Boston tech entrepreneur Paul English talks about mental health diagnosis and the secret to overcoming challenges
WCVBILLIONEWSCENTER 5 o’clock 6 o’clock, new 5 o’clock. He’s a tech billionaire with a passion for building companies and inventing, and he’s not shy about saying he’s bipolar. But his latest work is all about love. Another charming stop on a truly unique life journey that began on the streets of West Rilion Oxbury. This is an impressive wall behind us. You are a child who grew up here. I grew up in West Roxbury. I’m one of seven people. yes. So we were a family of nine and had a three-bedroom house on Perham Street. 1 bathroom, 1 bathroom, 9 people. There was a 15 minute block starting at 5am. If you overslept, you will have to go to school. It reminds me of stinky Paul English. And he will never forget his West Roxbury home, filled with love and family that helped him overcome some hardships. The nuns met my mother at the end of the year and told her that Paul was a special person. We think he belongs in a different school and I go to a different school. At the end of the year, they meet with my mom and say, I think Paul belongs at this other school. So I kind of bounced around town a little bit. You’re very open about being bipolar. Yes, that’s important to you. Yeah. And when people have prejudice and are afraid to talk about it, what they end up doing is becoming isolated. And isolation creates danger. And it’s no secret that Paul has achieved incredible success. I made my first million dollars when I was in my 20s, and I probably sold the company when I was about 35 on a hunch. I sold the company for $30 million, which was unimaginable to me because as a 16-year-old growing up on Prime Street, my career dream was literally to own a car wash. And when I learned programming and got pretty good at it, I realized that I could probably make more money with technology than running a car wash business. So I started kayaking and sold it at just the right time. right? we sold it. It was released in 2012 and sold in 2013. It was sold for $2 billion. It was a great result. And with that money, Paul gives back in a big way. He founded the non-profit Summit Education in Haiti. Embrace Boston and then do a winter walk for the Homeless and Bipolar Social Club. My mother was a social worker and a teacher, so her job was to take care of people and take care of people who were suffering in some way. So, I learned something from her, what was meaningful to your life, your friends, your family? the most important. Shirley, what I bond with, you know, when I’m anxious, I cling to my family. A few years ago, I started driving for Uber. A few years ago, you started driving for Uber. Yeah. Understood. I just wanted to leave it alone for a bit. I did it because I wanted to know what it felt like to use software where someone rates you on a scale of 1 to 5. UBER was truly a pioneer. There are always entrepreneurs out there. Speaking of the heart, bring it back just a little bit. Just not too much. Yeah. good. perfection. Introducing Paul’s fiancée, Rachel Cohen. They met on a dating app and are now coming up with their own app. It’s called Laura With. The goal is to meet in person for a mutually beneficial evening. How did that go, was it the way they met that annoyed you guys? That’s how this product was born. I think it worked out pretty well for us. Obviously, we’re sitting here right now and you’re going to get married. yes. Hmm, but I think it’s very frustrating for a lot of other people. It’s very tiring. They delete apps, redownload them, and talk to a lot of people. They’re not actually meeting in person. And nothing tells me what’s different or how I can do it better. The journey of innovation continues. Rachel is by my side now. Well, do you think he’s a good Uber driver? I’ve never been in his car as an Uber passenger. A kid who wanted to own a car wash. I was fine. It’s okay, Rachel says she thinks we should buy a car wash. Well, that’s what he wanted. Yes, yes. right. absolutely. Uber is fascinating. All are attractive. As you know, today is the day after Valentine’s Day. Pole. And Rachel, I want you to check out the app. roller. They say the best way to do this is to have this interaction in person, rather than just doing everything on an app like we do.This story has a link to a date with Laura
Boston tech entrepreneur Paul English talks about mental health diagnosis and the secret to overcoming challenges
Updated: February 16, 2024 3:42 PM ET
Paul English is a tech mogul who aspires to founding companies and inventing things, including his newest dating app, which he started with his fiancée. He’s also completely open about getting through it all after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. English’s unique life journey began on the streets of West Roxbury, a time he remembers well. “I’m one of seven,” English said. “So we were a family of nine, living in a three-bedroom house on Perham Street. We had a 15-minute block in the morning from 5am or so to shower and get ready for school. English also remembers a home full of love, one that allowed him to overcome some hardships. “At the end of the school year, the nuns met my mother and said, ‘Paul is a very special person. We think he belongs in a different school,'” English said. . “So, I got kicked around a little bit. ‘It’s important for the English language to be open about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.’ The worst thing about mental illness is that there’s a stigma. And , when people are prejudiced, they are afraid of it. What they end up doing is isolating themselves, and isolation makes things dangerous,” he said. “There is no secret cure.” His diagnosis certainly did not hinder his success. English made his first million in his 20s. He then co-developed the travel booking website Kayak and sold it at the right time. “We sold it for over $2 billion, which was a great result,” he said. And with that money, English gives back. He founded four of his nonprofit organizations, including Winter Walk for the Homeless and The Bipolar Social Club. Now he has a new mission. Everything is powered by love. English met his fiancée on a dating app. Now, the couple has devised their own app to help people looking to connect. Laura is trying to help people meet in person. Meanwhile, Brits don’t drive for money, they drive for Uber. He is fascinated by the rating software developed by ride-sharing apps. Not bad for a West Roxbury kid whose first dream was to own a car wash. “It went well,” English said with a smile.
Paul English is a tech mogul who aspires to founding companies and inventing things, including his newest dating app, which he started with his fiancée. He’s also completely open about getting through it all after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
English’s unique life journey began on the streets of West Roxbury, a time he remembers well.
“I’m one of seven,” English said. “So we were a family of nine, living in a three-bedroom house on Perham Street. We had a 15-minute block in the morning from 5am or so to shower and get ready for school. If I overslept, I would go to a stinky school.”
English also remembers a home full of love. That helped him overcome some difficulties.
“At the end of the school year, the nuns met my mother and said, ‘Paul is a very special person. We think he belongs in a different school,'” English said. . “So I got hit around town a little bit.”
Being open about being diagnosed with bipolar disorder is important to the English language.
“The worst thing about mental illness is stigma. And when people have stigma, they’re afraid to talk about it. What they end up doing is isolation, and isolation is what’s dangerous about it.” he says. “There is no cure in secrecy.”
His diagnosis certainly doesn’t hinder his success. English made his first million in his 20s. He then co-developed the travel booking website Kayak and sold it at the right time.
“We sold it for over $2 billion, which was a great result,” he said.
And with that money, English gives back. He founded his four nonprofit organizations, including: winter walk for the homeless and bipolar social club.
Now he has a new mission. Everything is powered by love. English met her fiance on a dating app. Now, the couple has devised their own app to help people looking to connect. roller We try to help people meet in person.
Meanwhile, Brits don’t drive for money, they drive for Uber. He is fascinated by the rating software developed by ride-sharing apps.
Not bad for a West Roxbury kid whose first dream was to own a car wash.
“It went well,” English said with a smile.
