About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to equip and empower members of the startup community to become leaders* so that work may become ecological -- good for self, good for others, and good for the environment.
Our Values
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Be Human
Vulnerability bonds us together and it can be uncomfortable. Being human invites each of us to be messy and to support others in their messiness.
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Be Ecological
Consider the impacts of your actions and go for it. Change requires action, so do bold things — not only for yourself and not by yourself, but for something greater.
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Be Generous and Generative
Make the pie bigger and invite everyone to share in it. Remember, not everyone likes the same kind of pie!
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Be Integrity
It comes from within. Create from your core, avoid hidden contracts, act with intention, and speak with impeccability.
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Be Fun
Have it and find it. (Hint: It’s everywhere, all the time, and always available.)
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Be Leaders*
Leadership happens in the moment, even - and especially - in the face of fear. Everyone is a leader and leaders create other leaders. Be followable, be responsible, and be on purpose.
You might notice that all of our values begin with be. That’s because our values (and our work) are about becoming. We know that each of us is a work in progress, and we strive every day to embody, enact, and promote the values of the Pilea Way.
Our Story
Pilea was born as Atlas, a project from the co-managing directors of Alpha Bridge Ventures, an early-stage venture fund in San Francisco. Howie and Jake were both entrepreneurs and solo fund managers before partnering with one another. During these times, both of them experienced the loneliness, isolation, stress, financial hardship, and burnout associated with building a company. Their empathy for the founder journey led them to create a fund around the thesis that healthy founders equal healthy returns. This is to say, Pilea and Alpha Bridge both believe that the health of the founder(s) is directly proportional to the health of the company.
To provide the additional support necessary to build world-changing companies, Alpha Bridge brought in professional psychologist, Kari Sulenes, to build the only integrated leadership and human development program of its kind. Since then, we’ve grown up a bit - now with a new name and identity along with a growing team - while always remaining committed to our mission. For us, this work is an expression of who we are.
(Wondering why we chose Pilea and what it means? Get the story here.)
Today, Pilea combines the efficiency of integrated care, the convenience of your favorite hotel’s concierge desk, and the personalization of boutique coaching.
Our work is centered on making big changes in the world by supporting the people with the big ideas. For us, well-cared-for leadership is crucial for widespread company wellbeing. And that’s just the beginning.