The Endurance 28 team and founders stand in front of the iconic Landscape Arch in Arches National Park
By Jared Campbell
Endurance28 wrapped another unforgettable Founders Retreat—and this one was nothing short of extraordinary. Set in the breathtaking red rock landscape of Moab, Utah, we gathered a crew of our ambitious rebels (aka founders!) for a weekend that went far beyond a simple escape. This wasn’t just a retreat—it was an immersive experience designed to challenge, connect, and inspire.
Built to Push Limits—Mentally and Physically
Our action-packed agenda blended mental rigor, physical endurance, and deep connection. From the moment we arrived, the energy was high. Founders flew in from across the globe to participate in activities and workshops that pushed their boundaries and opened their minds.
We kicked off Friday with a sunrise trail run—several miles of road and singletrack climbing up to the plateau just east of town. The reward? A breathtaking view of the desert sunrise, shared with fellow founders ready to start strong.
Nicolas Kirchuk (Biomakers CEO), Garret Demsey (Endurance 28 Staff), Jonathan Chu (Verdigris CTO), Josu Gurtubay (Cubbo COO), and Mark Chung (Verdigris CEO) on the Friday morning run with the town of Moab in the background.
Back at our home base, the Endurance28 team shared exciting firm updates—including the announcement of Jared Campbell (endurance athlete, ultra-runner, and engineer) joining Endurance 28 as Senior Partner. Jared’s addition represents our evolving focus: deepening founder support, stronger sourcing in the climate/environmental pillar, and executing ambitious plans for our next stage of growth.
Fearless Mindset Workshop: Process Over Outcome
Later, our visionary leader Consuelo Valverde and Jared co-led a powerful workshop on developing a fearless mindset. Drawing from Jared’s decades of ultra-distance running and climbing, they explored how top performers—across business and sport—focus more on the process than the outcome.
We unpacked a critical idea: that life, startups, and challenges all involve things we can control… and many we cannot. The key is building a deliberate and intentional response to each, freeing ourselves from the paralyzing grip of the unknown and doubling down on what we can influence. Small, consistent wins build momentum—and resilience.
Jared also challenged us to reframe the unexpected as fuel. Many of the most creative founders in the world don’t just adapt to surprise—they intentionally inject it to spark innovation.
Founders then broke out into a session of reflection and application, sharing how these principles were showing up in their own ventures—and how they could take them further.
Paul Hung, founder of Combinati (exit) and Taudia shares several key methods he uses to run his company that drives rapid learning, setting priorities, and ensuring his team has the support they need. While we can’t control the market, we can control the products we develop and what customers we spend time iterating with.
Arch Adventures, Team Challenges & a Night Hike Under the Stars
That afternoon, the group loaded up into shuttles bound for Arches National Park—but this wasn’t your average hike. Along the way to Landscape Arch, Pine Tree Arch, and Tunnel Arch, founders tackled team challenges designed to test communication, focus, and creativity in motion.
Marlene Timberlake D’Adamo guides a blindfolded Garrett Demsey over a fallen tree in sand using only verbal instructions
After a quick dinner at base camp, the adventure continued with a night hike up the rugged Stairmaster Trail. At the summit, we were rewarded with glowing views of the Moab lights below and a blanket of stars above. Magic.
A night hike up the Stairmaster Trail is magical!
Day Two: From Moonlit Yoga to Tactical Navigation
We welcomed Saturday with a tranquil yoga session at Moonflower Alcove, mats grounded in sand and birdsong all around. It was a soul-centering moment, grounding us for another powerful day.
Yoga at Moonflower
Back at HQ, Trina Weller from Hulu Ventures shared an insightful story on decision-making with limited information—a daily reality for founders. That theme continued with Jared guiding us through the fundamentals of real-world navigation: reading maps, using a compass, building a route with only fragments of information.
Founders broke into teams for a real-world challenge near Slickrock Trail, navigating a multi-checkpoint course using clues, high-point bearings, and strategic team planning. Rapid iteration, situational assessment, and collaborative problem-solving ruled the day—mirroring the daily chaos (and thrill) of building a startup.
Team 2 works together to calculate a bearing
Team 1 hones in on their next milestone, ensuring there is agreement on it and then formulating an initial plan on how to get there.
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much” – Helen Keller
We closed the loop with a debrief and discussion over lunch, reflecting on parallels between wilderness navigation and leadership.
Wrapping Up with Big Ideas and a Feast
Back at base, Trina led a 4-hour workshop on structured decision-making—bringing method, clarity, and discipline to founder instincts.
Trina Weller leads the Decision Quality Workshop
As the sun set, our amazing founders, Nicolas Kirchuk and Ruben Salanova (Biomakers), Adrian Avendano (Ares Materials) and Marina Simian (Encoliq) prepared an unforgettable dinner. We gathered around for food, reflection, and powerful conversations about the unique bond between Endurance28 and our founder community. Each founder read their personalized letter—heartfelt messages written by Consuelo Valverde, thoughtfully comparing them to members of Shackleton’s crew. It was a deeply moving and meaningful gesture which brought emotions to the surface and put on full display the unique relationship that exists with our founders.
Emiel Cockx, CEO of Genvision reads his letter aloud where he is compared to George Marston from Shackleton’s crew
Inspired, Connected, and Ready for What’s Next
The weekend wrapped with tired legs, full hearts, and minds buzzing with ideas, connections, and clarity. We returned home inspired and challenged—ready to keep building, growing, and exploring.
Until our next expedition…
– Team Endurance28
