Today all of us are living an odd life, where time seems to run differently as we sit in our homes ("What day is it again?"), there's a strange feeling of sensory deprivation ("Have I seen the sun today?"), and heading to the grocery store feels like taking your life in your hands.

Against this distressing COVID-19 backdrop, many start-ups are still moving fast. Some are lucky enough to be relatively unaffected, many others are identifying survival strategies, and a fortunate few are pivoting to actually maximize opportunities. Whatever the case may be, their employees are all working under levels of stress that defy comparison to any other situation in recent memory. From feeling the effects of isolation to trying to parent and educate children while working, every team is adapting to new challenges.

Now more than ever, it's on founders to support their teams by leading with steady empathy. Within our portfolio, I'm hearing some good questions and seeing some best practices to help their employees during this unprecedented time.

The truth is, no one has ever been through something quite like this before. But if your number-one focus is around taking care of your employees, it will ultimately help you - and them - come out stronger on the other side.