Looking for Cofounders for Your Startup? Spend the Next Two Months Sending Emails Every Day
By: Kaz Matsune
Tags: Startup, Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Business, Founders

1. Write down the profile for your Cofounders

This is the most important part. It’s called planning.

Execution is the last step. Before you start a journey, you need a plan, a roadmap.

You are about to climb a mountain you’ve never been to. If you just go there without any plan, map, or gear and expect to reach the top, well, good luck. I say your chance to surviving is pretty slim. Trying to find cofounders without their profile is just like that.

It’s a shot in the dark. You may survive but you’ll never know what you’re going to get.

What I did was writing down as much as what I wanted in my cofounders. Personality, experience, pros and cons. This is your wish list. It will speak to your unconscious mind to start looking for the ones that match the profile.

For my first cofounders, I neglected this part, which was the big mistake.

I found them quickly and we started to work on our MVP. I worked with them for a month. Things were going well, so I thought.

Then, one day, out of the blue, both of them stopped communicating with me.

I had no idea why.

That was the end. We had a casual founders agreement and decided to sign a formal one later, which was another mistake. A formal agreement and forming a company is good (I did this with my current cofounders.)

Once I wrote down the profile, the rest is nonchalant, automatic.

2. Create a spreadsheet

A simple spreadsheet will do

I created a simple spreadsheet to keep track of my progress: Name of the candidate, where I found the candidate, profile link, skills and status and so on.

That’s it. Very simple.

3.Use Online resources as CoFounders Lab, Founders List, Indie Hackers, Airbnb Talent Directory

Cofounders Lab was useful because there are many founders looking for cofounders. Airbnb talent directory is an interesting one because it lists all the people who are recently laid off due to the Coronavirus lockdown.

Indie Hackers is an excellent resource not just to look for Cofounders, but also to learn and get inspired by many people who is launching startups and project. I highly recommend you take a look if you haven’t done so.

4. Commit to sending at least one email a day

Now you wrote down the profile, the execution is simple. You should be able to tell when you find someone that matches your cofounder profile — simply send them an email asking them if they are interested in joining your startup.

Treat your cofounder search as finding your date using online dating site. It helped me to enjoy the process rather than thinking, “Boy, is this really necessary?”

Write down a sample text and use it every time.

Here is mine:

Dear xxx: I found you through the Airbnb Talent Directory site and would like to connect with you. I am looking for a cofounder to join my startup project, a communication app for the restaurant and food industry. Here is our landing page: www.twoplacesjobs.com Does this interest you? If so, please use this Calendly link to schedule a quick chat. Thank you. Kaz

Send them your profile, a simple description of your project. A landing page is helpful. Screenshot of your MVP if you have it. Anything visual is great. A picture is worth a thousand words.

I decided to send at least one email a day. I had no idea how long it would take, but I was confident, I would find one.

To make a long story short, I kept doing this for two months and that is what it for me to find two cofounders. I sent emails to 117 candidates to find 2 cofounders, so my success rate is 1.7%.

Some will respond, most will not, but keep moving forward. You will fail more than you succeed. That is given. Be consistent. You may feel like you are wasting your time. You may feel like you want to quit.

Never give up. Determination is what took me here. If I can do it, so can you.

What I learned through talking to candidates and other Founders

I talked to both candidates and other Founders looking for cofounder.

Talking to another startup founders gave me many insights. All of them shared their ideas, gave me feedback.

One of them told me about Indihackers and turned out to be a great resource. Making a connection with other founders was a great plus.

Keep connecting with other founders and keep the bridge open.

You never know what will happen in the future.

That’s it.

Any questions, feedback, comments?

How did you find your cofounder (s)?