📄 Article
✓ Link checked
Free
Intermediate
Espinal has watched hundreds of Seedcamp founders fight and split, and he gives you the written-down decision-rights answer your conflict probably lacks: use a RASCI map so it is unambiguous who leads each function and who merely gets consulted, which kills the recurring 'who decides this' friction at the root. He is honest that a truly neutral outside advisor is hard to find yet still better than circular arguments, and he lays out the clean-exit mechanics (founders collaboration agreements, reverse vesting) so an early negotiated split does not become a legal and emotional bloodbath.
Resolving Major Co-Founder Disputes
From Carlos Espinal / Seedcamp by Carlos Espinal (Seedcamp) 15 min read
- Most disputes trace to misaligned expectations from moving fast; both founders first have to agree a problem exists and each ask 'what part did I play in getting us here'
- A RASCI map of who leads versus consults on each function removes the ambiguity that makes the same fight recur
- Set clean-split mechanics early (collaboration agreements, reverse vesting) and align on the external message so both people leave with dignity
