While India’s start-up scene has been bustling, there has been big talk about how people behind these corporates crumbling mentally due to burnout and intense pressure. According to industry experts, behind the polished pitch decks and big projections, there is a worrying trend of small things - the slight tremor in a hand reaching for a coffee cup, the dark circles poorly concealed, the momentary flash of panic when discussing runway – all pointing towards mental health crises brewing in India’s start-up ecosystem.

"Let us be frank - we have created a pressure cooker. In our race to build the next unicorn, we have normalized a culture that pushes founders and their teams to the brink. I have witnessed brilliant minds crumble under the weight of expectations, promising ventures implode not because of market forces, but because their leaders were running on fumes,” Raaja Kanwar, Chairman and Managing Director of Apollo International Group, a leading conglomerate with business operations in Green Energy, Logistics and Supply Chain, told Times Now.

The empirical data corroborates these observations as nearly 75 per cent of Indian entrepreneurs report experiencing significant stress. Nearly half of the employees in most start-ups feel anxious or depressed and the rate of mental health issues among founders is twice or even thrice higher than the general population. “These are not just statistics; they are a damning indictment of the ecosystem we have built. Interestingly, the very traits that make entrepreneurs successful - drive, passion, willingness to take risks - can also make them more vulnerable to mental health challenges,” Kanwar added.

Experts believe that most corporate workers do not understand the difference between healthy ambition and self-destructive behaviour - and in the fast-paced startup world, dedication is often celebrated, without understanding the real issues a person is facing. “The tragic case of the Cafe Coffee Day founder in 2019 brought this issue into sharp focus. It was not an isolated incident, but rather an extreme manifestation of a pervasive problem. It forced many in the ecosystem to confront an uncomfortable truth: our definition of success might be fundamentally flawed.”

Kanwar said toxic work culture – equates success with sacrifice – and more people are encouraged to do so. “As investors, we are part of the problem. We push for hypergrowth, often at the expense of sustainable practices. We nod approvingly at founders who boast about 100-hour work weeks, mistaking self-destruction for dedication. It is time we recognized that a burnt-out founder is a liability, not an asset,” he added.

Experts say the best way to resolve the issues of burnout and mental health issues is to first recognize that there is an issue with work culture. Glorification of extreme work habits needs to be put to rest. Mental health needs to be viewed as a serious subject with work-life balance given high priority.

“Your mental health is not negotiable. It is your most valuable asset. I have seen too many brilliant entrepreneurs flame out because they bought into the myth of the invincible founder. Set boundaries. Prioritize sleep. Build a support network. And for the love of all that is holy, take a vacation once in a while. Your company will not fall apart if you recharge. To the broader ecosystem: We need to change the narrative,” said Kanwar.

A few ways you can resolve mental health issues among your employees, according to Kanwar, include:

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