WorkShield’s Co-Founder Dynamic: Building a B2B Tech Company with Your Spouse
Starting a company with your spouse adds an extra layer of complexity to the already challenging founder journey. In a recent episode of Category Visionaries, WorkShield founder Jared Pope reveals how he and his wife Jennifer transformed their shared legal background into a thriving HR tech platform while maintaining both their marriage and business partnership.
The Built-In Advantage
Before WorkShield, Jared had launched several other ventures. What made this one different was Jennifer’s reaction. “When I started the company, my wife Jennifer was probably also my best critic as well, and my hardest critic,” Jared explains. “I’ve started some other companies before that flopped, somewhat successful, and she’s never been really excited about them. And then when we started worksheet and I had the idea, she kind of had this look in her eyes like, okay, I could get behind this. This is really cool.”
Setting Clear Boundaries
With two teenage children at home, maintaining work-life balance requires conscious effort. “When we get home at night with our kids, we have a 15 and a 13 year old, Harmon and Madeline. We really try to shut it off, and that can be hard,” Jared admits.
The Relationship Hierarchy
Their success stems from a clear prioritization framework. “One of the things we’ve really focused on is no matter what, we’re husband and wife, we’re best friends and we’re business partners. Third,” Jared emphasizes. “And I think we take it in that order as well.”
Making Critical Decisions
Early in WorkShield’s journey, they faced a pivotal decision about investing in PR – a monthly retainer that exceeded their mortgage payment. “Jen and I looked at each other and we said, hey, I think this is worth it. We could do it,” Jared recalls. This moment exemplified their decision-making dynamic: weighing significant financial commitments together while considering both business and family implications.
The Strategic Advantage
The co-founder relationship offers unique benefits, particularly for strategic discussions. “It’s also having that outlet to talk to where maybe you can’t talk to your other team members about things that are going on,” Jared notes. “When the kids are in bed or the early morning coffee at 05:00 a.m. We can talk about business decisions or business strategies.”
Built-in Trust
Unlike traditional co-founder relationships that can fracture under pressure, their marriage provides a foundation of commitment. As Jared puts it, “someone’s there with you and they’re not going to leave.” This stability allows them to take bigger risks and make longer-term decisions.
The Daily Reality
Working with your spouse isn’t always smooth sailing. “It’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s frustrating all at the same time,” Jared acknowledges. “It can be a beautiful thing.” The key is accepting that tension is natural and using their personal relationship to strengthen rather than strain their business partnership.
Lessons for Founder Partnerships
While not every founder team consists of spouses, WorkShield’s experience offers valuable insights for any close founder relationship:
- Establish clear relationship hierarchies
- Create dedicated spaces for strategic discussions
- Set boundaries between work and personal life
- Leverage your deep understanding of each other
- Maintain perspective on what matters most
Their story demonstrates that with the right framework, personal relationships can become a strategic advantage rather than a liability in building a successful B2B tech company. As WorkShield continues expanding beyond workplace misconduct into ethics, fraud, and whistleblower protection, their strong foundation as both spouses and co-founders provides stability for ambitious growth.