How do you vet a potential cofounder?

Updated Oct 1, 2026

Short answer: Check three things before committing: that you can actually work together (do a small, time-boxed project), that your expectations line up (commitment, equity, ambition), and that their track record matches what they say (references and past work).

Work together first

A few weeks on a prototype or a pilot with one customer shows how someone handles ambiguity, conflict and deadlines far better than interviews do.

Align expectations early

Discuss commitment, salary needs, equity, roles and what success looks like before you incorporate. Our list of questions to ask a potential cofounder covers the uncomfortable ones.

Check references

Talk to people who have worked with them, ideally in a hard moment. On Cofounder for Startups, every account is human-verified before it can swipe, so you start from a known identity.

Guide: 20 questions to ask a potential cofounder →

General information, not legal, tax or investment advice.