Molson Hart

Usually a single person has an idea and is the driving force behind a new company idea. Each successive cofounder deducts from that drivers equity and may be annoying in other ways. You don’t add cofounders unless you need to, I.e. Jobs needed Wozniak because Jobs couldn’t code.

So, if this is the case why are solo founders not blessed by Y Combinator? The stated reason is psychology. It’s emotionally draining to start a company and having a first mate makes the lows less low and maybe even makes the highs less high (a good thing too).

There’s another reason that is much less talked about. Again, as I said, team is most important determinant of success. A team consisting of one Zuckerberg and 2 non-Zuckerbergs will make it. A team of 1, 2, or 3 Zucks won’t. The point is it’s an investor hedge. Add’l cofounders

Typically do not cost investors much equity, while at the same time greatly increase chance of success. A bad cofounder rarely dooms a Zuckerberg. These type of guys just steamroll through the oroblems, no matter what. So in summary, if you’ve got the goods and you’re sure of it

, meaning you can do everything necessary to make it work: code, sell, hire, adapt, pick yourself up when you’re down, don’t get a cofounder. Just do it yourself. All partnerships in business are temporary. One partner is always more motivated, better, etc. Spare yourself the