Balancing Startup Life and Parenthood

This chapter explores the balancing act between startup responsibilities and family time for founders. It emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, aligning parenting strategies, and accepting imperfections in the journey of raising children. The speakers share personal anecdotes about navigating early parenting challenges while fostering individual growth in their kids.

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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 on what it means to raise resilient, independent kids in a tech-saturated world, how parenting frameworks shape his decisions as a founder, and why being a dad made him rethink everything about success and legacy. We discussed:

From dad dates to startup deadlines: Why Olav sets aside sacred, tech-free time with each of his kids every week, and how that ritual strengthens their relationships, even during long stretches apart.
Parenting with one voice: Olav shares how he and his wife approach disagreements as co-founders of their family, and why behind-the-scenes alignment helps create stability for their kids.
Letting kids struggle: How growing up in Norway taught Olav that adversity is essential, and why he believes challenge, failure, and independence are some of the greatest gifts you can give your children.
The power of modeling: From bedtime story world-building to watching their dad lead a company, Olav’s kids are already writing business plans and experimenting with entrepreneurship, all without being told to.
Tech is not the enemy: Olav makes the case for embracing technology at home, from ChatGPT storytime to self-taught art via YouTube. He explains how AI can support creativity and learning when paired with values and conversation.

Where to find Olav Sindre Kriken

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriken/
X: https://x.com/OlavSindre

Where to find Adam Fishman

FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
Instagram: https://ww.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Introducing Olav Sindre Kriken
(00:58) Kids come through You, not from you
(01:54) Parenting in Norway vs. the US
(08:36) Dad Dates are quality time with kids
(10:39) Balancing startup life and family time
(12:38) Unified parenting approach with one voice
(22:23) Parenting frameworks and philosophies
(29:38) Modeling entrepreneurship for kids
(32:00) Daughter's mask business
(32:46) Parenting through example
(33:36) Embracing technology for kids
(36:57) Creative uses of AI in parenting
(39:08) The story of the son and the window
(41:12) Say “Yes” More
(44:57) Lightning Round
(49:28) Funniest and Most Embarrassing Parenting Moments