The ones who will get us there aren't the ones who hustle and burn out.
But the ones who build from a place of genuine aliveness and inspiration.
"I feel that I have grown professionally as well as personally in ways that I never expected. There are lessons that I've learned in communicating with Jan that I trust will serve me for years to come, and frankly, you could not put a price on these services." — Alex Nicita
85% of founders experience high stress. 76% report feeling lonely.
Meanwhile, the culture keeps celebrating the grind and hustle.
And the founders who are struggling, rarely talk about it.
That struggle makes sense. The culture we're all swimming in makes it almost inevitable.
But can be solved on a personal level.
The founders who create lasting impact tend to share one thing in common — they learned to build from a place of genuine energy and alignment, not pressure and depletion.
That's what this work is about.
I value contribution, freedom and autonomy.
I've never had a traditional job.
After I finished my physics degree, I co-founded a social startup. It was aligned and fun… until it wasn't.
The biggest realization I had after I left: Happiness as fuel, not a reward.
In 2018 I found my passion in coaching and dedicated myself fully to it.
Since then I've worked with over 100 clients across the world, helping impact-driven founders build businesses that feel as good on the inside as they look on the outside.
I continuously invest in my own development, learning from the best coaches in the world.
I've done 2 Vipassana retreats, multiple plant medicine ceremonies, an 8-day darkness retreat and many other retreats and experiences that helped me heal past trauma and become more free.
I grew up in Stuttgart, Germany in a middle class family.
I have 2 younger brothers. I play lots of different sports, I love adventures and nature. I read a lot, for fun and for personal development.
I'm based in Lisbon since 2022, working with impact-driven founders globally.
I live here with my wife, Diara, who is the best life-partner I can imagine.
I only work 1:1, no group programs. I support only a small number of founders at any given time. We go deep and far together, over several months, with (bi)-weekly sessions and support in between.
The work is holistic by design. We look at the whole picture — your business, your mindset, your energy, your patterns, your vision. Strategy without inner work only goes so far and inner work without practical direction stays theoretical.
Sessions happen over video call or over audio while we're both outside walking in nature. The best conversations don't always happen sitting down.
I'm selective about who I work with. When I work with someone, I'm all in to support them and their mission and life, so I choose my clients as carefully as they choose me.
As a founder, your focus is naturally on the external — decisions, problems, execution. That matters, and you'll have my full support there. But lasting progress requires looking at the full picture — the business, your mindset, your patterns, your vision. Strategy without inner work only goes so far, and inner work without practical direction stays theoretical.
We flow between the following areas as needed. Some weeks it's strategy and priorities. Others it's the deeper internal work.
Most founders are so deep in the day-to-day that they've lost sight of what they're actually building and why. We start by getting radically clear on your vision. Not just the business goals, but the life you want to be living while you build it. Clarity at this level is the foundation.
We turn your vision into a focused, realistic strategy that works with your energy and strengths, not against them. You'll always know what to focus on next, and you'll make consistent progress one step after another.
This is where most growth actually happens. Every founder has patterns — avoidance, procrastination, self-doubt — that quietly slow everything down. We work on these in real time, week after week, so they stop disrupting your momentum and keeping you from the progress you're capable of.
This includes accountability — checking in week after week so you stay on track, don't get distracted, and the things that really matter actually get done.
The stories we tell ourselves shape the experience we have. The meaning we attach to what happens in our business — with cofounders, investors, employees — drives how we feel and how we respond. This work is about becoming aware of those stories and learning to relate to them differently.
When we want to get to a new level in our business, that usually comes with a shift in identity. Maybe it's learning to delegate, stepping back from micromanaging, or letting others step into leadership. When our identity shifts, our behavior and actions naturally follow — rather than trying to force different results while staying the same person.
"Jan has a holistic approach. He doesn't just focus on business strategy, but also on identifying core fears, limiting beliefs, and the deeper issues that can hold you back. I came into our work together feeling lost, confused, and uninspired. Over time, with his guidance and accountability, I gained clarity and momentum again. I wholeheartedly recommend Jan!"
"Jan has an unusual combination — a lot of love and a very centered, stable energy. Very non-judgmental. Whatever I shared, there was nothing wrong or shameful. That is quite unique."
"A year has passed since my final coaching session with Jan. What's striking is how I've managed to integrate new structures and ways of thinking into my life. These changes feel less like theoretical concepts and more like second nature."
"The last 20 years I worked very hard and yet something was missing. Already in the first session with Jan my eyes were opened. After 10 months I finally feel free again — and I can enjoy my life again."
