How to Find the Right Co-founder

List your strengths and gaps. Do you need technical skills, business expertise, industry connections, or operational experience? Be specific about the complementary skills that would accelerate your startup.

Look in startup communities, accelerators, hackathons, and professional networks. Y Combinator's co-founder matching, Indie Hackers, and local startup events are good starting points. Your extended network often has hidden gems.

Does this person have relevant experience in your problem space? Do they understand your customers? Passion for the problem matters more than general startup enthusiasm.

Work on a small project together before committing. Build something in a weekend hackathon. See how you handle disagreements, stress, and decision-making under pressure.

Have explicit conversations about: time commitment, financial runway, risk tolerance, long-term vision, and exit expectations. Misalignment here kills co-founder relationships.

Agree on equity split, vesting schedules (4-year with 1-year cliff is standard), roles and responsibilities, and decision-making processes. Put everything in writing.