Founding circle · with Kobi Lehrer
For founders who carry it alone.
A small, confidential group of founders. Every other week, online, we talk about what you can't say to your team, your investors or your family.
The part nobody sees
On paper the business is fine. But every decision lands on your desk, and there's no one you can think out loud with.
Your team needs you steady. Your investors need you confident. Your partner has heard enough about work. So the real questions stay in your head: whether to let someone go, whether to take the deal, whether you still want this at all.
Close Circle is a room where those questions get asked out loud, to people who carry the same weight and have nothing to gain from what you decide.
Who it's for
You'll fit if
- You run a business on your own or with a small team
- You make the calls that nobody else can make for you
- You want honest conversation, not motivation
- You'll turn up every other week and keep what's said in the room
It isn't
- A networking group or a place to find clients
- A course, a mastermind or pitch practice
- Therapy or crisis support
How a session runs
- 01
Check in
Each person says where they really are this week, in a few minutes.
- 02
One real issue
One or two members bring something live: a decision, a relationship, a doubt. They say what a good outcome from tonight would look like.
- 03
The group works it
Questions first, then reflections. No one fixes or lectures. You hear how it looks from outside your own head.
- 04
What you're taking away
Everyone names one thing they'll act on. The next session starts there.
Why me
I run a finance business in London, so I know the weight of the decisions you make late at night on your own. I coach founders one to one, and I've facilitated groups built on one idea: that people get stronger when they stop pretending to be fine. My approach is to reframe: I ask the questions that help you see a problem differently, and keep the conversation honest so the group can do the same.
"What are you afraid will be true about you if you actually try?"
What clients say
"I was transitioning back into a business I'd founded and wanted senior, strategic outside counsel. Kobi did a brilliant job of unpacking a very messy and chaotic attic, and putting things back in the right place. Every founder, every manager and every boss needs a Kobi: part coach, part counsellor, part therapist. Someone who shines a light on where you're going and, more importantly, keeps you on track."
"When I started working with Kobi, I was considering seeking investment but was full of doubt and short on confidence. In a few sessions he helped me see where that came from, and recognise the strength of the business I'd built. Six months later I'd secured the investment. But the biggest change was in me: less overworking, less worrying, less second-guessing myself."
"Kobi is a deeply intuitive mentor who guided me through a major shift in my business. He helped me see what was no longer aligned and was causing chaos. We worked through the fears blocking the move to a new business model, and he held me accountable to my aspirations throughout. I highly recommend him to any business owner who feels trapped by what they've created."
"Within a couple of sessions, things became much clearer. Kobi is direct and intuitive, and gets to the core of an issue quickly. I tend to overthink and ruminate. He's helped me move from thinking into action and trust my intuition more. For me, the coaching lit a fire under me and got things moving."
Questions
What does it cost?
The founding rate is £200 a month. The first three months are paid up front (£600), then monthly with a month's notice to leave. Every place starts with a 20-minute call.
Is this therapy?
No. It's facilitated peer coaching. If something comes up that needs clinical support, I'll help you find the right person.
How confidential is it?
Everyone signs a short agreement before the first session. What's said in the circle stays there. Sessions are never recorded.
What if I miss a session?
Life happens, but the group works because people show up. If you know you can't commit to most sessions, wait for a later circle.
When do sessions run?
We agree a fixed evening slot with the group before we start, so it works for everyone.
Your senior leadership team.
Support for and from other founders.