IMO, being a mother is a bonus but no, I don't think that they should take it into account. I think that they should look at the idea and ability to execute.
I think that all the data shows that women led companies are more successful, so if they do take it into account it would only be to the benefit of the mother.
I had a friend, male who was happily married. He cofounded a company with another right before he had a kid. Because his wife was the main breadwinner, he often times had to work-from-home to care of the baby. The needs of his company barely overlapped with the need of the child, and eventually it got to the point, where he ended up leaving the company to focus on the child.
The company he cofounded has since died.
You're right that some VC's will unfairly connect woman with motherhood, i.e. "Ah you're a female founder so you're going to have a kid and then the company will die!"
That is sexism, no doubt. But parenthood, regardless of gender, will impact that founder's level of commitment to the company, especially if the founder is the main caretaker of the child.
If this were an established company, yes: both parents can work and raise a kid well. But a startup asks for more than a 9-5 commitment: it's like another child that requires constant attention and love. Its specific needs differ greatly from human children[1] but those needs are just as pressing and as demanding, if not more so. Anything less portends an early end.
[1] Baby food v.s. VC funding.
> But, it is risk if one of the founders had newborn children. In normal employment, both parents can work and raise a kid... but, a startup demands more than a 9-5 commitment. It's basically another child.
I'm not sure that you're mistaken, in terms of what you were trying to communicate.
I'm amused noting that people do have multiple children, and people aren't generally worried that the older ones will die when a new one comes along...
From quick Google search
MORE SIBLINGS MEANS LOWER GRADES IN SCHOOL, STUDY SHOWS http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/siblings.htm
That would be interesting. If anyone on HN has the data on this one way or another, I'd definitely like to see it.
The data on this would really be interesting.
Studies could also show that there is a higher chance for mothers to quit along half the way due to child-related reasons (made up studies for the sake of argument). That on the other hand would be considered misogny. And I'd take it with a grain of salt as the sample sizes are vastly different.
That being said, do you have a link somewhere? Would really be interested to read that.