Parents measure a child’s development every step of the way – rolling over, sitting up, eating solids, baby steps, toilet training. All of these milestones are a stepping stone on the path to independence in physical, speech and emotional needs.
Similarly, an early-stage venture’s development is measured in achievements – minimum viable product, customer acceptance, securing intellectual property, funding and resource capabilities. These all serve to grow an idea into a sustainable business.
However, the unexpected strains and stresses along the way can create tipping points in immersive founder relationships that regress to discussions akin to putting the lid back on the toothpaste.
Startups often start out with shared ideas about the “breakthrough”– it can be a little like the romantic fantasy of a couple deciding to have a child and expecting them to sleep through the night – idealistic, if not unrealistic.
Similar to parenting, nurturing a startup is an emotional journey, one which no textbook or prenatal class can ever prepare you for. When you’re a founder it is important to be cognizant of conflicts, not only for your personal wellbeing but for your company’s growth potential.
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Investors often have a sixth sense about founders with different “parenting” values and will feel uneasy about investing in businesses where there are fundamental differences in how to turn an early stage venture into a scalable, sustainable and globally competitive business.
Founders should invest time and money to understand each other’s personality traits before they take their idea to the next stage. This could mean doing personality modelling or spending time with a recognised human skills professional to ascertain how compatible you are as business partners.
Like parenting a small child, there will be good and bad experiences – the key element is to learn from them, not get overwhelmed, and to seek advice for those who have done it before you.
There is no easy road to raising a family or building a startup, and the early stage years have many rewarding milestones and challenges. If this uncertainty makes you feel uncomfortable, then taking on the relentless responsibility of a startup is probably not for you. For those who embrace it, nurture it, and encourage it, the rewards are immeasurable.
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