I'm not female nor a parent (yet), but I also believe in a family-first environment. My startup is in the education field, so children and families are at the c

I'm not female nor a parent (yet), but I also believe in a family-first environment. My startup is in the education field, so children and families are at the core of why we're doing what we're doing. Here's one thought: What if your cofounder wasn't pregnant, and simply wanted to take a year off? How would that change the way you think everything? In other words, forget the fact that she's pregnant (or even that your cofounder is female, in case that's swaying your opinion), and just think about it as a generic cofounder with complimentary skills that will be departing for a year. This would raise some thoughts and questions for me: 1. How likely will your cofounder come back in one year? 2. How do you keep going forward alone? (e.g. hire, find more cofounders, etc) 3. How do you compensate her for the IP she's already contributed? (i.e. company equity, consider her work done as a loan to be repaid, etc) 4. If the compensation to her is equity, what is the equity split? My guess is it wouldn't be 50/50, but what is a fair amount that compensates you adequately, yet still provides an incentive for her to return? 5. How will being alone for a year effect your fundraising activities? Most investors invest in teams moreso than ideas. If you are doing this alone for one year, investors will likely view you as a single founder. It's very likely that you come up with a contingency plan and hire contractors to keep you going for a year, then when your cofounder returns, she returns to her part of the venture. Or, you part ways amiably, and her compensation is a small equity stake and a role as an advisor or something, while you seek another cofounder to continue. I wish you the best of luck. Hopefully you both can talk it out and come up with a suitable arrangement for you both.