The Founding Fathers Program: The Missing Playbook for Ambitious Dads
A pilot initiative to help dads close the 6 biggest Dad Gaps uncovered in 100+ interviews
In the middle of a crowded restaurant in Madrid, my 7-year-old punched me.
He was boiling over with the kind of pure, unfiltered rage that only a second grader could manifest. First, he screamed loud enough to make sure every stranger in the place turned their head. Then, he hit.
Physically I was fine. Emotionally, I was devastated.
I knew the wrong response - a slap, a scream, meeting fire with fire. But the right response? No clue. I excused myself from the table, unsure what to do. My son immediately broke down in tears, and I stood there, frozen. Was I handling this the right way? Was I completely screwing up?
In that moment, I felt what so many dads feel: uncertain, unprepared, embarrassed, and frustrated.
But after more than 100 interviews with Ambitious Dads - men trying to balance fatherhood, careers, relationships, and family goals - I know I’m not alone in these worries or my self-doubt. And behind every one of these worries is a Dad Gap - a missing piece of the fatherhood puzzle that is making everything harder than it needs to be.
So let’s talk about the 6 biggest Dad Gaps, why they hold us back, and—more importantly—how the Founding Fathers pilot is an experiment in trying to fix them.
The 6 Biggest Dad Gaps
1. The Time Gap
“There is no balance, and I need to recognize I just can’t do it all. I’m built with this desire to get my work done but then my 3-year-old is screaming for her dolls, and I need to do that.”
- Founder and CEO, Krishan Patel
Fatherhood is a time crunch. There’s never enough of it, and too often, dads feel pulled in a thousand directions - work, home, side projects, relationships, wellness - never feeling fully present in any of them. We struggle to prioritize, and the guilt of "not doing enough" is always lurking.
2. The Role Model Gap
“I didn’t have a [male] role model that had taken the amount of time off from work that I wanted to after my child was born, and it made it a scarier decision than it should have been.”
- Accenture Partner, Prat Panda
Most of us are figuring this out as we go because we didn’t grow up with a strong playbook for modern fatherhood. We know we want to lead by example - but without a clear vision of what that looks like, we end up second-guessing ourselves, hoping we’re doing enough.
3. The Confidence Gap
“I want to always be patient and emotionally available when my children really need it, but I can react too much.”
- Executive Coach, Prakash Raman
We all want to be the calm, composed, steady presence our kids need. But the reality? Fatherhood is emotional warfare. It’s easy to get frustrated, to feel like we’re too reactive, or to wonder if we’re handling the hard moments well enough.
4. The Brotherhood Gap
“It’s very difficult to make new friends as a dad, especially with young kids, so I don’t have many places to vent about work or parenting challenges. It just stews around in my head.”
- Former Commander USMC, Joe McCarthy
Women have mom groups, parenting forums, built-in support systems. Dads? We often just go it alone. But trying to be a great father in isolation makes everything harder. Without other dads to challenge, encourage, and hold us accountable, we’re left to navigate fatherhood without a map.
5. The Co-Parenting and Partnership Gap
"I wish we didn’t shame each other for working late. When we don’t communicate about our workload, it creates frustration - like, ‘I’m carrying all the burden at home.’ But it goes both ways. If I don’t give 110% at work, I feel like I’m letting my colleagues down."
- Ambitious Dad and Venture Capital Partner
Being a great dad isn’t just about what happens between you and your kids—it’s also about the dynamic with your partner or ex. When that relationship is strained, misaligned, or full of unspoken frustrations, it affects everything: your home, your kids, and even your confidence as a father.
6. The Legacy Gap
“What can I do to be sure I’m setting my children up for success?”
- Executive Director, William Peak
We want our kids to thrive - not just right now, but long after we’re gone. But with the day-to-day grind of parenting, work, and responsibilities, it’s easy to get stuck in survival mode. Too many dads put off the big-picture thinking - educational vision, social and emotional focus, long-term values, etc. - until it’s too late.
The Solution: The Founding Fathers Program
These Dad Gaps are real. But we don’t have to tackle them alone.
For far too long, fatherhood was treated as a lone wolf mission - but the best dads always have tribes, mentors, and systems. They have guidance.
That’s why I’m launching the Founding Fathers Program—a first-of-its-kind virtual program and community built to close these gaps and help Ambitious Dads lead with confidence, presence, and purpose.
This is not a “parenting class.” It’s a brotherhood of dads who are serious about stepping up—who are ready to be intentional, proactive, and ambitious about fatherhood.
And it’s built on 3 core pillars:
Overcoming Fears
Every dad has fears—of failing, of not being enough, of messing up our kids.
This program helps you face those fears head-on and build confidence in your fatherhood instincts.
Accountability
We’re not meant to do this alone. Having a band of brothers to keep you accountable makes all the difference.
Inside the program, you’ll be surrounded by other driven dads—guys who push you, encourage you, and hold you to your best.
Crafting a Fatherhood Vision
The best dads don’t just react to life—they lead their families with intention.
This program helps you define your vision for fatherhood and take actionable steps to make it real.
Why Join Now?
Because the virtual program begins the week of February 23rd! But also, because we need to stop doing this alone. Fatherhood is unpredictable and high stakes.
This first wave of Founding Fathers will help shape the curriculum and as a result, the impact we will have will extend far beyond our own families.
This is about changing the way fatherhood is approached, supported, and passed down to the next generation.
Fatherhood is a mission. And missions need leaders.
To join the Founding Fathers pilot apply here.