Even Married Couples Ask These Cofounders For Advice

TL;DR

Hey, I’m Tim! ☕

I’ve talked to probably over a thousand cofounders by now. One pair stood out recently: the cofounders of NUMI, a design agency for startups like yours.

Ironically, I spoke with them separately due to scheduling conflicts, but the overlap in what they shared made it feel as though they were in the same room.

Thanks Agree and Harrison!

Here’s the one thing to remember: A solid cofoundership is hard, but it looks easy, because it feels right.

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Let’s get into it ⤵

DEEP DIVE

"The best partnerships aren't dependent on a mere common goal but on a shared path.” — Sarah MacLean, NYT bestselling novelist and Washington Post columnist.

NUMI Notes

• They said you can tell who’s making space by handing the other the proverbial mic vs. staying quiet and assuming their cofounder speaks for both of them.

• My point isn’t to debate which style is better. It’s to align on which one works for you, so you can fully trust and commit instead of second-guessing.

• They highlighted mutual admiration as key to their cofoundership, celebrating each other’s unique skills rather than just expecting them.

• They both separately emphasized the importance of asking for space when needed. Working so closely makes it natural to need an occasional breather.

Actionable Advice

• Having one cofounder (often the CEO) speak for everybody publicly is fine, as long as you each have your own voice in private conversations.

• You don’t need to resolve conflicts in one conversation. Rather than letting a long discussion wear you down, shelf it and revisit when you’re refreshed.

• An activity I do with cofounders is have them introduce each other as if they were introducing themselves. Showing off their wins builds appreciation.

• Find who your common role models are. This will help you notice and point out behaviors and qualities you both aspire to embody.

Candid Comments

• Unfortunately, not all cofounders can be like Agree and Harrison, despite my best wishes. It takes both nature and nurture.

• It’s time to stop romanticizing “perfect” conflict-free cofounderships and focus on the messy, real work of addressing conflict that makes them successful.

• Public praise is absolutely necessary and utterly insufficient. True admiration comes from valuing the day-to-day contributions, not only the grand gestures.

• They make it look easy but that doesn’t mean it is easy. Steph Curry makes 3-pointers look easy — the hard part was the thousands of hours of practice.

Related Resources

• If your startup needs a subscription-based design department, who better to turn to than NUMI? Tell them I sent you.

• Searching for a cofounder? Check out StartHawk for an online platform and join LFC.DEV's in-person meet-ups in NYC for face-to-face connections.

• Both Superpowers for Good and FundingHope share incredibly powerful stories about companies doing social good. Yours could be next.

LAST LOOK

Make sure your cofounder sees this — either pass it along or get them to subscribe. A solid relationship takes everyone's effort.

Looking for a cofounder coach? Hit reply.

PS: I’m seeing more and more in-person events for cofounders popping up all over the US, so I’ll try to plug those in whenever I can.

Tim He
Founder & CEO