Jobs, Gates, Buffet and a couple of other big names are all household names because they are some of the most successful entrepreneurs. But their success was not an individual achievement. Aside from building successful businesses, these individuals have something else in common, and that’s they all found their business soulmate, or should I say a Co-founder.

Jobs had Wozniak, and together, they built Apple. Bill Gates had Paul Allen, and together they built Microsoft. Larry Page and Sergei Brin gave us Google. Bring Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard together, and you get HP, and let’s not forget the greatest investor matchup of our time, Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger.

Co-founders are much more than figureheads in the company; they play a very important role, as you’ll see in this article. Before I dive deeper into why you may need a co-founder, here’s a story that will highlight the role of co-founders in startups.

Jobs and Wozniak

Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak couldn’t be more different from each other, both in their personality and skill set. While the Apple father figure -Steve Jobs- was known to be very intimidating, and controlling, his cofounder is at the opposite end of the spectrum. When it comes to their skill set, Wozniak was the analytical genius, or you may say the tech-head while Jobs was better with the business side of things. He could easily see the potential in Wozniak’s creations and  often encouraged him to sell

"I was just doing something I was very good at, and the thing that I was good at turned out to be the thing that was going to change the world...Steve [Jobs] was much more further-thinking. When I designed good things, sometimes he'd say, "We can sell this." And we did. He was thinking about how you build a company, maybe even then he was thinking, "How do you change the world?"

Their relationship thrived, and together, they built what we know today as Apple. There’s a lesson in this short story, and that’s the importance of synergy between a founder and a co-founder. Finding a cofounder that can achieve this level of synergy should be your goal as a founder, and while there may be a lot of people that could fit the role of a cofounder, there are key factors you must consider before making your choice.

Do you need a cofounder?

Well, not necessarily. Many successful startups are run by a single individual. A huge chunk of this decision depends on the nature of the founder. There are those who prefer to handle things on their own as it gives them more control over the day-to-day decision-making in the company.

Having a second opinion or someone looking over their shoulder at all times, vetting every decision made before it is implemented, becomes a burden to them and could lead to inefficiency in their performance as founders. On the other hand, there are those who would prefer to have a sounding board to check the authenticity of their ideas or decisions before taking action. These types of founders tend to be more cautious.

A typical example of a founder who fits into the second category is Warren Buffet, who tapped Charlie Munger as his co-founder, a man he later referred to as the “abominable no-man” because of how frequently he turned down Buffet’s ideas. Despite this, Munger wasn’t seen as a threat or rival, instead, he was a counterweight for Buffet, who never regretted the decision to partner with Munger.

Steve Jobs, on the other hand, wouldn’t have it any other way, but his way. He was notorious for trying to control every little detail and would lash out at coworkers when something wasn’t done the way he wanted it done. Jobs was clearly at the extreme of a spectrum, and while most founders today are less likely to be like Jobs, a few may share his attributes, like the need for control.

That said, you’ll need to self-evaluate to know which side of the spectrum you belong to as a founder. A - are you the type that doesn’t mind if your ideas are rejected and who doesn’t struggle with deleating tasks to others and trusting them to get it done, or, B - you prefer a hands on approach, where you can easily control the outcomes and don’t have to worry too much about other people’s errors?

If your answer is A, then here are three key considerations for choosing a co-founder

1. Shared Vision

Your co-founder should not only understand your vision but also believe in it as much as you do. A startup is a long and often grueling journey, and if both founders are not aligned on the end goal, conflicts will arise. A shared vision means you both agree on what you are building, why it matters, and where you want to take it in the future.

Take Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, as an example. They were both Ph.D. students at Stanford with a shared vision to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible. This common purpose drove them to develop the search engine that would redefine the internet. Without this alignment, disagreements on the company’s direction could have led to its failure before it ever had a chance to succeed.

Before choosing a co-founder, ask yourself: Does this person truly share my vision, or are they just interested in the opportunity?

A co-founder who isn’t fully committed to the same vision will eventually become a liability rather than an asset.

2. Shared Passion

Passion fuels resilience, and resilience is what keeps a startup alive during the tough times. A co-founder should be just as passionate about the problem you are solving as you are. If one founder is deeply invested while the other is merely going along for the ride, it will create an imbalance, leading to frustration and possibly even failure.

Consider Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard. Their shared passion for electronics and engineering drove them to start HP in a garage with just $538. They weren’t in it just for the money—they loved what they were building, which kept them going through the challenges of starting a company from scratch.

Passion isn’t just about enthusiasm; it’s about commitment. When setbacks happen (and they will), both founders need to be equally willing to push forward. Before partnering with someone, ask: Does this person truly care about this mission, or are they just looking for the next big thing?

3. Complementary Skill Set

One of the biggest advantages of having a co-founder is the ability to divide and conquer. The most successful co-founder duos bring different but complementary skills to the table. If you’re a technical genius but struggle with sales and business strategy, you need a co-founder who thrives in that area. Likewise, if you’re a visionary with big ideas but lack execution skills, you need a co-founder who can turn vision into reality.

We’ve already seen this with Jobs and Wozniak—one was a brilliant marketer and business strategist, and the other a technical wizard. Another great example is Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia of Airbnb. Chesky was the product and design visionary, while Gebbia had the business acumen and operational mindset to turn that vision into a global company.

Before choosing a co-founder, assess your strengths and weaknesses. Then ask: Does this person bring skills I lack? Can we trust each other to handle different aspects of the business without constant oversight?

Final Thoughts

Having a co-founder is not a necessity, but it can be a tremendous advantage if you find the right one. A great co-founder brings balance, accountability, and a skill set that complements yours. They help you navigate challenges, celebrate wins, and push you to be better.

However, the wrong co-founder can do more harm than good. That’s why it’s crucial to evaluate whether you truly need one and, if so, choose wisely. Align on vision, share a deep passion, and ensure your skill sets complement each other. If you get these right, you’ll have a partner who helps turn your startup dream into reality.

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