Patterns, Not Potential

Why cofounder matching is broken — and how to fix it

Author

Tim He
April 28, 2025

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Hey, I’m Tim! ☕

Every Mon and Fri, I help you become a top 1% cofounder.

  • Actionable advice: Practical tips you can start applying today.

  • Relatable stories: Real-life experiences from people just like you.

PS — If you really want to answer the unGoogleable questions, book time with me. I’ve coached dozens of pre-seed/seed stage cofounders.

Headshots to Hardships

Most cofounder matching works the same way hiring used to work.

You see a snapshot of someone, usually at their most polished, and you try to guess what they’re really like.

A 30-minute coffee chat.
A crisp LinkedIn profile.
A list of logos: Stripe, Stanford, Sequoia.

It feels like you’re making a careful decision. But you’re actually making a shallow one.

Because a résumé can show you where someone’s been.
It won’t show you how they behave when things get messy.

And that's the real issue.
Startups aren't résumés. Startups are messes.

You don't need a perfect collaborator for the best day at your company.
You need one for the worst.

  • You need the person who texts back at 11:45 PM when something breaks.

  • The person who cares to ask if you're okay after a brutal investor meeting.

  • The person who can disagree without making it personal and who can change their mind without resentment.

You can’t learn that from a snapshot.

You only learn it the way you learn anything about people that matters:

By watching how they move through a community.

  • How do they talk when there's nothing to gain?

  • How do they act when someone else gets the credit?

  • What do they do when a group project stalls?

  • Who do they become when the room gets uncomfortable?

When you only see someone one-on-one, you get their presentation layer.
When you see them in a room, you get their instincts.

And instincts are what you’ll be living with at 2AM on a Thursday when everything’s on fire.

That’s why I’m creating the Cherrytree community.

It’s not just for finding cofounders but for connecting about all things cofoundership.

Join the waitlist.

That’s all for now,

(Another cofounder deep dive coming Friday).

Tim He

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

Work With Me

Coaching — I take 6-9 clients per month. Can be individual or as a cofounding team. Starts at $500/month and includes 2 one-hour calls plus ad hoc support.

Workshops — Designed for accelerators, incubators, and venture studios. Learn the fundamentals of building a solid cofoundership from Day 1.

Legal Help — Get a $500 incorporation package or an all-inclusive fundraising prep package (includes data room audit), depending on your stage.

Case Study — A published breakdown of your cofoundership. Great for product launches, fundraising credibility, and even visa applications.

Speaking — Now booking engagements for 2025. Perfect for VCs, unis, and podcasts. Webinars and in-person available.

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This tech company grew 32,481%..

No, it's not Nvidia. It's Mode Mobile, 2023’s fastest-growing software company according to Deloitte.

Nasdaq ticker $MODE secured—invest at $0.30/share before their share price changes on 5/1.

*An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.modemobile.com.
*The Deloitte rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research.