Perform under pressure, without losing yourself

We help startup founders and leaders lead under pressure with clarity and emotional intelligence, through 1:1 coaching, peer circles and team offsites. Built by a startup operator and an ex-pro athlete turned psychotherapist.

Perform under pressure, without losing yourself

We help startup founders and leaders lead under pressure with clarity and emotional intelligence, through 1:1 coaching, peer circles and team offsites. Built by a startup operator and an ex-pro athlete turned psychotherapist.

OUR MISSION

We will provide 1 billion people with the tools & skills to master their thoughts, emotions and actions.

OUR VISION

A world led by emotionally intelligent, self-aware professionals where leadership is defined by clarity, courage, and connection.

TEAM

The humans behind the method

Two founders, two sides of high performance: a licensed psychotherapist who coaches every program, and a startup operator who built products and teams from the inside. Both of us have lived through burnout, imposter syndrome and leadership pressure. What we teach is what we’ve walked through ourselves.

Lea Mersch, Co-Founder and Lead Coach of Deep Work

CO-FOUNDER & LEAD COACH

Lea Mersch

Lea coaches the founders and leadership teams in every Deep Work program. She is a state-licensed psychotherapist trained in cognitive behavioural and schema therapy, spent five years at Capgemini Invent as a strategy consultant advising companies on leadership and change, and played basketball at the professional level. That mix lets her work on both sides of performance: the mindset and the mechanics of leading a team.

Lea coaches the founders and leadership teams in every Deep Work program. She is a state-licensed psychotherapist trained in cognitive behavioural and schema therapy, spent five years at Capgemini Invent as a strategy consultant advising companies on leadership and change, and played basketball at the professional level. That mix lets her work on both sides of performance: the mindset and the mechanics of leading a team.

Licensed psychotherapist

CBT & Schema Therapy

M.Sc. Business Psychology

Ex-Manager, Capgemini Invent

Former national basketball player

Certified business coach

CAREER

2025 – today

Co-Founder & Lead Coach, Deep Work

2022 – today

Leadership coach & consultant, own practice

2020 – 2025

Clinical psychotherapy training (CBT), DGVT – licensed psychotherapist

2017 – 2022

Manager, Capgemini Invent

2011 – 2013

Professional basketball player, DSK Karlín Prague

2007 – 2016

B.Sc. Psychology & M.Sc. Business Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum

“What stood out was the authenticity and presence of the coach, Lea, who created a super safe and supportive environment for personal growth.”

— Theresa Oxfort, Senior Associate Growth, Doctolib

CO-FOUNDER · COMMERCIAL & COMMUNITY

Till Westermann

Till holds the Deep Work’s vision and builds the community around them. Before that, he spent almost ten years inside the startup ecosystem he now serves: in venture capital at Earlybird and Rocket Internet, as founders associate at Accountable, and as product manager and later CPO at venture-backed startups. He knows the pressure of the next round, the roadmap and the first leadership layer from the inside.

Till holds the Deep Work’s vision and builds the community around them. Before that, he spent almost ten years inside the startup ecosystem he now serves: in venture capital at Earlybird and Rocket Internet, as founders associate at Accountable, and as product manager and later CPO at venture-backed startups. He knows the pressure of the next round, the roadmap and the first leadership layer from the inside.

WHU

Ex-CPO, Claro AI

Ex-Earlybird VC

Ex-Rocket Internet

CAREER

2024 – today

Co-Founder, Deep Work

2023 – 2024

Chief Product Officer, Claro

2022 – 2023

Product Manager, getpaid

2022

Pre-seed investments & venture building, Rocket Internet

2021

Investment team, Earlybird Venture Capital

2020 – 2021

Founders Associate, Accountable

2015 – 2019

ABOUT YOU, Project A, InstaFreight

“Deep Work stands out with a uniquely powerful combination: carefully selected participants facing similar life challenges, an exceptionally skilled coach, and Till’s thoughtfully crafted organization.”

— Markus Börner, Partner, MVP Factory

Till Westermann, Co-Founder of Deep Work

HOW WE CAN HELP

Inner work, done alongside other people

Programs for you as a leader and formats for your whole team, all built on the same three principles. More than 130 founders and operators have already been through them.

01

Inner work, done properly

Honest self-reflection, guided by an ex-consultant, licensed psychotherapist & leadership coach. Not motivational talks, not generic training.

02

Alongside peers

Small, hand-picked groups of people working in startups / scaleups facing the same questions.

03

Built for Monday morning

Practical tools and daily practices you can use in your next 1:1, board meeting or hard conversation.

CLIENTS

What people say after working with us

Alumni come from teams like Doctolib, Enpal, Miles, Selfapy and Amorelie.

"Absolutely amazing coaching program – tailored to the needs of business professionals. What stood out was the authenticity and presence of the coach, Lea, who created a super safe and supportive environment for personal growth. The structure of the program was equally impressive: thoughtfully designed sessions that combined interactive input, practical exercises, partner work, and weekly tasks."

Theresa Oxfort

Senior Associate Growth, Doctolib

"Absolutely amazing coaching program – tailored to the needs of business professionals. What stood out was the authenticity and presence of the coach, Lea, who created a super safe and supportive environment for personal growth. The structure of the program was equally impressive: thoughtfully designed sessions that combined interactive input, practical exercises, partner work, and weekly tasks."

Theresa Oxfort

Senior Associate Growth, Doctolib

"Deep Work stands out with a uniquely powerful combination: carefully selected participants facing similar life challenges, an exceptionally skilled coach, and Till’s thoughtfully crafted organization - all within an intimate, highly focused setting."

Markus Börner

Partner, MVP Factory

"Deep Work stands out with a uniquely powerful combination: carefully selected participants facing similar life challenges, an exceptionally skilled coach, and Till’s thoughtfully crafted organization - all within an intimate, highly focused setting."

Markus Börner

Partner, MVP Factory

"Deep Work was exactly the reset I needed during a big transition phase in my life. The sessions helped me understand myself, my values, and my next steps much more clearly. What I especially loved was the exchange within the small, hand-picked group: open, honest, and inspiring conversations with like-minded people."

Victoria Robinson

Head of Marketing, Milano Vice

"Deep Work was exactly the reset I needed during a big transition phase in my life. The sessions helped me understand myself, my values, and my next steps much more clearly. What I especially loved was the exchange within the small, hand-picked group: open, honest, and inspiring conversations with like-minded people."

Victoria Robinson

Head of Marketing, Milano Vice

"What I liked about Deep Work was the combination of inner work and group dynamics. It was a very cool structured program!"

Nora Blum

Co-Founder, Selfapy (Exit)

"What I liked about Deep Work was the combination of inner work and group dynamics. It was a very cool structured program!"

Nora Blum

Co-Founder, Selfapy (Exit)

NEXT STEP

Let’s talk about where you are

Book an intro call. It’s a fit conversation, not a pitch: we get to know your situation and point you to the right format, or tell you honestly if we’re not the right fit.