Failure, Venture Capital, and the Spiritual Wisdom of AA
Between 1998 and 2004, I worked as a venture capitalist. In that world, VCs learn from each other constantly, and one oft-quoted insight from top-tier investors is this: they tend to look more favorably on founders who have failed—once, maybe even twice—in early-stage startups.
Why? Because failure builds “street cred.” Founders who’ve lived through failure know what it looks like, what it feels like, and—most importantly—where it went wrong. That kind of experience is invaluable. It sharpens intuition. It builds resilience. And in venture capital, where you’re often investing in markets that don’t yet exist, for technologies that aren’t proven, and for business models that look shaky on paper, that kind of grounded insight is gold.
Today’s AA Daily Reflection echoes this same truth: your spiritual and emotional growth depends not only on your successes, but also on your failures.
In the U.S., business failure is viewed far more constructively than in many other Western cultures like Australia or Europe. It’s no coincidence that the U.S. leads the world in venture capital—and part of that leadership comes from a cultural willingness to respect failure as a teacher.
Bill W., the American co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, understood this deeply. He saw spiritual and emotional failure not as shameful, but as fertile ground for growth. He was onto something.
Whether you’re building a startup or rebuilding a life, failure isn’t the end of the story. It’s often the beginning of a better one as failure provides a platform for practical lessons, building resilience and honing intuition.
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About Jason Bresnehan
Jason is the founder of Evahan, a consultancy dedicated to helping individuals and organizations build both financial and legacy wealth. With over 30 years of leadership across sectors and continents, he brings commercial acumen, strategic insight, and lived experience to every engagement. His work spans business transformation, venture management, and M&A, always grounded in a belief that ideas—shared with clarity, balance, and respect—can improve individuals, families, communities, and society.
A strong advocate for freedom, limited government, and enterprise-driven progress, Jason also draws deeply from his personal recovery journey—an experience that reshaped his life and fuels his commitment to growth, contribution, and principled living. Through writing, speaking, and service, he continues to learn, share, and speak with purpose.
I can be engaged (on a remunerated or volunteer basis) to sit on Boards, Committees, Advisory and Reference Group Panels, and to speak to Business, Community, and Youth groups. I’m also open to providing comment to media on topics where I have relevant experience or insight. Please feel free to make contact.