Great article, and a big improvement on the loud debate we've been hearing in recent comments. When you look at the basic points, pg and Ryan Carson and Mark Suster actually agree with each other. But a big debate gets fired up because of semantics (different views around meaning of "cofounder", extremist statements like possible/impossible). Perhaps the biggest source of friction is that most people don't write as carefully as pg.<p>In contrast, this write up is really balanced. He's acknowledging there's a grey scale of what's possible depending on your situation, and gives a lucid explanation of the benefits of cofounders and/or a strong initial team.<p>Nice work.
I don't know why "being an entrepreneur" is used interchangeably for "attracting venture capital" so much. Solo entrpreneurs might have more difficulties attracting VC, but it's generally much easier for them to sort out their issues in a growing company. How many startups have blown up because some co-founders left / changed their minds / caused conflicts?
I like how the title claims to explain how to found a business solo and then does nothing but explain different ways to build your team, why investors care about the team, blah, blah, blah. You aren't explaining how to build a business, you're just taking about different ways to assemble a team.
No matter how independent you may be, consider this: optimize for personal gain vs risk. Sometimes that means letting go of control.<p>I know of a former public company CEO who, rather than being forced into taking an 8-figure cash golden parachute for stepping down yet retaining his stock, chose to buy his way up to a majority stake with his own capital. Macro forces soon took the company to bankruptcy.
In my experience, one driven, completely bought-in and trustworthy cofounder with a business and sales background instead of engineering can make all the difference in the world. To be in business, not just raise money and spend it, you need someone who thinks about revenue and sales the way you obsess on technology. To retain this kind of person, he/she is going to have to be a real owner the same way you are and live and die with the business.<p>A stock plan vesting over X years, allowing for the usual dilution and acceleration clauses, along with very substantial part ownership: somewhere between 1/3 and just under 1/2 of the original shares, is what "co-founder" means to me. An idea and even a MVP demo are useless without sales, marketing and operations if you actually plan to run a business.<p>However, if you get too many high stakeholders you will probably have enough negative attributes collectively that nothing will ever get full buy-in, and worse, you risk creating factions in leadership.
"Product and revenue can trump co-founders in the eyes of investors"<p>I think this is the shining star of the post for solopreneurs. I'm just getting started starting up, and I'm going solo. What gives me hope is that, if the product is good and people actually pay for it, then cash will still be king, and investors will come.<p>I'm building a project estimate and client approval app. It's in open beta right now. All feedback is super appreciated!<p><a href="http://projectionable.herokuapp.com/" rel="nofollow">http://projectionable.herokuapp.com/</a>
This was helpful. I'm in a solo position right now and I'm also not a developer. I have a great idea (according to potential customers), but I don't have the knowhow to make it right now.
This article was helpful in giving me hope that I can build something with the right people (which is what I expected, but you hear so many different stories).
Nice essay, a much more nuanced thought process about the single founder issue. I definitely agree the way to take on staff as a single founder is to start lightly and go deeper later - a 3 month contract is perfect, and makes hiring/firing much less crazy if there is a limited relationship in the beginning.
In initial days start as a solo entrepreneur that way it gives you freedom to work, better cash flow and it let you judge your dedication towards your venture.