As startups change us, how do our friendships change too?

In the early days, founder friendships often feel effortless. Even when friends are building different ventures, there is a shared energy in late-night calls, trading ideas, and cheering each other on. But as Utpal Vaishnav, Founder of Upsquare, shared: “At the start, founder friendships thrive on shared dreams and late-night ideation. But as money, roles, and accountability enter, the bond gets tested. Some friendships bend under the weight, others deepen.”

Startups do not just change our work, they change who we are as people. Net worth grows, roles shift, circles expand, goals diverge. And that is natural. What I have come to value though are friendships that do not orbit around status. The ones where conversations are still about ideas, honest debates, and broader perspectives on life. Even when a friend’s venture is moving at a different pace than others, the respect for their journey and the time shared together does not change. As Utpal put it: “The friendship evolves when they learn to celebrate each other’s growth instead of competing.”

Eventually, another realization comes through: “The company might succeed or fail, but the friendship has to survive. The strongest ones separate the critique of work from the judgment of character.” For me, the friendships that remain are the ones where you can challenge each other, exchange perspectives, and still respect the person more than the numbers attached to their name.

People evolve, and that is fine. But the rare friendships that stay rooted in trust, curiosity, and respect deserve to be cherished.