Parenting and Pioneering in STEM Innovation
Parenting and entrepreneurship are both transformative and highly demanding journeys, and many Activate Fellows embark on them simultaneously. How do they balance both? How do the roles of science entrepreneur and parent intersect and even complement one another?
Three Activate Fellows, Nili Persits (Dottir Labs, Cohort 2023), Eric Bellefroid (Brekland, Cohort 2023), and Tim Wannier (Wild Microbes, Cohort 2022), discussed their experiences in a recent Activate webinar, “Parenting and Pioneering in STEM Innovation.” During this candid conversation, the three panelists shared lessons for current and aspiring science entrepreneurs, including some darn good advice for parents and non-parents alike.
From left to right: Tim Wannier (Wild Microbes, Cohort 2022), Eric Bellefroid (Brekland, Cohort 2023), Nili Persits (Dottir Labs, Cohort 2023)
Pushing back on grind culture
For many, entrepreneurship is synonymous with “grind culture,” which means working long hours, making your company your life, and “crushing it.”
Despite this stereotype and the real pressure it puts on entrepreneurs, the panelists resoundingly agreed that it is unsustainable. And for parents, it’s simply not possible.
Instead, to manage demanding workloads and full schedules, all three panelists set firm boundaries when it comes to work. For Bellefroid, that means establishing consistent working hours.
“I take zero calls from 5:30 to 8:30, and I generally do not work on weekends,” Bellefroid said. “If I have additional work that is really high priority, I find a way to get it done that's short-term and doesn't overly impact the family.”
This is where those parental superpowers come in. The panelists agreed that being a parent and an entrepreneur majorly levels up your ability to prioritize tasks. They say it also forces you to master efficiency.
“If you try and become efficient, you'd be surprised how much slack there is in your day,” said Wannier. “When you're a parent, you discover that slack, because you need it.”
All three panelists cautioned aspiring science entrepreneurs against burnout. If grind culture is a sprint, then they want you to approach your work as a marathon. Keep up with the basics, they urged. Eat, sleep, exercise, and take time off. Have a long-term outlook when it comes to pacing your work and taking care of yourself.
The importance of a support system
“Ask for help.” This piece of advice came up repeatedly. All three panelists lean on their support networks to meet the demands of nurturing a company and a family at the same time.
“I have an exceptionally supportive spouse, and that is probably the biggest reason why I'm still here,” said Persits. “It doesn't have to be a spouse, but you need a support system—a really, really, really strong one.”
Wannier talked about the support he’s found among the Activate community, one of his most valued experiences as an Activate Fellow. “You're going to be able to find founders to talk to who have gone through the same thing you're going through, whether that's being a parent or whatever your circumstance happens to be,” he said to anyone considering the fellowship.
Persits found similar support. “Truly, there is a high degree of engagement and caring in this community. It's not like we just get a stipend and leave,” she said. “I feel like I didn't have that type of community for a very long time, and it's reassuring to know that I have one now.”
What Activate offers parents
In addition to the community aspect of the fellowship, Activate provides a yearly living stipend of $100K to each fellow, in addition to a travel allowance, health insurance, $100K in R&D funds, and many other benefits that are meant to enable fellows to focus on their project full-time.
“Truly, there is a high degree of engagement and caring in this community.”
Activate does not differentiate in the support offered to parents versus non-parents (except for offering insurance coverage that extends to families). Regardless, the stability the fellowship provides can be especially crucial for science entrepreneurs with kids. “It’s a massive thing that Activate offers parents,” said Wannier.
Many of the panelists described the Activate Fellowship as the make-or-break factor in launching their companies, saying it allowed them to take a risk and simultaneously prioritize their families. Because of the Activate Fellowship, Persits said she realized, “I can really do this. I can really open this company and my family won't suffer.”
Furthermore, the Activate Fellowship allows science entrepreneurs to pursue their purpose without compromise. All three panelists feel like they’re in exactly the right place in their own journeys and for the impact they want to make in the world.
“This is the only thing I see myself doing,” said Persits.
Bellefroid echoed, “Frankly, it's taken me a long time to figure out what I actually want to do in life. And so far, this is the most fun I've had.”
Watch the full conversation on parenting and pioneering in STEM innovation, and sign up for updates to hear about more upcoming events and how to apply for Cohort 2025.
