What’s up guys.

The last few weeks have been some of those rare runs where everything hit at once. Founders Forum in New York City, right into an afterparty at Othership. The next day, celebrating with our core crew at John Summit, and then straight into a keynote in Toronto at Ecom North.

No pause button, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Founders Forum = A Dream Realized

For the past year, Chris and I have been talking about what it would look like to bring our community into a true Forum. A full-day experience where 250+ of the most ambitious founders in the world could be in one room, trading stories, sharing challenges, and building something bigger than any of us could on our own.

A few weeks ago in NYC, it became real.

The numbers tell part of the story: 250+ founders, $8.4 billion+ in combined revenue. That’s awesome to look back on, but numbers never capture the full thing. The magic was in the conversations, the late-night brainstorms, and the moments where someone stood up and shared something raw.

When ambitious people show up with honesty and openness, the energy is unmatched. That’s what set the tone in New York. And when the day was done, we weren’t finished. We walked straight into Othership for the afterparty: ice baths, saunas, music, connection. A way to close out the day with the kind of depth that I just love.

The next day, our team capped it all off at John Summit. The day after the Forum felt like winning a championship, because in a way, we did. The dream of building a modern-day YPO isn’t just an idea anymore. It’s alive, and it’s only the beginning.

Straight Into Toronto

I landed back in Toronto the next morning with no voice and a fever from the New York sprint. Every reason to cancel my keynote at Ecom North. Every reason to say, “not this time.” But growth only happens when you show up anyway. So I took the stage sick, exhausted, and more determined than ever. And it ended up being one of the most special talks of my career.

I spoke on limiting beliefs, growth mindset, and the role your environment plays in shaping who you become.

Because here’s what I’ve learned: your circle is everything. The people you surround yourself with will either limit you with their doubts, or launch you forward with their belief. If you’re building something big, you can’t afford to live inside someone else’s limiting story.

You need people who expand your vision, not shrink it. That’s what Founders Club has always been about. And that’s why Ecom North felt like such a full-circle moment. From selling juice in Toronto at 18, to selling blankets out of my trunk at 22, to standing on a stage in my hometown speaking to entrepreneurs about rewriting their story.

It’s all connected.

The Power of Story

Someone asked me what the genesis was to be selling HUSH Blankets. Not to dumb it down too much, but the crux of it was a single LinkedIn post. One moment of putting myself out there, and everything changed.

That’s why I always tell founders: your job is to be the best storyteller in the room. In 2025, that room isn’t four walls. It’s the entire world. The brands that win aren’t just the ones with the best product. They’re the ones that tell a story people want to be part of.

When we first launched HUSH, I had no playbook. I was moving around Toronto with 10 blankets in my trunk, making content and trying to give back where it mattered. That one “unscalable” act set the tone for everything that followed: the Kickstarter campaign, the Dragons’ Den pitch, the $48 million acquisition.

People always say: “do what scales.” I’ll always say: do what matters, the scale will chase you.

My Guest at This Time

Speaking of stories worth telling, this week on Founder2Founder, I sat down with Keida Dervishi, the 20-year-old founder of Soulmate Customs.

Keida’s story is the kind that reminds me why I love doing this. At 19, she made a hoodie for her mom’s birthday. That one sweatshirt turned into 82,000+ orders, $1 million in revenue her first year, and a brand that’s been featured in Business Insider and Access Hollywood. She built everything through TikTok, without funding or a financial safety net. She’s a prime example of what pure creativity and consistency can do to a business.

We talked about:

What it feels like to go viral and handle 1,400 orders in a single month.
How to navigate burnout when your business takes off faster than you can breathe.
The systems and team she’s building to turn a viral moment into a lasting company.

Her blueprint is a reminder that you don’t need permission to start, you need conviction in yourself and what you’re building. If you want to hear what the next generation of founders is building, you don’t want to miss this one.

The Edge is Clarity

Here’s something else I’ve been thinking about: when you’re handling nearly 2,000 applications a month for The Founders Club, with an acceptance rate under 5%, you can’t afford to be foggy. You can’t afford to let AI write your story.

That’s why our team starts every day with 10 minutes of breathwork. It keeps us clear, connected, and fully present for the founders we serve. Clarity is the edge and presence is the multiplier. That’s what allows us to keep building this thing at the level we are.

Bringing It All Home

From NYC to Toronto, from Othership to John Summit, from a sick keynote to a sold-out Forum, this last stretch reminded me why I keep showing up. Everything is about presence and building rooms full of people who raise the standard. It’s about refusing to let limiting beliefs dictate your future.

The club is buzzing. The conversations are deeper than ever. And the next chapter is already being written. If you’ve been following along, know this: I’m grateful for you. And I hope this serves as your reminder to surround yourself with people who make you bigger, not smaller.

See you at the next Forum.

Until next time,
Aaron