The Inner Work of Founders: Burnout, Psychedelics & the Drive to Be Enough – with Jonas Muff
Description
Jonas Muff is the founder of Vara, a deep tech health startup - and a rare founder willing to dissect the emotional cost of ambition. After facing over 100 rejections during a critical fundraising round, he experienced a breakdown that forced him to confront the hidden engine behind his drive: fear. What followed was a years-long journey through therapy, meditation, and rethinking what it means to lead.
In this episode we talk about:
• Why being “driven” is often just fear in disguise
• How to spot when your inner narrative is sabotaging your startup
• What “thinking in bets” really means for founder decision-making
• How to rewire overthinking loops with meditation, journaling & intention
A conversation about ego, identity collapse, and the difference between chasing performance and building from purpose.
For more from Jonas - including his essays and reflections on founder psychology - check out our newsletter at followthegradient.io.
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