PEOPLE
The data is clear- Founders need support
Lucy Paine, Entrepreneur in Residence at University of Bath and Community Manager at TechSPARK, talks founder health and wellbeing.
The numbers don’ t lie. Running a business is hard, and for many founders, it’ s taking a serious toll. The latest Founder Report by Sifted Media highlights just how tough it can be:
• 54 % of founders say they’ ve experienced burnout in the past year.
• 46 % describe their mental health as‘ bad’ or‘ very bad’, with 75 % struggling with anxiety.
• 67 % work over 50 hours a week, often at the cost of their personal lives.
• 56 % say they receive no mental health support from investors, and only 12 % feel they can turn to them for help.
These statistics highlight what many founders already know: the pressures of entrepreneurship can feel overwhelming, and too often, people struggle alone. But it doesn’ t have to be that way.
Building Resilience Through Community At SETsquared Bath( the enterprise, academic and innovation collaboration between the Universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton and Surrey), we’ ve been making founder wellbeing a core part of the conversation through our First Thursday networking events.
In February, we explored the reality of founder mental health with Dr. Claire Ashley( known as the Burnout Doctor) and Amy Armstrong, an award-winning leadership and resilience coach. The pair led discussions on stress management, resilience, and small but impactful changes that can make a difference. The session reinforced a simple but important message: taking care of yourself isn’ t a luxury – it’ s essential.
Then, in March, we turned to the topic of founder relationships, exploring the dynamics of great co-founder partnerships, how to navigate difficult conversations, and why having a strong support system can make or break a business. Experts Pablo Montero, Dr. Becky Sage, and Pete Keevill shared their experiences, reminding us that no founder succeeds alone.
And if you’ re working in tech – or just interested in the latest trends and discussions – the Third Thursday TechSPARK events provide another valuable way to connect. These sessions bring together tech professionals, founders,
and enthusiasts in an open forum where real conversations happen. Whether you’ re looking for advice, collaboration, or just a good chat over a drink, it’ s an ideal space to plug into the community.
Join the Conversation If you’ re feeling the weight of running a business, don’ t keep it to yourself. Whether it’ s First Thursday at SETsquared Bath, Third Thursday with TechSPARK, or another local meetup, getting out and talking to others is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your business.
To find out about either event or the wider community, please get in touch.
lp2136 @ bath. ac. uk
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