Startup life isn’t all pitch decks and press hits. It’s anxiety. Isolation. Burnout. And for too many founders, especially those without deep-pocketed investors or safety nets, mental health support is a luxury, not a lifeline.
But one founder is changing that.
James Oliver, Jr., the serial entrepreneur behind Kabila, just teamed up with Techstars for a game-changing partnership designed to provide free mental health therapy to U.S.-based founders who want it but can’t afford it.
Backed by a grant from the Techstars Foundation, the initiative is being rolled out through Oliver’s nonprofit arm, the Kabila Founder Mental Health Fund, a project that’s both deeply personal and long overdue.
“It took over 100 emails to turn this from a ‘crazy idea’ in my head into real therapy for real founders,” Oliver shared on LinkedIn. “Yesterday, we gave out our very first founder mental therapy grant. That’s when it hit me—we’re actually doing this.”
A Mission Rooted in Legacy
This isn’t just another founder perk; it’s a passion project with roots stretching all the way back to Panama. The mental therapy grants have been named in honor of Oliver’s late grandmother, Carmen Reid, a Black immigrant and seamstress who died from a stroke in 1969, likely brought on by the crushing weight of stress and zero access to mental health resources.
“I never met my grandmother,” Oliver wrote, “but I can’t help but wonder if I would have if she had access to mental health resources. I named the grants after her so her legacy can help other people heal.”
What Founders Actually Get
Thanks to a $25,000 seed grant from Techstars co-founder Brad Feld, the fund is now offering four free therapy sessions via BetterHelp or a therapist of the founder’s choice. It’s designed for early-stage founders in the Kabila community, particularly those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford therapy.
And it’s already making an impact: four founders have received grants, with a goal to support 50 within the next year.
“As someone who has been open about my own mental health struggles,” Feld said in a statement, “I know firsthand how critical it is for founders to have access to support during the most challenging times.”
“This fund is a vital step toward building a healthier, more resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Why It Matters
If you’ve ever built a business from scratch, you know how lonely the road can get. Oliver does too.
When he launched his first startup, WeMontage, he was a new dad to premature twins, a non-technical founder trying to build software, and grinding just to stay afloat. His mental health tanked, and there were no resources in sight.
“I was functionally depressed,” he told AFROTECH. “And at that time I was not getting the mental support I needed. I wonder what would’ve happened if I did.”
Instead of letting that chapter close with defeat, Oliver built something new for other founders.
Over the past four years, he also worked with the ParentPreneur Foundation, funding more than 400 therapy sessions for parent entrepreneurs. The results were undeniable.
Now, he’s bringing that same energy to Kabila, his platform that connects underserved founders to co-founders, capital, and community, with mental health finally getting a front-row seat.
What’s Next?
This partnership is just getting started, and Oliver has big dreams. He’s already in talks with other accelerators and funds to expand the reach of the program.
Want to help? You can make a tax-deductible donation to support the Carmen Reid Founder Mental Therapy Grants or join the Kabila community to connect with founders who see you as more than just your pitch. Because your mind matters as much as your milestones.
