Solo vs Cofounder: Choosing Your Startup Path
Co-founder at King’s Cross Labs · ex-LinkedIn PM & Forbes 30 Under 30
What's the real reason people generally prefer backing 2 cofounders instead of 1 solo founder?
Most people say you need one technical co-founder and one business co-founder.
I think the real reason is much more touch-feely.
It’s because building something yourself is incredibly lonely.
With two co-founders, you can emotionally lift each other up, help each other out through the tough times, and it just feels a little less lonely.
And because of that, your chances of success are much higher.
I went down the solo founder route and found it really difficult for my needs at the time.
But I also know a bunch of solo founders who are CRUSHING it.
The point is: don’t let anyone else dictate what success should look like for you.
You do you.
TAKEAWAY: While there is general startup advice to find a cofounder, pick the path that works for you, not the one that works for someone else.
Frequently asked questions
- Should you have a cofounder or go solo?
- There's no universal answer. Investors tend to back two founders because building alone is lonely, and cofounders lift each other through the hard times, which raises the odds of success. But plenty of solo founders crush it. Pick the path that fits your needs, not someone else's definition of success.
Related reading
- How I Found the Right Cofounder — the co-founder dating process, if you choose that path
- Building a Startup With My Husband — what choosing a cofounder looked like for me