Itxaso del Palacio (Notion Capital): The founder health paradox

<p>Working longer does not necessarily make founders feel worse. In fact, some of the founders putting in the most hours report feeling healthier than their peers.</p><p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/itxasodp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Itxaso del Palacio</a>, General Partner at <a href="https://www.notioncapital.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Notion Capital</a>, explores this founder health paradox and why feeling capable of pushing harder may not be the same as performing sustainably.</p><p>Using lessons from endurance sport and findings from Notion Capital’s Negative Split research, she explains why founders need to pace themselves for a journey that can last five, eight or ten years. </p><p>She also looks at the role of intrinsic motivation, teams, coaches and peer networks in helping founders maintain performance over time.</p><p>The talk ultimately challenges investors and board members to look beyond growth metrics and consider whether the people building the company have what they need to finish the race strongly.</p><p><strong>Highlights</strong></p><ul><li>Why founders can learn from endurance athletes</li><li>What the negative split reveals about sustainable performance</li><li>Why long working hours can distort how healthy founders feel</li><li>What startup culture misunderstands about recovery</li><li>Why intrinsic motivation matters over the long term</li><li>How strong support networks help founders keep performing</li><li>Why boards should look beyond financial and operating metrics</li><li>Why the way a founder finishes matters more than how they start</li></ul><p>This session was recorded at the Love Tomorrow Summit, where EUVC curated the investor-focused programme.</p><p><strong>Timestamps</strong></p><ul><li>(00:00) Intro</li><li>(01:20) What happens when founders have to keep going for years</li><li>(03:00) Why elite athletes pace for the second half</li><li>(04:35) Why investors treat founders like machines</li><li>(05:30) What the Negative Split research found</li><li>(06:40) The perception gap around founder health</li><li>(08:05) What startup culture gets wrong about recovery</li><li>(09:10) Intrinsic motivation and support networks</li><li>(10:00) Why founder health is a business issue</li><li>(10:40) What investors should ask in the boardroom</li><li>(11:15) Why performance is about how you finish</li></ul>