I was burning out as a founder. My summer interns changed everything about the way I work.
A startup founder shares how integrating summer interns into his personal and professional life helped alleviate his burnout. By fostering a close-knit community, he improved both his company's productivity and his own mental well-being.
Why it matters
It highlights the importance of social connection and mentorship in the often-isolating environment of startup entrepreneurship.
Bryan Reed (right) created a close bond with his marketing interns this summer. Bryan Reed Bryan Reed is a Gen Z startup founder who hired three Gen Z summer interns to help with marketing. They worked long hours and figured out ways to boost their productivity and support one another. Reed says their close bond made him happier, and he's since changed his approach to work. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bryan Reed, a 24-year-old startup founder based in New York City. It's been edited for length and clarity. I was burning out this spring. In July of 2025, my cofounder and I created Freeport Markets, a trading app that lets people trade international stocks 24/7. As a cofounder, I spent my days grinding, eating, staying up late, and doing it all again the next day.
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