Q14 / FOUNDATIONS
Problem 1
Are we building the same business?
Agree the destination before you start the journey.
Answer separately. Compare notes. Have the conversation before it costs you the company.
- Time: 10 MIN
- Who: WITH CO-FOUNDER(S)
- Stage: STAGE 1 (AND EVERY 12 MONTHS)
- Access: FREE
Start the pre-nup
The short answer
How do co-founders check they're aligned? Each founder answers the same 10 questions on their own - from why you're doing this, through endgame and equity, to who's the boss - then compare. Disagreements on questions 1-4 are about the route. Disagreements on 5-9 mean you're heading to different places. Question 10, who makes the final call, causes the most damage.
How it works
- Answer the 10 questions on your own.
- Send your co-founder the invite link. They answer on their own.
- See the side-by-side comparison, ranked by how serious each gap is.
Worked example
Two founders agree on product, market and work style. One wants to sell in 5 years; the other wants a business for life. That's question 8 - a serious gap. The tool flags it before it turns into an 18-month argument.
FAQ
I'm a solo founder - is this for me?
Yes. Writing your answers down shows you what kind of business you're really building.
How often should we do it?
At the start, after any big change (first hire, funding, someone going part-time), and at least every 12 months.
Does my co-founder see my answers?
Only in the comparison, once you've both finished.
From the book
Problem 1 - Are we building the same business?
Use this next
Start the pre-nup