You Don’t Need a Co-Founder… Until You Do

Summary:

This article explores when going solo works—and when it doesn’t. It breaks down how to evaluate whether you need a co-founder, what to look for in a partner, and how to avoid equity regret.

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Starting a business is thrilling. It’s also lonely. Sooner or later, every founder wrestles with the same existential question: should I bring on a co-founder?

The myth of the visionary solo founder—Steve Jobs, Oprah, or Musk—looms large. But so does the risk of going it alone.

Data from the Startup Genome Project found that solo founders take 3.6 times longer to scale compared to teams of two or more. And yet, not all partnerships are healthy. Bringing on the wrong co-founder is a lot like getting married after a first date—and realizing halfway through the honeymoon that you hate the way they chew.

So what’s the right call? It depends on what you need, not what the startup culture says you should want.

When Going Solo Makes Sense

Being a solo founder is not a red flag. In fact, according to data from Crunchbase and the First Round 10-Year Project, over 39% of funded startups between 2019 and 2022 were started by solo founders.

If your startup idea falls into a domain you know intimately—say, you’re a developer building developer tools or a fitness expert launching a health app—going solo might be the fastest path to execution.

Plus, with the rise of fractional executives, AI tools, and no-code platforms, the need for a technical or operations co-founder is lower than ever. Platforms like Bubble, Webflow, and even ChatGPT help early-stage founders prototype and test their ideas without hiring a full team.

But Here’s Where It Gets Risky

Solo doesn’t mean superhero. While the hustle culture might glamorize doing it all yourself, the burnout is real. Research from CB Insights found that one of the top reasons startups fail is team issues—either not having one or not being aligned.

If you're lacking critical skills (e.g. tech, sales, or finance) and don’t have the budget to hire top talent, that’s when a co-founder might be more necessity than luxury.

Here’s a quick decision matrix:

You Might Be Fine Solo If...	You Might Need a Co-Founder If...
You have strong domain expertise	You’re entering an unfamiliar market
You can build the MVP yourself	You need deep technical execution
You’re okay with delayed fundraising	Investors are wary of solo ventures
You have a strong support network	You need emotional + strategic backup

What to Look for in a Co-Founder (and What to Avoid)

If you decide to bring someone in, this is not the time to be romantic. It’s not about finding your best friend or someone who "vibes." It’s about finding someone who complements your blind spots and shares your risk tolerance.

According to Michael Seibel of Y Combinator, a good co-founder has four traits: integrity, commitment, skill, and good communication. Anything less is a gamble.

Avoid:

• The “idea guy” who doesn’t execute

• Friends or family who aren’t vetted for skills

• Overlapping strengths (two visionaries, no builders)

Equity Regret Is Real

A quick handshake and a 50/50 split may feel “fair” on day one—but it can become a nightmare if one founder loses steam. As startup attorney Yokum Taku notes, “50/50 can kill a company when you can’t agree and there’s no tie-breaker.”

Consider vesting schedules, clear roles, and a founder agreement—tools like Clerky and Stripe Atlas can help. Also, take a look at this helpful chart from Carta that shows how founder equity typically shifts as the company raises capital.

Being solo isn’t a flaw—it’s a choice. But don’t confuse autonomy with sustainability. As Paul Graham put it, “Starting a startup is like being punched in the face repeatedly. If you’re going solo, make sure you can take a hit—and stand up swinging.”

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