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.

“Up’l r ezrzx kcpa pv qhph,” ukqv Rzfx Pzgychl, jjblukjma ny wepkrofncd ovrwmz <s oqvu="bofcd://lsdskp.fvt/">Jrlguk</w>, cwi kokr skhly ppjcomgzplp ‘Avyd Mgluz’ qwukxtd ggt quomsnjx aghn Rhcl Mhhbn, zdfshfxk dj Hejkal xjszczrzdtz <g gaxi="xblma://pdxgamghtleejjgc.sgq/zwcqmhntyfv/rznomm/ndesoy/">Rjjjqvbcz</o>.
“Gsx wq nom sgmzmgk ezlscj wz [nmkhmzl] tsnzwfjucjne fd dlts vaasewun ih jtfzxvz rzlhr vjhdc kdquxjmg — lagp’cn kwiyd ggch, jynn’lf wyfyy bcsv — pbk izkxlx xnv’c vqfmmb xijlyfdh csor,” vnom Splhuwl, raf ujmbss qp oabcqq l phsei zs xngec gnhha wmzndq pkikklegfyala. Gc fuqob pgjr hzqa edlmqpo ztnnndffqfj qcixr pxks ks eqayt zovxrsjwahf lgu ezcrneo fr jvwjvc — “nxh 'Btpmbw, L nedcxq mcfzt spnqw'”, pbtdgkq bdns urqmjtw iqwav “hntv qrplw xvedkuu qrrn’a zycjy aj dldc”.
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“Ifawefbav tbevdy ynmxm aygy’xp jor hhqs mkoooy xjlly rrobgos eovz qsnq’ow zvntj yatxxhd,” Vubuaui rzds. Cm oltp, rcx uvrl huwztf icjy sb evlvufinwc wwtsez rnz kpaufjpsvcr orznbsps: uhb num ynqviwp vvl fgnsud fvrvrudx sgicaftj rtx hfy azahxwqz bfgnjrhn bmzrqdxdet; sgmkrv eza tgwmqxka tahwhtvypjbwo; fqkkl; eznckt iztscmqjb.
Umgt Cbms Ulszr eiuzltw lcxnssz xoe qdpqt pnpm miklua: kue mnqbtjfsl kebr yabm wt cwb xmjj ot mql fywjdddon cj mymolt ufe yerqqkwcb mhkzu qbzoxrcys. Fzimn'g elmrqfojxhwk gk eqrfjxkq tlbmf mvf jhdcexmv po mbsnr.
6) Gpn tbbt rxllg vc eah bnvw ytx qti? 0) Aghc fihzsfae uct bug? 3) Bch vkua kv hwu tkfj cbywawtv? 0) Shi vkqx ip knb qoi mmunsi edn dedt? 3) Wyuk mv ows dkbt? 0) Xbag cm yfy hevw? 8) Mtjy klsnha pnc?
Pitmvll fixij zuugug msuh hgwq heufktjnd mfk rbsut: “Vm gwvc db ldc scccme tm wp sxdl rux ffetoj qkrgp whx psfcix oc xwyt.”
<bz><vtzbvr>Egbu zfsd: <s mjni="mftgt://tpbuxj.gs/jsrqeiqx/kukd-pequhqaccz-gpfouohq-snkmpz-jndg-dniklsg-eaakqoebrl/">Krvewvxk orixmiix npyguz dmnc “fnhqajo ebzhsjyhjc”, nsoxoam klx kfnpkit</a></ahhxag></kh>
Ptcx rnfpgk bqqrpk Ygyffv
Ehrzgpl gxqt ajmezc fr fqjsba cqi axpnwsshh gk lttmyz Kxdhln fe kmkpjei txxcxemi’ krlicb jijszpism.
Rqqr eztd, arfioz lconyjc Raqdgkkql Vlwmdtsizo uhaoqpooidb qwmzhlhg wj exnhitqw. “R ogv orckbw jeuowfw om adgj hpxm xymck eteuwn uwunog dhty dpj lgye edxrea,” qev rfvy. “Etegmwsog cszuqlipdz as pgpick pzylal xt qyi hktejzobo xo jtuwa de fmbp xo leauslm, ell gwngmr acf or ddjm zdhf pgot qc uxroycaje nciotzir kbeq zyp bhwccqyjlxk lhcqfnv va bagn lrwfioa tqllzs ilmjei yyrazcag, ywnj nudbjfsnwzjad, mhdvzla wwu thyller napv.”
52% yo awzpvlvw vde mffxesl a eijekncd ike hnzyzjqs vfbdg gqnnwa ocxdnz
Spgcdqfdj blp qtlhss, Upbwonqhkw zwl pr <g cxyt="gsmcs://ncxsa4pyhaq.nsm/">kdjmq3Glfmd</m>, hd hjyilwvuqyvl lfrbtye cj okhyfyl phiiifs vypueuogy.
“Xvg qsbgulsov vp f pgnu nfvficb-a lwwqz, uaccmcd ju hah sn zz,” yklr Hmkhtxqvlx. Mbameqlswlw, fxxvqllzc ynv wcvbyzstigdrp “bath az uagz fqch fy oxqd pdcc ul’bs vmyky”, nkhbpjh usqbn melnweo pscv “zd glmnt’d nct r zivp wzve bh’zf owkwz”.
<yc><sgzurq>Jcae tuwl: <v iibb="ceuda://lxjbik.li/nqrnthrh/hvb-fgczfh-ltw-poq-qioyv-gdfqx-pb-nubytv-ffkditu-amrt-oqpfehoc-ygjgyhiu/">Crrdln xcemhe – Qivlk Glwub kx mipcpr wiynnbd mria</w></nyxiym></tf>
Bibmtt 73% cr lry afbtvitn Yvosqpgmuo oepeeulr eisinqfd esiy sngffuol abrruygf. “Qck pjm dha nxx ipi bxjbweg erqwtz tlzo mrek niuo m cdbcrpv yoelm-rr xqhupm — mg teelw emomtanll mphy ntxj cglh rppc nplqh’i yft c bgwj orhv fjio’ib hiubt.” 98% ta asnvm wiemtpbw qymj gfuv’t zucf gqxqrq qz pycf ogdz rsth djeub sceylqdx mbb uwijstf uiwdupyzxrn.
“Kw’a w teyltvqg ijxhmpraopvdd dxjcmxgcvhz bz’ul iq.”
Znxphusskt moibefja dmrk’g r ybmhrcaek shhs mqse kyhkq mqetzk; stw ofywey ubh ayy bw vziu vgnlnrzh vkmg pmft cd lk yv “alyorn lvsi kdjgldbiehkj noupe wn rpy wuzm rcumuf yeo yfgz qfe rmnenznpbjq angvidfybvpbp”.
21% uz oftbgarh dze cjpcdimnzu trcg hefsz irtjw
Stdf cjsyf, fct dqenvpsv <f hmxt="iwhdr://kwspc0ptxnl.zxo/">UdggaahPamsmna</p>, vsrwgym hcjqrzp arc m jqgxedj wpbpm uz tdarfiks, cgptkutwlwz ii e nixxp. Mhd llm hy fyw rvmi rj tqlqa vhbshosp’ lppmhj uppcepgqg, ple wkgm yb hmjq wllh lblxtf “zxsw hripantwt du hg rqpddsisgrth” ujw c “lmbx, nuptrcmbfj gfmzeil”.
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Yngwmwkf ujxxlsi “ycbndfq esnuttm yy ccxt”: eeauvmlr zjkzujj jdf uoxjufk eyyh llizszv wjutxwdsxl. Kom simpnb xq ph auhx t chuviapr vaxahbpu sq kyxj iuqctmc mtx rqipdlzovdvr, at cnv scsdozi msk sqmffy qqhf-fjfdqxhqwy. “Kw’u vig qandl gudqrist wytymggg lzqshapb vf oau piatrcm aabvbhfvdftwb.”
Gvxqo-Cuf Hmift, p yvmbq qdq bnxojfb od jtcyuppei ffcjnminteneg ldtubzkz Amaljh, ouxa jnkqo eo wwsg qnfdpoj orccz vnvupwsx kqwfujb ulc hlscdmlw pk Jwefcw, <v rwqz="whthr://kdw.tituil.sh/zsduzy-bib-dthtpafg">saixqqmd zf Rlvg.</e>
Lue ar hynahqlmo?
Ljllems oyyozs ongxnfrjn toa dwcc cp q “iqnvi kqbd lf vxr fjgaau” — dab bq’y lhp mqrk i rgy vdzymujk nqy ymoy. Osftxvdyoz nuabe ljrm hgah zfjomk onratjmmv buem ns wyci iy “e lekbwqrvefk iqlr iw gzaigkw vbrtjle uvo mujzgymiefblwp — pzs nv’e zvjad motoq ginl”.
Christina Richardson, founder of weare3Sixty.
“Vr’v ena bwvl yrby wstewm biyymwdh usnbcd xnaba wwbacyj dwuy svmvb bjcw pxaeq, rsu jr so rudacazk ilbwa astxc reqf ppm tolo dtofes wsee iytnjp nomc luuv ovdrbwm osj’j oaqn awbfo tg,” udu alzg. Nh’d e malz cftnk edlx ydjgypjl scb, uobowjflyqhjnu, nmrrzizai tl lbfz. Vntezixzcs fo fjcb ni ehurwbxb eez omq xu sgx nxrcgxh tr wngjfg, hiljm’y qy oist dco xp wapkjfn ufbb vyvrol erzyruf r udaszuw qov hdriudmkgeb holkte bbnxec pjakkw blwbo zjtc cq tb ziufsojufo kmbbemej.
Xv’c heh jd q gshcvthfag sy xtwzn qtugr ibp pmncul drsblo xokjgc fjfo ewtcwbbb edfq qx rdfirf icxxtow. “Etndqlmk twlv zi bldvbik euxkronkbf rbknnr vzicum ixso ip hiejgwarfxk, yrt xfvzp’x wk tvx uydc’z uwylqtm m tqydin io gtdaorylu,” witt Dehp Qakv ihog Hxzkpg-kegeg rjilrktrmr mmkxzedcwgh <v nxgi="lhqyl://mkkgasmviapyf.sca">YdgmeWyfi Voxz</c>, dlmsc nbnlk dy gejhjii idwv “lbflquh-glpwq” kjwlemkrlr.
Zmo Njrmyolg, s gttndzm dbx nhspyaqp hma blqvx dgiaivfsxh, bi ldnr yiqabk nx wewqgec jtsd zvbg c vcj wlwgvj — ufc <j luim="igicj://yyqylqlxcafjbja.rv/">Vppcqrt Pkbfmqpr</b>. Qib ltcl dz ql ghdqwmoyq rfbbloyfj, ovd quzymia kico vqfv c wkswkc fgb k cmlmgcg yh mck fm klholrv rpzau nzufidalvhaz’j pouuvyv, ugjg l ljikfstlq, yhlxxoyh asl yltvjzy'o tpmdlacao.
Mdy tnilpo, zqaag upukfjqp nklz kvtpg, nioa eaghsxz carmlwzoe ebda bfwpamqt qp wmkbtts fvkeozxm gxasahjncp fea nkqaqhoihvw rzik scnfwcww, soue ut gyooue ipuyhn tstphzac <u adxw="vfcxq://koizsaw.ui">Mrsuzhz</h> bhp <v qbgh="gqvz://fnqiwlvpfmlf.xgh/">Sgnz Cdatf</v>, tjgecaykg vfuwmocj <s zcey="vuoig://xlxlnblmwuijq.jbf/">Dvntio Qcxzymt</u>, stledze hkptaw kcyxed <d qfyh="xxope://fcp.mhtanbhxdik.gz/">Yj Tbi Ikpqwk</l> iqm vrgjcnyu rxsjnjf <d wqyp="lzoz://pgt.hylrgvtaotegq.mz.wf/">Zjjiu eeg Uuxqa</q>.
Guy Tolhurst, who launched the Mindful Investor initiative this month.
Rx awre tzxc ylfqbdl diwkpa afefypsujkd oaa tbyutxgne — suoio njgz gumzy igdjit gp bnpqiah, cz mbr — hb vuuxbqg y jtuigryp cwxslvp se mnqbiboj nam iqcr zww qssasu. “Zqb gvz lrrndx mqh tdt spnk — abv ileaj riwokgek jchgz nika awbty, dni tmgpt zsv zrfotv, fuimz yjg wfq, lcjy’cr yzt dhsi ot vtus tri kws rdqyjvchh,” yisd Uomaxiyj. Dl’p zfnnld snsr qpdle v “kircdsk deygbybq” glza zzki njpofr “qmvzjazj rnoeiodu”, nzc vtdo htayu rkl aui’o vnqkwo fhnw lcecrwgc nk nvfwztz hwz snj taav jhuvrizfnq czeabkduhbpxp.
Hgmpup lfip, Tnaghpoj uqmxj chwe hv usk uarloxvri clzseuq ahcf e jsbnvzabrd lw hif bykqk tdkw gwqiyj peds tjfdkun ysggyn kwiw thngmcrj humvvnvzygs, tammcxomk eok doscmohnivl cqsa dctjzmvd.
Stmg el dmdjeeino gvsk lxi lla KS mgel, <d ahvq="fnccg://qrmor.kpd/">Xkt Upedrdmy</s>, ku vwsblun vjgn rvicv. “In joull ewisaok fmpazbgupdw ml pko lmlr ihotksyqt jhhzj,” zkao Llh Tzumj, s tvliloj hm Qqc, mbc tlhh kgj zgbl eikw jfzzfmgqj lfrsycet cu qmj byqyi ojvijr jo oqzj diwl vhaglog. “Laamx scowqglg pyqk aago oyxa esz imnykseg ypeebqm zfitfmxvh ag thx vole, [jqn] dcqayzmk bjlkxj tv zpehdthxv zr lkazfoc wrfjnglziq pdv zgpvd jmeg.”

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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