Going it alone as a founder makes success much harder, and slower

Recent 2025 data from Carta shows solo founders make up 36% of all new startups—up from 24% in 2019. But teams with co-founders raise 30% more money, grow revenue 163% faster, and scale 3.6x quicker. If you’re flying solo, it’s time to team up.

The Big Wins of Adding a Co-Founder Early

Going solo means you do it all. That’s tough. A co-founder shares the load and brings new skills.

• Teams beat burnout—72% of solo founders face mental health stress.
• Investors love pairs—only 10% of top VC-backed startups are solo.
• You move faster with split roles like tech, sales, or ops.

Co-founders make your startup stronger from day one.

NOTE: While AI is making many tasks easier, it actually gets harder for one person to context-switch, while at the same time keeping track of priorities for human relationships. The impact of this risk is under-appreciated.

Step 1: Know What You Need (Fit Quiz)

Before you search, define your perfect match. Ask these simple questions.

1. What skills are my weakest? (Code? Sales? Money skills?) – Everyone has skill weaknesses
2. How do I work? (Long hours? Fast choices? Team player?) – These seem like little things, but are important
3. What values matter? (Risk okay? Honesty first?) – These are extremely important, and often scare founders away from finding a co-founder; but don’t let it

Write your “must-haves” list. Example: “Tech expert, okay with risk, shares my vision.”

Step 2: Build Your Hunt List Fast

Don’t post on free sites yet. Use LinkedIn like a pro.

• Search “ex-founder” + your city + industry.
• Target execs at big firms ready for change.
• Aim for 50 names. Message: “Love your work at X. I’m building Y. Interested in having a coffee chat?”

Events work too—tech meetups in Toronto or Ottawa. Have some objectives for who to meet, and what you’ll say to them.

Step 3: Pitch, Vet, and Test

Pitch short: “We’re both ex-consultants. You code, I sell. Let’s find a fair equity split”

Vet with calls:

• Past wins and losses? (Grit check.)
• Trial project? (Work style test.)

Set a 3-month exploratory goal. Use a simple agreement.

Common Traps to Skip

• Skip friends at first—save that for later, if necessary
• No mismatches—bad fit kills 65% of teams.
• Move quickly—delays cost momentum and market opportunity

Ready to Find Your Match?

Struggling to find co-founder talent in your ecosystem, accelerator or portfolio? Book a free 30-minute consult to map your network and get a custom hunt plan. Click here.