My co-founder and I didn't speak for 3 weeks.
My co-founder and I didn't speak for 3 weeks.
While running a startup together.
We'd been friends for 5 years before starting the company. That felt like enough.
It wasn't.
The warning signs were there from month one.
He'd ghost on deadlines, then show up with ideas that required starting over. I'd push for structure, he'd call me controlling. We never talked about it directly.
Just let resentment build.
The explosion came during a pitch meeting. He promised a feature we couldn't deliver. I corrected him in front of the investor.
He walked out. Didn't answer calls for weeks.
Our startup nearly died because we were too afraid to have hard conversations.
Here's what I learned:
Friendship doesn't equal partnership. You need aligned work styles, not just good memories.
Set decision rights early. Who owns what? Who has final say? Write it down before you need it.
Schedule conflict. Monthly check-ins where you say the hard stuff. Don't wait for explosions.
We eventually fixed it. But only after almost losing everything.
Pick your co-founder like you're getting married. Because the breakup is just as messy.
What's one question you wish you'd asked a co-founder before starting?
