For most early teams, split close to equal, an even split signals you see each other as true partners, and long-term contribution rarely matches whatever you'd predict on day one. Obsessing over 55/45 vs 50/50 usually costs more in resentment than it saves in ownership. What actually protects you isn't the exact number, it's vesting and a written agreement.
Go deeper
3 resources, 3 link-checked.
📖 Book
✓ Link checkedPaidIntermediate
The definitive, data-driven book on early founding-team decisions, drawing on quantitative research covering nearly 10,000 founders. It replaces gut-feel folklore about co-founders and equity with evidence.
A practical India-specific walkthrough of equity split, vesting, and IP clauses in a co-founder agreement, from a mainstream Indian legal services provider. It covers what a US template will miss.
The canonical dynamic-equity framework for fairly splitting ownership based on real contributions before funding, when nobody yet knows who'll do what. A strong mental model even if you convert to fixed equity later.
