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Co-founder Forming Questions
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There are a lot of interesting people who bring different qualities and ideas to what you are doing.
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Based on our experience build companies around the world, we want to share framing around what to look for in a co-founder.
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We hope it's helpful!
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Overview of Co-founder Forming Questions
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CategoryQuestion
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Complementarity in skillsDo we have complimentarity of functional skills? What is your role in the company? (CEO, CTO, CMO, CPO, COO)
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Are we both energised to work on the areas that ensure we have complementarity? (Areas of responsibility exercise from First Round*)
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Are there any parts of a building a startup that is non-negotiable to you?
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What are your strengths beyond functional expertise?
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How do you feel about bringing on a third (or N+1) co-founder?
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Values and MissionWhat is your personal motivation to start a company? “Getting rich”, "technical challenge" "leaving a legacy", “chaging the world”?
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What values you cannot compromise on in your future venture?
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How do you think about the timeframe and pace of success? Are you willing to take the longer path? How long is too long? (i.e. “work on company for 1-2 years and sell” or “work for 10 + years and IPO”)
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What number would you sell at? Would that change if you got extra liquidity from your existing positions?
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What should our approach be for fundraising on a scale of “zero” to “as much as we can”? Or, where do you sit on the spectrum of “bootstrapped small business” to “go big or go home”?
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When do we know when to stop? What do we do if we become moderately successful yet we are no longer excited by our product / business?
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Areas of InterestIs there any specific industries you are looking to build a company in?
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Do we have aligned areas of interest? If my areas of interest are specific / narrow, do you share interest or are at least agnostic? Visa versa.
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PersonalityDo you pass my aeroplane test? Would I enjoy sitting next to you on a 14hr flight to the US?
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Values and MissionWhat is your personal motivation to start a company? “Getting rich”, "technical challenge" "leaving a legacy", “chaging the world”?
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What values you cannot compromise on in your future venture?
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How do you think about the timeframe and pace of success? Are you willing to take the longer path? How long is too long? (i.e. “work on company for 1-2 years and sell” or “work for 10 + years and IPO”)
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What number would you sell at? Would that change if you got extra liquidity from your existing positions?
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What should our approach be for fundraising on a scale of “zero” to “as much as we can”? Or, where do you sit on the spectrum of “bootstrapped small business” to “go big or go home”?
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When do we know when to stop? What do we do if we become moderately successful yet we are no longer excited by our product / business?
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Working style / commitment
What is your working style? Are there any must-dos to consider when working with you?
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How would your co-workers describe you? What would they want me to know about what it’s like to work with you?
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How many hours/week are you willing to work? For how many months / years? What sounds like a light week? What sounds like hell? Will this change over time? Do you have different expectations for different phases of the company’s lifespan? (i.e. willing to work harder in the beginning)
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How important is diversity & inclusion to you?
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PracticalitiesDo you strike any of my co-founder red flags?
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Where should our startup be based? How do you feel about remote or distributed teams?
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What is your personal runway? Current burn rate?
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What is the minimum monthly salary you need to survive? To be comfortable? To feel like you’ve “made it?”
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