I’m dating a founder and it feels like a relationship on steroids. I’ve had to take a backseat to my dreams— but with the right person, it’s worth it.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Maria Diaz Valdez, a 29-year-old based in Spain. It’s been edited for length and clarity.

I feel like a relationship with a founder is a relationship on steroids because it’s so intense in the trust and patience it requires. I’ve had to be committed to his journey, but I’m not in charge of it, and that’s very scary.

My partner, Emil, and I met as roommates in a shared household in Norway, and we’ve been together for four years. I was lucky enough to get to know him so well as a friend before we started dating because we had all sorts of honest conversations about our goals without trying to…