A Failed Startup, An Identity Crisis, and a VC Company That Cares with Mark Phillips

Most venture capitalists talk solely about exits and valuations. Mark Phillips talks about founder mental health.In this episode of Fearful Giants, Clay sits down with Mark Phillips, Managing Partner of 11 Tribes Ventures, a VC firm that's actively reshaping the venture capital model to prioritize founder resilience alongside business outcomes.Mark's journey began with failure. A failed diabetes device startup, an identity crisis, and the realization that his marriage, health, and faith were all in shambles. That rock-bottom moment became the foundation for something radically different: a venture firm where "capital and care" aren't competing values.What You'll Hear:• How Mark's startup failure led to an identity crisis that changed everything• Why 70% of the market laughs at the idea of founder wellbeing• The hidden cost of tying your worth to your company's success• How meditation changed the way Mark's brain processes the world• What happens when a founder has the courage to kill a major partnership• The truth Mark whispers to himself when fear shows upIf you're a founder grinding yourself into the ground, or a leader who's forgotten why you started, this conversation is for you.Connect with Mark Phillips:Website: https://www.11tribes.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markphillips11t/Email: [email protected] with Clay:Website: https://15sixty.com/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/claystelzerEmail: [email protected]