David Richards MBE’s Post

Are we failing our young founders? A great piece by Amy Lewin in Sifted about the mental health crisis among startup founders hit close to home. Nearly half of founders today rate their mental health as ‘bad’ or ‘very bad,’ and over 85% face extreme stress. Behind these numbers are young entrepreneurs, often sacrificing everything to pursue their vision—at a serious personal cost. As someone who was a young founder myself in the 1990s, with a young family at home, I know how relentless and lonely this journey can feel. Back then, the pressure to succeed, the long hours, and the feeling that it all rested on my shoulders was hard for both me and my family. But at least I had a family and a network I could lean on. Many founders today don’t have that. The statistics are stark: over 60% of founders are skipping holidays, missing time with loved ones, and letting their health slide just to keep going. Many are struggling with insomnia, burnout, and depression. What’s worse is the lack of support. More than half of these founders say their investors offer no help at all when it comes to mental health. That’s simply not acceptable. Startups are powered by people, and if we want them to succeed, we need to start investing in their well-being—not just their ideas. This is fundamental to everything we do with our founders at Yorkshire AI Labs LLP I know how hard this road can be. And I know it’s possible to support founders in a way that allows them to thrive, not just survive. Let’s do better—for them, for their families, and for the future they’re working so hard to build. #MentalHealth #Startups #YoungFounders #Innovation