Welcome to 2025!
After a quick break, we’re back with fresh content and a new look.
Tech Creator is now split into focused editions, and this is the Mind Edition—all about quick, research-backed insights to help you master the mental side of entrepreneurship. (Check out the other editions at the end of this email.)
We’ve brought in new researchers, writers, and editors to level up the content, and we’ve got some great things coming your way this month.
– Lavena Xu-Johnson
Nearly half of founders thought about quitting last year
Startups are wild. Last year, 49% of founders thought about walking away, overwhelmed by fundraising struggles, impossible workloads, and the endless grind. If you’re feeling the same, you’re not alone—but there are ways to keep your head above water.
Why founders hit a wall
Building something from scratch means you’re constantly putting out fires. From investor demands to cofounder tensions to just keeping the lights on, it’s easy to feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders.
One founder shared: “I almost lost my marriage and family. I’m tired all the time.” Another put it bluntly: “The fundraising environment has nearly broken me and the business.”
Founders also told us they’re eating worse, exercising less, and spending less time with loved ones—all while running on fumes.
Finding your balance
You can’t erase the stress of running a startup, but you can manage it better. Here’s how to stay grounded when everything feels overwhelming:
Redefine success: It’s easy to get tunnel vision chasing that next milestone. But remember, startups are a marathon, not a sprint. Take a moment to celebrate even the smallest wins—they remind you why you started in the first place.
Lean on your people: Founders who regularly connect with friends, mentors, or coaches tend to stay in the game longer. Sometimes just sharing the load with someone who gets it can make all the difference.
Take breaks seriously: Rest isn’t slacking—it’s strategy. Even short pauses during the day can help you refocus and make better decisions.
Let go of perfection: The myth of the flawless founder is exactly that: a myth. Good enough is often more than enough to move forward.
Looking ahead…
2024 was tough—there’s no sugarcoating it. But startups don’t succeed because founders avoid hard times; they succeed because founders keep showing up. This year, give yourself permission to do it differently: pause, pivot, and protect your energy.
And hey, if all else fails, that sandwich on a beach isn’t a bad backup plan.
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Founders are struggling, but few talk about it
A new Australian research project is diving into a topic many avoid: the mental health challenges founders face and why they rarely open up to investors about them.
Recent studies paint a stark picture. While 75% of business owners report concerns about their mental health, only 10% of startup founders feel comfortable discussing these struggles with their investors. That silence is creating barriers that hurt founders and, ultimately, their businesses.
James Meldrum, founder of Warp + Weft Consulting, is leading the charge to change this narrative. “Founders deal with immense pressure, yet the stigma around mental health discussions—especially with investors—keeps too many from seeking help,” he says.
The project aims to uncover:
The drivers behind founder mental health challenges.
Barriers to seeking support.
How these struggles impact personal and professional relationships.
Meldrum knows the stakes firsthand, having co-founded Nourish Foods, which he grew into a multi-million-dollar business before its acquisition. “I’ve seen how the ‘fake it till you make it’ culture hides real struggles. We need better data to create meaningful change,” he says.
A call to action…
The research hopes to bridge the gap between founders and investors, helping both sides foster healthier, more transparent relationships. Founders and investors can participate in an anonymous 5-6 minute survey, with findings set to publish early this year.
