Founder wellbeing in
Africa report

12) Flourish Report

African Startup Founders Open Up About Their Journey

Africa is home to a thriving startup ecosystem, fueled by ambitious early-stage founders and a rapidly expanding network of ecosystem players. But alongside the momentum comes intense pressure—long hours, high stakes, and challenging macroeconomic conditions. To better understand the distinct stressors African founders face, Flourish Ventures led the first large-scale survey on founder wellbeing in Africa, powered by Startup Snapshot. The result is a powerful look into how resilience and wellbeing are becoming essential strategies for long-term success on the continent.

Sneak peek
of selected highlights

Emotional Toll

No-one is immune: Even founders of thriving startups can struggle with wellbeing

76% Of Founders

With thriving startups report an impact on their mental wellbeing

Founders of thriving startups that experienced the following in past 2 weeks

  • 60% Anxiety
  • 58% High stress
  • 52% Burnout
  • 20% Depression

Despite the challenges, startup founders love what they do

  • 64% Will start another startup if their current one fails

The trust gap

Founders don’t think their investors care, creating barriers to communication

41% Of founders

Report their investors only care about their wellbeing when it affects returns

Coping mechanisms

Founders display a mix of healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with stress

  • 59% Exercise
  • 49% Lean on loved ones
  • 43% TV & phone scrolling
  • 21% Meditation
  • 11% Alcohol

Explore our latest insights

© 2024 - Startup Snapshot Design: Obys | Code: Eli Cohen