For parent entrepreneurs building without burning out
Build a company you’re proud of
without missing the childhood you’ll never get back.
The Present Founder is a live training and coaching container for parents building startups and online businesses who refuse to choose between traction and time with their kids. Learn a calm, systems-first way to grow, so your company scales and your family actually sees you.
Next live training starts in March. Limited to 25 parent founders for intimate coaching.
What you’ll walk away with: a realistic weekly schedule, a focused go-to-market plan, and communication tools to protect your energy and your relationships.
Free 45-minute training
Design a week that works for your kids and your company.
Enter your email to join the next live session and get the replay.
No spam, ever. Just grounded support for founders raising humans.
Why this, why now
Most startup advice ignores the fact that you’re also someone’s parent.
You’re told to move fast, grind harder, and be "always on" — as if daycare pickup, sick days, and bedtime stories don’t exist. The result? Constant guilt, scattered focus, and a company and family that both feel under-served.
The Present Founder training is built for the messy, beautiful reality of building and parenting at the same time. You’ll reclaim your calendar, your mental bandwidth, and a sense of presence with your kids — without slowing down the business.
This is for you if:
- You’re building a company or online business while raising kids under 18.
- You feel like you’re constantly choosing between growth and guilt.
- You know your calendar is running you, not the other way around.
- You want a realistic, values-aligned way to scale from someone who has done it as a parent.
Designed for parent founders
What you’ll have in place after the training
We combine founder operating systems, light-weight strategy, and relational tools so you can grow without sacrificing the people you’re doing it for.
A calendar that matches your real life
You’ll rebuild your week from the ground up: school runs, nap windows, focused deep work, and rest. A simple template you can revisit every season.
A focused path to revenue
Instead of chasing 12 strategies, you’ll leave with a single go-to-market focus and a 90-day plan that fits in the hours you actually have.
Language for hard conversations
We’ll give you scripts and prompts to talk with co-parents, kids, and teams so that expectations are clear and connection stays intact.
Inside the training
A practical, 3-part framework for being both present and ambitious
Live sessions are 75 minutes, with time for coaching and real examples from the parents in the room. Everything is recorded and accompanied by short, actionable templates.
Bonus for this cohort: small-group office hours two weeks after the training to check in on your new schedule.
Module 1
Reclaim your time
- Map your current week and invisible labor.
- Design your "enough" hours for this season.
- Create time blocks around childcare and energy, not hustle myths.
Module 2
Focus your business
- Clarify your single most important revenue driver.
- Choose a go-to-market that fits your bandwidth.
- Define 90-day, family-aligned traction goals.
Module 3
Protect your relationships
- Run a "family retro" and reset expectations.
- Scripts for saying no without burning bridges.
- Micro-practices to arrive home actually present.
Founder stories
What past parent founders are saying
Names and details lightly edited for privacy, shared with permission.
“Before this, my weeks felt like a sprint I was always losing. My kids got the leftovers. Two months later, revenue is up 40% and my 6-year-old tells people, ‘Mom doesn’t work at bedtime anymore.’ That sentence alone was worth the investment.”
Sara — SaaS founder & mom of 2
Series A, remote team across 4 time zones.
“The biggest shift wasn’t another productivity hack. It was permission to build a business that fits our family values. I stopped feeling behind all the time.”
Alex — agency owner & dad of 1
“The weekly planner has become a ritual. My partner and I use it every Sunday night. Conflict has gone way down because we can see the tradeoffs together.”
Priya — product consultant & mom of twins
Meet your coach
A founder, operator, and parent — in that order, on purpose.
Hi, I’m Manish Patel. I’ve spent the last two decades leading and advising start-up's from pre-seed to Series C while raising four small humans. I’ve scaled teams, launched products, and made all the classic founder mistakes — including nearly burning out my marriage in the process.
The Present Founder grew out of coaching rooms where the “real” questions always surfaced after the metrics: “How do I tell my board I’m offline for daycare pickup?” “What do I do when my kid is sick for the 5th time this month?” “Is it okay that I don’t want to travel for 10 conferences a year?”
My work blends operating systems, trauma-informed coaching, and the very real constraints of school calendars. This training is the distilled version of what’s helped dozens of parent founders grow things they’re proud of — and stay close to the people they’re building for.
My promise: no hustle worship, no shaming, and no advice that pretends you don’t have kids.
Enrollment
Join the next Present Founder training
We cap each live cohort at 25 parent founders so there’s space for real coaching and questions.
How enrollment works
- Click “Apply to join” and answer a few quick questions about your business and family.
- If it’s a fit, you’ll receive a payment link and upcoming cohort dates within 2 business days.
- If not, we’ll share alternatives and free resources that might serve you better right now.
Money-back guarantee: If you attend live, complete the exercises, and don’t feel you’ve gained meaningful clarity within 30 days, email us and we’ll refund 100% of your tuition.
Questions, answered
FAQ for busy parents
What if I can’t attend live?
You’ll receive the full replay, all templates, and a short summary video within 24 hours. Many parents attend the first half live, then finish during nap time or after bedtime. You’ll also be able to submit questions in advance so they’re covered even if you can’t be on Zoom.
How much time should I set aside?
Plan for 75 minutes for the live session, plus 45–60 minutes to complete the exercises over the following week. Many founders integrate the exercises into existing weekly planning or 1:1 time with their co-parent.
Is this only for tech startups?
No. The training is built for parent entrepreneurs: startup founders, solo consultants, agency owners, course creators, and small product businesses. If you’re building something and raising kids, you’ll be at home here.
Can my co-parent join?
Yes. One tuition covers your household. Co-parents are welcome to join the live call and use all materials. Many families find it helpful to attend together for shared language and expectations.
What if money is tight right now?
We reserve a small number of sliding-scale spots for single parents, caregivers in financial transition, and founders from underrepresented backgrounds. When you apply, check the box indicating you’re interested and we’ll follow up with options.
Let this be the year your kids see you build something great — and actually see you.
Join a room of parent founders who are done with either/or thinking. One focused training, a few simple systems, and a different way to move through your week.
Spots are limited to 25 parent founders per cohort. You’ll hear back within 2 business days.