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If I were a single founder...

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Re: If I were a single founder...

#31

Post by dpapathanasiou »

jazzychad wrote: post #15

As someone who went through YC as a single-founder, then got a co-founder, then became a single-founder again after a year I've been on both sides of this fence. I've been meaning to write an article about this experience, and I guess this post has given me motivation to actually do it. There are so many misconceptions from both sides about the other. Hopefully I can find time in the next few weeks to write it all do…

I'm curious about how investors viewed you: do you think they were generally more hesitant when you were alone, versus when you had a co-founder?

Re: If I were a single founder...

#32

Post by WalterSear »

jazzychad wrote: post #15

As someone who went through YC as a single-founder, then got a co-founder, then became a single-founder again after a year I've been on both sides of this fence. I've been meaning to write an article about this experience, and I guess this post has given me motivation to actually do it. There are so many misconceptions from both sides about the other. Hopefully I can find time in the next few weeks to write it all do…

I would very much like to see this. My current philosophy is to go it alone until I have made some things that would demonstrate my abilities, with an eye to impressing others who also have a track record.

I would like to know: How you were able to cover aspects of your projects for which you did not have the skills. Not having the skill for design (for example) has been a double blow for me - I don't know what I don't know, so I can't evaluate the scope of projects, nor determine the best use of money and the timing for bringing in external resources.

Re: If I were a single founder...

#34

Post by mgkimsal »

rdl wrote: post #11

I've seen a LOT of "single founder companies" just sort of sit around and never really make any irrevocable moves. It's easy, especially if you have other income, to just keep something at the hobby stage. The absolute best way to prevent this is to have customers demanding your product now (or by a certain date). The next best is either to be dependent upon the startup for income, or to have other people pushing (an…

What does "single founder" have to do with "keeping something at the hobby stage"? I don't see those two as having much to do with each other. I've known single founders who've pushed ahead, and 2-3 founder startups stay a hobby for a long time.

Re: If I were a single founder...

#35

Post by DenisM »

bigsassy wrote: post #19
jazzychad wrote: post #15

As someone who went through YC as a single-founder, then got a co-founder, then became a single-founder again after a year I've been on both sides of this fence. I've been meaning to write an article about this experience, and I guess this post has given me motivation to actually do it. There are so many misconceptions from both sides about the other. Hopefully I can find time in the next few weeks to write it all do…

Whenever I read articles railing against single founders, I usually assume the person writing the article doesn't have a meaningful amount of single-founder experience. This makes me question their reasons given to not be a single founder. I'm sure some of these reasons should actually be carefully considered before deciding to go it alone, but I feel that many of them can be safely ignored given one's appetite for r…

>the person writing the article doesn't have a meaningful amount of single-founder experience

Yes, that... or his name is Paul Graham! :)

From investors point of view second founder is social proof of the idea and the first person, a much lower chance of entire team getting hit by a bus, and a demonstrable ability to work in teams. They have no downside in modest increase in the number of founders, unlike the first founder who is slashing his pie in half.

You, too, should worry about social proof. If no one wants to hang out with you, maybe your idea is on the wrong side of crazy, and you are the kind of person unable to tell good ideas from bad ideas. Who knows? The thing is, if you have bad judgement, you likely don't know about it, can't know about it.

Re: If I were a single founder...

#36

Post by tzm »

Being a single founder has made me tougher, sharper and focused. I've been through Hell and back for the past 4 years. Finance background turned brogrammer.. to mobile strategist / development firm working with large clients.

I've been focused on credibility and positioning. Waiting for the right co-founder. Forming strategic relationships, staffing up and making key investments. Book deal pending, just acquired a software company.

Crush it...

Re: If I were a single founder...

#37

Post by deniz »

I keep hearing the same story of how most people meet their co-founder "x and y met in school".

I'm a few years out of university and have moved around a lot. Most of my trusted friends now days are non technical which makes my candidate pool near empty. I agree completely that getting on board with someone you don't know well is a bad idea.

It seems to me that all the rules placed around how you must have a team to get funded is restricting startups to the realm of college/uni students and there's probably a lot of opportunities being missed.

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