Finding Your Co-Founders

#1

Post by terpua » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 4:35 AM UTC

Re: Finding Your Co-Founders

#2

Post by JCThoughtscream » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 4:45 AM UTC

Sometimes you luck out and your friends don't actually have your skillsets, or vice versa. I've known the guys I'm working with for years before we started on the startup venture - one's a cinematographer, another's a programmer, and I'm an editor.

Or maybe it isn't that lucky. I highly suspect I'm /not/ unique in having a diverse social circle. Sternberg is probably overplaying the like-attracts-like effect by quite a bit.

Re: Finding Your Co-Founders

#3

Post by skmurphy » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 4:59 AM UTC

Two other events in Silicon Valley that are good for serious conversation among entrepreneurs are Bootstrapper Breakfast http://www.bootstrapperbreakfast.com/ and Hackers and Founders http://www.hackersandfounders.com/

Re: Finding Your Co-Founders

#4

Post by quizbiz » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 5:12 AM UTC

I found one in looking for a college dorm room mate. I got a bit lucky but in talking a bit about what I love to do, I have met more potential co founders on campus.

Re: Finding Your Co-Founders

#5

Post by vaksel » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 5:29 AM UTC

I think you already failed if you have to actually go looking for a co-founder. You are getting into a major endeavor, the co-founder should be someone who you've known for a while, not someone you just met playing ultimate frisbee. + at that point, you'll be just another "business guy" with an idea, so chances are you won't find anyone anyways

p.s. I'm assuming that this is advice for the non-programmer entrepreneurs, since programmers can just start building, without needing anyone else.

Re: Finding Your Co-Founders

#6

Post by chaosprophet » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 5:35 AM UTC

vaksel wrote: post #5

I think you already failed if you have to actually go looking for a co-founder. You are getting into a major endeavor, the co-founder should be someone who you've known for a while, not someone you just met playing ultimate frisbee. + at that point, you'll be just another "business guy" with an idea, so chances are you won't find anyone anyways p.s. I'm assuming that this is advice for the non-programmer entrepreneur…

Not true. At times you just bump into a guy who happens to be exactly what you're looking for. This has happened to me more than once, so I would not make "looking for co-founder" a point of failure.

That said, I still think getting to know a person you will be closely involved with well enough before starting out.

Re: Finding Your Co-Founders

#7

Post by vaksel » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 5:38 AM UTC

chaosprophet wrote: post #6

vaksel wrote: post #5

I think you already failed if you have to actually go looking for a co-founder. You are getting into a major endeavor, the co-founder should be someone who you've known for a while, not someone you just met playing ultimate frisbee. + at that point, you'll be just another "business guy" with an idea, so chances are you won't find anyone anyways p.s. I'm assuming that this is advice for the non-programmer entrepreneur…

Not true. At times you just bump into a guy who happens to be exactly what you're looking for. This has happened to me more than once, so I would not make "looking for co-founder" a point of failure. That said, I still think getting to know a person you will be closely involved with well enough before starting out.

how many programmers go out looking for a "business guy with an idea", programmers get pitched the whole "yeah man, I have this idea, it's ultra secret, so I'll need you to sign an NDA first, but basically it's like faceb...."

the only way for a "business guy with an idea" to hookup with a programmer, without being lifelong friends, is to bring a crapload of money to the table.

Re: Finding Your Co-Founders

#8

Post by sachinag » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 5:39 AM UTC

In the last three months, the weekend guest posts on TechCrunch have completely reinvigorated the site.

Re: Finding Your Co-Founders

#9

Post by wheels » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 5:43 AM UTC

Reading this, I feel like it may be more relevant to business people starting startups than hackers starting startups.

It's hard for a startup that's all business people to get very far. A startup that's all hackers has a decent chance. You need some versatility in your hackers -- and it may well make sense to have a business person onboard at the get-go, but I don't know if having one on average produces better results.

I think the confusing thing when you read stuff like this is that it's tempting to assume that this is the way, not a way to find co-founders. Viaweb, for instance, was founded by three Harvard CS PhDs.

Re: Finding Your Co-Founders

#10

Post by adityakothadiya » Mon, Oct 12, 2009, 5:56 AM UTC

The post is really great! Very practical advice. But this is not really new advice. I've read this before at different places, may be in bits and pieces. But unfortunately I'm not very successful at it.

I think not looking within your close friends is probably a good advice. So I tried attending different events, met different people, but the problem is building that trust in few meetings that you have with friends.

I completely understand that it's not the right strategy to do it alone, and I'm actively looking for a co-founder, but still not getting luck.

I think I'll try to follow this advice again, and will see if I find any luck.

Your advice is welcome too...