The Road Ahead: Part 2

INTRO

Hey, I’m Tim! ☕

Last time, I shared 2 predictions: cofounder coaching is about to go mainstream and online cofounder matching is going to take over.

Those were pretty mild. Here are 2 bolder ones — and what they mean for you.

Bonus prediction: you’re fundraising early next year. If so, check out Gamma for your pitch deck so you don’t waste time aligning stuff on slides.

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Cofoundership’s Next Chapter

Remote work has flipped cofoundership on its head.

I know cofounders who’ve never met in person, yet raised half a million dollars together to build their product. Roles and responsibilities are shifting fast now with AI as well.

All of this impacts who and how you can trust and what it truly means to be a cofounder.

Here are predictions 3 and 4. If you missed 1 and 2, check out last week’s edition.

3. Certs & Creds

When a company hires someone from a prestigious university, it's not just about their education.

The company is signaling that they trust the institution to have done a good job of filtering and training candidates.

The real value in credentials is in what it represents to others: trust.

Otherwise, you don’t know who you can trust.

CFA, CPA, MBA, PMP, Agile, Google Analytics, Series 7 — more certifications that convey expertise and trust. So much so, that some are legally required.

A cofounder certification could be useful. You’ll know that they’ve at least:

• learned the basics and best practices

• gained some exposure to useful frameworks

• studied the paperwork: equity, vesting, comp, legal

• developed a common language for conflict resolution

I think this could be especially helpful for first-time cofounders. Cofounder matching will no longer be a shot in the dark.

In fact, I’d go so far as to say that investors may soon start requiring it.

Nearly two-thirds of startups crumble because of cofounder conflicts. Hardly good for ROI. Investors are already pushing for executive coaching and more involved boards.

To be honest, my instinctive reaction was to cringe and dismiss this idea.

Without a clear curriculum or standardized results, it feels like fertile ground for opportunists to swoop in. It reeks of predatory potential.

I think it’d have to be tied to an already acclaimed program like a well-known incubator or accelerator.

But it has legs.

4. Fractional Cofounders

Fractional executives have been around for a while. They’re part-time leaders who provide high-level, specific expertise without the commitment of a full-time role.

I can see a version of fractional cofounders existing.

Forum VC is already putting this idea front and center on their website.

They’re not the only one.

Eric Marcoullier, Dan Kieran, fractionalcofounder.ai, and Consensual Ventures are all players in this space.

You might not have heard of the term, but chances are, you've already been one — back when you were hustling part-time before going all-in on your company.

But there’s a challenge here that’s unique to the cofounder relationship. Unlike a hired executive, a cofounder isn’t just someone who completes a set of tasks.

Cofounderships can break apart when commitments vary: one partner is all-in, and the other is hedging.

“Professional fractional cofounders”, however, are trying to solve this tension. They bring in prior experience to get you off the ground, no strings attached.

They’re a catalyst, not a constant.

This could be valuable, especially for first-time cofounders who need guidance but don’t want to give up half the company.

Absolutely not.

This isn’t a jab at the people who offer fractional cofounder services. In fact, you might want to bring them (or people like them) on as advisors.

But a coach and a teammate aren’t the same.

If anything, the term “fractional cofounder” is the misleading part. They're more like consultants — experts who help fill gaps and accelerate progress.

But they don't share in the emotional investment, risk, and vision of a true cofounder.

A fractional cofounder to your startup is like a wedding planner to your marriage.

I’d say you’re better off finding somebody you can work with indefinitely.

How I Can Help

ONE MORE THING

Every time you refer someone, you:

1. Look like a genius for finding Cherrytree.

2. Might just rescue a struggling cofoundership.

3. Shine a light on the importance of the cofounderships.

4. Make my day.

Thanks y’all,

— Tim He