Sponsors aren’t cutting checks for ambition—they’re investing in ecosystems. A clever pitch deck or bold idea used to be enough, but now brands want proof that you’ve built something bigger: a media machine that moves audiences across channels.

Being a founder doesn’t mean you have to do it all—and trying to be your own CMO might be the reason your brand is stuck. In this essay, we break down “The Founder’s Trap,” why hustle isn’t a marketing strategy, and how to know when it’s time to bring in strategic support.