The science behind the coverage — landmark research shaping the field of entrepreneur mental health.
The Original 2015 Paper · Unpublished "Are Entrepreneurs Touched With Fire?"
Michael A. Freeman and colleagues — unpublished working paper
2015 Never published in a peer-reviewed journal — it went viral immediately, reaching over 100,000 readers around the world. The paper that ignited the entrepreneur mental health movement.
Small Business Economics · Peer-Reviewed The Prevalence and Co-occurrence of Psychiatric Conditions Among Entrepreneurs and Their Families
Freeman, M.A., Staudenmaier, P. J., Zisser, M. R., & Andresen, L. A. — Small Business Economics, 53(2), 323–342
2019 The peer-reviewed successor to "Are Entrepreneurs Touched With Fire?" — accessed more than 123,000 times. The foundational study establishing higher rates of mental health conditions among entrepreneurs vs. comparison populations.
Neuron · Landmark Review Building Brain Capital
Eyre, H. A., Freeman, M.A., Ayadi, R., et al. — Neuron, 109(9), 1430–1432
2021 Published in Neuron — one of the field's most prestigious journals — introducing the brain capital framework for entrepreneurship ecosystems.
IJEBR · Validation Study The Entrepreneur Well-being Check: A Screener for Entrepreneur Mental Health and Well-being
Freeman, Mazza, Johnson & Heinz — International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 32(5), 1333–1354
2026 Peer-reviewed validation of the EWC — a mental health screening tool designed and validated specifically for entrepreneurs. The foundation for FounderScreen.
Military Psychology American Military Veteran Entrepreneurs
Heinz, Freeman, Harpaz-Rotem & Pietrzak — Military Psychology, 29(6), 513–523
2017 Examining the unique mental health profile and entrepreneurial strengths of military veteran entrepreneurs — bridging two historically underserved populations.
Journal of Business Venturing Insights Dopamine and Entrepreneurship
Freeman, Lerner & Rauch — JBVI, 21, e00461
2024 Examining the neurochemistry of motivation, reward and risk-taking that distinguishes the entrepreneurial mind.
Journal of Business Venturing "Cracks in the Wall"
Hunt, Lerner, Johnson, Badal & Freeman — JBV, 37(3), 106190
2022 A study of entrepreneurial action theory and the weakening presumption of intended rationality — challenging the assumption that entrepreneurs act on fully rational, intended plans.
Academy of Management Perspectives Mania Risk and Entrepreneurship: Overlapping Personality Traits
Johnson, Madole & Freeman — AMP, 32(2), 207–227
2018 Research connecting elevated mood states, creativity and mania risk in the entrepreneurial population — both the gift and the vulnerability.
