I would say finding a co-founder has been one of the toughest challenges, especially in the early days of starting a startup. During my trip to Silicon Valley with the Swartz Fellowship, I met several founders and VCs, and one question came up often: How can I find a good co-founder?
Honestly. many of us struggle with this step. It’s hard to synchronize with someone if you haven’t worked together before. Some are lucky enough to have friends with the right skills, but for others (like me), it takes getting out there and finding them. Based on my experience, here are a few suggestions:
Be multidimensional
As an MBA student with deep knowledge of the problem I was solving, it would have been easy to find another MBA or ex-architect who understood the issue. However, the best way to cover blind spots is by finding people with completely different skill sets.
Luckily, I chose to come to Carnegie Mellon knowing that this was the kind of environment where I’d meet people with the skills I needed to build this kind of company. It is no surprise that CMU attracts some of the best computer science talent in the world, so I assumed the following: put yourself in the right place, and inertia will find a way to pull you to the right people. I pitched my ideas at competitions, Lunch and Learns, and classes. By being upfront about my search for a co-founder, new colleagues introduced me to potential matches. A mutual friend introduced me to Saket, and we began exploring the idea together.
Work together before formalizing
It’s easy to say you want to start something with someone, but you won’t know if it works until you collaborate. Saket and I worked for months during AI Ventures at Carnegie Mellon before formalizing the business. We had tough conversations about roles and equity early on, but the legal talks came after we had built a foundation together.
My advice: don’t rush it. Work on a project for a few months to see if it’s worth pursuing. Say, “let’s work on this for a few weeks/months and decide if this is something worth jumping into together.” If it works out, great; if not, you’ll know before it becomes formal.
Equity must be fair
Everyone wants to feel valued. If you treat a co-founder like an employee, that’s not a partnership. Collaborate and share the vision. Don’t be afraid to split equity fairly, whether it’s 50/50 or thirds if you're a group of three. It’s scary when you’re the one with the initial idea, but remember: the real work begins when the team starts building.
Understand the terms
Once you’ve found your team and settled on equity, formalize it with a professional. We found lawyers through the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, and they guided us through standard agreements, such as 4-year vesting with a 1-year cliff. Vesting is important—it protects against uncertainty and ensures no one walks away with a large chunk of equity prematurely.
Believe in transparency
Throughout the process, I’ve been as transparent as possible with my team. Not everyone who starts will stay, and that’s okay. These conversations can certainly be difficult and stressful, but approaching it from an angle empathy and understanding will get you further than trying to take advantage of others.
It is worth noting: these are the steps that worked for me while starting Sabana. This is certainly not a recipe, but rather a set reminders if you decide to go on a similar path! Good luck 🫡
Resources:
https://carta.com/learn/startups/equity-management/co-founder-equity-split/
https://www.svb.com/startup-insights/startup-equity/distribute-equity-in-startup/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DISocTmEwiI