Cofounder Evaluator

Co-Founder Evaluator - Founding Team Assessment

Overview

Help founders make the critical decision of choosing (or validating) a co-founder using Hexa's methodology. Execute rigorous compatibility assessment through skills analysis, values alignment, and equity frameworks.

Hexa Principle: "Co-founder matching is one of the biggest predictors of startup success."

When This Activates

• "Should I work with this person"
• Finding a co-founder
• Co-founder fit/compatibility
• Equity splits
• "Do I need a co-founder"
• Co-founder conflict/concerns
• Solo vs. partnering

Evaluation Stack (Bottom Up)

1. Skills Complement - What each brings 2. Vision Alignment - Where you want to go 3. Values Alignment - What you believe matters 4. Working Style - How you collaborate daily

Solo vs. Co-founder

5+ either way: Follow that direction

Skills Matrix

Rate 1-5 for: Technical, Sales, Marketing, Finance/Ops, Leadership, Domain, Fundraising, Recruiting

Ideal: No overlaps >4, no gaps <2

Founder Archetypes

Vision Alignment Questions

• 5-year vision?
• Company size goal?
• Exit preference ($10M vs $1B)?
• Time commitment?

Red Flag: Different answers = discuss before proceeding

Trial Period (8-12 weeks)

1. Coffee chats (2-4 weeks) 2. Mini project (2-4 weeks) 3. Full immersion (4-8 weeks) 4. Decision

Must pass: Delivered commitments, proactive communication, resolved disagreement, excited to continue

Equity Split Rules

• When in doubt: 50/50
• Always vest (4yr/1yr cliff)
• Get it in writing

Red Flags (Stop)

• History of co-founder disputes
• Different commitment levels
• Can't resolve disagreements
• Reference concerns
• Gut says no
• Unwilling to vest

The 7-10 Year Question

"Would I want to work closely with this person, through extreme stress, for 7-10 years?"

If not enthusiastic yes, keep looking.

Integration

• early-hiring-advisor - Build team after founding
• idea-validator - Validate idea together
• execution-accelerator - Make the decision

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For complete assessment matrices, reference questions, agreement checklist, output templates, and common mistakes, see: references/full-guide.md

Co-Founder Evaluator - Full Guide

The Framework: Co-Founder Evaluation Stack

+----------------------------------------+
|         WORKING STYLE                   |
|    (How you collaborate daily)          |
+----------------------------------------+
|         VALUES ALIGNMENT                |
|    (What you believe matters)           |
+----------------------------------------+
|         VISION ALIGNMENT                |
|    (Where you want to go)               |
+----------------------------------------+
|         SKILLS COMPLEMENT               |
|    (What each brings)                   |
+----------------------------------------+

Evaluate from bottom up. Skills first, then vision, then values, then working style.

Detailed Execution Workflow

Step 1: Solo vs. Co-founder Framework

Recommendation:

• 5+ factors favor solo: Consider going alone
• 5+ favor co-founder: Find the right partner
• Split: Either works—go with your gut

Step 2: Skills Matrix

Ideal:

• Zero overlaps > 4: No wasted overlap
• Zero gaps < 2: All critical areas covered
• Complementary strengths: Each leads different areas

Common Founder Archetypes:

Step 3: Vision Alignment Matrix

Red Flags:

• One wants $10M exit, other wants $1B
• Different commitment levels (full-time vs. part-time)
• Disagreement on company culture/values
• Different timelines for success

Step 4: Values Assessment

Warning Zone: Any gap > 2 points needs discussion.

Core Values Questions:

Step 5: Working Style Matrix

Critical Compatibility:

• Decision-making style
• Conflict resolution approach
• Communication frequency

Step 6: Trial Period Framework

Trial Period Questions:

All 5 must be Yes to proceed.

Step 7: Reference Questions

Step 8: Equity Split Framework

Equity Factors:

Common Splits:

Rules of Thumb:

• When in doubt, go 50/50
• Small differences (55/45) often cause more resentment than they're worth
• Vesting solves the "what if they leave" problem

Step 9: Vesting Structure

Standard Vesting:

Year 1 (Cliff): 0% vested -> 25% vests at 12 months
Year 2: 25% -> 50% (monthly vesting)
Year 3: 50% -> 75% (monthly vesting)
Year 4: 75% -> 100% (monthly vesting)

Vesting Scenarios:

Step 10: Co-Founder Agreement Checklist

Red Flags Checklist

Stop if you see:

• [ ] History of co-founder disputes
• [ ] Different commitment levels (full vs. part-time)
• [ ] Vastly different exit expectations
• [ ] Can't resolve disagreements constructively
• [ ] Reference checks reveal concerns
• [ ] Gut feeling says no (trust it)
• [ ] Pressure to decide quickly
• [ ] Unwilling to vest equity
• [ ] Major values misalignment
• [ ] Poor communication in trial period

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Rushing the decision: Take 2-3 months minimum 2. Skipping the trial: Always work together first 3. Ignoring red flags: They don't get better 4. Equal split without discussion: 50/50 needs to be intentional 5. No vesting: Always vest equity 6. Verbal agreements: Get it in writing 7. Same skills: Complement, don't duplicate 8. Friendship bias: Friends make good friends, not always good co-founders 9. Desperation: Bad co-founder > good solo founder is wrong 10. Ignoring references: Talk to people who know them

The 7-10 Year Question

Before committing, ask yourself:

"Would I want to work closely with this person, through extreme stress, for the next 7-10 years?"

If the answer isn't an enthusiastic yes, keep looking.