Meet Ziyue Guo | Founder of F.O.U.N.D.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ziyue Guo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ziyue, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
F.O.U.N.D. exists to reframe how we see life’s “Pause” stages, the in-between moments when you may be between jobs, roles, directions, or even countries. In a diverse city like Los Angeles, nearly half of people are constantly moving between cultures, careers, and family roles, these pauses are everywhere.

We help by making those stages visible and supported rather than silent. Through multilingual programs and community spaces, people can reflect in their own language, share their stories, and realize they’re not alone. Everyone faces pauses at some point in life; it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from.

And the vision extends beyond LA. Around the world, people encounter pauses every day. By giving them language and community, we normalize pause as growth, not as a gap, helping families, workplaces, and societies become more resilient.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I founded FOUND out of both personal experience and long observation. During my own pause, I felt how important a support system can be, it gave me the space to slow down, to reflect, to try without rushing into the next step. But as I looked around, I realized this wasn’t just my story. Many people I met, across different cultures and life stages, were living through the same in-between moments, times of uncertainty, isolation, or transition, yet there was almost no language or support available for it.

That’s when it clicked for me: this is not an exception, it’s a widespread human experience. Anthropologists call it liminality, sociologists call it creative idleness, psychologists call it a neutral zone. In every case, pause is a stage where growth and transformation can quietly take root. And yet, this stage has rarely been given the recognition or attention it deserves.

FOUND was created to change that narrative. Since our launch in April 2025, we’ve grown into a volunteer-powered community of about around 35+ people across the U.S. and internationally. We design multilingual programs, in English, Mandarin, French, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Portuguese, because when life feels uncertain, it matters to hear support in the language that feels most natural.

What keeps me going are the messages we receive: people saying that FOUND gave them words for something they had lived but never been able to name, or that it helped them reframe their pause not as an ending, but as possibility. That’s why we exist, to turn silence into connection, and pause into a foundation for what comes next.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a close friend was visiting, I’d want them to see the mix of quiet and lively that makes LA so unique. We’d start by staying at an Airbnb by the water, waking up to the ocean is the best way to ease into the city. Days would begin with beach walks in Malibu or Will Rogers, and afternoons exploring small galleries or shops that feel like hidden finds.

Food is always part of the adventure: tacos from a local stand, ice cream at a neighborhood spot, maybe a rooftop dinner with sunset views, to be on horseback with the skyline behind you.

Evenings would be slower: a jazz bar, a rooftop for stargazing, or simply sitting on the sand after dark, letting the waves set the pace. To me, the best parts of LA aren’t the busiest, they’re the ones that create space for conversation, connection, and a little wonder.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout goes first to the people who shaped the very beginning of FOUND. To our board members, JoAnn, Bernice, Tas, Tiare and Zad, thank you for believing in the mission before it even had a structure. And to our first team members, Green, Vy, and Leona, you found us before FOUND fully found itself.

I also carry deep gratitude for the mentors, friends and family members who reminded me that life doesn’t have to be linear to be meaningful. During my own pause, I was fortunate to receive support that helped me rediscover my purpose and my path. FOUND is my way of giving that back, of making sure others know they’re not alone in that space.

And of course, my amazing team. FOUND by those who belong; FOUND by those who care; FOUND by those who believe.

Website: https://foundtogether.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foundnonprofit?igsh=OWpobDQzb2twbnRx

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thefoundinitiative/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16PY3gcirx/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Other: hello@foundtogether.org