u/Old-Luck8277

I’m a founder of a funded pre-seed startup, a husband, and dad to a two-year-old. We’ve got another one on the way. Work-life balance is non-existent at the moment. Finding time with the family and actually being present for the small moments is the hardest part of this stage. The company will take every hour you give it.

I know a lot of husbands and wives in the same boat. Happy to talk honestly about what’s working, what isn’t, and the trade-offs we keep making.

Ask me anything: hours, guilt, how fundraising sat on top of all of this, or how you stay in the room when your head is still at work.

Not trying to pretend I've cracked the code but I seem to be managing ok at the moment, it's really tough if you don't set up some non negotiable for yourself. One for me, I have a rule that as soon as I walk in the door at home from the office, I put my phone down and give my undivided attention for 30 minutes before we put them to bed and I crack on with more work. I want them to know as soon as I get home, that they are more important than anything I've got going on at work.

This isn’t a brag. Going through this was one of the most demoralising things we’ve had to endure as a company.

VCs will make you question your sanity, your conviction, your product, and the business you’ve spent day and night on.

We ended up raising from a few European VCs and angels. All in, we probably had 100+ conversations from US & Europe. Only a handful made it to DD.

Happy to share advice or thoughts if you’re a founder going through something similar.

One thing I’d call out: do you actually need to raise from VCs? Do you have a job that can cover the bills while you get some initial traction? Don’t underestimate the pressure that hits once that money lands in the account.

AMA please