Family-run startups – examples from the digital age

Family businesses and startups – how does these two fit together? Family-run startups seem to be more of a rarity in the digital age. Encouraged by the positive feedback on our own example, we have researched other examples of successful family-run companies by siblings, couples, or even families. Learn more about family-run startups like drybar, The Knot or Opinary.

Text: Antonia Sutter

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This past August, I published an article on LinkedIn about launching a startup as a family. I was very surprised by the interest in the topic and the positive feedback on our approach. It had always seemed to me that although many mid-sized companies are run by families, family-run startups with digital business models are rarely in discussion.

The feedback on my article was an occasion for me to pay more attention to startups that have been or are being built by families. The result is a list of exciting companies that we want to present to you in sisterMAG 44. After all, Caillebotte was also part of a founding family. Afterwards we want to answer some questions concerning starting a company as family. This time Thea answers some questions. Which questions do you have for us? You can send them to us HERE.

Family-run startups: drybar

Drybar is a California-based chain of hair salons that focuses exclusively on different blowout styles. The company was founded in 2008 by Alli Webb and her brother Michael Landau. Since founding they’ve opened up more than 37 locations and employed over 2,200 people – among them also Webb’s husband Cameron as Creative Director as well as Landau’s wife Sarah. If you want to know more about the importance of Alli’s family in the creation and development of Drybar, check out the Second Life podcast, Episode 20!

Family-run startups: The Knot

Co-founded by husband and wife duo Carley Roney and David Liu, »The Knot« is a website focused on all things marriage. It is based on 18 years of startup and married life. As the two recently revealed in the NPR podcast “How I Built This”, the couple’s family background has harmed their fundraising efforts. On the other hand, being a married couple has bound them closer together as they have a unique understanding of the crazy life of a startup.

Family-run startups: Slideshare

Slideshare is a platform to easily share presentations.Founded by Rashmi Sinha and supported by her brother, Amit Ranjan, Slideshare was sold toLinkedIn and integrated into its offering in 2012.

Family-run startups: Opinary

Opinary’s debate tools allow users to share their opinions about online content. Fifteen of Germany’s largest online news publications and international editorial offices already use Opinary. This makes the public’s positions more visible and shows opinion trends. Two of the three founders are the brother and sister duo Pia and Cornelius Frey.

Family-run startups: Careship

Careship offers hourly care for senior citizens and people in need of care. Siblings Antonia and Nikolaus found inspiration for the idea in their own family when their grandmother became in need of care and they could not find a suitable nurse. Antonia considers the special trust and openness that she associates with her brother as advantages for founding a company as a family.

Family-run startups: Math24

A company founded by two brothers, their father, and stepmother? This special constellation is the basis for the success of Math24. The tutoring app explains difficult mathematics tasks step-by-step – so successfully, in fact, that the family behind the Klett-Verlag bought the company and then sold it again to Chegg for 20 million EUR shortly afterwards.