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Co-founders, team & legal

Where do I actually find a co-founder if I don't already know one?

Start with people you've already worked with, ex-colleagues and classmates beat strangers because you've seen them under pressure. If your network is thin, YC's free Co-Founder Matching platform is the single best structured place to meet vetted candidates. Then treat it like dating: many coffees, a paid trial project, no rushing to marriage.

Go deeper

2 resources, 2 link-checked.

🛠️ Tool
✓ Link checked Free Beginner

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.

Y Combinator Co-Founder Matching

From ycombinator.com by Y Combinator Free platform, ongoing

  • Create a profile like an elevator pitch and match on complementary skills and preferences
  • After matching, meet fast and run a trial project before committing
  • Completely free and open beyond YC applicants
Open ycombinator.com →
📄 Article
✓ Link checked Free Beginner

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.

Finding a Co-Founder (YC Startup Library)

From YC Startup Library by Y Combinator Curated essay + video collection

  • Prioritize people you've worked with over strangers
  • Run a paid trial project before making it official
  • Have the hard money and equity conversations early, not later
Open ycombinator.com →

Terms in this answer

Co-Founder

People also ask

Do I actually need a co-founder, or can I go solo? 3 → What should I look for in a co-founder, and what are red flags? 3 → Should I co-found with a friend or family member? 2 → How do I 'date' a potential co-founder before committing? 3 → As a non-technical founder, how do I find a technical co-founder? 3 → How should my co-founder and I split equity, and is 50/50 a mistake? 3 →

Also in D2C

The same ground, over in Get legal & compliant, our D2C track.

Do I actually need product liability insurance as a small D2C brand, or am I overthinking it? 3 → I'm just starting out, should I register as a proprietorship, LLP, or private limited company? 4 →

Also in How Founders Use AI

How founders actually use AI for this, over in Legal & Contracts.

Why review contracts with AI before paying a lawyer? 19 → How do founders handle NDAs, ESOPs, term sheets, and compliance questions with AI? 19 →

Also in GTM

The same ground, over in Build the team, our GTM track.

When do I stop selling myself and hire my first salesperson? 5 → I have been handed a comp plan. How do I work out what I will actually earn? 5 →
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