Startups do not die of the product; they die of the team. A co-founder is the most important decision, and usually the most hurried one.
First test: one week of work together
Before founding anything, one small project. Seven days, one result. Who did what — all of it shows.
Second test: the hard conversation
Straight answers to three questions:
- Who is CEO, and why?
- If one of us leaves, what happens to the equity?
- If the money runs out, who works unpaid, and for how long?
If this conversation is hard — good. Inside a company there will be harder ones.
Third test: complementary skills
Two engineers are one engineer. Two salespeople are one salesperson. The table is simple:
| You have | Your co-founder should have |
|---|---|
| Product | Sales |
| Technology | Talking to customers |
| The idea | Execution |
On equity
Equal split is the easiest answer and often the wrong one. Vesting — four years, a one-year cliff — for everyone. It is not distrust; it is protecting your future selves.
Looking for a co-founder? Meet the 56 companies in the cohort and their founders: uzcombinator.uz/portfolio.