Here's something that hit me this morning while reviewing year-end strategies with a client: we don't have 65 days left in 2025. We have 45 business days.
Factor in weekends and federal holidays, and suddenly that comfortable cushion of time evaporates – and it’s even shorter if you tack on the days that most people will take surrounding those holidays. For startups trying to close the year strong and set up 2026 for success, every single one of those days matters.
After two decades in this business—12 of them working directly with emerging companies—I've watched the most successful startups use this final stretch strategically. So let's talk about the three things the smartest founders are prioritizing right now to finish strong.
The most compelling year-end narratives I've seen come from founders who took time in November to reflect and refine. Journalists are finalizing their year-end roundups right now. Industry analysts are pulling together their trend reports. Your potential customers are making budget decisions for Q1 2026.
What the best startups do: They create a clear, compelling story about what they accomplished this year and where they're headed. They identify the moments that mattered—the problem they solved differently, the unexpected milestone, the successful pivot.
The key is contextualization. "We grew 200%, which means 500 small businesses now have access to enterprise-level security they couldn't afford before" tells a story that resonates. It shows impact, not just metrics.
Your opportunity this week: Draft three versions of your year-end story—one for press, one for investors, and one for customers. They should feel cohesive but address what each audience actually cares about. This clarity will serve you through year-end conversations and into 2026.
January is pitch season. Investors return from the holidays ready to write checks. Potential partners start exploring collaborations. Journalists begin mapping out Q1 coverage.
And every single one of them will Google you first.
What the best startups do: They use November as their annual digital refresh. They approach their online presence with fresh eyes—Google themselves, review their social profiles, read their About page as if they're a first-time visitor. Then they update everything to reflect their current story, their evolved positioning, and their 2026 vision.
This proactive approach means when opportunity knocks in January, your digital presence reinforces your pitch rather than requiring explanation.
Your opportunity this week: Create a checklist. Update your website copy, press page, team bios, and social profiles. Make everything current, consistent, and compelling. You have 45 days—investing ten of them in getting your house in order pays dividends when January hits.
The startups that hit the ground running in January share one thing in common: they planned in November.
What the best startups do: They recognize that the first few weeks of the new year naturally involve team realignments, budget finalizations, and getting everyone back up to speed. So they use these final 45 days to map out their Q1 communications strategy with clarity and intention.
Your opportunity this week: Block four hours on your calendar. Map out January through March with realistic milestones. Identify the 3-5 communications priorities that will actually move your business forward—the feature story pitch, the thought leadership campaign, the product launch, the rebrand rollout.
Then work backward. What needs to happen in these final 45 days to make those priorities achievable? Who needs to be involved? What assets need to be created? What relationships need to be nurtured now?
When you start January with a plan instead of creating one on the fly, you gain weeks of momentum.
Here's what I've learned working with companies at every stage: The startups that approach communications strategically—especially during transition periods like year-end—are the ones getting covered in January trend pieces, closing deals in March, and building momentum that compounds throughout the year.
You have 45 business days. Not 65. Not "the rest of the year."
Forty-five focused days to position yourself powerfully for 2026.
The founders I most admire use this time intentionally. They're not scrambling—they're strategizing. They're not reacting—they're preparing. They're finishing this year strong and starting the next one stronger.
What could be possible if you approached these final weeks the same way?
