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As startup life presents relentless challenges, it’s crucial to prioritize mental health to sustain the #entrepreneurial journey. Alarmingly, a recent Sifted survey revealed that nearly half of the startup founders are contemplating quitting their ventures, with 85% experiencing high stress and 75% facing anxiety. Read Zack Ellison, CFA, CAIA’s three-part series in Built In to build a stronger, healthier foundation to tackle the unique challenges of the startup world: https://lnkd.in/gbpiHYcV

Discover how the Founder Mental Health Pledge is revolutionizing the startup ecosystem by integrating mental health support into VC term sheets. #mentalhealth #startups #entrepreneurship

I happen to work with executives who are coming at the mental health problem from many different angles. Some own and operate inpatient and outpatient facilities, while others are building solutions for mental health to be offered across their digital presence and ecosystem thereto. It is clearly a market that is getting much more attention. What investors, employees and the families of Startup Founders don't often realize is how important leadership's mental health is critical to the success of the venture. Appreciate PitchBook's Leah Hodgson for bringing this topic forward in these Q&A excerpts with Suranga Chandratillake of Balderton Capital. We skipped the institutional seed funding stage of our venture. There are all kinds of reasons but having had a couple of decades in and around the VC world, most of these institutions are not focusing on founder mental health and toughness. Actually, most early-stage funds give a founder about a year to prove their worth, and after that you either find yourself in the nurture bucket or into the ignored bucket. They too have limited bandwidth to focus on nurturing all the long-term bets they make. Although, having engaged Strategic Angels, who have been through your crusade, is extremely helpful for sanity checks, constructive criticism and bringing forward real solutions as opposed to just a sympathetic ear. I don't know what I would do without that. I also found myself a great Executive Coach (Andrew Elliot Stern) which is highly recommended. A Founder's mental health is also a direct result of the effectiveness of the team they have around them and how committed they are. If everyone else around you have the attitude that this is just a job or just a bet, you will find yourself in a state of mental imbalance often. If you are a founder constantly evaluate the strength of your support system. How many times does an investor or key leadership reach out to you just to check in and see how you are doing? Not when a meeting is scheduled for another agenda or when they need something, opening the call with the salutatory: "How's the wife and the kids?" Founder's mental stability skyrockets when they get a brief text about a little win, a social media post they liked or a mere advancement on a priority -- a splash of purpose goes a long way to reenergize a Founder. Note: Big red flag if they avoid contact except when absolutely necessary. As Suranga appropriately points out: "The core challenge is that being a startup CEO is a very intense job and also a very long-term job. It’s the kind of job where if you let it, it can take every minute of your day, and as a result, there is no time for anything else. It’s the starvation of all things in pursuit of the journey that you’re on as a CEO and founder. If you live with that level of imbalance for a long period of time, then you end up burning out." 👍

Founders, let’s talk about the unseen risk: Your mind. The mental and emotional toll of building a startup is real. → Did you know that 72% of startup founders struggle with mental health issues → High stress, anxiety, burnout, and even depression are common → The journey can feel isolating—26.9% of founders report feeling lonely or disconnected. You’re not alone in this fight, but many suffer in silence, believing it’s a necessary sacrifice for success. But here’s the truth: The greatest risk we face as founders is within ourselves. When we neglect our mental health, we burn out, break down, and lose focus. So how do we de-risk our minds? 𝗔𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲: ↳ don’t push it to the side ↳ like we mitigate risk in business ↳ we must do the same for our mental health 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁: ↳ whether it’s a trusted network, mental health resources, or mentors ↳ don’t try to go it alone ↳ you need people in your corner Now here’s where faith comes in. When the world tells you to push harder, God tells you to rest. “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). We aren’t meant to carry the weight alone. True de-risking comes from surrender, placing the burdens we carry—fear, anxiety, doubt—into God’s hands. As we move forward in our startups, we can also trust in the divine. We plan We prepare We work hard But ultimately, we trust God’s purpose for our journey. It’s not just about de-risking your startup, but de-risking your mind by grounding yourself in faith. Stay the course, founders. Your calling is bigger than the risks you face. ~~~ Need help, 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 and reach out. Follow me, Gerald Duran for daily startup and VC mentorship, 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘁 from CanaGlobal's faith-driven venture studio and startup incubator. #startups #venturecapital #entrepreneurship

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 Amidst the frenzy of tracking startup metrics like revenue and growth, one vital aspect often gets sidelined: the emotional journey of the founders themselves. Picture this: founders are like the proud parents of their startups, nurturing their brainchild with boundless love and dedication. Yet, amidst the pursuit of financial success, their emotional well-being often takes a backseat. It's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of scaling revenues and expanding market share, but let's not overlook the heartbeat of every startup: the mental health of its founders. After all, they're the ones pouring their sweat, tears, and endless hours into turning their vision into reality. So, while the numbers climb and the business landscape evolves, let's not forget to check in on the emotional resilience of those steering the ship. In the journey of startup success, mental fortitude is the compass guiding us through the highs and lows. Thanks Sifted article https://lnkd.in/ec4VQQsu to address a standard condition between founders. Daniele Francescon and Danila De Stefano it could be an interesting suggestion based on data to build a specific path for those who are leading startups.

No startup is doing as well as they say (i know this firsthand 😅) Read this for your mental health ⤵️ As a startup founder, you don't want to admit that things aren't going super well to pretty much anyone. If you tell your investors, they won't be happy. If you post about it online, people might think that they shouldn't buy from you or take advice from you. If you tell your employees, they might panic and lose faith in the company. Soo for that reason, you'll probably only see and hear the really positive stuff. And as a founder, you might start comparing yourself and your startup to what you see on TechCrunch or on LinkedIn from other founders. But their startup isn't perfect. Maybe there's a fight going on with the co-founders or there's a massive bug in their code or a big client just churned. There is probably something going on at their startup that makes them worried or concerned. And you will never know. Maybe that person is looking at your startup and thinking that it's perfect. But you know there are issues internally and that yours is not perfect. Don't compare yourself or your startup to someone else or another startup. Just track your own progress and ensure you're hitting your own goals. Nobody and no company is perfect and doing well all the time. Take what you see with a grain of salt and realize that every founder is stressed and has issues with their startup ALL THE TIME. ❤️

Mental health startups in Europe raised $1.2bn during the boom of 2021. It’s fair to say that funding has fallen a long way since then. Startups in the sector picked up just $343m in 2022, falling to just $80m in 2023, amid a wider pullback from digital health funding. But despite VC confidence in the sector waning, the global mental health market is estimated to be worth $38bn this year (20% of the entire digital health market). That presents a huge opportunity for mental health startups that can convince investors to part with their cash. So which companies have investors got their eyes on? To find out, Sifted asked VCs from Boost Capital Partners, Molten Ventures, UNIQA Ventures, InHealth Ventures, Calm/Storm and NLC Health Ventures. There was just one catch: they couldn’t nominate portfolio companies. https://lnkd.in/ePKzrPg9

Reflections on the Entrepreneurial Experience: Community's Impact on Mental Health In pondering our recent discussions about solopreneurship and team-based startups, we've been struck by a crucial aspect of the founder's journey: the impact of community on mental health. In the world of entrepreneurship, whether solo or with a team, challenges are a constant companion. My experiences at Kavedon Kapital have shown me the invaluable role community plays in nurturing mental health and resilience. 👥 Insights on Community Support: Shared Journeys: There’s something uniquely comforting about engaging with fellow entrepreneurs. Sharing the journey brings a sense of belonging and mutual understanding. The Power of Networks: I've seen how founders gain strength from connecting in groups or forums, breaking through the isolation that can shadow the entrepreneurial path. Mentorship as a Guiding Light: Witnessing the growth and support fostered by mentorship relationships has been inspiring. 🧠 Observations on Mental Health: Easing the Stress: Regular community engagement seems to significantly alleviate the stress and anxiety of startup life. Collaborative Confidence: The idea exchange within networks not only enhances business strategies but also seems to elevate founders' confidence and clarity. Solidarity in Highs and Lows: There's a profound reassurance in knowing we're not alone in this venture. 🔍 Our Approach at Kavedon Kapital: Cultivating Connections: We're dedicated to creating spaces for our founders to connect and support each other. Championing Engagement: Encouraging participation in diverse networking groups has been a key focus for us. Fostering Mentorships: We believe in the power of mentor-mentee relationships, extending our support beyond just financial investments. 🚀 A Personal Takeaway: The entrepreneurial journey is enriched by community. I've come to see the strength and support it offers as essential in both navigating the business world and maintaining mental well-being. #CommunitySupport #FounderMentalHealth #Entrepreneurship #Revveon #kavedonkapital #kavedon #tech #funding #venturecapital #venture #vc #startup #startups #founders #investing #investor

"Founders are reaching breaking point    During the first year of the pandemic, I lived with a founder. I saw first-hand just how relentlessly tough it is to run a company day in, day out: how you jump one hurdle just to whack right into another one; how the whole team’s problems become your problems; how fundraising runs your batteries all the way down; and how your mind never really switches off. That was a brutal year. But, based on our recent survey of 156 founders’ mental health, it seems like last year was equally difficult, if not more so.    Founders told us about their experiences in the past year, with 85% suffering from high stress while 75% said they had anxiety. 45% told us they felt that their mental health was ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ at the moment.   “I have been at extremely high levels of stress pretty much non-stop and I am tired and exhausted most of the time,” said one respondent.   “I’m not sure I can muster the energy to keep going,” said another.   Worryingly, they’re far from alone: 49% of founders said they’re considering quitting their startup this year.    “I cannot sustain this rhythm anymore. Solving problems seems the only purpose in my life and while doing it my mental and physical health is deteriorating,” one founder told us. Not every founder, however, feels this way: 28% said if they left their current startup they’d want to start a new one.    But a far bigger group is considering leaving startup life for now. Of those wanting to depart their business, 39% said they’d take a break while 30% would look for a job." Very good radiography made by Amy Lewin from Sifted Now, we stand at a crossroads, faced with the monumental question: Who rescues the startups teetering on the brink of oblivion? In our quest for salvation, we've turned our hopeful gazes towards the EU funds, envisioned as the deus ex machina for the startup world. Yet, for many, this divine intervention remains an elusive dream, shrouded in layers of bureaucracy, seemingly beyond the reach of mere mortals striving to innovate and disrupt. Angel investors in Europe? Perhaps, if you're willing to barter your visionary ambitions for a paltry €2,000, only to find yourself tethered to a new overlord, your dreams diluted by compromise. And what of the brave souls venturing westward, seeking to court US investment? "You are not eligible," echoes the cold, indifferent refrain, a stark reminder of the vast ocean that separates not just continents, but opportunities. For women founders, the journey is fraught with even greater perils. Each step forward seems to edge them closer to the abyss, as opportunities dwindle, leaving them to navigate a labyrinth designed for their exclusion. In this drama that unfolds, where heroes are born and dreams are dashed, the question remains: Who will rise to save the startups? #startuplife #mentalhealth #investment