Adam Martel tells us about running a growing startup while being a dad to a family of six.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Who are you, and what do you?  

I’m Adam Martel, the co-founder, and CEO of Gravyty, the first company focused on applying artificial intelligence to the social good sector.

How many kids do you have and how old?  

I have four kids: a four-year-old girl, a three-year-old girl, and twin boys who are five months old.

You are one of the brave souls that choose the route of entrepreneur and dad. Surely there are easier routes to go professionally. Why did you choose this one?  

I’ve always been an entrepreneur and I’ve always wanted to be a dad. I believe that entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs because they are compelled to start and grow companies. So, there really weren’t many options for me and I can’t imagine doing anything else while having the privilege of being a father.

What are some of your tips and tricks for making sure you have time to spend with the kids?

Since I travel a lot and have to work a lot of hours to continue to help grow the business, routines with the kids have turned out to be wildly important. For example, every morning I get up at 5:30 am and take one of my daughters to the local coffee shop for about an hour. They alternate days, I leave my phone at home and this has become one of the most important routines that we never miss. I get a lot of joy out of spending quality time with each of them and they seem to get a lot of joy out of having one on one time with me.  

Since I travel a lot, another routine which I follow pretty religiously is that I write and send postcards from each city I visit to the kids and my wife. In my letters I try to communicate all of the wonderful things that I love about the city I’m in as well as how much I love and miss them when I’m gone. It’s been an interesting exercise because although I started it because I missed them, it’s morphed into a great opportunity to reflect on the things that I like. It’s also turned in to a record of all the things I love in each city and I have dreamed about one, or a few, of my kids possibly taking a motorcycle trip across the country or the world and seeing some of the amazing things I’ve had the  I’ve been privileged enough to see.

I also like to include my kids in my work when possible. A great example of this is if I have to speak at an event in the evening, instead of taking the entire evening away from my kids, I try to make a fun night out of it. This might mean if I attend a speaking engagement, the kids get a trip to Shake Shack and a hot fudge sundae after. It’s a win-win.  

Have you ever had to turn something down for work to be present as a dad?

There are lots of things that I’m not able to attend because of travel or meetings but, in general, I think I feel like, as the CEO, I usually have a decent amount of flexibility to make sure that I’m free for the things that I want to be at for my kids and my wife. 

Conversely, have you ever had to tell family to hold off on something so you could work?

The unfortunate truth is that I spend more time at work than I do at home and I think that my family makes sacrifices every day so that I can pursue my dreams and goals of building a sustainable company that has the power to change the world. Family vacations are usually scheduled around buying cycles, Board meetings, and quarter endings, but there needs to be a balance of family and work and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to balance both areas of my life.

What’s the best part of being a dad and an entrepreneur?

Being proud of what I do and what I’ve built. There are lots of people who have amazing jobs who make great money but fewer people who are really both proud of what they do truly happy to go to work every day. It’s been amazing to me how much being happy in my job has made me a better father, a better husband, and a better human being. I’m not sure I could get that doing anything else.

What’s the hardest part of being a dad and an entrepreneur?

Having to travel and being away from my kids. Lately, my older daughters have been really emotional when I’ve had to leave. They hug me and tell me how much they love me and ask how many sleeps I’ll be away. It breaks my heart to leave (I usually end up going back in the house a few times for last minute hugs) and it’s even harder to know that they really understand that I won’t be back that night, so they are sad.  

Advice for entrepreneurs thinking about having kids – should they go ahead now, wait till later, or when is the best time?

Do it as soon as possible. This is the third company that I’ve started and it’s been amazing how much more this one has meant because of my kids and my family. The depth of responsibly and accountability when you have kids is profound and everything in your life is more implant when your family is relying on you. For entrepreneurs who usually already feel a sense of responsibility (regardless of whether they have kids or not), this heightened sense of responsibility because of your kids will ultimately make you a better, more mature and empathic entrepreneur.

Tell me more about your company, how are things going, and do you have anything exciting coming up?

As the first AI company for fundraising, we’re focused on finding ways to use technology to help nonprofits raise more money and achieve their missions in ways not possible before our technology. We just had the opportunity to ring the opening bell at NASDAQ, which was an amazing experience. My kids loved the picture of me in Time Square and, obviously, I hope they look back and are proud of what we’ve accomplished.

Adam Martel is 35, a father to four (including two twin baby boys born this year), and co-founder and CEO of Gravyty, the first AI company for nonprofit fundraising.