Do you recommend finding one from anywhere though? Or checking with the people you already know that you think would be a good fit.
I'd agree with the latter, but I think finding a co-founder from scratch is a pretty massive task. Like harder than being a single founder and succeeding (If you're determined enough).
Seems like the best co-founders are people you went to school/college with, or worked with, or worked together on open source - all things that take time.
Having no co-founder is better than settling for a less than great co-founder surely?
Yes, I'd certainly recommend a cofounder (a) you already know and (b) who's technically very good.
It's an interesting question how bad a cofounder would have to be before no cofounder would be better. I think as long as you got along well with someone and they encouraged you to work, they could be pretty middling technically and still be a net win. Merely having someone enthusiastic to bounce ideas off could easily make you 2x more productive than you might be alone.
I always wonder about this. Often is difficult to find someone (even if you know them) who is even remotely as motivated as you are about the product. It's even harder to find someone to take the huge dive too, especially if they aren't as gung-ho about what you're doing as you are.
What happens when you find the person, make the deal to bring them on board and their work input/contributions are minimal? What happens when they don't make attempts to help out the way you expected? I think this happens a lot and it's aggravating because it's wasted time and creates a strained relationship.
I've found just building it on your own first as a means to prove what you're talking about is more convincing then just talking about it. Most people aren't leaders, they are followers. Most friends I've had aren't as interested or bail during the "idea phase" and then are "ready to help" when I've iterated a few times.
Sure, I think family can provide some of that motivation/sounding board (My wife is bored to death of me talking to her about Mibbit, but she listens, nods, makes comments :) Sometimes it seems helpful just to say ideas out loud).
I think though that the 'encouraged you to work' can quickly be fulfilled by your users once things take off. There's nothing more motivating than users emailing with feature requests, or telling you something is broken.
For me, the biggest irritation not having a co-founder has been the ups and downs. When I think "this thing sucks! It's stupid it's all wrong it's broken rubbish I should stop it now", there's no other co-founders to balance that out.
I'd agree with the 2x more productive being possible. Also very cool if you start to get competitive with each other - "Bet I can get this new feature done by end of the day" etc
It probably depends on your personality. It used to help me work to talk to my dog. On the other hand, some of my friends can only work with a closed door.
> I think as long as you got along well with someone and they encouraged you to work, they could be pretty middling technically and still be a net win.
I'd agree with the latter, but I think finding a co-founder from scratch is a pretty massive task. Like harder than being a single founder and succeeding (If you're determined enough).
Seems like the best co-founders are people you went to school/college with, or worked with, or worked together on open source - all things that take time.
Having no co-founder is better than settling for a less than great co-founder surely?