Common Pitfalls When Choosing a Cofounder: 6 Mistakes to Avoid

Your co-founder should be someone who can see the same vision and walk the tough path with you, especially when things get tough. This partnership is the bedrock of your startup - Brian Chesky

‍

This means your startup is heading on a positive trajectory and needs an extra pair of eyes and hands! If you are in that position right now and reading this, first of all - congratulations! It is such exciting news and we wish you the best with your venture (and potentially an additional co-founder)!

However, there are many common pitfalls and blind spots that entrepreneurs fall prey to when it comes to this important decision. A co-founder can either be the wind beneath your wings, propelling your venture to success, or the anchor dragging you down. (Obviously, we would want to avoid the latter!)

Here are some common mistakes to watch out for and tips on how to avoid them:

Rushing into a Partnership

One of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make is rushing into a partnership without thoroughly vetting their potential co-founder. While we know it is exciting to kickstart your venture with your new co-founder, it's essential to take the time to get to know the candidate beyond what they put on paper. This synergy and relationship building with your future co-founder takes time, so don’t rush the process! A tip is to have them work together with you on smaller scale projects before deciding to commit to a long-term partnership together. This way, you are able to learn more about their hard and soft skills when it comes to handling a project, which is crucial for your assessment of their suitability in the bigger picture!

Focus on Technical Skills and Resume Only

Another common pitfall founders often overlook is being in the tunneled focus on finding someone with the right hard skills, portfolio, and resume only. While technical skills play an important role in accelerating your startup, that shouldn't be the only criteria when selecting a potential co-founder. Look beyond the resume and also do not forget to consider factors such as problem-solving skills, creativity, and adaptability! 

Beyond skills and experience, it's crucial to assess the personality and character of your potential co-founder. Are your values and visions for the company aligned? What about your work ethics and communication styles? Finding the right cofounder is like finding the right partner, you have to factor in that this may be the person you are working with for the next years of building your startup!

Compatibility and Complementary Skills

Now that you find someone with an amazing portfolio and resume, another important pitfall to avoid is to never forget to evaluate their compatibility and focus on complementary skills that fills your gap. Ensure that you and your co-founder complement each other's skills and expertise. It may be essential to have overlapping abilities, but having diverse skill sets is definitely an added advantage to enhance your startup's capabilities and resilience.

Unequal Commitment 

Being a co-founder means responsibility and you want it to be adequately distributed among your co-founder and yourself. Misaligned commitment levels can quickly escalate to resentment and internal conflict that hinders the progress of your timeline. It is crucial to make sure that both you and your co-founder are equally committed to the startup and willing to invest the necessary time, energy, and resources.

If there is an unequal distribution in your team, keep in mind any imbalances in the time and effort spent on the startup. If one co-founder is consistently carrying a heavier workload or making more significant sacrifices, it can strain the relationship and lead to frustration and arguments.

Unclear Roles and Responsibilities

In addition to the commitment and effort, unclear roles and responsibilities from the get-go may lead to dispute and discord among your team members. Ambiguity in this area can lead to confusion, duplication of efforts, and inefficiencies. Remember to clearly define each co-founder's roles and responsibilities from the outset to ensure a smooth and untroubled transition from being a solo founder to having another co-founder in your team!

Not Having a Vesting Schedule

In short, good contract terms lead to good partnerships. A vesting schedule sets the seal that each co-founder earns their equity stake over time based on their continued contribution to the startup. Failing to implement a vesting schedule from the start can leave the door open for disputes or disagreements down the line when the startup grows and becomes more successful.

In conclusion, choosing the right co-founder is no easy task. It can take up from days to years to find the right person who shares the same values and vision for the future of your company! Remember, take your time and fun with it - enjoy the process and trust your instincts!

If you are ready to go on your co-founder search journey, CoffeeSpace is the perfect accelerated “dating” app for you to find quality co-founders! Download our app now, or test out how the app works in our playground now!