Navigating Work as a Venture Capitalist with Kids

Eric Bahn is the co-founder and a GP at Hustle Fund—a pre-seed venture fund that invests in very early stage founders. He has also been a founder himself as well as a product leader at companies like Intuit and Instagram. Most importantly, he’s a husband and the father of two kids. In our conversation today we discussed:

* What it means to feel joy in coming home to your family

* His decision with his wife to have children

* How to prioritize your spouse

* Life integration rather than balance

* Some non-traditional methods of recharging his batteries

* A hilarious tangent about home projects including a recent plumbing success

* What emerging companies he has seen that could have a significant impact on kids and future generations

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Where to find Eric Bahn

* Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericbahn/

* X: https://twitter.com/ericbahn

* Website: https://www.hustlefund.vc/

Where to find Adam Fishman

* FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/

* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

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In this episode, we cover:

[1:54] Welcome

[2:30] Professional background

[3:06] Explaining career to his kids

[4:16] Grew up in Detroit

[5:12] Childhood

[7:14] Immigrant family/being Korean in Detroit

[11:03] Talking to kids about how Eric’s parents culturally assimilated

[13:00] How did you meet wife/what does she do?

[15:45] Decision to start a family

[19:53] Earliest memory of becoming a dad

[21:50] Most surprising thing you discovered?

[23:44] Parenting approach helped professional life?

[26:53] Prioritizing wife over kids

[29:45] Where you and partner don’t agree?

[33:30] Eric’s home plumbing tweet

[36:10] Advice for younger Eric?

[39:41] What does it mean to “hustle” vs. family life?

[43:57] Leadership style influenced by having kids?

[47:37] What things has he seen in VC that will affect kids?

[52:18] What relationship do you want your kids to have with technology?

[55:09] Recharge batteries?

[59:38] Mistake you made as a father?

[1:00:08] Follow along

[1:01:11] Rapid fire

[1:04:52] Thank you

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Show references:

Hustle Fund: https://www.hustlefund.vc/

Instagram: instagram.com

Intuit: https://www.intuit.com/

8 Mile: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0298203/

McAllen, TX: https://www.mcallen.net/

Patrick Thompson Epidsode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDbmT4AgizQ

“Juicy” By Notorious BIG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JZom_gVfuw

Sonoma Raceway: https://www.sonomaraceway.com/

F1: https://www.formula1.com/

Squatty Potty: https://www.squattypotty.com/

Cocomelon: https://cocomelon.com/

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Production support for Startup Dad is provided by Tommy Harron at http://www.armaziproductions.com/

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