Rise

The problem

Founders carry enormous pressure, and most have nowhere to process it until it shows up as burnout, broken relationships or poor decisions. Traditional therapy can be hard to access and is rarely tailored to the unique stresses of building a company. Meanwhile, accelerators and investors talk about founder wellbeing but often lack practical ways to support it. The result is a quiet crisis that affects companies as much as the people leading them.

Why now

Conversations about mental health have become far more open, and founders increasingly talk publicly about burnout and stress. Investors and accelerators have recognised that founder wellbeing affects company performance, yet few have practical programs to support it. Digital health tools and remote coaching have become widely accepted, making support more accessible. Rise arrived at a moment when founders were ready to seek help and when the startup ecosystem was looking for credible ways to provide it.

The founders

Leah Cohen is a clinical psychologist who has worked with entrepreneurs for over a decade. Marcus Webb is a two-time founder who experienced burnout firsthand and wished he had found help earlier. They met when Marcus became one of Leah’s clients, and together they designed a program that combines regular check-ins, practical tools and access to licensed coaches who understand startup life.

Why we invested

Malik, who writes about founder psychology himself, backed Rise the week they opened their waitlist. He saw a team that combined clinical credibility with lived experience and a product designed around the realities of founders’ schedules. Early users reported feeling more resilient and making clearer decisions within weeks. Malik believed that supporting founders’ mental health was not only the right thing to do but also good for company outcomes.

How we helped

After investing, we helped Rise partner with accelerators and venture funds that now offer the program to their founders. Malik worked with the team on measuring outcomes in a way that respects privacy while demonstrating impact. Our platform team supported them in building a network of licensed coaches across time zones and introduced them to healthcare partners exploring coverage options.

Where they are now

Rise now supports founders across dozens of accelerators and funds, combining AI-guided check-ins with access to licensed coaches. Members report lower stress, better sleep and stronger relationships with co-founders and teams. The company recently launched programs for founders’ partners and families, recognising that startup stress affects everyone close to the founder. Leah still runs a monthly group session herself. For Marcus, every founder who reaches out before reaching a breaking point is proof that the company is working.