The Thriving Founder: A Salon for Investors Navigating the Reality, Risk & Returns of Founder Health
Most investors know founder mental health and wellbeing matters. Few have developed a POV on how to work with it as the humane and economic risk factor it is.
This evening is designed for LA’s leading investors to orient to the issue. We’ll brief you into the research on founder mental health and wellbeing, case studies from VC firms leading in the area, and connect you with peers working through the topic live.
You'll be joined by 25-40 leading VCs, family offices, and investors for nuanced education, honest dialogue, and human connection. Cristina Poindexter, a serial entrepreneur and leader at the founder mental health think tank Econa, will kick us off with a briefing on the topic, followed by facilitated peer discussion, and then open time.
72% of founders self-report mental health challenges on their journeys, yet 81% choose to conceal their stress and fears, and only 10% share openly with their investors. Founder mental health is often viewed as an individual failing when in reality it’s an ecosystem-wide challenge with macroeconomic consequences. The organizations around founders often want to support, but don't know what works, what's appropriate, or where to begin. This event aims to change that.
What We'll Cover
Introduction to the science & research behind founder mental health, wellbeing, peak performance, and flourishing
3 Case studies from firms leading on founder wellbeing — what they're doing, how they're measuring its value
Tactical examples of how investors can responsibly manage this risk, whether they choose to be passive, reactive, or proactive, with or without trained skill sets or big budgets.
An introduction to the leading assessments being used to measure founder wellbeing and flourishing at scale, from academic partners at UC Berkeley and Harvard.
Facilitated peer-to-peer discussion to share learnings around current or past approaches
A first look at emerging initiatives in the space, with exclusive opportunities to participate
About the organizers
Cristina Poindexter · Serial Founder & Entrepreneur Wellbeing Strategist, Dolce Vita Ventures
Cristina is a four-time founder, Yale sociologist, and former leader at Google and Headspace. Today, she leads development for the entrepreneur mental health think tank Econa, and runs a boutique consultancy servicing ventures that amplify human flourishing. Learn more about her work at www.cristina-poindexter.com.
LA Venture Association · Darren Eng, Executive Director
The Los Angeles Venture Association (LAVA) is a 501(c)6 membership organization that connects the many siloed communities across LA's venture and early-growth ecosystem—including VCs, LPs, family offices, angel investors, founders, accelerators, universities, and service providers. Founded in 1984 as the Los Angeles Venture Club, LAVA works to make connecting, information-sharing, and deal flow more efficient across the region's diverse innovation hubs. Through live and virtual events, industry committees, affinity groups, and investor-only gatherings, LAVA serves as a central hub for growing and navigating the LA venture community.
NanoGC · Eugene Kim
NanoGC is a boutique legal firm providing Fractional General Counsel services to companies from startup through enterprise – embedding senior attorneys as the GC function for organizations that need strategic legal leadership without the cost of a full-time hire. We serve clients across healthcare, digital health, SaaS, biotech, and any sector where senior legal judgment matters. Learn more at https://nanogc.law
Sydenham Clinic
Sydenham is a members-only clinic where longevity, primary care, and concierge medicine converge. From preventive screening and primary care to tailored nutrition, wellness, and longevity planning, every service is delivered with discretion, precision, and ease. Our mission is to guide each member toward their optimal health - deliberately, intelligently, and over time.