and AIM assumes no duty to and does not undertake to update forward-looking statements. This newsletter is not an offer or a solicitation for the sale of a security nor shall there be any sale of a security in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. An investment with AIM involves a degree of risk, and may only be made pursuant to the respective offering documents and organizational materials governing such investment.