The co-founder tag has no wiki summary.
30
votes
7answers
3k views
How to split up revenue between partners who contribute different amounts of work
My co-founder and I will soon launch a micro ISV. Our current agreement states that we split ownership 50-50. However, since we reached the ownership agreement the amount of work we have put into ...
21
votes
5answers
973 views
What's the best way to find/evaluate a Marketing co-founder?
As a follow-on to my last question What is the ideal mix of founders for a SaaS startup? it seems that a Marketeer is important to a SaaS startup. I think it's fairly easy to find and evaluate ...
19
votes
26answers
8k views
How do I find a technical co-founder?
One of my friends is starting a company and he's looking for a technical co-founder to work with him to build a web app. Where should he look for technical co-founder?
Some more details: He is a ...
19
votes
11answers
1k views
Going it Alone VS. Seeking a Co-Founder
Working on my first startup, I'm fortunate enough to have a wide set of "do-it-myself" skills, ranging from technical to industry specific. I haven't been looking for a partner, quite simply, because ...
19
votes
6answers
989 views
Teammates have pushed me out of our venture. What to do now?
I along with 3 other people created a concept for an innovative Ecommerce platform as part of a 5 week startup pre-incubator. We had a great run and on demo day we won the audience and panel of ...
16
votes
9answers
850 views
If my founder is losing interest
A few months into the startup and I have a feeling my founder is losing interest/passion/ability to put large amounts of time into the business.
The reason this is tough, is because he's the ...
15
votes
5answers
942 views
Is it considered stealing to create a startup around someone else's idea?
A business partner and I have been "working" through email together on this idea HE had. I've put in 25 hours a week for the past 3-4 months developing it, and he hasn't done much of anything on his ...
14
votes
5answers
944 views
When to drop a co-founder?
There are some excellent posts on how to select a co-founder and what qualities you should look for. I firmly believe in 'try it out', and have been for about 5 months. In that time I've also come ...
13
votes
4answers
841 views
My co-founder turned out to be a lazy person, how should I talk to him?
My co-founder simply comes to the office whenever he wants, some days he "prefer working from home" and such. I just can't stand the fact I am there 12+ hours and him less then 8. There is a lot to be ...
13
votes
6answers
1k views
How does a technical person evaluate an MBA-type business partner?
I've read a lot of questions asking about how an MBA can find a technical person to implement their idea, but I haven't seen the other direction.
As a technical person, I know that I can get my idea ...
12
votes
4answers
2k views
How can I quit from my own company
I co-founded a consulting company in Vancouver 4 years ago with 2 partners. One of us is working full-time with the company and getting a modest salary. Me and my other partner are doing couple of ...
9
votes
11answers
3k views
What's a reasonable amount of equity to retain when you're the key founder?
I'm working with two other partners to get a SaaS startup off the ground. I worked on this thing slowly, mostly on my own, for about two years before approaching my partners. As a background, I knew ...
9
votes
8answers
1k views
How to best resolve current problems in my multiple-founder startup
I've been voraciously reading about startups for the last week, this site included. Unfortunately, I've come to the conclusion that the equity structure of our startup needs to change and I would ...
9
votes
6answers
414 views
How to find potential co-founders for a startup?
I've been working on a bootstrapped startup for about 2 years now. I've been working on it solo to this point, but I feel I'm starting to run out of gas. I need fresh ideas, money and assistance in ...
9
votes
3answers
330 views
Can I divorce a co-founder
There are currently 3 cofounders and 1 of them is an engineer other 2 are sales representatives. Many of the times technical cofounder doesn't agree with our views and is backed by his team containing ...
9
votes
3answers
254 views
How to “date” a potential co-founder?
It's often mentioned in startup circles that partnering with a co-founder is a bit like getting married. You form a bound of sorts, and are in it together thick or thin. The importance of "dating" a ...
8
votes
6answers
16k views
What's the difference: founder vs co-founder?
I'm not entirely clear on what's proper nomenclature... is there a difference?
Say there are two individuals starting a company, is it proper to call them both "founder" or is "co-founder" the ...
8
votes
9answers
2k views
How to resolve conflicts on a 50/50 startup?
We are going to found a startup with equal shares.
One as the product/tech partner being the other the marketing/sales partner.
We are going to found on a 50% equal shares. Not 51/49. Just 50/50.
...
8
votes
8answers
2k views
What would be a fair equity distribution between me and my co-founder?
Me (software developer) and my co-founder (UI designer) are looking forward to build a SaaS startup. I would usually lean towards a 50/50 distribution, but in this particular scenario, the ...
8
votes
9answers
2k views
Co-founder wants to leave, do I pay him back the money he invested into the business?
My co-founder and I have been working on a business idea. We both invested money into getting it to a MVP stage, but it hasn't been launched and does not make any money. (It is basically a modified ...
8
votes
11answers
711 views
Not a developer; can I still launch a startup?
I have an idea for a startup -- but I am not a developer, or an MBA. Is there hope for me and if so, how do I overcome my lack?
Brief background: I've spent most of my career as a content creator. ...
8
votes
5answers
326 views
How important are complementary co-founders?
Im a technical founder thats on the look out for a business minded co-founder. I am interested in the business side (I want to build a real business around my product) but I recognise that this is ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
How to go forward after the death of my technical co-founder?
I am asking this question on behalf of a friend, who until recently was bootstrapping a startup (a social web app) with her husband. He was the developer and she supported the business in other ways. ...
8
votes
8answers
588 views
Would you go into business with someone without an agreement in place?
Would you go into business with someone who has asked you to come on board and help to get things launched, but has not yet decided how to compensate you, or whether to give you part ownership of the ...
8
votes
2answers
259 views
Late founder equity allocation
Guy is late coming founder, the company not yet incorporated.
I designed the product (several biomed multisensor devices) and taken it from concept to a mature prototype ready for manufacturing (1 ...
7
votes
8answers
1k views
How to tell my co-founder that he is lazy and needs to step up his game?
I have a two member software start-up with a co-founder who is also a very good friend.
We make decent money through our products and services, but could do much much better if my co-founder did not ...
7
votes
9answers
3k views
Is performance based equity vesting possible?
I'm willing to give 20% of my startup to my partner who has an MBA and good experience.
His main responsibility will be sales, marketing and deal making. I'm the developer.
I'm working full-time on ...
7
votes
8answers
2k views
Should I negotiate to be a co-founder?
My friend, six years more experienced than me, has invented a marvelous device that I consider has a huge potential in the market. He has already filed for a patent. The research is currently funded ...
7
votes
3answers
689 views
How can I avoid being screwed by my co-founder
Im involved in a start up and I fear that at some point in the future my co-founder is going to screw me out my position or shares. What protections can I setup and what should I do avoid this from ...
7
votes
6answers
367 views
Sticky IP situation
We are in a sticky situation, that is no ones fault but our own. We had approached a developer to join our startup. After showing him the project he was excited and decided to join. Our mistake was ...
7
votes
6answers
283 views
Should young people get older cofounders?
When you're a young and relatively inexperienced founder, should age be a factor in choosing a co-founder (or in deciding if you need a co-founder at all)? Does having someone on board who's ...
7
votes
4answers
588 views
Side Projects. Any Success Stories?
Any success stories out there where someone with a full time job managed to start a business in their spare time?
If so, how did you do it? How do you stay motivated? Did you do it alone?
On a ...
7
votes
5answers
642 views
How do I find a technical co-founder for a Web based startup?
I have deep knowledge and experience in a specific industry.
I can identify a web based business model that has been successfully deployed in another industry that I believe would be applicable to my ...
7
votes
8answers
533 views
While working on my startup, should I keep track of my time?
I'm a cofounder at a startup.
One thing I have been thinking about alot lately is time tracking. I usually spend the day at the office, and then I get home and continue to work on more stuff. I ...
7
votes
2answers
307 views
When looking for a technical co-founder, how to protect IP?
I understand the process of looking for a technical co-founder may involve interviewing several people, some of which won't be a good fit, or won't have the right credentials or life situation, etc. ...
7
votes
3answers
412 views
What skills to look for in a technical cofounder?
I am an aspiring entrepreneur, with experience in retail industry. I have an idea to create a web based company with web 2.0 + ecommerce features. The idea is new and I know that it would work in in ...
6
votes
9answers
953 views
How do I deal with a co-founder who hasn't contributed?
Question: How do I deal with a co-founder who came up with the idea, asked me to partner with him, and now hasn't done anything since we agreed on going into business together.
Background: My friend ...
6
votes
5answers
651 views
Should I drop my co-founder?
So I started building this company back in January, completely on my own. I knew there would be a lot of work to be done, so just recently I told a PHP buddy about the site. He got really excited ...
6
votes
6answers
412 views
Where to look for co-founder with marketing skills
I have worked about an year on my startup website and I found that I need co-founder that would be able to sell ice to the eskimo nation online (online: marketing, sale and PR. But more of manager ...
6
votes
4answers
339 views
What should a technical co-founder look for in a business co-founder?
This is the flip side of this question about what to look for in a technical co-founder.
If I have technical skills and can build a prototype myself, what sort of skills or experience should I look ...
6
votes
2answers
254 views
Is there an inbetween step between “a trial period” and “co-founder”?
Greetings,
I am planning on joining a start up with someone as a co-founder and right now we're in a hurry to get product off the ground. I've worked with this person in
a trial period and I ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
What's the difference between a founder and a co-founder?
I was wondering what the difference between a founder and a co-founder was.
I am the founder of a company and I have worked on the project by myself then brought on board a partner to work on the ...
6
votes
9answers
2k views
Programmers Working For Equity
I've been having so much trouble finding a programmer to work with. I don't have the money to pitch out to hire a developer, I've tried and failed to code on my own, and I rarely get responses from ...
6
votes
2answers
349 views
How to “Divorce” a co-counder in a way that leaves everyone happy
I had the idea for my startup two years ago. I discussed it with a friend and over time we agreed to be partners in the venture together, with a 50-50 equity split. We signed a tentative agreement ...
5
votes
5answers
3k views
Sample milestones for co-founder value-contributed equity distribution
Question:
What are some sample milestones/goals to set for co-founders to allow them to gain equity for contributing value to the company, like a vesting-based equity plan.
Backdrop:
Let's say ...
5
votes
11answers
500 views
How to compensate people that contributed code
Two classmates and I worked on a class project together a few months ago. The outcome was very good. I continued to work on it over the past few months, while the other two partners haven't done too ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
How can I leave my startup and keep all of my shares?
I am really pleased I have found this forum as I need some help.
I am a co founder of a privately funded start up. We are having some success and we have just received some awards and have some ...
5
votes
4answers
645 views
How do I fire a technical co-founder?
I came up with an idea for a business web application and teamed up with a coder to build it. He has a lot of strong points and built a good product (it's 90% done) but to cut a long story short, of ...
5
votes
6answers
1k views
How do I fire a co-founder of my startup?
I have been working with a business cofounder for about a year and it is time for me to let him go. We were supposed to get funded and we never did. So, I am thinking of terminating the company and ...
5
votes
6answers
542 views
What's in a Title?
Newly minted business owner with a tech background, and looking to the business folks to give some insight as to what's in a title?
Our company is small, just my wife and myself for now. Our filing ...
