Co-Founder Dating: A Practical Guide

Just like romantic relationships, co-founder relationships benefit from a "dating" phase. Here's how to navigate it.

Start with a Trial Project

Before committing to a startup together, work on a small project. A weekend hackathon or a month-long side project can reveal a lot about working compatibility.

Ask the Hard Questions Early

Don't wait until you're deep into building to discuss:

• Equity split expectations
• Time commitment and timeline
• Financial runway and risk tolerance
• Decision-making processes
• Exit scenarios

Red Flags to Watch For

• They want to be CEO but can't articulate why
• Unwillingness to discuss equity openly
• Always agreeing with you (yes-people make bad co-founders)
• Different risk tolerances that aren't acknowledged

Green Flags

• They challenge your ideas constructively
• They follow through on commitments
• They're transparent about their weaknesses
• They get excited about the problem, not just the solution