"White cofounded Curo, a Y Combinator-backed startup focused on electric vehicle charging. His girlfriend's family didn't fully get it, though. White's defense started at the Thanksgiving table, and eventually moved to the living room. While the family played games, White sat with his girlfriend's grandfather explaining his job. Eventually, he decided to high-tail it to a parking garage to point out his company's logo on a sign to showcase its existence. "I wouldn't let it drop that I wasn't unemployed," White said."
"How exactly should a founder explain their job? It can be difficult to prove that the work is real - and even more difficult to show that the startup will still be around for a few years. It doesn't help that the work environment is often decidedly non-corporate, or that founders sometimes sleep on couches and air mattresses. Meanwhile, a slew of recent TV shows have framed some founders as scammers and flame-outs."
Founders frequently face skepticism from family who struggle to understand startup roles and company viability. Some founders go to great lengths to demonstrate legitimacy, including showing branded locations or explaining accelerator programs. Y Combinator-backed ventures and electric-vehicle charging startups can seem unfamiliar or implausible to relatives. The startup lifestyle often appears non-corporate, with founders sometimes sleeping on couches, taking calls during gatherings, and prioritizing irregular schedules. Recent television portrayals have reinforced narratives of founders as scammers or flame-outs. Defending a startup's existence and long-term prospects becomes a common holiday social challenge.
Read at Business Insider
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