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How To Choose Your Co-Founder

72 points by eladgil 15y ago

kurtvarner 15y ago
All of this is good to keep in mind, but the most important thing you can do while co-founder dating is to simply work with the person. You can talk together all you want, but when you start working together on something hard it will become clear whether there's a potential co-founder fit.
- eladgil 15y ago
  I 100% agree with this. I think the first thing to do to see is if there is a compatible work style, as well as follow through, ethics, etc. To your point that is why I think it is optimal to work with someone on something before deciding they are co-founder material.
MatthewB 15y ago
Most of this article is true. Assuming you don't have anyone in your immediate circle to ask to join you as co-founder, it becomes exponentially more difficult to find someone that fits. I've been going through that right now with my startup. We've (my co-founder and I) been looking for a 3rd to join our team and have been interviewing a ton of people. It is very difficult to find someone with the right skill set, passion/dedication, and especially someone who agrees on the "key questions."
Macsenour 15y ago
I'm on the hunt for a co-founder so this is very timely. I think that the last 5% is that intangible connection. Finding that connection requires getting out of the interview process. edit: typo
suneilp 15y ago
This was a great article considering the issues I've been having with my fellow co-founders. It's become clear I'm not respected, and get that 'just a developer' treatment. Perhaps thats my fault for not being more outspoken and critical of others. Either way, if there isn't mutual respect and trust, it ain't worth it. Its going to make you miserable. Another point is that the CEO can't bring down the pressure on the slackers. The slackers can't directly admit to being slackers. And the CEO is taking 51% and not in favor of investors (wants to self-fund). This has been a nightmare. Hopefully not having assigned my software over will protect me. I've learned the hard way the consequences of jumping in bed with co-founders without making sure that there is alignment on many of the points in the article.
alain94040 15y ago
I covered the top 5 mistakes people make with co-founders in my talk at the Startup Conference Seattle earlier this month: someone was kind enough to almost write down everything: http://www.authenticwritingprovokes.com/inspiredwriting/2012/02/startup-conference-seattle-2012-part-1-3/ http://www.authenticwritingprovokes.com/inspiredwriting/2012...

72 points by eladgil 15y ago

All of this is good to keep in mind, but the most important thing you can do while co-founder dating is to simply work with the person. You can talk together all you want, but when you start working together on something hard it will become clear whether there's a potential co-founder fit.

eladgil 15y ago
I 100% agree with this. I think the first thing to do to see is if there is a compatible work style, as well as follow through, ethics, etc. To your point that is why I think it is optimal to work with someone on something before deciding they are co-founder material.

MatthewB 15y ago

Most of this article is true. Assuming you don't have anyone in your immediate circle to ask to join you as co-founder, it becomes exponentially more difficult to find someone that fits. I've been going through that right now with my startup. We've (my co-founder and I) been looking for a 3rd to join our team and have been interviewing a ton of people. It is very difficult to find someone with the right skill set, passion/dedication, and especially someone who agrees on the "key questions."

Macsenour 15y ago

I'm on the hunt for a co-founder so this is very timely. I think that the last 5% is that intangible connection. Finding that connection requires getting out of the interview process. edit: typo

suneilp 15y ago

This was a great article considering the issues I've been having with my fellow co-founders. It's become clear I'm not respected, and get that 'just a developer' treatment. Perhaps thats my fault for not being more outspoken and critical of others. Either way, if there isn't mutual respect and trust, it ain't worth it. Its going to make you miserable. Another point is that the CEO can't bring down the pressure on the slackers. The slackers can't directly admit to being slackers. And the CEO is taking 51% and not in favor of investors (wants to self-fund). This has been a nightmare. Hopefully not having assigned my software over will protect me. I've learned the hard way the consequences of jumping in bed with co-founders without making sure that there is alignment on many of the points in the article.

alain94040 15y ago

I covered the top 5 mistakes people make with co-founders in my talk at the Startup Conference Seattle earlier this month: someone was kind enough to almost write down everything: http://www.authenticwritingprovokes.com/inspiredwriting/2012/02/startup-conference-seattle-2012-part-1-3/ http://www.authenticwritingprovokes.com/inspiredwriting/2012...