The Most Expensive Startup Mistake?
Welcome to the Dave vs. Startups.
Today we’re getting into one the most expensive mistakes many startup founders make…
Hiring a bad co-founder.
I was lucky, my brother and I had a super complementary and positive dynamic.
But most founder relationships aren't so fortunate.
Here's what I've learned about choosing the right partner (or going solo):
I co-founded a B2B SaaS company with my oldest brother.
We bootstrapped it, grew it, and eventually sold it.
But most founder relationships aren't so smooth.
They can be the biggest strength or the fatal flaw.
Having a co-founder isn't mandatory.
Lots of successful companies have solo founders.
It's better to go alone than with the wrong person.
But if you do partner up, the relationship has to be rock solid.
In my case, my co-founder and I were "super complementary and positive" in how we worked together.
That word "complementary" is crucial.
We had different skills, different perspectives, but aligned goals.
The contrast is clear when I look at my dynamic with my other brother.
That relationship is "more competitive and a lot less support".
(Exactly what you DON'T want in a co-founder situation)
A bad partnership will sink you faster than any market condition.
My other brother is incredibly smart - PhD, professor at top universities, advised the president.
But our dynamic wouldn't work for building a company together. Why?
Because he has "a tendency to shoot people down HARD when they're wrong."
That kind of dynamic creates fear:
Fear of making mistakes Fear of looking stupid Fear of being wrong
None of which helps when building a business where you need to take risks and make quick decisions.
When choosing a co-founder, look for:
Complementary skills (not overlapping)
Similar values, different perspectives
Someone who makes you better, not smaller
A relationship built on trust, not competition
If you're thinking of starting with a co-founder, ask yourself:
"After a 16-hour day when everything's going wrong, do I still want to be in the room with this person?"
If the answer is no, don't start the company together.
Co-founder relationships are like marriages.
The breakups are just as messy, expensive, and emotionally draining.
Choose carefully.
Align expectations early, document everything.
Bottom line:
You don't need a co-founder to succeed.
But if you have one, they better be the right fit.
Someone who:
Complements your skills
Supports your vision
Makes the journey better
Otherwise, go solo.
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Jodie Cook knew she had to get herself out of her business. So she made "The Manual" an awesome example of how to scale your startup. Check out the latest episode of the Startup Different Podcast below!
Dave and Jodie on the latest episode of The Startup Different Podcast
Thanks for reading!
Dave