At what point do you look for a cofounder?
I was wondering at what point do you look for a cofounder given that starting companies with others when we have nothing done has historically given me problems
Wow. This is exactly what I was wondering 💭 !
I heard things get easier with co-founder when you want to raise money because I don’t give up easily if you are not alone and people can trust you more, which kinda makes sense😌
Hope this help!
Over the past 20 years as a maker, I have had 4 co-founders. Finding a co-founder is like finding a spouse. You should 'date' first. Patience is important.
- Network: Talk to as many people about your project. See if there might be a match. See who really gets excited.
- Narrow your candidates: They don't' have to know you are looking for a co-founder yet. Over a period of time, meet with a few people
- Do 1:1's: Find the right hook to bring one to two people closer to your project - mentor/advisor, project-based work. Test them out. See if you are compatible. Get a feel for their work.
- Make the ask: Float the idea out to someone you think would be a match. "I'm looking for a co-founder. Is this something you might consider? "
- Nurture the relationship: It's important to grow the relationship. You will be spending so much time with this person. Take the time to really get to know them.
Hope that helps.
I am also in the exact same stage right now. It is sure that onboarding a co-founder would unleash so much more potential for the project. But it's hard to get started. As far as I know, the best practice is to find someone you have a tracking record with, and whose skills are complementary. However, among my friends and former colleagues, I haven't found that person. Now I have to cross the gap and start finding my co-founder into new communities of complete strangers. And I don't even know where to start from. So I am postponing, until, maybe, fundraising makes it easier...
