Startup Dad

Andrew Song is the co-founder of Make Sunsets , a climate startup working to slow global warming by deploying reflective aerosols in the stratosphere. A longtime startup operator, Andrew has spent his career taking contrarian paths, from early work in AI to now building one of the most debated climate interventions in the world. At Make Sunsets, he focuses on translating complex science into pract...

This special episode looks back at the most powerful moments from Startup Dad in 2025. Host Adam Fishman reflects on a year of raw, honest conversations with 46 founders, operators, and leaders who are also Dads (and sometimes, Moms) navigating the chaos of startup life while raising families. From redefining balance and sharing mental load to leading through crises and building parenting systems...

Daniel Borok is a Managing Partner at nvp capital , an early-stage venture firm investing in founders building the next generation of vertical AI companies. With a focus on B2B applications, Dan spends his days meeting visionary entrepreneurs, making high-conviction bets at the pre-seed and seed stages, and helping early teams build durable companies. Before nvp, he held operating and investing ro...

Oji Udezue is an AI Product Expert at ProductMind , and a veteran product leader with more than 25 years of experience across Typeform, Twitter, Calendly, Atlassian, Bridgewater, and Microsoft. He’s known for his deep thinking on product craft, leadership, and the future of work. He’s also the co-author (with his wife, Ezinne Udezue )  of Building Rocket Ships , a guide for builders and operators...

Allison Daminger is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison , where she specializes in gender, family dynamics, and social inequality. She’s also the author of What’s on Her Mind: The Mental Workload of Family Life , which explores the often invisible cognitive labor that drives the daily operations of households. In this episode, we talk about the concept of cog...

Jamie Nacht is the co-founder and CEO of Havium , a company he built from the ground up with his wife and co-founder, Cristin. Together, they’re raising two young kids while juggling the nonstop realities of startup life, marriage, and modern parenting, all as a fully integrated team. In this episode, Jamie shares his honest and often hilarious take on building a company with your spouse, creating...

Dave Simnick is the founder and CEO of Soapbox , a company with a mission to provide personal care products while donating soap to those in need. He's also a husband and the father of a one-year-old son, Noah. Listen to the whole episode for an amazing discount code at Soapbox!  In this episode, Dave shares insights about the changes he faced when becoming a parent and how he’s adjusted his role a...

In this episode of Startup Dad, Adam Fishman sits down with Chet Kittleson , serial founder and co-founder of Tin Can , an analog phone for kids that helps families stay connected without screens. He’s also a dad of three, building a hardware company from his kitchen table while raising a young family in Seattle. Chet opens up about the inspiration behind Tin Can, how his childhood landline shaped...

In this episode of Startup Dad, Adam Fishman sits down with Colin Anawaty , technologist and founder of Flying A Capital . He’s also a single dad of two boys, navigating the challenges of fatherhood and entrepreneurship after divorce. Colin opens up about how his kids have become his greatest teachers, why he believes accountability and independence should start young, and how joining a men’s grou...

Chad Pytel is the founder and CEO of thoughtbot , a product development consultancy, and co-founder of 12 Sided Studios , a gaming and production company. He’s also the longtime host of the Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots podcast, a husband, and the father of two teenagers. In this episode, Chad and I talk about raising kids while running companies, blending family life with creative...

Jonathan Jamil , founder and CEO of Springboard , shares his story of growing up in a two-bedroom apartment with six family members, building a business powered by stay-at-home moms, and raising two daughters while redefining what success means. In this episode, Jonathan opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, the lessons he has carried from his upbringing, and the realities of being a dad and...

In this episode of Startup Dad, I sit  down with Adam Lieb , the founder and CEO of Gamesight , a marketing technology company that helps video game studios connect with players and launch their biggest titles. Adam started his first gaming business at just 11 years old and has spent his entire career building in the industry ever since. As a dad of 11-year-old twins and husband to Camille, a lawy...

In this episode of Startup Dad, Adam Fishman sits down with Rishabh Jain , the CEO of FERMÀT Commerce , a company he launched when his oldest daughter was just a few weeks old. He’s also a husband and father of two kids under the age of four. In this conversation, Rishabh shares why he believes parenthood actually makes entrepreneurship easier, how he manages family life alongside scaling startups...

Zach Teutsch is the founder of Values Added Financial , and a former leader at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He’s also a husband, father of two, and a master of weaving big-picture life principles into day-to-day parenting. In this episode, Zach and I talk about building independence in kids, creating household shortcuts to reduce decision fatigue, and why boredom is one of the best gi...

Jeremy King , co-founder and CEO of Ocean Orchestra and former CEO of Attest, shares his journey as a founder, ocean advocate, and father of two daughters. In this episode, Jeremy opens up about building systems for both his family and his startups, why ocean conservation is personal to him, and how parenting has informed his leadership style. We discussed: Blending startup leadership with family...

In this episode of Startup Dad, Adam Fishman sits down with Jeff Selingo , a bestselling author, journalist and education expert, to discuss the complexities of college admissions and how parents can help their kids find their "Dream School." Jeff has spent over two decades researching higher education and is the author of Dream School: Finding the College That's Right for You , Who Gets in and Wh...

Peter Kazanjy is the best-selling author of Founding Sales and co-founder of Atrium . He’s also a dad to a seven-year-old son, Michael, and husband to Tracy, a designer and entrepreneur. In this episode, Pete reflects on building companies, building capabilities, and building a family. He talks about the grit and perseverance behind their seven-round IVF journey, delivery room chaos, and how he no...

James Currier is a serial entrepreneur, founding partner at NFX , and a father of 4 boys. Known for his sharp insights into human behavior and startup dynamics, James brings that same clarity and intention to his parenting. He’s not just raising kids, he’s cultivating creators, adventurers, and independent thinkers. In this episode, James shares how he designed his family life with the same care a...

Mike Malloy is the founder of Malloy Industries , a firm that connects scaling entrepreneurs with vetted fractional executives. He's also a Georgetown professor, a husband, and the father of Max, the company's self-declared Chief Cuteness Officer. Mike’s life is an intersection of serious business systems and silly dad jokes, all woven together by an intentional approach to work-life integration....

Michael Leibovich is the Head of Growth at Adobe, but at home, he’s dad to a curious two-and-a-half-year-old and husband to a full-time working partner. With a previous career as a touring musician and a current career in creative tech leadership at companies like Vimeo and Abstract, Michael brings an emotionally grounded, inventive lens to fatherhood. In this episode, Michael shares how parenting...

Lauren Dugan and Neil Vidyarthi are the husband-and-wife co-founders of Feel Good Games , creators of Little Magic Stories , an AI storytelling platform designed to spark creativity and independence in kids. They’re also parents of two boys (ages 3 and 8), longtime partners in both life and work, and startup veterans bringing a playful, grounded perspective to the founder-parent journey. In this e...

Aaron White , founder of six companies including Appy People, Profitwell, Boundless and Blissfully discusses the intersection of startup life and fatherhood.  In this episode, he shares how the challenges of becoming a parent have reshaped his approach to leadership, the unexpected lessons he's learned, and his evolving perspective on success. We discussed: The unpredictable journey of parenthood...

Olav Sindre Kriken is a four-time founder, husband, and father of three who’s currently leading Tana , an AI-powered productivity startup. Originally from a small town in Norway, Olav now lives in Palo Alto, and splits his time between scaling a company and staying deeply present for his family. He believes his family is the most important startup he’ll ever build. In this episode, Olav reflects o...

Roger Einstoss is the founder of Braintly, a software development company specializing in helping U.S.-based companies build and scale their engineering teams in Latin America. He's also a husband, father of two young kids, and passionate about balancing work and family while maintaining emotional intelligence in his parenting. In this episode, Roger shares his unique perspective on parenting in A...

Dan Fishman is a husband, a lawyer, and a relatively new parent. He’s also Adam’s brother, and the very special guest for the 100th episode of Startup Dad. By day, Dan is Associate General Counsel at Redwood Trust, but at home, he’s going through fatherhood for the first time by navigating toddler teething, sleep deprivation, and the occasional lemon tree massacre. He’s still  figuring out what ki...