The authors, partners in marriage, parenting, and business, detail the ups and downs of growing their company CertifiKID in this enjoyable blend of memoir and business how-to.... Each chapter covers a year, first in Jamie’s words then Brian’s, as they chronicle the launch of their site (on launch day 'we had sold five vouchers.... To say that Jamie and I were both floored and ecstatic would be an understatement'), the couple’s appearance on reality show Shark Tank (where they scored a deal with Kevin O’Leary), surviving the pandemic, acquiring ad company Macaroni KID, and raising their own family. Along the way come business tips for busy parents: 'Timing matters. But when you’re married with kids and have full-time jobs and endless responsibilities, the timing is never ideal to take a risk, right?' ... they offer a nice look at how differing personalities complement each other through high-powered deals and downtime at home. This fun tale is entertaining and inspiring in equal measure.
— Publishers Weekly
Family road trips normally can be taxing and frustrating. On one particular road trip in 2009, Jamie Ratner hit upon an idea and bounced it off her husband, Brian, as she often did. This one was an innovative marketing approach to fellow parents, offering economical packages for family experiences. Jamie, a security manager at a DC law firm, and Brian, a lawyer, undertook the challenge of growing their business, CertifiKID, from the ground up. Early success in the form of many CertifiKID subscribers came with its share of growing pains, like internet outages and flaky fellow business owners. Each chapter of the Ratners' book charts a year in the life of the company, building up to and including their splash on Shark Tank. This is a biography of a company that begins and ends with family, the narrative of CertifiKID flowing seamlessly through its founders' perspectives. Readers will find themselves pulled into the Ratners’ attempt to grab a piece of the American dream.
— Booklist
From the foreword: There are a lot of books out there, but every parent should read ParentPreneurs.
— Kevin O'Leary
I've been a huge fan of Jamie and Brian for a decade and loved getting to see the secret to their success. I finished the book feeling inspired and motivated, which after the last two years is saying A LOT!
— Jill Smokler, founder of Scary Mommy