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Double Ditto

Cofounder dynamics tell a story.

The same way 6-pack abs tell a story. A story written in hours of crunches, skipped desserts, and way too much chicken and broccoli.

Cofounder dynamics tell a story of late-night whiteboards, hard conversations, and caffeine-fueled sprints (shameless plug for my new coffee company).

The story of Lillie Sun and Conner Chyung is one of my favorites. Because they get one thing right…

They’re the cofounders of Ditto — it's like your notes app, but with friends!

• To be 100% honest, I normally wouldn’t lose sleep over a list app.

• And to be 1000% honest, I’m probably not their target user anyway.

  • Although it’s growing on me so who knows. 👀

So what’s got me all in on them?

They know that great companies start with great company.

Long story short:

• They met at a mutual friend’s dinner party.

• Lillie pitched her idea to Conner, who initially said nah.

• Eventually, they decided to work together to build this company.

• They’re now roommates too and Ditto is officially live in the App Store!

You get a sense of their dynamic from the video.

They take their work seriously but not themselves. They joke around but also have the tough talks. They have different skills but both solve problems they care about.

The vibe isn’t only good for morale. It’s magnetic.

Customers feel it. In the product, in the way they talk about it, in how they show up online. It’s the kind of dynamic that makes people want to root for them.

They spend hours onboarding people every night.

Because it’s not just a story. It’s a message.

Inside Scoop

Lillie had options.

Clear vision for the product. Viral video hits. A solid track record. Many would’ve jumped at the chance to work with her.

When I asked her why she chose Conner, it all made sense.

Now, that’s a refreshing answer. Forget the typical “complementary skills” pitch that’s been recycled to death. Always cofound with someone you admire.

Also, why did Conner end up saying yes? As a talented engineer, his opportunity cost is sky high.

This ain’t his first rodeo. He knows the importance of cofounder dynamics and was hyper-intentional about picking someone he could build a true friendship with.

A cofoundership, much like a list, isn’t valuable because it’s long or exhaustive or perfect — it’s valuable because it’s meaningful. To you.

That’s all for now,

BTW — Grab yourself some dumbfound coffee. Our grind fuels yours.

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