Startup Founders: Unicorns and Rainbows — The Hard Truths of Building a Business (Tacoma Startup Week Panel)

Recorded live at the first-ever Tacoma Startup Week, this panel—Startup Founders: Unicorns and Rainbows—pulls back the curtain on what entrepreneurship really looks like. Jason Cavness moderates a candid conversation with founders who share the highs, lows, and lessons of startup life. The goal isn't to discourage entrepreneurship, but to reveal the resilience and realism required to thrive in it.

Episode Highlights

• Finding balance between passion and burnout • Mental health and self-care for founders • The truth about funding and investor expectations • Why customer research matters more than pitch decks • Building a company that survives beyond the hype

Call to Action

🎧 Full episodes: www.thejasoncavnessexperience.com 💡 Become an owner in CavnessHR: https://wefunder.com/cavnesshr 📘 Download 7 free startup ebooks: https://www.buildcavnesshr.com/ebooks

Panel Guests (Condensed Bios & Links)

James Marszalek – Founder at Operation Red Dot Gov-Con LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesmarszalek/

Laura Malcolm – Founder & CEO of Give In Kind LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauramalcolm/

Sarah Bell – Startup Adviser at LeapSheep LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-bell-startup-building-adviser-at-leapsheep/

Ellenor McIntosh – Co-Founder of Twipes LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellenor-mcintosh/

Special thanks to Karina Martija-Harris of Washington Maritime Blue for hosting the event. LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-martija-harris-she-her-hers-ba48a715b/