Our approach

A tried and tested method of building billion dollar companies.

We founded Entrepreneur First because we knew there had to be a way to help ambitious people become founders. We wrote How to be a Founder to condense the knowledge from our experience funding thousands of founders at Entrepreneur First. And we created our newsletter and resources to fill in any gaps, from now until you are where you want to be.

Good luck.

Why communication matters for founders.

Your ability to communicate can help or hinder you in every interaction you have. And as a founder, you’re constantly interacting with other people. You must be a good communicator.

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How many co-founders should you have?

If you want to start a startup, we recommend finding a co-founder. But then, how many co-founders do you need?

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Should you find a co-founder?

Perhaps the first question you have when starting a startup is, should you find a co-founder? After helping thousands of founders start companies, our recommendation is a clear yes.

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How to communicate as a founder.

Communication is a critical skill for founders. The best founders are often legendary communicators. Luckily, communication is a skill you can learn.

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Should you give your co-founder feedback?

A co-founder relationship is unlike any other relationship you’ll have. Your co-founder is not your friend, your colleague, or your lover. At Entrepreneur First, we have helped thousands of people start companies with complete strangers.

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How should you split your company with your co-founder?

When you’re planning to start a company with someone, it’s important you establish the ownership split from the beginning. Dividing the company between co-founders can be a contentious issue.

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The Co-Founder Agreement Checklist

You’ve done enough testing to think you want to work with your co-founder long-term. Now what? While specific legal elements of establishing your company will vary from country to country, some core issues remain universally important.

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Why do you need founder equity vesting?

We recommend an equal equity split for co-founders. Many of the problems founders worry about with equal equity split are resolved by having a good vesting schedule.

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How do you give your co-founder feedback?

Giving feedback is one of the most important things you can do for your co-founder and for your team. But giving bad feedback can damage relationships, even with the best intentions. So, as a founder, it’s your job to get good at giving feedback, fast.

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Extract: Chapter 5 - Three and a Half Rules for Ambitious Founders

There is no single formula for startup success. It’s not paint-by-numbers. Industry nuances and unique co-founder experiences mean the path can look quite different from one team to the next. There are, however, a few universal rules we recommend all founders embrace.

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The Authors

Meet Alice & Matt

Ten years ago, we invented a new way to achieve your potential. We invest in you for who you are, whether or not you have a business idea or cofounder, and then help you start a company. We’ve funded thousands of founders this way, creating companies worth billions.

Bibliography

Startup Mindset

The Startup of You - Reid Hoffman and Ben Casnocha
Zero to One - Peter Thiel
Mindset - Dr Carol Dweck
The Scout Mindset - Julia Galef

Co-Founder Relationships

Fierce conversations - Susan Scott
Radical Candour - Kim Scott

Customer Development

The Lean Startup - Eric Ries
The Mom Test - Rob Fitzpatrick
The Startup Owners Manual - Steve Blank

Building Your Startup

Founders at Work - Jessica Livingston
The Hard thing about hard things - Ben Horowitz
Super Founders - Ali Tamaseb
High Growth Handbook - Elad Gil
Trillion Dollar Coach: The Leadership Playbook of Silicon Valley's Bill Campbell - Alan Eagle, Eric Schmidt, and Jonathan Rosenberg

Fundraising

Venture Deals - Brad Feld
Fundraising Field Guide - Carlos Eduardo Espinal

What are you going to do with your short time on earth?

If there is a problem worth solving, ambition finds a way. Our core belief is that starting a technology company today is the most accessible and effective path to having an impact in the world.

Dive Deeper

How to be a Founder began at Entrepreneur First.

Entrepreneur First is a community of thousands of world class Founders who Alice, Matt, and their team have helped find a cofounder and start a company. If you want funding from the world’s best place to start a company, apply.

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