This Week in Startups The cost of CEOs ignoring mental health with Bonobos Founder Andy Dunn | E1470
May 27, 2022
Andy Dunn, the founder of Bonobos and author of "Burn Rate," shares his candid journey with bipolar disorder, revealing its profound impact on his entrepreneurial path. He highlights that founders are significantly more likely to face mental health struggles. Dunn discusses the challenges he faced during his Walmart acquisition while managing his condition and emphasizes the need for open conversations about mental health in the startup world. He also offers advice on navigating these issues, advocating for greater support and understanding within the entrepreneurial community.
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Bipolar Disorder in Entrepreneurs
- Startup founders are up to seven times more likely to suffer from bipolar disorders than the general population.
- The hypomanic state, with its rapid speech and high energy, can resemble a typical energetic entrepreneur.
Hypomania and Entrepreneurship
- Hypomania's rapid speech, vision, and energy can be mistaken for entrepreneurial drive.
- This can cloak underlying bipolar disorder, potentially attracting individuals to entrepreneurship.
Software Company Mishap
- Andy Dunn tried building a software company within his apparel company, Bonobos, due to impaired judgment during a hypomanic state.
- This created conflicting company cultures and ultimately failed, highlighting the costliness of hypomania.
