Partnership Designer
Align on values, calculate equity split, draft a founders agreement, and define your communication charter. Build a partnership that lasts.
Rank each value from 1-5 for each founder (1 = not important, 5 = essential). Compare rankings to find alignment and differences.
Input each founder's role, time commitment, and investment to calculate a fair split.
Work through each section with your co-founder. Be specific - vague agreements create conflict later.
What is each founder's role and what are their key responsibilities?
Be specific. Define ownership of product, sales, operations, hiring, and strategy.
What is the equity split and vesting schedule?
Standard: 4-year vesting with 1-year cliff. Include a founder buyback clause.
How will major decisions be made?
Define which decisions require consensus, which can be made individually, and how to resolve deadlocks.
What is each founder's expected time and financial commitment?
Full-time vs part-time, salary expectations, personal investment.
What happens if a founder wants to leave?
Vesting consequences, buyback terms, non-compete, notice period.
How will disagreements be resolved?
Direct conversation first, then mediation if needed. Define escalation path.
Define who decides what. Ambiguity here causes more co-founder conflict than anything else.
Agree on how and when you will communicate. Consistency prevents surprises.