2025 marked a significant year for Miguel Carranza as founder and CTO of RevenueCat. The pace of change in the tech industry felt overwhelming, with new trends like vibe coding emerging and Apple allowing external payment links for the first time. Amid these shifts, RevenueCat received a serious acquisition offer, which stirred deep emotions and stress for Carranza and his co-founder, Jacob. After weighing the potential for personal wealth against their commitment to the company, they ultimately decided to remain independent, believing they had a unique opportunity to build something lasting in the app economy. In navigating this decision, Carranza reflected on what would make him quit and realized that most issues were manageable or within his control. He chose to raise another funding round to reduce risk, ensuring that he and his team could continue building without the pressure of selling. He also engaged with other founders who had faced similar choices, finding value in their perspectives on enduring the challenges of entrepreneurship. His wife’s support played a crucial role, reinforcing the idea that their sacrifices over the past decade were worthwhile and that they could achieve even more. Throughout the year, Carranza focused on expanding his role and visibility. He set clear goals for himself, including shipping a new app and connecting with customers daily. He ramped up his travel, attending numerous conferences and community events, which he used as opportunities to strengthen relationships and gather insights. Despite the intensive schedule, he found purpose in being a visible leader and community advocate, emphasizing the importance of personal interactions in the tech space.