Would you rather partner with friend or stranger?

Hashir Hassan
22 replies
I’ve been following lots of podcasts lately (mostly during driving) — heard people saying it’s bad idea to partner with friends — you end up lazy, and arguments close at “bro just trust me, it will work” How do you find co-founders?

Replies

Abhishek Gharat
A fried, because I'd know that person's value systems (somewhat)
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Maryna Kotenko
I don't have much experience in that, but many business founders say not to do business with the three Fs: Friends, Family, and Fools.
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Hashir Hassan
@mkotenko imo if you ve got a friend or family that compliments your skills and shares the same motivation then you better off partnering with them instead of strangers… no?
Maryna Kotenko
@mhashirhassan22 honestly, I don't know personally, as I haven't worked with family members or friends, although I've had colleagues who became friends, and eventually our work-career paths diverged. There were moments when I needed to give feedback to my friend-colleagues, and I was (let's be honest) quite biased. So, while I believe a friend or family member who complements my skills and shares my motivation could make a great partner, real life suggests otherwise. Personal relationships can complicate business decisions, and emotionally charged conflicts may arise. Although you hope for understanding, dilemmas are often harder to resolve. In contrast, a good stranger might offer more objectivity and professional boundaries. But again, I'm not saying it's impossible!
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I recommend partnering with individuals who share your vision and values, whether they be friends or strangers. It's important to have a strong foundation of trust and compatibility in any business partnership. Problem: Finding the right co-founder with complementary skills and a shared vision can be challenging. Contentify can help by automating the content creation and publishing process, freeing up time for you to focus on finding the perfect co-founder. By utilizing AI agents to handle marketing tasks, you can streamline your workflow and dedicate more energy to building partnerships and growing your business. Try Contentify AI for Free here just look up Contentify AI
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Yassine Derkaoui
Definitively stranger. The problem with some 'friends' is that they can't tell the difference between business and friendship. In business, you can't be emotional. So with a partner who is your friend, you run the risk of falling into that.
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Yassine Derkaoui
@mhashirhassan22 Exactly. I knew someone I met at a business lunch. We became friends, but little by little he began to ask too many favors of me. The day I told him I'd have to charge him for future services, he blocked me.
Chemical Bull
I'd rather partner with a friend because there's existing trust and understanding, which can make collaboration smoother and more enjoyable. https://www.chemicalbull.com/pro...
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Gurkaran Singh
I'd say it's like choosing between a road trip with a friend who knows all the best playlists or a stranger with a questionable taste in music. Finding co-founders can be a mix of luck, shared vision, and a sprinkle of trust—kind of like a startup recipe for success, right?
Hashir Hassan
@thestarkster yep I guess each to their own experiences — no hard rule on it
MinJeong Yuk
I found a stranger because I don't have any friends to partner with :(
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Hashir Hassan
@oasis_watts now you have a friend atleast, right? (Your partner) :D
Chris
Finding the right co-founder is crucial for the success of a startup. While partnering with a friend may seem appealing, it's important to consider compatibility, skills, and commitment levels above all. Networking events, industry meetups, and online platforms can be great resources for finding potential co-founders who share your vision and work ethic. Ultimately, it's about finding someone who complements your strengths and is dedicated to the long-term success of the venture.
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Hashir Hassan
@chris_prosopo did you find any partner from public forums?
Marie-Philippe Leblanc
friend! I know some people say it's not the best, but I couldn't make a baby (yes, for me a startup is like a baby!) with a stranger. Requires to much trust and compatibility I couldn't give away to someone I don't know.
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Marie-Philippe Leblanc
@mhashirhassan22 hahaha I might be blessed, yes
Hashir Hassan
@mplebl blessed with many friends? Coz you need people anywaysssss…
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Olie Fullin
I’ll choose someone in the middle.
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Kevin Lee
From my past experiences, partnering up with friends was a complete disaster. Although it might work perfectly if you have prior work experience together, if not, I would say going solo is faster and saves you time and emotional energy. I'm currently working on a project, https://linkedpal.io, with my brother, and it was the best decision I've made so far.
Hashir Hassan
@kevisdeving youre suggesting to avoid friends and go solo but your venture with brother is going amazing soooo?