[vnorby]

This can turn out not to be a problem if the startup hits some reasonable growth (growth is usually a solution to such ails as long as it continues).

This is the important line in the article. Co-founder breakups probably happen more because the startup is not doing well, and not vice versa. I'm not sure if it makes sense to try and optimize for not running into co-founder problems as much as just optimizing for your company's success as normal.

If your company is killing it, and you're a co-founder and you've got 10% and you want to be the CEO and your grad school dropout grace period is ending and you'd rather be working on technical problems, you're most likely going to stick it out regardless.

[sskates]

Almost all startups run into trouble at some point. If you don't have a good relationship with your cofounder because of one the problems, it's unlikely that you'll create a successful startup given the high probably of running into a down period. For example, Facebook had this issue in spite of its huge growth.

[_delirium]

Another way of thinking of it is that doing things to maximize success is far more important than what percentage of a hypothetical future success you get: 10% of billions is much better than 50% of millions, which is better than 90% of nothing. So really the percentage only matters insofar as its psychological impact might influence chances of success.

[derefr]

> 10% of billions is much better than 50% of millions

In a VC startup? Sure. In a lifestyle business, I'd rather get a 99% chance of millions (and a fun place to work.)

[tyw]

I believe _delirium was talking in terms of % ownership, not % chance of success.

[jmtame]

I hadn't thought about that perspective before. It's possible that many co-founders that wouldn't stick together are merely together because of the perceived success. Makes me even more grateful for co-founders that stick around even when things are bad. I don't think you can hack 100% of those situations where things look bad and make them look positive.