What does it REALLY mean to invest in a team?

Founders are wired to push boundaries and chase big visions.

They’re tough, driven, and willing to face more grind and uncertainty than most people ever will. We don’t need to dwell on how hard the journey is - they already know, we know.

But here’s the real question:

Are we doing everything we can to give founders the best possible shot at long-term success?

Investors want to back brilliant minds and bold ideas. Founders are the people who make that happen. But peak performance doesn’t come from pressure alone - it comes from the right conditions.

We cheer for the big funding rounds. But what if we also asked:

Are we allocating enough towards building resilient, high-performing teams?

Would investing in founder resilience give us a higher ROI?

▪️ Less burnout

▪️ Better decision-making

▪️ Stronger cultures

▪️ More sustainable growth

A recent report from Balderton Capital backs this up:

▫️ 90% of founders push themselves to constantly work long hours

▫️ 83% believe there are diminishing returns from that overwork

▫️ 64% say pressure negatively impacts business performance

▫️ 81% believe VCs can play a key role in changing this culture

So what kind of support enables founders to perform at their best?

Here are just a few examples:

🔹 Challengers, outsiders who help you think more clearly

🔹 Peer networks, consistent spaces to share, listen, and feel less alone

🔹 Coaching, rest, and recovery — treated as strategy, not as luxury or afterthought

But support is deeply personal. What works for one founder might not work for another. Maybe it’s strength training. Or therapy. Whether we’re talking about physical, mental, or social wellbeing - there’s no single formula. Luckily, we don’t lack for brilliant tools and services. What we need is a shift in mindset:

🌱 Wellbeing and resilience shouldn’t be “extras” you choose off a menu.

They should be part of the journey. Part of the culture. Part of the story we celebrate.