First Block: Interview with Adeyemi Ajao, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Base10 Partners

Navigating the startup journey requires unlearning cultural constraints, such as the tendency to prioritize social harmony over bold ambition. Adeyemi Ajao, co-founder of Base10 Partners, emphasizes that successful founders must shift from a "friends-first" to a "founders-first" mentality, treating their team like a sports squad focused on winning. His immigrant background—having lived in Spain, Nigeria, and Italy—provided a unique "world brain" perspective, allowing him to identify patterns and adapt to diverse environments. This experience informs his current role as an investor, where he focuses on automating the real economy while dedicating 50% of firm profits to scholarships for future entrepreneurs. Ultimately, building a sustainable company involves embracing the inevitable chaos of growth and maintaining a positive, resilient mindset throughout the entire lifecycle of a venture.