Should I have a cofounder?
You all need to be looking in the same direction — Photo by You X Ventures on Unsplash
As a maker, there is a familiar question we all have at least once. Should I have a cofounder?
Granted, it’s a great question to ask when starting a new project. But isn’t it better to ask yourself why?
Why would you want a cofounder?
Having one or more cofounders is great if everyone shares the same vision of the product and you don’t deal with a crisis every morning.
First, it depends on who. A friend, a family member, a random person? You shouldn’t choose a cofounder based on a sentimental connection. Ask: is this person reliable? Do they have a core understanding of the business? Can they fill a gap with their skills?
It also depends on the project size. If you’re getting started with a side project, it may be great to keep doing your thing on your side and not spend time looking for someone to depend on. Do your best. If you think you’re going to grow quickly and you need someone to be there for you and deal with potential mental breakdowns, then yes — find someone on your side. Someone you trust, deeply trust (don’t lie to yourself). Someone physically available for the business too: not just to be entitled but also to get their hands dirty when it comes to working. The opportunity to divide tasks and responsibilities can be crucial at some point.
My best advice is to try. If you think you won’t be able to do everything by yourself, find someone you trust and think will be a great partner.
Different cofounders
Across all my projects, I’ve met different people and characters. Here’s a list of situations you may encounter.
The useless — the kind of cofounder who isn’t doing much. They think they’re putting in a lot of work or never find time when it comes to the project, but plenty of time when it comes to other activities. Identify them early and move fast — they can drain your motivation.
The entitled — the kind of person who needs a title to shine. They come to you when they see an opportunity to be recognized by their pseudo-peers in a community. They act interested, then once they’re in you forget they’re part of the project. This is also the kind of person that will stab you in the back. Easy to identify: mostly inconsistent and unstable. Don’t let their reality distortion field reach you.
I’ve quoted the worst here, but I’ve also met truly unique and awesome people.
The twin — one of the best. You know without doubt you’ll progress both in life and in the business with this person. They’re already, or will be, one of your closest friends. With all the ups and downs, you’ll cross every problem. You know both the darkest and brightest sides of the other so you know what to expect.
The catalyst — this might not be your cofounder. You’ve had this project in mind for weeks, months, or years and never executed. The catalyst is the person who tells you “What do you need? How can I help?” and there you go. They validate your idea (for the better or the worse) and push you one step forward.
Take care of the noise
Throughout your journey you’ll meet a lot of people. Some IRL, others virtually. Most are good people with great intentions, but inevitably you’ll meet wrong-minded ones. Once your project takes shape, they’ll come up and try to take a seat inside your rocket ship. Be aware of them — close people sometimes try to do this without you noticing, while new connections are easier to spot.
Be meticulous about new profiles. Pulling up someone who’ll just pull you down hurts.
In the end, don’t worry that much about finding a cofounder. Start alone, then find people to fill the gaps in your skills. You’re just getting started — gather your own experiences to find your perfect fit.
It’s been a long time since I wanted to write this article and I’m proud to finally have done it. If you want to learn more about cofounders, I really like this video from Startup School 2019.