What do you think?
Rate this book
Startup Life: Surviving and Thriving in a Relationship with an Entrepreneur
Real life insights on what it takes to make it in a relationship with an entrepreneur Entrepreneurs are always on the go, looking for the next "startup" challenge. And while they lead very intensely rewarding lives, time is always short and relationships are often long-distant and stressed because of extended periods apart. Coping with these, and other obstacles, are critical if an entrepreneur and their partner intend on staying together--and staying happy.
In Startup Life, Brad Feld--a Boulder, Colorado-based entrepreneur turned-venture capitalist--shares his own personal experiences with his wife Amy, offering a series of rich insights into successfully leading a balanced life as a human being who wants to play as hard as he works and who wants to be as fulfilled in life and in work. With this book, Feld distills his twenty years of experience in this field to addresses how the village of startup people can put aside their workaholic ways and lead rewarding lives in all respects.
Includes real-life examples of entrepreneurial couples who have had successful relationships and what works for them Provides practical advice for adapting to change and overcoming the inevitable ups and downs associated with the entrepreneurial lifestyle Written by Brad Feld, a thought-leader in this field who has been an early-stage investor and successful entrepreneur for more than twenty years While there's no "secret formula" to relationship success in the world of the entrepreneur, there are ways to making navigation of this territory easier. Startup Life is a well-rounded guide that has the insights and advice you need to succeed in both your personal and business life.
In Startup Life, Brad Feld--a Boulder, Colorado-based entrepreneur turned-venture capitalist--shares his own personal experiences with his wife Amy, offering a series of rich insights into successfully leading a balanced life as a human being who wants to play as hard as he works and who wants to be as fulfilled in life and in work. With this book, Feld distills his twenty years of experience in this field to addresses how the village of startup people can put aside their workaholic ways and lead rewarding lives in all respects.
Includes real-life examples of entrepreneurial couples who have had successful relationships and what works for them Provides practical advice for adapting to change and overcoming the inevitable ups and downs associated with the entrepreneurial lifestyle Written by Brad Feld, a thought-leader in this field who has been an early-stage investor and successful entrepreneur for more than twenty years While there's no "secret formula" to relationship success in the world of the entrepreneur, there are ways to making navigation of this territory easier. Startup Life is a well-rounded guide that has the insights and advice you need to succeed in both your personal and business life.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published December 19, 2012
52 people are currently reading
2429 people want to read
About the author
Brad Feld
34 books2,499 followersBrad Feld has been an early-stage entrepreneur and investor since 1987. He co-founded two venture capital firms, Foundry Group and Mobius Venture Capital, as well as multiple companies, including Techstars. Brad is a writer and speaker on venture capital investing and entrepreneurship and has written several popular books, including Venture Deals and Startup Communities. He runs the Anchor Point Foundation with his wife, Amy Batchelor.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
July 5, 2018
Much in this book is common sense about relationships. I did find a few nuggets to help me on my journey as a start-up wife, but I found it incredibly hard to get through the almost constant talk about completely unrelatable things - buying a sailboat and spending a year traveling the world, buying fancy cars as surprise gifts and investing in a contemporary art collection. While I understand the authors are proud of their success, for someone at the beginning of the startup journey, I'm more worried about whether we can pay our grocery bills rather than where my next month-long, exotic vacation will be. The author also used many real couples as examples, which I appreciated, but often times both spouses/partners were entrepreneurs, so again I had trouble relating.
June 25, 2013
If you, like me, are looking for a practical guide to starting a mom-and-pop business with your spouse, this isn't it. I thought it was going to be more about running a business as a couple, but really it's more about ways for the businessperson (almost always a man) to keep from letting his business overtake the rest of his life, and ways for the spouse (almost always a woman) to be supportive while still getting what she needs from the relationship. I couldn't relate to most of the book, as they talked about taking a "break" in which they lived in Paris for a while so Brad could work "only" 40 hours a week, or about how to avoid getting caught up in buying too many fancy cars and designer shoes once you've gotten rich. I don't think I'm really the target audience for this book, which isn't the book's fault. It was a pleasant enough read, but not helpful to me.
January 11, 2013
Being an entrepreneur is the is the 2nd the hardest jobs in the world. Staying happily married is the 1st. Brad and Amy show you how to successfully do both. My wife and I loved this book.
Mandatory reading for any entrepreneur who doesn't want to live alone... Forever.
Dr. Sean Wise, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Ryerson University &
Mrs. Marisa Atlas Wise, Asst. Manager, Corporate Traveller
Mandatory reading for any entrepreneur who doesn't want to live alone... Forever.
Dr. Sean Wise, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Ryerson University &
Mrs. Marisa Atlas Wise, Asst. Manager, Corporate Traveller
February 10, 2019
Juli and I listened to this on a few road trips. It provoked some very good discussion between us, and often enough that we would pause the book, talk about what we just heard, debate and discuss, then continue listening. As I write this review some five years later, I honestly can't recall a single specific thing from the book, but that it was thought-provoking enough for us to want to pause and discuss, should be enough of a recommendation.
March 15, 2013
Liked some of the thoughts in the book such as the "life dinner."
September 13, 2013
An important read for anyone starting to create.
On first read, Startup Life seems to be written for founders of start up technology companies. But the reality is, this book applies to almost anyone who is trying to make a difference in the world by putting themselves into the 'create something new' environment. I have a friend in the entertainment industry who I've shared the book with and now keeps a copy by their bedside. As do I.
I've thought often that Startup Life could have had many titles. It struck me that 'You Are Not Alone' might have been a good alternative. What a reader discovers is that the process of being a 'creator' is much the same for all. We are in a way, a 'fraternity', a 'band of brothers and sisters' if you will, who've faced the same challenges. Consistent with the authors generosity, he he allows other successful people to share their own histories of struggle.
There are no platitudes in this book-it's no 'how to be successful in 10 easy steps' kind of book. Rather it is intended I think to comfort and to guide those who struggle, who worry, who strive to do something unique. In particular this book is important in that it focuses on being in a relationship and how to navigate those difficult waters. No other book to my knowledge address's the unique impacts being a new creator has on relationships. The book is worth its weight in gold for this aspect alone.
Mr. Feld has been and is a generous mentor to many. But like all of us, his time is limited. And so this book for the those whom he can not reach. If you are contemplating a StartUp Life, you must buy this book.
On first read, Startup Life seems to be written for founders of start up technology companies. But the reality is, this book applies to almost anyone who is trying to make a difference in the world by putting themselves into the 'create something new' environment. I have a friend in the entertainment industry who I've shared the book with and now keeps a copy by their bedside. As do I.
I've thought often that Startup Life could have had many titles. It struck me that 'You Are Not Alone' might have been a good alternative. What a reader discovers is that the process of being a 'creator' is much the same for all. We are in a way, a 'fraternity', a 'band of brothers and sisters' if you will, who've faced the same challenges. Consistent with the authors generosity, he he allows other successful people to share their own histories of struggle.
There are no platitudes in this book-it's no 'how to be successful in 10 easy steps' kind of book. Rather it is intended I think to comfort and to guide those who struggle, who worry, who strive to do something unique. In particular this book is important in that it focuses on being in a relationship and how to navigate those difficult waters. No other book to my knowledge address's the unique impacts being a new creator has on relationships. The book is worth its weight in gold for this aspect alone.
Mr. Feld has been and is a generous mentor to many. But like all of us, his time is limited. And so this book for the those whom he can not reach. If you are contemplating a StartUp Life, you must buy this book.
March 7, 2013
Truth told I'm not quite done this book, but with 30 pages left I feel I can comment.
To be fair, my reaction to this book is largely due to my personal circumstances. The book is really written for successful/established entrepreneurs rather than those in the throes of starting something up. It certainly does touch on uncertainty and lack of cash flow but a lot of the book looks at issues like prioritising money, travel, selling a business etc. I am so not there yet in any way that it all felt a little remote.
I also don't remember seeing any female entrepreneurs until the end of the book - lots of wives doing support for their men. The first female profile was an MD of Techstars and she didn't come across as an entrepreneur. Directly after that is a profile of a stay at home dad, which indirectly is about a female entrepreneur. Until then, I really felt left out of the whole book.
On the good side, there are some really well made points about communication and time management. I'm glad I read it, but I don't really feel like it made a dent in my universe.
To be fair, my reaction to this book is largely due to my personal circumstances. The book is really written for successful/established entrepreneurs rather than those in the throes of starting something up. It certainly does touch on uncertainty and lack of cash flow but a lot of the book looks at issues like prioritising money, travel, selling a business etc. I am so not there yet in any way that it all felt a little remote.
I also don't remember seeing any female entrepreneurs until the end of the book - lots of wives doing support for their men. The first female profile was an MD of Techstars and she didn't come across as an entrepreneur. Directly after that is a profile of a stay at home dad, which indirectly is about a female entrepreneur. Until then, I really felt left out of the whole book.
On the good side, there are some really well made points about communication and time management. I'm glad I read it, but I don't really feel like it made a dent in my universe.
October 25, 2013
"Being in a relationship with an entrepreneur is hard, possibly harder than being an entrepreneur."
This phrase succinctly captures the main idea driving this book, that being in a relationship with an entrepreneur does take quite a lot of commitment on both sides, and far more than most relationships.
As someone married to an entrepreneur and also working in a startup right now, this book helps to put past experiences into perspective and helps me frame how I perceive our relationship. Am still working on getting my husband to read this book, and I'd say that it will definitely help our relationship even further!
Well-worth a read, either an entrepreneur, partner of an entrepreneur or two entrepreneurs in a relationship.
This phrase succinctly captures the main idea driving this book, that being in a relationship with an entrepreneur does take quite a lot of commitment on both sides, and far more than most relationships.
As someone married to an entrepreneur and also working in a startup right now, this book helps to put past experiences into perspective and helps me frame how I perceive our relationship. Am still working on getting my husband to read this book, and I'd say that it will definitely help our relationship even further!
Well-worth a read, either an entrepreneur, partner of an entrepreneur or two entrepreneurs in a relationship.
January 15, 2019
I had such high expectations for this book and have wanted to read it for a while. However, it simply didn't live up to my expectations. It didn't feel like it really dealt with relationships in the way I want or need, although there were a couple of good tips that I have taken away. I actually felt that a lot of the book was geared toward entrepreneurs rather than being the romantic partner of an entrepreneur, which I think the title suggested it would be. It was very business like in its approach, which I suppose I should not have been surprised by. I also disliked the voice of the book being in 3rd person referring to Brad and Amy, but then it would suddenly switch to first person saying 'we'.
September 28, 2021
A MUST READ. So far.. the best book I've read on relationship issues . Brad has this candor and open quality I rarely find on other writers, especially in being open about their own experiences. I don't mind reading books by "experts", but I really believe that sharing one's story will have a stronger impact. It feels more "true" to me.
Brad's blog: www.feld.com is a great read too. Worth your time. :)
Brad's blog: www.feld.com is a great read too. Worth your time. :)
December 22, 2018
Brad and Amy offer a collection of tips describing how they (and their entrepreneurial friends) have learned to manage their relationship.
Entrepreneurs are a special breed requiring non-standard care :)
Startup life is full of up and downs, and sometimes it can be hard for your partner to understand they're not mad at you but they're simply stressed because of some issue they're dealing with.
Plan a complete off-the-grid vacation once a quarter.
When traveling, be in contact daily.
Resolve problems quickly.
Answering your partner's phone call is always the #1 priority. Even the US president can wait for a few seconds :)
Entrepreneurs are a special breed requiring non-standard care :)
Startup life is full of up and downs, and sometimes it can be hard for your partner to understand they're not mad at you but they're simply stressed because of some issue they're dealing with.
Plan a complete off-the-grid vacation once a quarter.
When traveling, be in contact daily.
Resolve problems quickly.
Answering your partner's phone call is always the #1 priority. Even the US president can wait for a few seconds :)
December 8, 2017
I haven't finished right now because I forgot or dropped it somewhere. But the half of book I read, I think it's quite useful for who wants to thriving or surviving in a relationship when we work about Start-up, especially relationship between a wife and a husband, with friends or relatives and it shows me how to share the feelings and works. I'm going to try read the short rest of book and try with Start-up life ( Communication )
June 29, 2018
This is one of the most practical books I've ever read, filled with advice for couples where at least one of the partners is an entrepreneur. In my case, both of us are entrepreneurs, and Brad and Amy's insights helped me learn how to articulate what's going on inside my head (Brad's also highly introverted and drained by social interaction - like I am).
If you're a business founder, this book might save your relationship. Or at least your mental health.
If you're a business founder, this book might save your relationship. Or at least your mental health.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2019
The main message is that you need to communicate openly about everything, you should decide things together and purposefully set times for couple activitied (set appointments for daily catch ups, monthly dinners etc), discuss serious stuff when you are both well rested. Regularly go on no-phone vaccations even if you feel that you do not have the time for it. Distinguish between when the other person wants to communicate and when it is only about connecting and empathy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2017
If you’re an entrepreneur in a relationship you should read this book. I read it once and then went back through it with my fiancé. We listened to it on a long road trip and were able to discuss so many things I would have never been able to put into words.
July 10, 2019
Good general relationship tips for busy people. Interesting and personal vignettes shared. Discussions of coming into lots of $$$ suddenly was interesting.
January 6, 2017
Great book. Brad and his partner Amy cover most areas of personal relationships and interactions in the context of a startup. Arguments, stress, lack of time, hard times and many others. Very interesting and enriching read.
March 29, 2013
As a newly married serial entrepreneur launching a new startup I found the tools and perspective shared in Startup Life to be extremely appropriate and timely. Previously, over the past decade I have co-founded and helped to build two companies 8 figure revenues but I did so while single. My wife Kathryn and I were married last May and there is always a challenge for a passionate entrepreneur to balance his/her two loves; their spouse and their company.
Brad Feld and Amy Batchelor are honest about challenges all entrepreneurial couples face and provide practical tools and perspective to keep a thriving romantic relationship while building a future together. I purchased another copy of this book for my wife so we can keep them both in our respective libraries. She and I received so much value from our experience that we purchased 10 more copies (in addition to the 2 we purchased for ourselves) to give to our friends and family who are embarking on similar journeys.
You owe it to the most important person in your life to buy this book and read it together. A happy spouse allows for freedom of creativity that can only help to improve the product offering you are bringing to the world. So, in short BUY THIS BOOK, and consciously integrate habits to make the most out of your two loves.
Brad Feld and Amy Batchelor are honest about challenges all entrepreneurial couples face and provide practical tools and perspective to keep a thriving romantic relationship while building a future together. I purchased another copy of this book for my wife so we can keep them both in our respective libraries. She and I received so much value from our experience that we purchased 10 more copies (in addition to the 2 we purchased for ourselves) to give to our friends and family who are embarking on similar journeys.
You owe it to the most important person in your life to buy this book and read it together. A happy spouse allows for freedom of creativity that can only help to improve the product offering you are bringing to the world. So, in short BUY THIS BOOK, and consciously integrate habits to make the most out of your two loves.
February 1, 2013
This is definitely a book for those in a relationship with an entrepreneur or being an entrepreneur yourself. I didn't learn too much from the book but it definitely reinforced quite a bit of my thoughts and rational on relationships.
Note: The book uses quite a bit of real life stories to portray qualities that should or should not be had in a relationship. Most of the stories were really helpful and reading one of them almost made me tear up.
Tip: You probably shouldn't read the book cover to cover. I got bored reading through every page. You should pick out the chapters you think you'll find interesting and read those.
Note: The book uses quite a bit of real life stories to portray qualities that should or should not be had in a relationship. Most of the stories were really helpful and reading one of them almost made me tear up.
Tip: You probably shouldn't read the book cover to cover. I got bored reading through every page. You should pick out the chapters you think you'll find interesting and read those.
January 7, 2014
A Good Book of Wisdom
This book covers the challenges that couples that include an entrepreneur will face. It’s well researched referencing many great books in the space (such as “Men are From Mars and Women are From Venus” by Gray).
A lot of the advice can be applied to any couple that has a workaholic, and there’s a lot of great material on the unique financial challenges entrepreneurs face - basically being poor on the edge of broke until you are instantly so wealthy that you have a completely different set of problems.
There’s a lot of great advice, some things I didn’t agree with, but all in all it’s an important read if you value your relationship.
This book covers the challenges that couples that include an entrepreneur will face. It’s well researched referencing many great books in the space (such as “Men are From Mars and Women are From Venus” by Gray).
A lot of the advice can be applied to any couple that has a workaholic, and there’s a lot of great material on the unique financial challenges entrepreneurs face - basically being poor on the edge of broke until you are instantly so wealthy that you have a completely different set of problems.
There’s a lot of great advice, some things I didn’t agree with, but all in all it’s an important read if you value your relationship.
June 23, 2013
Typically I'm a bit skeptical of books like this by business people who delve into personal relationships and the like. Since I know Brad and his colleagues I decided to give it a whirl and was happy to discover great insights and some resources. What I especially liked were the stories of entrepreneurs and their spouses throughout the book to demonstrate what the concepts look like in real life. As an entrepreneur who's in a relationship with an aspiring entrepreneur it also gave me some ideas on how to proactively approach our burgeoning relationship. Well done Brad and Amy.
March 4, 2013
An intimate look inside Brad & Amy's life, this book contains all kinds of brilliant, practical examples of ways to make a relationship work. I am very happy in my marriage but I want to be for a long time, so understanding the problems other people go through can help. I like the monthly life dinner idea, and the getting away from it all. I love the honest of the book, about acknowledging what the other person needs. This book is actually relevant for any working couple.
May 4, 2015
If you are thinking about starting a business, are currently an entrepreneur, or are in a relationship with an entrepreneur, you should definitely read this book. It is a gold mine of resources, but be warned this is a reference book. If you are not in a place to directly benefit from the information presented, it will be a bit boring for you.
I took notes and came away with some good ideas - truly a good read for anyone around this industry.
I took notes and came away with some good ideas - truly a good read for anyone around this industry.
March 16, 2013
Brad and Amy's pro-tips for life. This is a must-read book for any entrepreneur or their partner. They've thought long and hard about how to have a fulfilling life together with successful careers, and their advice is invaluable for staying connected and balanced.
January 3, 2015
Didn't finish the book. It's very similar to what I'm living through at the moment and the insights felt too unattainable for my situation (we aren't that rich ;) so it felt more defeating than helpful.
July 14, 2013
Now how do I get my fiance to read this too? very helpful. A touchy topic, delicately handled. The addition of stories and chapters from many other couples makes the book even more helpful. If you're a startup founder, and in a relationship, this is a must read.
August 1, 2013
I love Brad Feld's books. This one is good, but where Brad's anecdotal experience makes for great business books, this is one where anecdotal experiences are interesting, but I would like some data to back things up. Also, a lot more swearing than his business books...
June 6, 2016
Excellent Listen/Read on lifestyle, balance, goals, and priorities in the midst of the draws and pulls of a demanding career - "startup" or otherwise. Found the insights on relationships, finances, and other non-startup related but lifestyle impacted topics. Recommended!
November 17, 2016
This book can give you some practical, helpful recommendations for entrepreneurial couples.
Things like life dates, valuating your significant other and hearing compelling stories from other couples who've made it.
A nice week long read.
Things like life dates, valuating your significant other and hearing compelling stories from other couples who've made it.
A nice week long read.
July 25, 2013
I wanted to love this. But what I read was merely two people who invented rules and systems for living with each other in place of a relationship I could relate to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews