Dear SaaStr: I Have No Co-Founder. What Should I Do?
That’s okay—plenty of successful startups have been built by solo founders. I’m investing in fact at SaaStr Fund in a solo founder right now. But I’ll be honest: it’s harder.
Most of us need someone to share the burden, especially in the early days when you’re doing everything yourself. Without a co-founder, you’ll need to be strategic about how you build your team and find ways to replicate the benefits a co-founder would bring.
Here’s how I’d approach it:
1. Hire an “Ex Post-Facto Co-Founder”:
This is someone who isn’t technically a co-founder but acts like one. It could be a VP of Product, Sales, or Engineering—someone who takes ownership of a big chunk of the business and cares almost as much as you do. They’ll help carry the load and make key decisions alongside you. Many solo founders find this person later, and it works just as well [7][10].
2. Prioritize Great Early Hires. And Save A Lot of Equity For Them.
This is what Eric Yuan did at Zoom as a solo founder. He brought 20+ engineers with him, with outsized equity packages.
Without a co-founder, your first 10 hires are even more critical. You need people who can operate independently, take ownership, and fill in your gaps. If you’re technical, hire someone who can sell. If you’re business-focused, hire a strong technical lead. These hires will define your company’s DNA and help you scale faster [5][6].
3. Build a Support Network:
You don’t have a co-founder to lean on, so you’ll need to find other ways to get support. This could be a mentor, an advisor, or even a peer group of other founders. These people can help you think through tough decisions and keep you grounded when things get hard [6].
4. Be Brutally Honest About Your Limits:
Without a co-founder, you’ll have to do more with less. That means being clear about what you’re good at and where you need help. Don’t try to do everything yourself—it’s a fast track to burnout. Delegate early and often [9].
5. Don’t Rush Into a Co-Founder Relationship:
If you’re considering bringing on a co-founder now, take your time. A bad co-founder is worse than no co-founder. Look for someone who complements your skills, shares your vision, and is 100% committed. If you can’t find that person, it’s better to go solo and hire great people instead [2][9].
6. Stay in the Deals:
If you’re selling a complicated product, you’ll need to stay deeply involved in sales, even as you hire. Without a co-founder, you’re the face of the company, and customers will want to hear from you. This is especially true in SaaS, where trust is everything [4].
Being a solo founder is tough, but it’s doable. You’ll just need to be more deliberate about building a team that can help you scale and finding ways to stay sane along the way.
