Startup Vital Signs: The Case for Prioritizing Founder Wellness
In the process of finding, funding, and supporting startups that will transform their markets, investors can get caught up in KPIs, ROI, and other three-letter success indicators. Make no mistake, metrics matter, but so does the well-being of the human at the center of it all.
Founders are not machines. Sure, they might wear countless hats and execute in a way that makes it seem like they have more hours in the day, but behind that drive lies an individual with vulnerabilities, families, emotions, and limits. How often do we consider those factors in the context of portfolio support? I’d argue not enough.
The Startup Struggle is Real — and Shouldn’t Be Silently Endured
The founder’s journey can be a lonely one. The pressure to succeed quickly, the lonely weight of decisions, and the unpredictable startup landscape can take a toll. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly one in five U.S. adults live with mental illness. The rate is even higher among founders: Studies reveal that entrepreneurs are more prone to depression (30%) and anxiety disorders (27%) compared to non-entrepreneurs (Journal of Business Venturing). Thankfully, as mental health continues to lose its stigma, more founders are opening up about their experiences.
In my six years in venture portfolio support, I’ve anecdotally found that paying attention to founders’ well-being can translate into real, positive business outcomes — from increased productivity to reduced employee churn. Given that early-stage startup success often relies on vision and resilience, optimizing for “survival” is far too low a bar. And part of the evolution from surviving to thriving is opening up the dialogue.
“ROW” as a KPI
The traditional measures of startup success — market fit, product innovation, revenue growth — are important, but they only tell part of the story. The well-being of a founder is not just a personal matter; it’s intrinsically linked to the health and success of their business. A founder’s wellness can have a ripple effect, influencing everything from team morale to investor confidence. By creating spaces for genuine connection and support, we’re not just enhancing individual well-being; we’re fostering a healthier, more resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem. Maybe it’s time to recalibrate and introduce a new measure of portfolio success — a “Return on Wellness.”
Holding Space for Founder Wellness
We believe so strongly in the importance of founder wellness, that we decided to center one of our flagship events on the topic, transforming this year’s CEO gathering from “Summit” to “Retreat.”
The objective wasn’t just to equip founders with tools for business growth; it was also to ensure they left feeling aligned, refreshed, and seen. The new format included yoga, hiking, conversation-starting exercises, and workshops focused on holistic wellness. The feedback? Overwhelmingly positive. Our biggest takeaway: founders want more than just growth hacks, they need time to focus on their well-being and connect on a peer-to-peer level.
One Series A founder noted, “The peer-to-peer sessions were powerful. We all had a holistic conversation that went beyond our businesses.” Another CEO candidly shared, “Many companies experience significant struggles or even potential company killers on a regular basis. At the same time, many of us feel we always need to have a ‘face’ on — to employees, customers, and even investors. Having an opportunity to get real about the challenges and hardships is really important.” They added, “I actually loved the breakout so much, I started a group of founders meeting on a regular basis.”
One programming highlight was a session led by Punit Aggarwal, an advisor at Founder Bay, a renowned CEO executive coach and former Head of Entrepreneur Development at Google. Punit set the tone with an interactive exercise that invited founders to pause and acknowledge their own presence, personally and professionally, amidst a time of global turbulence and the constant push and pull of scaling a startup, providing practical strategies for working toward balance.
One healthtech CEO reflected, “I shared Punit’s exercise with my team to highlight what’s truly important for our overall health. It also inspired me to apply some of these principles in our company’s M&A strategies.” A Series B startup exec shared, “Punit’s delivery was as consistent and grounded as his message, serving as a great reminder for us to care for ourselves in a balanced way.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of Founder Support
I predict a significant shift on the startup support horizon as we learn more and talk more about the benefits of founder wellness. Picture someone who helps leadership handle stress and find balance through the ups and downs of scaling a startup — part coach, part therapist. This kind of support could totally change the game for startups, ensuring everyone’s head is in the right place to win big. That’s a future worth getting excited about, where taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of business.
