Frequently Asked Questions
Econa, answered
What is the Entrepreneur Wellbeing Check (EWC)?
The EWC is a free, confidential screening instrument built specifically for entrepreneurs — seven validated questions, scored out of 28, taking about 3 minutes. It is peer-reviewed, published in the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research (2026), and in the public domain so it can be used by anyone.
Is the EWC a mental health diagnosis?
No. The EWC is a screening instrument, not a clinical diagnostic. Your results give you a validated snapshot of your wellbeing as an entrepreneur — a starting point for proactive attention, not a diagnosis.
Is the Entrepreneur Wellbeing Check really free and confidential?
Yes. The EWC and your personalized results are always free for entrepreneurs — you’re never required to pay. You don’t need an account, either — you can get your EWC report without creating one. Your responses are confidential and your identifiable results stay private to you. FounderScreen is built around strict data privacy practices: individual responses are never shared, and ecosystem reporting uses only de-identified, aggregated data. The single optional paid tier is membership in the Econa Village.
Who sees my responses?
Your individual responses are never shared or sold, and your identifiable results stay private to you — no one else sees them. Only de-identified, aggregated data informs ecosystem reporting and the work of qualified university-affiliated academic researchers who aim to accelerate entrepreneur resilience, wellbeing and mental health.
What does Econa offer entrepreneurs?
Econa offers education, free validated screening, evidence-based frameworks, and connection to support. After you complete the Entrepreneur Wellbeing Check, you receive a personalized action plan and a portfolio of evidence-based resources matched to your specific needs and opportunities.
What are “entrepreneur mental health differences”?
Entrepreneurs share a distinctive personality trait pattern that comes with unique superpowers — and unique vulnerabilities. The same differences that make entrepreneurs remarkably driven can also leave them remarkably exposed to mental health symptoms. Understanding them is the first step to protecting them.
What does “Econa” mean?
Econa is an acronym for the five universal personality traits — Extraversion, Conscientiousness, Openness, Neuroticism, and Agreeableness. An entrepreneur’s mental health differences, strengths, and vulnerabilities are shaped by a distinctive pattern across these traits.
Where does the name come from?
In Greek mythology, Econa is an island where Psyche — goddess of spirit and soul — was born. Psyche married Eros, god of love, and their daughter Hedone, the goddess of joy and delight. Psyche gave her name to psychiatry and psychology; together Psyche, Eros and Hedone represent the foundations of mental health and wellbeing.
What is the FounderScreen Initiative?
FounderScreen is Econa’s initiative to bring free wellbeing screening to entrepreneurs at population scale, through sponsorships from the venture, accelerator, university and ecosystem communities. Universal free access to the Econa FounderScreen Initiative is a fiscally sponsored project of MarinArts, a California non-profit corporation exempt from federal tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service #47-2571336.
Who is behind Econa?
Econa was founded by Michael A. Freeman, M.D. — former Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, UCSF — and is built on peer-reviewed science with a global network of entrepreneurship researchers. Its mission: advance the science of entrepreneur resilience, performance, wellbeing and mental health, and provide the tools to protect it.
Can our organization collaborate with Econa?
Yes — building scalable wellbeing and mental health resources is a team effort. Investors, family offices, foundations, accelerators, incubators, ecosystems, governments, and university programs can all collaborate with us. Tell us how you’d like to help on our Collaborate page.
