[justboxing]

>.. if the existing founder can't recruit a cofounder from their network?

For immigrants like me, who didn't grow up in the US, the "existing network" is largely absent / non-existent. So we always have difficulty trying to find co-founders as the people you can trust the most in your network are your "butt buddies" (in hindi we call them Chaddi-dost) and they are not here.

And most engineers, esp. technical engineers are introverts and do not like going to networking events.

[OJFord]

> "butt buddies" (in hindi we call them Chaddi-dost)

My Hindi is far too limited to be sure, but I don't think that translation has the same connotation at all. Just fyi!

[blackflame7000]

Yea in America, "butt buddies" has a homosexual implication and sometimes used pejoratively. I would use a different term in English.

[conductr]

In US English, I’ve always understood it to mean guys who are attached at the hip / spend a lot of time together/ to the extent they could be mistaken as being in s romantic relationship / BFFs. I felt it’s appropriate but odd used in this example. Not bad for ESL though.

That said, just because I grew up in US and my butt buddies are here doesn’t mean they’re good cofounders. I’m regularly the only entrepreneurial person in my various friend groups.

[ganeshkrishnan]

It's incorrect translation. The correct one is "trouser friends" because they are so close they can borrow each other's shorts/trousers

[OJFord]

Haven't heard that one. 'Blood brothers' might be close. (In case you're not familiar, it's an ironic phrase, doesn't mean that the 'brothers' are related at all, just very close: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Blood%20Brot...)

Or, I suppose, 'BFF', but perhaps not even teenage girls can bring themselves to use that seriously today (I suspect it's 'so last year').

[sameers]

wait what. "chaddi dost" is literally, "underwear buddies," not "butt buddies." "chaddi" in some cases also generally means just shorts, not necessarily what's closest to your skin. The connotation is you and your friend knew each other from when you ran around in diapers.

[banner2018]

I could not have said it better. Apart from the immigrant history and technical oriented, my situation is that the Chaddi-dost/butt-buddies are not oriented the same way inregards to making a product or build a company. I feel a minor proportion of the human population happen to have that sort of relationship.

[bdcravens]

> And most engineers, esp. technical engineers are introverts and do not like going to networking events.

Not every engineer is an introvert, and cofounders need to wear multiple hats, so you're better getting a 75% engineer who is more versatile.

[banner2018]

There had been instances where introverts have learnt to network as they were trying to gain traction for their product or idea. Being introvert should not be a disqualifying criteria for someone from being successful

[Retra]

Indeed; I'm an extremely introverted person, but that's only because people don't actually want to talk business 100% of the time. If that's what we're doing, I am very much extroverted.

[bdcravens]

I agree growth is possible, and I'd never "disqualify" an introvert. Perhaps a better way to put it is I'd disqualify someone unafraid to network, introvert or otherwise.

[justboxing]

I stand corrected. Agreed, Butt-buddies = Gay.

Attached at the hip is more like it. These are guys you grow up with and know their darkest secrets :)