Founder fatigue, crippling stress: The hidden cost of startup success

“Everyone had left the office. I got up, went to the washroom, and threw up for half an hour. This happened quite frequently with me until last year when I started to make some changes to get this under control.”

This was Mayank Kumar, the managing director and co-founder of edtech unicorn UpGrad, who recalled moments of high stress and frequent health problems, including acidity and headaches, when the company missed its goals in the early days.

His is not a solitary case. The pressure-cooker environment and punishing schedules led to Vasudevan Chinnathambi, co-founder of agritech platform Ninjacart, developing  health issues like pre-diabetes and high cholesterol.

"There was constant fatigue. I became pre-diabetic, had high uric acid and cholesterol. I was just 30 years old then," Chinnathambi remembered. In his case, he decided to do something about it, and in two and a half years, managed to drop a commendable 20 kg, fixing much of his problems.

In the tumultuous world of startups, it is almost normal for founders to find themselves on a rollercoaster ride of challenges, successes and setbacks.

The  community was once again reminded of the harsh realities of entrepreneurship when Nithin Kamath, the founder of trading platform Zerodha, experienced a mild stroke. Kamath is not only one of India’s youngest billionaires but also someone who is very fitness and health conscious.

That this could happen to Kamath sent shockwaves through fellow-entrepreneurs and investors, and also spotlighted the significant health challenges faced by startup founders, including stress, sleep deprivation and over-exercising, as they navigate the high-pressure journey to  building and scaling their companies.

Kamath's experience has resonated with many in the startup ecosystem, where long hours, constant pressure to succeed and the relentless pursuit of growth often take precedence over personal wellbeing. Many startup founders across India have undergone similar experiences, including burnout.

A wiser man now, Chinnathambi has some learnings to share with people of his ilk on the hyper-stress work situations: “During early days, you are running against time. I will still set up those same goals but won’t burn myself or the team. Maybe put out more extended timelines, and not try to achieve things in a mindless way.”

Startup Snapshot report 2023

Startups versus big corporations
Vinay Maheshwari, founder and CEO of The Health Factory, describes startup life as akin to riding a rollercoaster, with lean teams and constant pressure to compete against industry giants.

"The pressure is ever-present," he notes, highlighting the need for founders to prioritise their wellbeing over the relentless pursuit of growth.

The hustle culture is real and founders every day wake up to new problems, said Nirav Choksi, CEO and co-founder of  fintech firm CredAble, who added that waiting for life-altering instances of poor health is the worst thing one can do.

Prashant Pitti, co-founder of travel platform EaseMyTrip, pointed out that life is very different for startup founders from those in corporate jobs as the entrepreneurs have to make high-impact decisions on a daily basis that can make or break their company.

“From launching a new product to going public as we did, these decisions lead to a lot of stress,” he says.

A bad customer review or a deal gone wrong are situations that linger for long but one’s day should not end with these thoughts, believes Varun Sadana, co-founder, Supertails, a pet care startup, who has made books his best friend for a good night's sleep.

Sanjeev Ingti, director and co-founder, Eliea Wellness, a personal care startup, recalls when meeting a deadline for a project led to weeks of relentless work, little sleep, poor diet and constant stress, all of which took a toll on his physical and mental health. He is now setting boundaries on work hours, scheduling regular breaks and ensuring adequate sleep.

Startup Snapshot report 2023

Executive coaches, co-founders help

Many founders hesitate to openly discuss their personal stress with venture capitalists (VCs), as Saurabh Jain, co-founder of Stable Money and former CEO of Navi Mutual Fund, characterises this communication as "tactical".

"Engaging with VCs is a strategic process. You can't simply call them up to share your stressors. While regulatory challenges are acceptable topics for discussion, founders often keep their personal struggles private due to a fear of judgement or evaluation," explains Jain, who often turns to his family and co-founder for help and to destress.

However, some founders do not shy away from addressing "stretched" goals, with mixed results.

"At times, we were uncomfortable with certain tasks, leading to many sleepless nights. We had an open conversation with investors, which was relieving, but the stress persisted as not much changed," shares a founder of a growth-level D2C startup who asked not to be identified.

Sanjay Swamy, partner at VC firm Prime Ventures, recommends that founders seek an executive coach (EC) to navigate stressful times.

"Founders are thrust into the role of CEO without any formal training. The transition is incredibly stressful. It all builds up until one day it becomes overwhelming," he says, and advocates interacting with experts as a safety valve.

"It's a safe space. They need someone to talk to without fear of judgement. Having a coach facilitates thoughtful dialogue."

Many founders also agree on the idea of embracing vulnerability with employees. However, they argue for a cautious approach as excessive transparency about personal struggles could create uncertainty among employees and may lead to concerns about leadership capabilities.

“You are human at the end of the day. But sometimes it is easier said than done. You have to put up a face so you don’t create panic. Instead, we tell them (employees) the truth along with a solution,” said Kumar of UpGrad.

“Camouflaging will only give more anxiety," he added.

Navigating the challenge

Despite the challenges, startup founders are finding ways to prioritise their wellbeing.

Pitti, who plays chess to destress, advocated the importance of pursuing hobbies to relieve tensions, along with regular health checkups.

On his part, Maheshwari advises taking periodic breaks, not just a quick breather but a complete disconnect from work.

While Kumar had included early morning runs in his routine, Dhananjaya Bharadwaj, co-founder and CEO, ParkMate, a platform that aids motorists in finding parking solutions, suggested wellness programmes, access to fitness facilities and flexible work arrangements to promote a healthy lifestyle at the workplace.

Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of WOW Skin Science, drawing from his own tumultuous journey in the retail sector, emphasises the critical importance of financial prudence for startup founders, saying that by exercising restraint, they can safeguard themselves against the debilitating stress that accompanies overwhelming debt burdens.

Working double shifts to handle business in both India and the US has been tough on the health of Alok Kashyap, founder and CEO, Yatiken Software Solutions, which is headquartered in Chicago.

"There have been times when heightened work stress has influenced my overall wellbeing. So I intend to focus on optimising my sleep patterns and dedicating time to regular exercise," he says.

Kashyap added that Nithin Kamath experiencing a mild stroke serves as a serious reminder for all startup founders.

“Incidents like this highlight the importance of taking health seriously. It's a wake-up call to look at how much we're pushing ourselves. Founders need to remember they're not superheroes.”