[quantisan]

I was a developer that partnered with a stranger. He's an MBA with a purely business background. I'm the full stack + product guy. I'm never co-founding a business with a stranger ever again.

We failed probably because of not what you're thinking. My business co-founder brought more to the table than I could imagine. I've gained a lot of respect for the hard work of sales, marketing, fundraising, and the people that make these tasks seem so easy.

We got hundreds of customers, made $10k revenue per month, and had a staff of 5 at one time. All bootstrapped over the course of 12 months.

The thing is, we were not happy working with each other. When shit hits the fan (which happens often in a new business), we just get on each other's nerves. On paper, we have perfectly complimentary skill set. He's a charming people person. I'm a proficient developer. In reality, the fact that we're so opposite means that we're always seeing and doings things differently. When we're in a grind, he wants to hi-fives to boost morale and I want to put my head down to ship faster.

If I were to do it again. I'd find a smart, hardworking person that brings me energy and that I'd bring them energy when the shit hits the fan. I wouldn't care if they're a CEO, CTO, C-whatever-O. I'd look for someone that I'd enjoy working with above all else.

[blazespin]

Agreed. You need someone you can happily brainstorm with for hours and hours on end. If it isn't fun, if either of you would rather be doing something else, I find that's a good sign it's time to cut loose. Brainstorming problems is what you'll be doing endlessly when you are building a company together. I also find its the one thing most easily measured.

That being said, just because you can brainstorm with someone doesn't mean you'll be successful. You could be mediocre which is why it's easy for you to find someone you can brainstorm with. But it is a sign of a good cofounder.

[mpdehaan2]

Being able to brainstorm and trust is huge. You have to be able to jointly strategize all the time, drop all barriers, and really know how someone thinks.

Mediocre non-brilliance is better if they can drop those walls, and admit where they need help, because hard work and drive gets things done.

[late2part]

A thousand times this. Life is short, don't work with assholes, and more appropriately, don't work with people you don't respect and enjoy.

In larger companies you have to work with people you respect but don't like. Don't do that in a startup, it takes away the passion and the motivation.

[blazespin]

This is the mistake everyone makes. Don't think in terms of someone being an asshole (unless it is you). Think in terms of chemistry.

[mpdehaan2]

A thousand times yes. What you say happens and then some, and then more.

I would suggest not trying to "find" a cofounder -- the "cofounder" idea of a word is itself a weirdness here, almost mythologized -- you're either there at the beginning or you are not, and if you are, you're a founder. If that person's name wasn't just JUMPING at you when you had a company idea, you don't want one, or need one.

If you did not naturally find an idea with someone, do it yourself. Be the CEO and hire the help you need (and get rid of them if they don't work out), but don't give up control.

This is basically marriage (you'll probably spend more time with them than family at times) -- and you don't marry someone you don't love. You must really really know them. And that takes years, and can end your startup if you choose incorrectly.

If you are trying to get someone to implement your business idea, hire technical help. If you are technical and need business help, hire somebody to be your VP of Sales/Finance/whatever.

[tropchan]

Good advice. I negotiated a sort of earn-in with my initial co-founder because we didn't know each other well at all. My friend introduced us, and after a couple months I knew it wasn't going to last. We split and went our own ways - It would be nice to get to know some people working on cool stuff even if it has nothing to do with being a co-founder.

[UweSchmidt]

Sounds fixable with a bit of counseling? In fact you can articulate all the problems already, which is amazing.

[vonklaus]

> We failed probably because of not what you're thinking.

No. We were all thinking that.

Edit: You didn't see 2 total strangers with no history and completely different ideologies having problems running a business together? That is what these downvotes and OP seem to suggest.

[scrollaway]

I'd really like you not to speak on my behalf.