May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I’ve been writing about my own depression and mental health on this blog for over a decade. The stigma around founder mental health is still the core problem. 72% of founders say the entrepreneurial journey has negatively affected their mental health. 81% don’t talk about it.
James Oliver Jr. is doing something about it. He started the Kabila Founder Mental Health Fund to get founders into therapy when they can’t afford it themselves. The fund pays for four therapy sessions through BetterHelp, or reimburses up to $300 if the founder already has a therapist. No complicated process. No strings. The fund has already helped 50+ founders.
I put $25K into the fund several years ago to get it started. The Techstars Foundation has been a partner. Now through May 31, every dollar donated will be matched dollar-for-dollar by me up to another $25,000.
Donate to the Kabila Founder Mental Health Fund – your $150 becomes $300 – four therapy sessions for a founder who needs it.
James and Django De Gree II wrote Burn Bright, Not Out: Shattering the Silence Around Mental Health in Tech Startups. David Cohen wrote the foreword. I contributed Chapter 4 – my own mental health story. 90% of net book profits go directly to the fund.
I’m giving away my chapter. Download Chapter 4 for free here. If it resonates, buy the book.
The NVCA is hosting a webinar on founder mental health on May 7th from 3-4pm ET. James is moderating. I’ll be on the panel. If you’re a founder or an investor, join us.
I’m backing James because I’ve been there. Mental health is not a weakness. It’s a part of being human. If you’re a founder struggling right now – you’re not broken. Get help.
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