Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#1

Post by jond2062 » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 7:44 PM UTC

I've been out of school for almost a year and a half now, working as a financial analyst for a large finance/accounting firm in Los Angeles. I've known for quite some time that I won't be truly happy working for a large company and that entrepreneurship is in my blood (no one in my family works for anyone else). I also spent two years in college doing sales for a small web services/software company and got a lot of exposure to the development of a SAAS solution and the web as it relates to small-to-mid-size businesses. I spend a significant portion of my free time researching the web, writing mock business plans, and trying to develop ideas that I have.

But the one thing I continue to struggle with is finding someone else who wants to form a startup. I work with some very smart people, but the problem is, their whole game plan is built around climbing the corporate ladder, whereas mine couldn't be more opposite. So what is the best strategy for someone like myself to find a trustworthy, hard working partner to form a startup? I fully respect what programmers/engineers/hackers bring to the table and I feel that I would compliment those skills very well. I also have a pretty good understanding of the web and wouldn't consider myself one of those "pie-in-the-sky" business types that are responsible for that stereotype. I'm just a guy looking to build something cool, solve some problems, and maybe make enough to quit my day-job. Sorry for the long post, but what are your thoughts?

Re: Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#2

Post by davidw » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 7:51 PM UTC

I get the feeling, from most things I read, that co founders should be someone you've already known for years, not someone you find from one day to the next, so it's sort of a catch-22.

Re: Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#3

Post by ScottWhigham » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 7:57 PM UTC

If you think it's hard now, just wait until you start the business, it becomes mildly successful, and now you want to bring in someone as a co-founder to help you grow - it's twice as hard then. I'm going through that right now and it's tough.

I don't think cofounders need be friends before starting - I think that like-minded people hang around each other so, if you're in an area like the Valley, there are more people of your mindset and you'll find it easier to co-found with a friend. I think co-founding is tough and there are no easy ways of doing it.

Re: Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#4

Post by jond2062 » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 8:07 PM UTC

davidw wrote: post #2

I get the feeling, from most things I read, that co founders should be someone you've already known for years, not someone you find from one day to the next, so it's sort of a catch-22.

You hit the nail on the head. The problem is, most of my peer network are people who see the allure of money in the finance world and want to work their way up the ladder. And the engineers that I know are not yet ready to break out and do something on their own.

Re: Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#5

Post by aggieben » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 8:18 PM UTC

jond2062 wrote: post #4

davidw wrote: post #2

I get the feeling, from most things I read, that co founders should be someone you've already known for years, not someone you find from one day to the next, so it's sort of a catch-22.

You hit the nail on the head. The problem is, most of my peer network are people who see the allure of money in the finance world and want to work their way up the ladder. And the engineers that I know are not yet ready to break out and do something on their own.

That's exactly the problem I've had. There's 2-3 people I've worked with in the last 3 years I've approached about getting our nuts out of the corporate lock-box, and none of them have any interest. With two of them, you can tell immediately that the thought of leaving a corporate position for their own enterprise has never even crossed their minds. The other one overestimates the risk involved.

sigh

Re: Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#6

Post by bkovitz » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 8:20 PM UTC

I found a co-founder by posting on craigslist.

We have very different styles: I am improvisational, creative, always willing to try an idea, in love with writing beautiful code, mostly driven by aesthetics and idealism. He is organized, managerial, skeptical, oriented toward business and negotiation and the world of money, good at researching and finding out how other people have solved a problem, though he still enjoys code.

We have disagreements sometimes, but it's working well. The disagreements have turned out fruitful. That's probably how it should be.

Re: Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#7

Post by ecommercematt » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 8:21 PM UTC

ScottWhigham wrote: post #3

If you think it's hard now, just wait until you start the business, it becomes mildly successful, and now you want to bring in someone as a co-founder to help you grow - it's twice as hard then. I'm going through that right now and it's tough . I don't think cofounders need be friends before starting - I think that like-minded people hang around each other so, if you're in an area like the Valley, there are more peop…

A post-founding co-founder?

Re: Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#8

Post by aaronblohowiak » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 8:34 PM UTC

Restating your problem: the circles I run in now don't have what I am looking for, how can I find what I am looking for? Simple answer: change the circles you run in. Go to the watering hole for the prey you want to take down -- users groups, coworking facilities, and professional networks like workingwithrails and linkedin. Then, do a small test project, then try a harder project together. Expect to go through many before you find the one that fits.

'Just because you've become a young man now (Man, now) There's still some things that you don't understand now (Son, now) Before you ask some girl for her hand now (My son) Keep your freedom for as long as you can now'

My mama told me...'you better shop around' (Shop, shop around) a-whoa-yeah You better (uh-huh) shop around! (Shop, shop around) Uh-uh-uh

Re: Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#9

Post by jond2062 » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 8:42 PM UTC

bkovitz wrote: post #6

I found a co-founder by posting on craigslist. We have very different styles: I am improvisational, creative, always willing to try an idea, in love with writing beautiful code, mostly driven by aesthetics and idealism. He is organized, managerial, skeptical, oriented toward business and negotiation and the world of money, good at researching and finding out how other people have solved a problem, though he still enj…

How many people did you interview before you found your current co-founder?

Re: Ask YC: Finding a co-founder(s)

#10

Post by jfornear » Fri, Jul 11, 2008, 8:54 PM UTC

aggieben wrote: post #5

jond2062 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You hit the nail on the head. The problem is, most of my peer network are people who see the allure of money in the finance world and want to work their way up the ladder. And the engineers that I know are not yet ready to break out and do something on their own.

That's exactly the problem I've had. There's 2-3 people I've worked with in the last 3 years I've approached about getting our nuts out of the corporate lock-box, and none of them have any interest. With two of them, you can tell immediately that the thought of leaving a corporate position for their own enterprise has never even crossed their minds. The other one overestimates the risk involved. sigh

You live in Dallas right? Good luck finding anyone here that hasn't been raised to climb the corporate ladder. I'm still in school, but I also find it pretty depressing to be around so many people that don't like thinking big or taking risks.