A playbook
Find a co-founder, split equity
Find the right partner and split equity without regret.
3 steps, 53 questions, laid out in the order you'll hit them
Each step is a topic with the real questions founders ask; open whichever one you're stuck on for the answer and the resources on it.
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1
Finding a co-founder
Pick a partner as carefully as a spouse.
Do I actually need a co-founder, or can I go solo? 3 → Where do I actually find a co-founder if I don't already know one? 2 → 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 → All 18 questions in Finding a co-founder → -
2
Co-founder agreements & equity
Split fairly, vest always, write it down.
How should co-founders split equity fairly? 3 → What is vesting and why do I need a vesting schedule? 3 → Should I use a dynamic equity split like Slicing Pie instead of fixed percentages? 3 → What must go into a co-founder / founders' agreement in India? 3 → How much equity should I set aside for an ESOP pool for employees? 3 → All 18 questions in Co-founder agreements & equity → -
3
Founder-market fit
Why you, and why this problem?
What is founder-market fit and how do I know if I have it? 18 → Do I need to be an expert in an industry to start a company in it? 19 → I'm passionate about an idea but have zero background in it. Should I still do it? 19 → How much does 'why you?' actually matter to investors and to success? 19 → As a woman founder, or one building outside the big startup hubs, how do I turn my background into an edge? 19 → All 17 questions in Founder-market fit →