[Major_Grooves]

A very familiar scenario for me. As a solo non-technical founder I've so far build my startup using funding via Seedrs (crowd equity funding in the UK) and contractors in the UK and Russia. I got some decent VC interest, but they all say they will only invest if I have a technical co-founder. Hence, I go off spending 50% of my time looking for a co-founder. It's like deciding that within 2 months you need to find your life-partner and get married - similar level of commitment and just as difficult to find - but probably more expensive if you break up!

So I now have someone who I think is good lined up, I just need to persuade him to finally decide to join me now. But then I think - is it right to get a co-founder and give away loads of equity, just to satisfy some VCs? He seems like a really good guy, and I think I would like to work with him, but do I really need a co-founder or is it just for the VCs? The development has worked very well with my contractor so far, managed by myself. Why not just raise some more non-VC money (via Seedrs again) and continue this way?

Dilemma.

[__chrismc]

Is there a way you can continue without VC? It sounds like you're compromising yourself/business and don't really want to.

To continue your marriage analogy: don't do it if your heart isn't in it. The inevitable misery and divorce aren't worth it.

[illumen]

Why not go with the contractor? You already have a decent working relationship.

[Major_Grooves]

You mean get him as a co-founder or continue with him as a contractor? He's based in Russia which makes him becoming a co-founder a bit more tricky.