Navigating Relationships with Startup Founders

I’m dating a founder and it feels like a relationship on steroids. I’ve had to take a backseat to my dreams— but with the right person, it’s worth it.

Maria Diaz Valdez and her partner Emil. Maria Diaz Valdez Maria Diaz Valdez has been dating her partner, Emil, since he became a founder about four years ago. She says she put her dreams on the back burner to help him grow, but she knows it will be worth it. Diaz Valdez says dating a founder requires a strong sense of self, boundaries, and a support system. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maria Diaz Valdez, a 29-year-old based in Spain. It's been edited for length and ...