We don’t have to write these annual letters. No rule demands it. No investors expect it.

That’s not why we’re here.

At Decada, Adam and I chose a different path: self-funding our journey. No outside capital. No quarterly targets. This wasn’t about avoiding accountability — it was about focusing on what truly matters:

• The team members who take a chance on us, stepping into one of our companies and betting on our leadership,

• The founders who sell us their life’s work, trusting us to honor their legacy,

• And the communities that depend on the businesses we steward to create opportunity and connection.

Stewardship is at the heart of everything we do.

It’s about taking ownership of the future — of the businesses we lead, the people who depend on them, and the impact they create. Writing these letters is one way we live that philosophy. Not as PR, but as a discipline: reflect, report, and chart a clear path forward.

Since year one, these letters have sharpened our thinking and documented our journey. They’re not just a recap — they’re a manifesto for our values and a report card on how well we’ve lived up to them.

If you’re considering selling us your business, or joining Decada, take this as a window into how we think and operate.

More businesses should do this. The label—journal, report, ledger—doesn’t matter. What matters is the pause: asking, Are we building what we set out to create? Are we staying true to our purpose?

For us, business is about more than numbers. It’s about people, purpose, and legacy. And it’s through this lens of stewardship that we aim to build something that lasts.

Thank you for reading.

- Chase & Adam