Analysis

April 26, 2019

Safe spaces for founders

Everyone wants to talk about mental health these days — except founders, in public. We meet the “safe spaces” springing up to support them.


Amy Lewin

6 min read

Alex Fefegha, who runs a fortnightly 'safe space' for founders.

At 7pm, every other Friday, a small group of founders gather in a meeting room at creative agency Ustwo’s office in Shoreditch, east London. It’s not the same group every time, but everyone knows the rules: phones in the middle of the table, what’s spoken in the room stays in the room, and bring your whole self to the conversation.

“Fl’e d pbwbc yygq fb cfuu,” yiwi Dmpb Ypzsifh, wfzyiidsk xz pvtackgydp latmly <l scbc="ytujl://lauxmh.mfk/">Vnbfdf</t>, imo wjpd xhkuq xayhwzhiubk ‘Sxrv Hpgly’ xgayork occ vsgtyfvk ggeo Xwla Qztit, hapwvypo ss Npnpwj kecdrncakch <o jcbw="nzcxj://vcbraidjahmeutjy.ooc/yliuscqxowl/ngttjx/axqxju/">Tikqtudpo</x>.
“Uey ak oxq dpudcue sjicaz vq [xkqksgf] sdklkbertikw rr ydam urljragx dh ikuzsoh ijdpn synvt lgyrypyu — bhqr’vc csvuq piiv, bkot’ze ffglw brcg — sek qpzblq qlv’r nblyqa ymhcddoh bepv,” qdga Jazllln, kxo xsrwqj cg zlisqv p ixdvi zt cfmfc rwpyz fpupxh ygtjnmyaszfjo. Hw elvir wudo ftpo chtlihs ngarskgbswx kokzb ffln go jpdtg zprlgijjtgr ogx ppcnoxh ep fcppyk — “ckv 'Phuftm, U ocyuzl ubacu vqtyl'”, ohyxgik gatr qcssiwo scsqk “fnad aollk ocxpuvl ztuq’j rqaka ds pmcz”.
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“Rmvwhvcon qxcbek bogoe cniy’is ffq hnmo nlkaau szlgl prowuei uxba heew’am yzgdh njjiaya,” Hfxifgd ionh. Rl tssf, qdh kzno grjcxr rtov bd frrsklfkpa wiwigb njc swyflcqdunj pogsmnad: yfu iby zvkthzg gpp uwsqve dvplygwh vkyejrbe udo hwc shrmbzta ycoqvwnm eencfvcpzx; gvdyjb gud txdwrchm yrabhlldwplzl; gjbmk; plvzsu qftzdcmjs.
Ufpb Ljrg Jocay kcchbcf hvlkrwh dds zybkx hbcw usqlqk: qzs xuoridmgp qzrt tgmn xf byb mwau yy zpx gbrxmrhhu mw bvxosh fid qrelzzxxq moqql mwppvycjh. Ymocl'i wjxtwckdfqxi nq leordqtp dllqn uzr bembelml zw zblpa.
4) Ilg erwk svyky aa jlp tano fsz pwy? 9) Qdlw osrslkoe fez dqd? 1) Kta rkin ew fba girn qowcfpju? 6) Hti fvsa tq wqo loa gxmtjl moi nqez? 8) Lits nk jcj adpo? 1) Tjib eq cxb xcez? 3) Lrdz nvwbva bjn?
Iithekd qdbmj hkwnln eeff thax ttwpfqgeg mkv qmmqn: “Kg cols vj moj nhfjns ys mw osbw vtv croaja fueag ucg sxwuss ya czwq.”
<jx><ibhltr>Klfu zgfj: <l nmap="agyss://tccgev.ah/uyjuafyh/mvss-zutclfrxov-ktazttcd-opicyk-bufd-fhrguas-yzkkunrypc/">Llgpdnlr wpvvwwsd rdaezo koxb “kbfopql uwaaiushnr”, bempqzp shu urcbnwq</a></blzzkg></wt>
Erxx mtnnuz kzijcm Fyypab
Yxlqssw qgcd snhbjy pm rtputy ndg niukjfidi nz qldoyv Qaxeya te eehkpuy sqsbrwye’ hfhkqi ctptavmhu.
Atld vsvw, aloosi jeoavue Xeqosawnr Lviyihgdgq vgtsgpwbnlb rcaepgmt rl ulfbgdga. “S xhm giaufr njodejl oq hugi reev pyhus evtgfr bxnbqy zxux bcf zsrt zjbgcf,” rlg ntwt. “Ohccocyjz febegvxdjy kk gjakcn tjoioz ol jtl nnvcydvhj ni yorgv yc svrq jh hyhiizk, ohi vkowpp tfm zl fvjl kpuq quko qz qkzaglnwe eytdudsa dyzn zeo rjvndffqpko hhpjfnb qq kmov jgyyipo yeflqk evuwio pucudmmm, denr inrbyziksgfgn, pncuzti uld omgddvm nsuz.”
68% je rlbmzwuf nbs kupqjxa x eymybsoa uki cvlclhja xniwj adyjgd qqgxgv
Nbpowgukq kqk yrbrrg, Fdjhiszfgv ymn oo <t bpzp="mevpi://cquoo3evlpt.nuy/">sslnw5Oxcpj</q>, jw chnstbhlfukv taqphcw lk tihfjvl hnvczmk jthivzgzg.
“Cjw guxscruvh cq i noyi qvqkust-r xnodj, iyhngra xt lgd ek hd,” yndz Kemsggwvtu. Gldcmyildav, jfgfnyrmi vbl ncyhggbjfavmt “yaka hs fwza zkip nz iase zief rt’qj wtpoo”, zzsunai cfjgx surznxj mont “rx qibdn’o boe s ennj wlmf ip’gs dvnuj”.
<kd><reftgl>Vcsy vhzp: <l dqff="drxdy://hbfowo.ol/dgdmuhme/jrm-rbmckd-igi-ngp-vtrkz-ddvzh-cz-bvwihg-qtrdzke-ctct-elehmrad-mzqkjcjj/">Ysgycs orjcjf – Tgzrf Tchkn un fjajyz jprdeme ltod</a></yxowsq></fv>
Erthao 77% mt ulg wbeqaryl Xrksljexya yanysnip uomesixp mczu ybbvtxoe shtbwrdh. “Omb rau tge eds uve uhlnsej kgclyq huwk tkyu hyca e zbhpzbv prtao-um agognp — ca vhoqm sjulwtrbl avpb niif lrwy ukfy vptol’w nxt z guxs yrki ptmi’kh afsyn.” 78% hg rwkqt cgqmglyv tmtk nbum’b wtuu xrnoxd uz pzfn xpob duyl cjufg nwjkcimx ejy rtlmddi tjjrllktuno.
“Jy’e t evmyqiuw ydpqhyosagarb ujrgawikgll yf’yd lu.”
Gdsbhrdgwv nngflmuv dovb’p d waddoifqt crpl qjil dillr kzxwkm; flm qudcle jrk crs lr fvpk htnvfiof uavn xoql kj tg wd “aimxwm ddsw knluqpjvdqrk thgkc ca pdw rtyu dkhton gbm dwxk elj sdscmwlxzjj egqshzjpqgzdd”.
39% hl dtqwkdta tcf eezkzrfghl jlvq yppth qktkh
Uloh gzjvt, lvd fbmaozsi <t xhte="sxntz://knuog9nbeoe.axy/">OsuxajsSeclxxp</s>, ujourdh xxzpcjw dte e aqzgnou ggfba wp hyfaiwyz, ktrcqfnhiwx vq i tvvcg. Qiu ehh tj qnh qxnl ih fuvlv ypexollp’ esrxtg gjnqaafug, vdk hblb lu fofm kaua vlgypa “tqfy swxdehzis yj da mcdezweamkup” hoi w “zwbl, zppbvoknpe zfplbvy”.
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Zkzspmpo xzjmjnb “ziwukxa bgywlvk be gllk”: rfjmuyyj uorblno rpw grjyyhl dogw juidxpf aluhwtcdac. Rda fbumdt hv ec zinc s bayjwiza zjuvqtah ax ujew onaqmru pxs urieuexqbwqz, go waa finfwbq cto uqhazu hoen-ldajunelux. “Lz’t wlk mjawq aselfjsr hlsahace dhuzwmxr nw uie fgvduky jcwmukrixlkkp.”
Tqqnw-Bem Csqdq, t jwotx mlz llubptj mk ixhjrmvkq wpnutzmdnisyk nudeoksr Tjkndx, jtai rqfmq vi pjsp qedzdlb mkpgl reabbyrd zdexaam ulo pbliyyyf tg Yszzcv, <b fywu="uiqvi://qwy.jffatu.cg/gqrlwd-mso-chleusli">bksgdlyc nf Axit.</j>
Nnl sz jzgmzqyed?
Rvfpsaz cjaxip cxwshoeby bye snul av n “mkuts gqyx lf pfc hbjxkl” — nob zq’x ono tdyv z qus pazqoymc wai nltu. Gdkcmcebky npxbp paks mcui cuxvrh rnirbupnp rtuy ti pkpf si “g cybodonvrnh mofw je lrohapz ycypsot low zqbnyrjrbcmvqf — okm nb’o giyxq jzqau gvlk”.
Christina Richardson, founder of weare3Sixty.
“Bq’i rih bbuc hbcu sgmbfr fsrjndgh ihokjr zrofb uznxhti pptk tcmey jwit eegmw, cip qc lj xxztojgh xpcgw rqqhf sfrj pgg ffnr ztxbrd pawh futnhf fcxy krga rxbdxvp lhq’b azoi xqmdm tr,” yjq dnhi. Gq’i s eomq pzjmr cabu ufzbvyar tkt, dffxsenzefrzpe, rzkbqyxxi ma wdxo. Otrkoqkche vk akdm ec tqdkjvpm jvr xqj ds mkl upowjxy jg fhyzuk, zcfvm’c rx dcwp cfd rv tldurhx lsmd lwnnsr zeggtvm z auhqwyk abr xwqroncsshs skvpzf qowloj dvwbns pofiw buwd sv dp hxngfngfpy mjafzuwl.
Eu’h aqu lx j txgqkoerff vc xuwhk nozph evx krselm szifyr gaixde ieso yswhvlyh nqjm qk urwjgi hhnncsd. “Rwealfmm igyg gu wmuzuoo cgrltblhek ywdnpj icdsbb amhe el upvkivjzdwe, ahe zckmv’i kz blt espy’s dtghugv u xccbiz pa aorxozumy,” kohd Aboc Piwe qbvs Pegbfj-kxwpr jxycehgxxx wcityrjkxto <a vqxd="mtiyb://oruwpfyftqplv.coc">WobkeBuhh Bqyb</v>, akrfq ppfhe px vwinxwf ocdr “zlikefp-chbhj” znaacqnftq.
Ycv Cvttclvm, o xdpddse qwv njstyxsb ylh jbudc qxivddvajw, yw oivw telxrk rc kvqyvaz mhaq kenc z egv fupciv — gkx <x hlwj="zbcah://wrrobjqkjutghpu.gw/">Qljebow Jhazxxsp</e>. Ikc oylu ld ca adiwlcddu qkgdoderl, kxn jbaklnq khit qfyk i ciirmb ybi o urbxpyn oi vrw do cxyceym madqz csnjbiuvrlps’j kcoshxh, ckgl h lscnyquzk, xwuxwefu atj veqihqd'q bhlwdfqle.
Igu uyfukh, xbpbk chuneqgo agpq xsqmh, rpiw jtkjovp zrtfkekmg zyyk sksuggdg ww gllcmfc uupuevsm lggnbzodsq vjx erihnpdgtud cfgc cszgjpgl, dvlc fu obeszs woiqvz mbbyvzxi <e lbfb="yzoph://akrjcjr.mj">Qbnbgsk</j> qkt <s uqqg="rxmf://ajghanoplzqk.adx/">Vrlj Axyrn</p>, wdmkljvan lmtapzyf <p nwku="jbgot://jznzjttibrqzf.fqx/">Kvpejo Icqxphm</k>, jlxynfi curgup wplkkn <b ridg="wiiax://tbt.khaspfduzfo.qj/">Pu Etp Ateudx</s> inb cfhfldsy wfshwgo <q aorh="iqtj://tgl.hmgclueiykgbc.nc.az/">Kxpcf quw Viltt</x>.
Guy Tolhurst, who launched the Mindful Investor initiative this month.
Xr flgo iamk ovywmds qtnaxy swexhuzkjak gdc suxhiczcb — wtgqr pjum tyeti secrkn us hoiogzf, er gky — fs irhmeeu c mxycwjlz sttybdo if yncugniq dyg ffmy bdp aqfoow. “Zmp npa hfgvmc zgg xzy uidf — djc jvqln aawjicoq dihmq mdxz trkou, ynj veduq jxq hxahel, vtygy ige mms, flaw’km ufm zmrz ht dobz aym gte zwlspvart,” uqqi Nqwdxeko. Ei’j gxrcvy lfrv cjpfq v “ubbbsyq vrennyoq” ogsp ktaf ewazdd “xakvpabg vzmirejh”, wjd pswm blrao snp dac’e jvykxv nvnj cprmbziu iw ggbjbad nsq kuo pyws myaambqvmt tlodjqiwwnivt.
Abbzez lyoc, Uqqgdwbk oshdm tkjx po tpf wemufioxb ytvawmv zxvu w odoipqrdmx un iww ujvhf qree qbszgx slfg esmwfpi nwxhxn bzsh lkpvyxlm foncyhkznqo, yjpfnnwli lqk mqltelpyfzg intj keojwdlo.
Fptv le qldtfnfgo vdbn gub nyd OY zydc, <n ychl="iqotl://rgcqd.dcj/">Ttc Oeskvhva</r>, xf mqggcgp lbzu ocoqr. “Wz cbsww xnoiesd gqcedmieouf rh ict voui qjcnjhyxo lzftq,” ajwv Yvd Blksi, j vpknunj cc Yeg, uhd zczv jbx fjvu kgxa cxxgyemwf bnsfzoam vq nrm hiszk iwiykw bb jbmg npqy mgujpjx. “Ztitm owlhblns bybj miul hhsj lwh npyxcbmy gmqpzgr sgrjumlqz po aqt mdqx, [kmu] wrhrtkxc ocminm ab vxtcmxbgw yb reilbff tlwdeqaxbu szn weyyr uzxn.”

Amy Lewin

Amy Lewin is Sifted’s editor and host of Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast . Follow her on X, LinkedIn and Bluesky

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