---
title: "Do You Need a Co-founder?"
section: "Team"
sectionId: "team"
date: "2026-05"
---

*Based on Jason Calacanis's startup checklist.*

## The short answer: yes, if you're a first-time founder

Starting a company is stressful and lonely. A co-founder gives you someone to divide and conquer with — which matters most during fundraising, when that effort alone is a full-time job.

Investors also want to see a co-founding team. The logic: if you quit, someone else is still there working on the idea. Placing a bet on a solo founder adds risk to an already risky situation. Experienced founders with a track record can get away with going solo, but first-timers generally cannot.

**What investors like to see:** complementary founding teams — for example, a technical founder paired with a sales-oriented founder.

**The signal you shouldn't ignore:** if you genuinely can't find one person willing to join you, that's an early warning sign about the idea. Finding a co-founder is essentially your first sell.

## How to pick a co-founder

Start by identifying the skills you have and the skills the company needs. You want someone with a complementary set:

- Sales background → find a builder
- Builder background → find a marketer or someone who can sell

Beyond skills, ask yourself:

- Have you worked with them before? Do you know how they operate day to day?
- How do they handle stress when things go wrong?
- Do you trust them?

See [Finding a Co-founder](/startup-wiki/team-finding-a-cofounder) for a deeper framework on evaluating trust, work style, and the work trial before committing.

## Where to find a co-founder

- **Start with your network.** Have you worked with anyone on projects that went well? Do you know people with the skills you're looking for?
- **Attend events and conferences.** Get out and meet people actively building things.
- **Ask for introductions.** If someone in your network says no, ask who they'd recommend.