Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Why is it so hard to find a good cofounder?

news.ycombinator.com

11–20 of 20 posts

Re: Ask HN: Why is it so hard to find a good cofounder?

#11
In my view it's because often, when co-founders fall out, the company is either badly damaged or ends. This can happen early or after many years. So the requirement for a good co-founder is really high.

There's not necessarily anything to indicate that this critical relationship will be a success because anything can happen, even with the right co-founder.

Re: Ask HN: Why is it so hard to find a good cofounder?

#15
post #2

In my opinion, the hardest part about finding a cofounder is getting people to be committed. I’ve tried working with friends but they just didn’t take it as seriously as I did. Plus, getting people to be interested in the same problems is tough. I’d love to see this being solved.

I think it's multiple problems that compound when combined. 1. You have to find someone who is as passionate as you about whatever it is you're going to work on. 2. You have to find someone who wants to (and is in a life place where they can) take the risk of starting a company. 3. You have to find someone who is responsible enough to help run a company. You're weeding out most people once you hit all 3 criteria...

And 4 - whose working style and personal behavior under stress is productive and constructive with yours, instead of resulting in drama and destruction.

Re: Ask HN: Why is it so hard to find a good cofounder?

#16
You want someone extremely motivated, who needs to share your vision and passion and probably needs some specific knowledge or training. That person is hard to hire for 200k, not to mention the almost nothing you're offering, if you're hiring on the open market or otherwise trying to convince people in a relatively short period of time. The only option I can think of is someone you have a strong relationship with, who has known you long enough to believe in you. No shortcuts there, but I think that is the solution you're referring to.

Re: Ask HN: Why is it so hard to find a good cofounder?

#17
Maybe look at the parallel metaphors of marriage matchmakers, and of sports coaches team building 2 or 3 person team sports that have unequal roles.

I co-founded a successful small SaaS, however we had all worked closely together at another company, so we knew each other’s personalities and work traits (plus one guy was the load bearing axle, and the other cofounders mostly worked to support him at other roles).

Re: Ask HN: Why is it so hard to find a good cofounder?

#20

You want someone extremely motivated, who needs to share your vision and passion and probably needs some specific knowledge or training. That person is hard to hire for 200k, not to mention the almost nothing you're offering, if you're hiring on the open market or otherwise trying to convince people in a relatively short period of time. The only option I can think of is someone you have a strong relationship with, wh…

Being motivated and "probably" having some training seems like a very low bar for 200k. In the UK / EU you have scientists working for 40k.
Post reply on HN