FounderFuel: The vital role of support networks in building and maintaining resilience as a founder

In the third of our series of articles about resilience, we turn the spotlight on the beneficial role of support systems. We explore the inherently lonely nature of founderhood and its negative impact on resilience, as well as examine the potential for peer-to-peer support and coaching to nurture a growth mindset while providing an emotional life raft.

Five years ago, our founder research showed that 92% of founders identified resilience as the #1 trait required for success as an entrepreneur.  In 2024 we dug deeper into the topic of founder resilience to shed more light on exactly what it meant to be resilient.  The research proved that the most resilient, high-performing founders take proactive measures to protect sustainable high performance.

Three key factors set them apart, which have formed the basis for our latest series of FounderFuel® articles:

• They protect their performance habits
• They think differently
• They have strong support systems

This month we’re looking into the proven benefits of those support networks.  We’re going to hone in on peer-to-peer and one-to-one coaching support, both of which came out top in the research.

At one of our recent Scaleup Sessions, we tapped into our incredible support network of founders.  We got several of our most resilient FounderCircle® members to share how they scaffold their founder lifestyle with a community of like-minded individuals and coaching professionals.

The unique life of a founder

For many in the ecosystem, the drive to make a difference, combined with the desire for autonomy is what led us to a life of founderhood.  While the “high pressure, high stakes” nature of the lifestyle is somewhat expected, it’s the sheer scale of emotional burden that often takes us by surprise.  

In our 2024 Founder Resilience research, founders cited the “weight of responsibility” as the primary factor making founder life uniquely different from more general leadership.  It also highlighted how founders need to wear all the hats while carrying the burden of the intense personal connection they have with their team and business idea. 

Our Scaleup Session panelists also talked about the somewhat paradoxical nature of founderhood: exuding unflappable confidence while frantically learning the ropes or having absolute faith in our businesses while simultaneously wanting reassurance.  

“It demands not just that you be the pinnacle of your business, but that you can change and evolve in order to tackle it head-on, in the right way” Daniel Dunn – CEO of PaperPlanes

This responsibility and constant need for adaptability make the founder experience particularly complex and cognitively demanding.

Founderhood can be a lonely place

With this unique lifestyle comes an inevitable sense of isolation.  Our research into founder resilience showed that 76% of founders felt lonely; seven times the workplace average and 50% more than CEOs more generally.

This isn’t just a negative feeling. In the workplace, loneliness impacts self-confidence and self-efficacy while contributing to emotional exhaustion.  The negative impact this has on resilience and problem-solving capabilities makes it detrimental to startup performance.

“It’s like you always carry a backpack full of “business worries, problems and stress” everywhere you go.  An invisible backpack that the others can’t see, making it very lonely.” Ina Jovicic, founder of eNOugh.

This sense of loneliness is eased for those receiving regular support.  82% of our FounderCircle® members tell us they feel less lonely and more supported because of their membership.  Having a small group of peers allows them to be authentic and to problem-solve together.  

High-resilience founders are most likely to embrace support

In the founder resilience research, it was the high-resilience founders in the ecosystem who proactively sought support from those around them.  Not only were they significantly more likely to connect with other founders, but they were also more inclined to pursue individual coaching.

The high-resilience founders in our Scaleup Session panel specifically cited connecting with other founders as a tool for building resilience.  Having a support system that truly understood the unique functioning and pressures of the ecosystem was highly valued. 

The benefit of peer-to-peer support for founders

The research results were compelling, to say the least.  Of those who were part of a support network, 90% said they had developed as a leader, and 82% claimed to be making better decisions for their business.

Science also tells us that cooperative peer interaction stimulates our mesolimbic dopamine reward system (the part of the brain responsible for processing pleasure and reward) making learning in these environments more fulfilling.¹

So, let’s look at some of the unique benefits for founders of interacting with our peers regularly:

Tackling challenges with people who understand the ecosystem – In our recent panel discussion, Tasha Tucker from Olombria told us that despite having a varied support network there was nothing quite like troubleshooting with other founders who “understand the nuances” and can “put the pieces together” when others “just don’t quite get it”.

Perspective from other founders –  In last month’s article, which focused on resilient thinking, we looked at how beneficial it is to find perspective during tough times.  Speaking to other founders offers this perspective – 87% of founders in our recent research said having peers to learn from has had a positive impact on their performance.

“You realise someone may have had this before and you can learn from it, or they’ll just put it in perspective for you.  And you realise this is just part of the journey.  So for me, it’s important to not stay in my head but be talking to other people and getting support that way”. Eric Gordon (Flash)

Hearing others say they’re finding things tough – As founders we put huge pressure on ourselves to succeed.  Due in part to the need to convey confidence to investors, but also fuelled by media rhetoric and the pursuit of the elusive unicorn business.  It’s no wonder therefore that 86% of founders in our research told us it helps to know others have been through similar challenges to them. 

The benefit to founders of professional one-to-one coaching

Our research identified one-to-one coaching as a crucial element of a solid founder support system too.  It provides a dedicated space to tackle specific challenges and personal development ambitions that aren’t possible in a group environment.  Professional psychologically-informed coaching offers more than just emotional support, it gives founders the research-based tools and techniques needed to grow their skill set at a pace matching the scale of change within their business.

 “I find great strength from our conversations and coaching has no doubt allowed me to build confidence to move things forward”

The essential elements of a support network for founders

Undoubtedly, commitment to a support network like FounderCircles is an investment in time, so it pays to make sure it’s the right fit for you and your business.  

• Does it provide a confidential space for you to be genuinely open and vulnerable? Whether it’s asking for specific advice or candidly sharing the ups and downs of founderhood, our panel of high-resilience founders often referred to the importance of a “safe space” and having complete trust in one another’s confidence.
• Does it focus exclusively on founders?  A space that protects honesty and authenticity is contingent on the removal of any conflict of interest.  To get the full benefit of peer-to-peer support, it’s best to avoid groups that mix founders and investors.  Finding yourself in this group dynamic can impact how comfortable you are sharing challenges or elaborating on the full context of an issue.
• Does it focus on breakthroughs for your business?  While it’s important everyone feels comfortable expressing frustration or elation, it’s essential to have forward momentum.  You want a group dynamic that focuses on finding new perspectives and a plan of action, rather than a talk-shop that leads nowhere.  

“Even at some of the worst times in the startup journey I’ve made time to come to the FounderCircle®, because most of the time at the end of it, I feel a lot better and I’ve got a bit of an action plan.  It’s absolutely time well spent.” Louise Birritteri, Pikl

• Is there professional coaching support within the network?  Having a professional founder-coach within the peer-to-peer groups not only keeps discussions laser-focused, it also introduces tools and frameworks that inspire new perspectives faster.  Having a coach who deeply understands the unique founderhood life further contributes to the cathartic experience.  
• Is group size designed to give everyone a voice?  Group size is key to balancing intimacy with efficacy.  Find yourself in a group that’s too small, and conversation becomes stagnant, and experiences are too narrow.  Too big, and it’s hard to contribute or build camaraderie.  A group size of between 5 and 15 is considered optimal for valuable peer-to-peer interaction².
• Is there a breadth of experience and industry within the group?  Peer groups also need to address the balance between relevance and fresh thinking.  While a more homogeneous group might have more in common, creative problem-solving may falter without varied perspectives and lived experience. 

Our research shows comprehensively that support systems are more than just an enjoyable tonic to founder stress.  Their ability to combat loneliness, grow knowledge at pace, and fuel our resilience makes them a fundamental requirement for founderhood.  By taking the time to find a support system that offers the right components, those feelings of isolation and inertia could become a thing of the past for founders.  

Over the past five years, Foundology has delivered FounderCircle® peer group coaching in partnership with leading accelerators and venture capital firms, supporting hundreds of founders around the world and nurturing effective problem-solving, shared learning, and mutual support.

“It’s easy to think ‘Am I crazy for doing this?’ then I hear other founders in the group that I respect saying similar things and realise we’re all in the same boat” Daniel Dunn, Paperplanes

Our FounderCircle group-coaching let you tackle every startup challenge with the support and shared intelligence of others that get it, and are proven to boost confidence and resilience too.  Wherever you are in your startup journey, you’ll be connected with founders who have lived experience of the challenges you’re facing.  Our FounderCircles® meet monthly and each group has 10 founders, supported by a founder coach.  

This is part of a series inspired by the research findings from nearly 400 entrepreneurs. access the Founder Resilience Report, packed full of data and recommendations, here.

To get your dose of fuel for founderhood and be surrounded by a cathartic and knowledgeable community of fellow founders – subscribe to the FounderFuel Channel here.

All articles in our Founder Resilience series

Part 1: Kick start 2025 with the habits that help you thrive not just survive.

Part 2: Insider tips from the most resilient founders on how to cultivate a strong mindset

Part 3: How to find the right support to build and maintain resilience as a founder

Sources

¹ Clark, I., & Dumas, G. (2015). Toward a neural basis for peer-interaction: What makes peer-learning tick? Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 28. 

² Webber, E., & Dunbar, R. (2020). The fractal structure of communities of practice: Implications for business organization. PLOS ONE, 15(4), e0232204.