How do I 'date' a potential co-founder before committing?
The short answer
Run a real trial: work on a scoped project together for a few weeks, ideally under a deadline, and pay attention to how they handle disagreement, deadlines, and dull work. Talk explicitly about money, worst-case scenarios, and what happens if one of you wants out. If you can't have those conversations comfortably now, it only gets harder later.
Go deeper, your way
3 hand-picked resources, 3 link-checked. Pick how you want to dig in.
📄 Article
✓ Link checkedFreeBeginner
Why we picked it
A curated collection of YC's best primary guidance on how to find, evaluate, and test a co-founder, straight from the people who've seen thousands of founding teams. It's practical, opinionated, and free.
Why we picked it
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.
Why we picked it
The largest and most credible free co-founder matching platform in the world, with vetted founders and 100,000+ matches made. It's the default starting point when your own network doesn't have the right person.
