Startup Daddy: raw thoughts on startups, leadership, and parenthood Startup Daddy is our brand new guest column written by tech entrepreneur and new father, Varun Bhanot. Written by Helena Young Updated on 27 May 2025 Our experts We are a team of writers, experimenters and researchers providing you with the best advice with zero bias or partiality. Introducing Startup Daddy, the brand new guest column from Startups.co.uk. Written by Varun Bhanot, Startups 100 winner, founder of MAGIC AI and first-time father, the column covers the highs, lows, and sheer unpredictability of juggling two very different duties.Every other Wednesday, we’ll publish real, unfiltered reflections and real-life learnings from Varun. Part journal, part business diary, it will explore the honest reality of building a startup — and a family — at the same time.>> Get started with Startup Daddy Issue #1: Should you call your startup your family?Who is Startup Daddy, Varun Bhanot?Varun Bhanot is a UK-based tech founder and CEO of the fast-growth AI startup, MAGIC AI. He’s led multiple ventures, raised millions in investment, and (most excitingly) recently welcomed a new daughter.After becoming a father, Varun found himself questioning much of what startup culture takes for granted and Like, can you be a CEO who leaves at 6pm to do bathtime?Startup Daddy is where those questions get explored. Forget the clichés. These are stories about balancing newborns with product launches, letting go of team members who once felt like family, and rethinking what “success” means for both founders and parents.You can learn more about Varun and his work by visiting his LinkedIn, or the MAGIC AI Mirror website.Get early accessSubscribers to the Startups newsletter can get early access to the latest edition of Startup Daddy.You’ll also receive our weekly Friday round-up for a peek at the week’s top startup stories, as well as helpful resources for founders and leaders.Sign up using the form below. We hope you enjoy reading! Share this post facebook twitter linkedin Tags Check us out Written by: Helena Young Lead Writer Helena is Lead Writer at Startups. As resident people and premises expert, she's an authority on topics such as business energy, office and coworking spaces, and project management software. With a background in PR and marketing, Helena also manages the Startups 100 Index and is passionate about giving early-stage startups a platform to boost their brands. From interviewing Wetherspoon's boss Tim Martin to spotting data-led working from home trends, her insight has been featured by major trade publications including the ICAEW, and news outlets like the BBC, ITV News, Daily Express, and HuffPost UK.