No one doubts that the Spanish entrepreneurial ecosystem has experienced an unprecedented evolution in the last decade. A much more mature, consolidated sector that is capable of establishing strong synergies with all ecosystem agents Face the future with a promising prognosis.
But behind the success stories that generate shocking headlines in the media, the multi-digit financing rounds and the profound transformation of the economy underway There are shadows that remain outside the spotlight.
Entrepreneurship is already a roller coaster; a marathon that takes the founding teams to their physical and psychological limits, with a deterioration in their mental health that, until now, has been experienced behind closed doors. Starting a startup is an exciting and demanding challenge in equal parts and it is not always easy to detect when the limit has been exceeded.
Through the cracks that overexertion generates in the founders, the stress, anxiety, the feeling of not measuring up or not delivering what is expected… a dangerous cocktail that ends up taking its toll.
When the mental illness is already evident, the taboos, stigmas and isolation that they suffer do not contribute to the emergence of mental pathologies that, to a lesser or greater degree, suffer from the majority of people who embark on starting a startup.
Fortunately, the maturity of the Spanish startup ecosystem has not only led to successful projects in the economic field, but has also allowed the collective Become aware of this reality to surface it, treat it and, to the extent possible, provide tools to prevent it in the future.
Ancla.Life is the name of the non-profit organization that is doing hard work in this field and that, as it could not be otherwise, arose from the personal experience of its promoters, leading entrepreneurs in Spain, with mental health.
Carlota Mateos, co-founder and director of Ancla.Life.
Carlota Mateos is co-founder and director of Ancla.Life. In mental health month, DISRUPTORES – EL ESPAÑOL talks with the spokesperson of this association to learn about the work they are carrying out to tackle this problem and create a community where the founders feel heard and have access to tools to protect themselves and overcome the pressure to which they are subjected.
Ancla.Life was launched in 2021 by leading figures in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, such as Diego Ballesteros (ideologist and promoter), Carlota Mateos, Alejandro Artacho, Juan Pablo Nebrera or Iñigo Juantegui.
“The first thing we did was set up a podcast, but then we saw that we had to go one step further. We want destigmatize mental health problems and give tools to entrepreneurs to overcome it,” Carlota Mateos explains in conversation with this editorial team.
“It is a very widespread problem. The entrepreneur himself is afraid of his illness becoming known through him.”to image that it will give to investors, to clients, to the rest of the team. And loneliness and isolation are derived consequences that do a lot of damage,” adds the entrepreneur.
“We want to destigmatize mental health problems in entrepreneurship and give founders tools to overcome them”
The data reflects this. According to a 2023 Startup Snapshot survey, 72% of entrepreneurs have experienced mental health problems as a result of their professional activity.
The most common conditions are stress (44%), burnout (36%), anxiety (37%), depression (13%) and panic attacks (10%).
Furthermore, the personal relationships are also affected: 54% of entrepreneurs report having significantly sacrificed their relationships, and 50% have neglected their friendships.
The work of Ancla.Life is based on five pillars: first, making the problem visible, through the podcast and the talks they give; second, training through a course on-line called Healthy Minds which has six modules on stress, mindfullnesnutrition and physical activity, sleep, techno-stress and emotion management; In addition, this part of the training is complemented with weekend retreats – this weekend one is being held in the Sierra de Madrid – where these tools are put into practice in person.
The Ancla.Life community
The third leg of the activity is the community that is built through YPO support groups for CEOs but applied to the idiosyncrasies of entrepreneurs. “Groups of seven entrepreneurs are created and provides one or two topics to work on in depth. We already have nine groups and we will end the year with twelve,” says Mateos. These groups also participate in the retreats in a way that strengthens the community.
The fourth pillar is to provide them with the professional help from coach or reference psychologistswho perfectly understand the dynamics of entrepreneurial life. Finally, the fifth aspect of Ancla.Life involves scientific work.
Surrounding yourself with equals and sharing mental health problems among entrepreneurs is the first step to breaking the stigmas that persist in this group regarding mental health.
“We also do it with Nirakara. Gustavo Diex, who is co-founder also from Ancla.Life, and its entire team will address scientific research studies,” says Mateos. “We have already published one study and we are finishing laying out the second one that will be released in November.”
The first study reflects how the perceptions and emotions of a group of 30 entrepreneurs vary before and after taking the course. Healthy Mindshow mental health and lifestyle metrics vary.
How to join the association
The second of the studies, about to be made public, will reflect How have you changed these metrics in a support group? of those promoted by Ancla.Life or personal board.
As a non-profit association, Ancla.Life wants to reach the greatest number of entrepreneurs. “We do not want money to be an obstacle to accessing our services. Some are free, such as the podcast, scientific research, access to a psychologist or specialized coaches; and the only thing we require them for is a minimum fee of 9 euros per month is to access the training platform or be part of a “personal board”explains Carlota Mateos.
Many of Ancla.Life’s services are free and to access the training platform or participate in a ‘personal board’ a collaboration of 9 euros per month is required.
Apart from this point, the entity is working to incorporate the complicity of the rest of the protagonists of the ecosystemsuch as investors, investment funds, clients, etc.
Here there are various formulas, from donations of 6,000 euros per month, as done KIBO Venturesone of the pioneer funds to collaborate with the association or SpainNAB; to services provided by the association to the funds so that they help their entrepreneurs, as happens with Venture City or Samaipataamong others. They even apply these collaboration systems with corporates such as BBV Spark.
Startups of a certain size are also working with Ancla.Life to help their teams.
Without a doubt, a problem that needs more visibility and that in months like this, dedicated to mental health, it is fair to put light and stenographers to help Spanish entrepreneurs enjoy a success not only professional, but also personal.