Parent Friendly Start Up Support

Is it relevant whether an entrepreneur has young kids or not? We think it is, and that successful start up support needs to take some very different 'pain points' in to account:

Time - For those doing most of the child care (mostly mums), business needs to fit around the time they spend with their children and there are many stories of regret from those (mostly dads) who sacrifice their time as parents to focus entirely on building a business 

Isolation - entrepreneurship and parenthood can both be lonely journeys where you are almost certainly doubt your abilities, and feel guilty about your priorities most of the time.  

Creativity & Focus - early parenthood is often a time of great creativity, but it tricky to focus on one project when chaos reigns around you and in your head. Many parents want to tackle a problem that they've experienced as a parent, and perhaps divert from a career which they no longer feel works for them as a parent or where they no longer feel valued.

Money - children are expensive, the subsistence budget for a parent entrepreneur looks very different from a single person

What solutions work for these entrepreneurs? 

baby and child friendly - without this practical issue being addressed many parents can't get off the starting blocks.  They need places where children are welcomed, or where they can leave them in safe and nurturing hands while they work - without it breaking the bank.  There is a growing number of initiatives around London that try to meet this need, for example Mums in Tech, Play Pen and our Parent Workspace.  

The right business planning tool - they don't have time to waste, so they need a fast and effective way to test out business ideas. The Lean Start Up business model is ideal allowing them to go quickly through the loop of 'Learn, Build, Measure' using a one sheet planning tool.  A really useful addition for those who are starting an enterprise with a strong social mission (which many are) is the Social Business Canvas created by Make Happy.  

parenting support - it is difficult to feel good about your business if you are feeling overwhelmed as a parent (and this means fathers as well as mothers...) Having a place to compare notes with parents of similar age children (especially if your child had special or additional needs) can really help.  Structured parenting support groups such as Parent Gym are even better.  

personal and professional growth - this often gets sacrificed in the headlong struggle to raise a family and keep your head above water financially.  Start up support for parents needs to include time to reflect on work and personal priorities in the broadest sense.  It also needs to provide opportunities for them to contribute the talents and resources they have both as parents and professionals.

The Parent-Cubator is a co-created start up course with on site creche in central London.  The next programme starts on Thursday 14 April.  Our expert speakers include Alexis Kingsbury, Claudia Campos Hogan, Wendy Breakell, Yvette Hoskings-James, Sophie Lepinoy, Su-Fern Lee, Ruth Thomson and Nataline Daycreator.