“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”
In the present era, neither of us are capable nor own adequate skill, interest, or bandwidth to all the tasks alone. We all need a person who multiplies the happiness of the success, divide the stress and splits the burden of responsibilities. The same happens in business as well. Finding a co founder is exactly like finding a soulmate for your business. The founding team of any startup business acts as a strong pillar which takes the venture on the high peak of success. It serves as the building blocks of the organization.
The most important thing to look for in your co founder is the same passion and the same vision. But it is quite difficult to get a co founder who owns the same passion, vision, skills, and interests the same as you.
“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, and working together is a success.”
–Henry Ford, the founder of Ford Motor Company
Try to find someone on whom you can trust, who can grow with you and take the pitfalls in stride as well. But most importantly, the real and true measure of any person is not depend on how he or she reacts when things are going smooth, but it is when things are beyond the control.
However, here is a list of some traits which are considered important to look upo while choosing the co founder for your company.
#1Alignment of values
Mutual understandings, vision, thoughts and values are difficult to identify; but are also crucial for compatibility. Before choosing the co-founder, make sure that your partner must own such potentials that are as same as you hold.
#2 Must be a learner
A perfect co-founder is the one who recognizes the need and importance of learning. The willingness to learn and thirst for gaining more and more knowledge greatly contributes to the growth of the start up in the right direction.
#3 A few values
There are several ways to embezzle funds and sneaking off sufficient cash while founding any company. It is important to look for someone whom you can trust and relay completely. The co-founder of the organization must be loyal, integrity and honesty for you. Do not hesitate and be straightforward while explaining what you expect and desire in your co-founder.
#4 A set of complementary strengths
Compliments and support not only strengthen your bond but it also takes you and your co-founder on the same track by providing a common vision of thoughts. Identifying your strength and recognizing your weakness and trying to cop up with them will definitely help to grow business. Complementary strengths is when one of the co-founders is entirely responsible for developing and building the product; while the other co-founder is responsible to sell the product. This approach proves to be a perfect model for many start ups venture.
#5 Must be active
Starts up ventures are not meant for those who are weak of will, slow of pace and faint of heart. Scaling, growth, pivots, and survival takes energy. Look for someone who owns enough of mental and physical energy to pull through the difficult times, step ahead towards the growth and reach the peak of success.
#6 Should be stable emotionally
Emotional stability or emotional intelligence may consider the ability to manage and identify the emotional feeling of himself or herself and others as well. It is generally believed that emotionally erratic people tend to make successful business leaders. Start up business ventures give you plenty of reasons to lose your temper, fly of the handle or cuss people out. But it is extremely important for the success of such ventures to resist the urge and stay cool and calm. If your co-founder possesses emotional intelligence and stability in his base pocket, take it as a major advantage.
#7 Flexible
Flexibility is the most important factor to be considered while choosing the co-founder. Starting up any venture involves hard work and dedication. You may hire an employee in the morning; pitch the business to the investors in the noon; and removing out the trash at the end of your day! The founder of a company must have attained the peak of flexibility and owns the capability to do all the tasks at any time. If you found any person with such quality; do not hesitate to approach him as he may surely prove to be the best co-founder for your start up.
#8 Eagerness to learn
No doubt that experience is the best teacher and attemptor is the best student. It is a must to learn new business techniques and ideas every day. While you are starting up any business, you will learn a lot on each and every step.
#9 A team player
A good co founder not only has enough confidence to lead the employees but also knows when to roll up his or her sleeves. He should also identify the strength and weakness of his team and put their traits on right and effective track.
#10 Motivate too!
Co founder not only share the burden and responsibilities, but he also inspires and motivates you whenever and wherever you lack confidence. If you do not feel motivated or inspired after sharing your problems with your co founder; then it would not be wrong to say that he is not a good co founder for you!
Where you can find the soulmate of your venture?
Go Online
There are now multiples of websites available that had helped out several entrepreneurs in searching for their perfect business match. Some of them are Tech cofounder, Cofound.org, Founder Dating, Tech Venture’s Co founder Network, Founder2be, Cofounders Lab, Startup Weekend, You Noodle, Founders Nation, Code Army, Lead Candy, Meet up
Others
Apart from online website, there are other options where you can look for your perfect co founder;
- Look around
- Find conferences, seminars, and events
- Join meet up groups
- Visit startup camps
