I think the choice between family (because it's not just children who aren't compatible with a 18 hour a day 6 day a week work life, partners are likely to get pretty hacked off with it too) and start ups relies on a particular model / vision of what a start up is.
The reality is that it is possible to start a company based on a 5 day a week 40 hour work week and I've seen people do it. Yes, they're probably not the largest and most aggressive companies but I've seen people build good teams, good products and go on to make good money while still having plenty of time with their family.
I don't know anyone who founded a Google or Facebook following this model but frankly that's not where 99.9999% of start ups are heading regardless of the founders commitment to them.
I can understand why an investor might be wary about putting money into a company being founded by someone for whom it wasn't their number one priority and as an investor you're concern is primarily around getting a return on your investment but that doesn't start ups can't be done and done well by people taking a more balanced approach.
The reality is that it is possible to start a company based on a 5 day a week 40 hour work week and I've seen people do it. Yes, they're probably not the largest and most aggressive companies but I've seen people build good teams, good products and go on to make good money while still having plenty of time with their family.
I don't know anyone who founded a Google or Facebook following this model but frankly that's not where 99.9999% of start ups are heading regardless of the founders commitment to them.
I can understand why an investor might be wary about putting money into a company being founded by someone for whom it wasn't their number one priority and as an investor you're concern is primarily around getting a return on your investment but that doesn't start ups can't be done and done well by people taking a more balanced approach.