Looking for a Co-Founder? Start Doing, Not Dreaming
Perfect Partners Are Built, Not Found
Starting a company solo is tough. Like rowing a boat upstream - doable, but exhausting. It’s a lot easier with a co-founder. But if you’re alone, how do you actually find one?
Here’s the truth: you don’t find a perfect co-founder. You build that relationship over time. It doesn't start with a dream match on LinkedIn or a magical intro from a VC. It starts with doing stuff together.
It’s Like Dating (But With Cap Tables)
I once heard a brilliant podcast about dating. The guest was a data analyst for a dating app. One client complained she had been on 100 dates and still hadn’t found a boyfriend. The twist? All of those were first—and last—dates. She was looking for a fairytale. The moment something felt “off,” she bailed.
Anyone in a long-term relationship knows that perfect harmony isn’t something you find. It’s something you build—with effort, feedback, honesty, and occasional arguments.
Same with business. If you expect your co-founder relationship to just work, you’re delusional. Real co-founder chemistry comes from rolling up your sleeves and getting through messy stuff together.
Work Together First, Then Decide
At Catch The Tornado, we almost always work with people we’ve collaborated with before. People we’ve tested in the arena. VCs operate the same way—they prefer founders they’ve seen in action.
So if you're looking for a co-founder, don't post an ad. Don't start with coffee chats. Start with doing. Build a prototype together. Pitch a client. Write a landing page. See how you argue. See how you solve things.
That’s how you find out if there’s real founder-fit.
Stop Searching for Perfect. Start Building Real.
There are no perfect co-founders. But there are great founder teams. People who complement each other, trust each other, and grow together. Teams that survive friction, feedback, pivots—and come out stronger.
Business partnerships are not about avoiding conflict. They’re about handling it well.
So stop hunting for "the one." Just start working with people. That’s how the best founder teams are born.
Your Turn
Have you found your co-founder? Are you still looking? What worked—or what absolutely didn’t? Would love to hear your stories.
Follow me on LinkedIn if you want more real talk about building startups, finding partners, and scaling companies the hard-but-true way.
