Editorial companion

What stands out

At a Forbes conversation Maggie McGrath hosted, Maven Clinic founder Kate Ryder and CLEAR founder Caryn Seidman Becker described investor skepticism as a recurring theme in their early years, not a roadblock but a forcing function. The clip matters because it shows how companies tackling messy, regulated arenas, healthcare and security, go from dismissed to indispensable when founders focus on solving real user problems, survive early winters, and let operational traction do the convincing. For investors tempted by the next shiny headline, this is a compact case study in why patience and execution beat charisma.