The Subway Crash That Killed My Business (And 26 Lives)

I woke up with a gnawing feeling of unease in my gut.

Something felt off, but I couldn't place it. 'Today is the day,' I thought, trying to push down the strange anxiety. After all, this was supposed to be about excitement—the metro contract, the meeting with Mexico City's head of government (and now president of Mexico), everything we'd worked towards for months was supposed to take place at 10 am.

I had no idea why dread was creeping through my veins instead of anticipation.

Then, as I scrolled through my cell phone, everything came to a halt. Line 12 of the Mexico City Metro had collapsed at Olivos station the night before.

Twenty-six lives lost. Just like that.

The bitter irony crushed me.

This was more than just another contract falling through; it was our last lifeline. We dedicated eight months to perfecting our nano-coating technology for the metro system.

This wasn't some snake oil solution; we'd developed an antimicrobial TiO₂ coating that could kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus within minutes of contact, permanently.

We'd proven it on Line 4. Every test, every validation, every scrutinizing eye—we'd passed them all. 

The only thing that was missing was the signature of our contract.

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The Day Everything Changed

The head of government herself, Claudia Sheinbaum, had overseen our progress. The contract was ready. May 3, 2021, was slated to be our pivotal moment, the day that would rescue us from the financial precipice we'd been hovering over since the pandemic struck.

Instead, it became the day that taught me the hardest lesson of my entrepreneurial journey: you can do everything right and still lose.

As the overpass fell, so did our future. Sheinbaum had to focus on the crisis—as she should have—but years of effort, planning, and hope dissolved overnight.

Our meticulous preparation, groundbreaking technology, financial salvation—none of it mattered in the shadow of tragedy.

Looking back, one truth became clear: success is not just about execution.

It’s about embracing what you can’t control.

All we can do is focus on what remains in our power—our effort, our preparation, and above all, our integrity.

That’s it for today; thanks for tuning in.

Roman

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