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The Twenty Minute VC · June 18, 2024 · 22m
The Founder Mental Health Crisis No One Talks About
Stebbings delivers a personal episode on founder mental health after several founders in his portfolio experienced burnout, depression, and substance abuse. He argues the VC industry's celebration of hustle culture is directly contributing to a mental health crisis.
Canon
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After the mental health crises in his portfolio, Stebbings implemented a radical policy: he checks in with founders about sleep, exercise, and relationships as part of regular board interactions. His argument: a founder who sleeps 4 hours and never exercises will eventually crash — and take the company with them.
Highlights
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The VC industry's 'hustle culture' is creating a founder mental health crisis it refuses to acknowledge
Stebbings reveals that in the past year, three founders in his portfolio experienced severe mental health crises — burnout, depression, panic attacks. He argues the industry's celebration of 18-hour days and 'grind' culture is directly causing preventable suffering.