Which one? Is starting a startup like being, or having, a baby?

This is one of my favourite quotes about being a startup founder.

I think we can all relate to that whether you are a startup founders or not. You can relate to the idea of crying every two hours and appreciate the metaphor around babies.

Which got me thinking….

Is starting a business, like having a baby?

Or is it more you being a baby?

Becoming all vulnerable again e.g. with pretty much anything being able to ‘get’ you. Being truly weak i.e. little or no resources. And perhaps needing parental care i.e. mentors and advisers and investors. A whole team of people and support to make sure you are well both physically and mentally.

Or is it more that you give birth to the business?

The business after all is something new. Usually created by more than one person. Is either a good or a bad idea, which is always subjective apart from the fact that there is no such thing as a bad baby per se. And just like a baby, a business changes as time progresses.

In fact, the comparisons between launching a startup and having a baby I have blogged about before with my post: 13 Ways Launching A Start-up is Like Having A Baby and 5 more…

However, I also love other people’s writing on this. With a great blog post written by Israeli entrepreneur Bassem El Remesh in his six reasons why having a startup is like having a baby… I have headlined them below for speed.

6 reasons why.

1. Whether to have one or not can be one of the toughest decisions ever

2. It takes up all your time and energy

3. You love it and can’t let go

4. You want it to grow as fast as possible

5. You always talk about it

6. It’s risky, but rewarding

My favourite being number 4, which is very true for Follogro, which we would love to grow up, faster and stronger than any of other tech business in Manchester (our home town.)

Tech businesses baby.

And it’s this last point, about Follogro being a tech company that I think makes it different to other startup businesses (to other babies.)

As I said to someone the other day:

“Having a start up is like having a baby, having a tech startup is like having a baby with colic, whilst having a tech company with no investment, is like have a baby with colic who is also hungry..”

It really is that hard.

This is why when some things go your way it is a reason to celebrate.

So a huge thanks to Creative England, who have backed our little baby, have given her some well needed nourishment, and let us be able to stop worrying so much. Which is never healthy for the parents and nor for the baby. Thanks goes especially to James Bedford, pictured above, who did a great job in helping Follogro (which is a our baby’s name at the moment.)

So what does Follogro do….?

Well that is changing — like any baby does — with the new food from Creative England. As we can now offer something new to our early adopters (want to become one click below

In essence, Follogro helps people build bigger and better twitter communities for brands and ideas alike. We say alike as brand are just ideas and ideas can become brands.

Follogro is a mixture of clever technology and trusted psychology based on social dynamics created to fix Twitter’s engagement problem. By harnessing best of breed business practices and machine learnt evolutionary algorithms we help client’s master Twitter. More importantly, our little baby saves agencies TIME.

So we are very proud of her.

But thinking about it…. perhaps Follogro hasn’t really been born yet?

We are only just about to go to market with our newest idea, a concierge service. Where we act as a mini social media agency for people.Using Follogro and other applications to grow their Twitter accounts with them. With a money back guarantee.

Interested? Have a look here (It’s our special Concierge offer page)

You see like any proud Dad I can’t stop talking about our baby.

What do you think?

Is starting a start up LIKE having a baby? Or being a baby?

Comment below.

And… If you enjoyed this post, please click the thumbs-up icon under the heading to let me know.

About the Author:

Dan Sodergren is a professional speaker and digital marketing trainer. He specialises in mobile and social marketing with ideas ranging from augmented reality, to RTB and back again. He trains companies and individuals in best practice on social and mobile marketing platforms. He just did a keynote for O2. He gets to talk about marketing on the radio, sometimes, and is even occasionally seen on the TV.

And, of course, he is proud co parent of Follogro.

And his real daughter Mia.