We both grew up in entrepreneurial, immigrant families, where we learned the value of hard work, resilience, and optimism. When we first met, Ash was building software as a developer and Queris was working in software investment banking. Coming from different sides of the software world, we often exchanged thoughts, debated ideas, and traded notes. Those early conversations sparked deeper discussions about business in general. Over time, we discovered we shared similar levels of drive, curiosity, and ambition, which naturally led us to start tinkering together. From real estate to e-commerce and, of course, software, we explored different ventures. We made some money, learned invaluable lessons, and, most importantly, had a lot of fun (and got married!) along the way. For us, business and life have always been intertwined, a shared journey that brings challenge, growth, and fun in the best possible way. We founded Firstlight to formalize our business partnership and reflect our shared philosophy of how business should be done. At its core, our philosophy is rooted in trusteeship, stewardship, and moral responsibility – principles that go far beyond the fiduciary duties required by law. We believe that growing a business for the long term is the best thing we can do for everyone involved: employees, customers, the community, and shareholders alike. Long-term compounding always wins. Of course, this perspective is not without its challenges – our world is often oriented around short-term results. But we’re committed to taking the long view, intentionally building partnerships with patient capital providers who share our vision for sustainable growth and enduring impact. For us, this isn’t just a career. It’s a lifelong pursuit.