It used to be said that a child should be seen and not heard. In today’s working world, it can feel like it’s parents who are expected to keep quiet about their children. For founders juggling tight deadlines, packed diaries and travel commitments with family life, this silence can be particularly suffocating. For too long, the Venture Capital industry hasn’t stepped in to change the conversation.Founders are always moving, always adapting, always ‘on.
Investing in childcare support for founders isn’t about making us feel good , and it’s not a quirky perk. It makes sense as a strategic investment in people with immense potential as they move through different phases of their lives. When childcare isn’t competing with business demands, founders are more productive, less stressed, and can devote more time to scaling their company.to overcome for many female entrepreneurs in the UK.
, reveals that more than two thirds of women who are planning on having children worry about returning to work in VC. This uncomfortably echoes the struggles faced by founders who need a network that understands the challenges of parenthood. VC firms have to embrace their parental support internally, too, if they want to uplift their own teams and enable founders and investors to thrive together.