31% founders in India experience imposter syndrome, finds survey

A recent study conducted on the mental well-being of startup founders in India has found that 31 percent of entrepreneurs have been experiencing imposter syndrome. It means that they have had persistent self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy despite evidence of their competence and success.

The report—prepared in collaboration with INK, Tie Global Summit, Upekkha, and NSRCEL cell of IIM Bengaluru and emotional wellness platform YourDOST—was compiled after analysing responses from 120 entrepreneurs mostly in the age bracket of 30 to 40 years. It stated that early-stage founders reported significantly higher levels of stress and self-doubt.

"In a landscape where 68 percent of Indian entrepreneurs report experiencing severe stress (ASSOCHAM, 2023), and startup founder burnout contributes to nearly one-third of venture failures, understanding the emotional wellbeing of founders has become critical to India's entrepreneurial success story," the report stated. "We found that 31 percent of entrepreneurs reported high imposter syndrome, highlighting a significant psychological challenge within the entrepreneurial community, where self-doubt can persist despite tangible achievements."

In the survey, 30 percent of the participants chose an option that said: "I often feel like I don’t deserve
the success I’ve achieved in my business, even though others see me as successful." When asked if they wake up "feeling fresh and rested”, 40 percent of entrepreneurs said they did not.