239. Do you really need a co-founder?

Do you really need a co-founder? There's intense pressure in the startup world to find co-founders, but the data tells a surprising story. MIT research shows that solo founders are actually more than twice as likely to succeed compared to teams, while Harvard research reveals that 65% of high-potential startups fail due to co-founder conflict. In this episode, you'll learn how to make the right decision about co-founders for your business, based on data rather than pressure. Listen to learn: Why the "you must have a co-founder" narrative persists despite evidence showing solo founders often succeed What successful solo founders like Jeff Bezos, Sara Blakely, and Mailchimp founder Ben Chestnut did differently How to evaluate if you really need a co-founder for your specific business A practical framework for finding and testing potential co-founders if you decide you want one Whether you're a founder feeling pressured to find a co-founder, or an investor evaluating solo vs. co-founded companies, this episode will transform how you think about startup leadership and team building. Learn why it's better to be a successful single parent than stuck in a toxic marriage when it comes to your business. Resources mentioned in this episode: MIT Sloan: 2 founders are not always better than 1 The Founder's Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink a Startup, by Harvard Business School professor Noam Wasserman   For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/do-you-really-need-a-co-founder   Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:06 The Co-Founder Relationship 06:00 Risks of Rushing into Co-Founding 08:52 Data-Driven Insights  12:12 Conflict and Co-Founders 15:08 When Co-Founders Make Sense 18:05 Evaluating Potential Co-Founders 20:58 Alternatives to Co-Founders 23:47 Testing Before Commitment 27:09 Focus on Success, Not Pressure   For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora   FREE Course: 5 Tech Concepts Every Business Leader Needs To Know Growth Through Innovation If your organisation wants to drive revenue through innovation, book a call with us here. Our workshops and innovation strategies have helped Constellation Brands, the Royal Bank of Canada and Oxford University.