TL;DR
This guide goes over what it takes to find a good co-founder for your business. We start with whether your business needs a co-founder, 7 different places to find a co-founder, and what exactly you need to look for. The latter part of the blog covers how to check if a co-founder is a good fit before fully committing, what to agree on before you start working, and what to do when things go wrong. Another way to find a great co-founder is learning alongside like-minded peers while you build your own venture. If this sounds interesting, Young Founders Lab's online startup incubator is worth a look.
If you're building a business as a high school student, finding a co-founder is not always a requirement. You can build a successful business as a solo founder. You need a co-founder when you lack a core skill set, such as a tech background for a product business. Another reason is a heavy workload or decision-making, which another person can help you manage.
If you’re looking for business ideas that you can work on with your co-founder, check out our guide on 15 Online Small Business Ideas for Teens along with 15 Startup Incubators for High School Students.
Do you even need a co-founder?
Most teen founders run their businesses solo and do pretty well. The reason to get a co-founder is to get someone with complementary skills on board or to cover workload, rather than just for the sake of it.
Data favors solo businesses and shows they perform better in the long term. So if you're looking for a co-founder, make sure that there is a strong need and compatibility.
| If you... | Do you need a co-founder? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Are missing a core skill like engineering, product, or marketing | Yes | It’s essential to the business, and a hire can’t easily cover it. |
| Need to run many areas at once, like field operations and a tech product | Yes | Heavy operations are hard to manage alone. |
| Face a lot of strategy and decision-making | Yes | Two people can divide the work and share big decisions. |
| Already have the skills your business needs, such as both business and technical | No | You can learn and solve problems on your own. |
| Can hand tasks off to employees or contractors | No | Outsourcing or hiring covers the help you need. |
| Run a simple business model without big daily decisions | No | Going solo is the better option. |
7 places to find a co-founder in high school
Once you're clear that you need a co-founder and know the kind of person you're looking for, plenty of places can connect you with people who share your passion.
1. Startup incubators
Incubators are one of the best places to meet a co-founder, since everyone there is learning and wants to build a business. Look for people who share a similar vision or ideas.
2. Competitions
Joining business competitions for high school students shows you how you work together and solve problems with different people. You also get to see how teammates react to stress and come up with solutions under pressure.
3. Classes
Business classes include shared activities, projects, and discussions that can help you find someone you work well with. You're in a shared space and can seek out people who are proactive.
4. Summer courses
Summer courses, especially in business and entrepreneurship, are a great way to meet peers with shared interests. These courses usually include a capstone project where you work with people over a longer stretch, which gives you insight into their skills and work style.
5. Local events
Local events like community fairs are a great place to find people who are already working on a business. Strike up a conversation and find out what they're interested in. For more ideas, this list of networking opportunities for teen founders is a good place to start.
6. Clubs
Join the business club at your school or a local community organization, where you'll work with peers on outreach, events, and club activities. If your school doesn't have one, here are some entrepreneurship clubs you can start in high school.
7. Online communities
Virtual communities can help you connect with people who have similar interests. You can reach out to people directly, or post on Reddit, X, or LinkedIn about what you're looking for in a co-founder.
Safety note: Only try to find a co-founder online if other places haven't worked out. Even then, have a parent or guardian run a background check, which includes contacting references and checking the person's information, and don't share any personal information up front.
What to look for in a co-founder
Complementary skills. There are so many roles you need to take on when you start a company. Find someone who complements your existing skill set and will make up for what you lack. Eg: Finding someone with a marketing or sales background while your expertise is in tech and product.
Reliability and Alignment. A shared vision for the company and agreement on time commitment, risk tolerance, and the direction for growth.
Conflict and communication style. Running into problems and having disagreements is an unavoidable part of running a business. Notice how you communicate in these situations. Whether they can be honest, have difficult conversations when needed, and accept their faults without getting defensive.
What to ignore in a co-founder
Instant Friendship. While you should enjoy working with each other, instantly clicking with someone does not indicate whether you should work together as cofounders.
Similar background. It’s not necessary to have someone with the same background, similar education, work experience, or working style. If they come from a different background, take some time to learn about it and understand their strengths.
Fancy school or resume. A fancy school or resume is impressive, but it doesn’t guarantee you will work together well or that they will be a good co-founder. Instead, look for a good work ethic, consistency, and shared vision.
How do you test your co-founder before committing?
Before you finalize your co-founder, work on a trial project that will give you insight into compatibility and working style, and let you have difficult conversations about money, decision-making, and conflict management before committing.
Things might look good on paper, but working together is the real test. It is not just about complementary skill sets, but how well you actually work together. Are you able to be more efficient? Can you communicate openly with them? Are they committed to the work? And can you disagree on something without turning it into an argument?
Test out compatibility with a short-term 2- to 4-week project. Give each other complementary tasks, understand how you communicate, meet deadlines, and what happens when things go wrong. Observe how they handle pressure, whether they meet deadlines, and if they communicate clearly.
What to agree on before you start working with your co-founder
When running a business with a co-founder, there are many things to discuss, including dividing responsibilities, money, and equity split, and setting business goals. You should have written agreements in place for unexpected situations such as when a co-founder leaves, additional investment, and changes in business goals. This ensures things go as mutually discussed and avoids disagreements affecting the business.
Dividing responsibilities. List the tasks required in running your business and assign different responsibilities based on each of your strengths. Decide who will take ownership of different tasks and how you will track progress, along with what will happen if you miss deadlines.
Decision Making. Discuss which decisions can be made independently and which meet both of your approval. This also includes what will happen when a disagreement arises and how you plan on solving it.
Money and Equity Split. Discuss how much you are willing to invest and how the ownership will be divided. This includes discussion about what you will utilize profits for and how additional investments will affect ownership.
When a co-founder leaves. Write a written exit agreement for when a founder cannot commit to the business or a priority shift. What will happen to their ownership share, and how will you reach this decision?
Setting Business Goals and Expectations. Discuss if you see this as a long-term business or a short-term project with an exit plan. This includes measurable monthly goals and milestones. This includes when you might have discussions to revamp business plans.
What to do when it is not working out with your co-founder?
When things are not working out with your co-founder because of misaligned goals or lack of commitment, it is best to sit down and have an honest discussion about it. It is best to make this decision early rather than letting the business struggle.
A co-founder leaving is not easy, but it is not the end of your business. Some signs that your co-founder needs to leave include low work output, repeated disagreements, and personal commitments overshadowing work. The reason could just be misaligned goals, and it is better to end it cleanly rather than letting things get complicated.
Sit them down and have an honest conversation before reaching any conclusions. If you still don't reach an agreement and you decide that it's better that they leave, check your agreement. Follow through on exit terms.
This includes a transition period where they can transfer their knowledge and train a different person so the business continues as usual.
Frequently Asked Questions: How To Find A Co-Founder In High School
1. Do you need a co-founder to run a business in high school?
No, you don't need a co-founder to run a business in high school. Many solo founders run successful businesses while still in school. You should look for a co-founder when you think it will benefit the business, such as getting someone with a complementary skill set or dividing and managing the responsibilities of a founder.
2. Should you start a business with a friend?
You should start a business with a friend if you share aligned goals, similar ideas, and complementary skill sets that will help you build a successful long-term business. Being friends does not guarantee being good co-founders. So check compatibility, long-term goals, and work on a trial project before you commit.
3. How many co-founders are too many?
For a teen startup, 2 or 3 co-founders are enough to divide responsibilities. Having too many co-founders can lead to disagreements, unclear responsibilities, and complicated decision-making.
4. How do you split company ownership as a teen founder?
Take note of each founder's investment, responsibilities, contributions, and time commitment before deciding on ownership percentages. A half split isn't always the best option. Since you can't sign a legally binding contract before 18, involve a parent or legal professional to put together an agreement in writing.
5. Can your co-founder be at a different school than you?
If you are okay with working virtually, you can work together with a co-founder at a different school. Make sure you have regularly scheduled meetings, clear deadlines, and shared management tools to keep business operations running smoothly.
If you want to meet your co-founder virtually, the Young Founders Lab offers a peer-based business program where you build your business alongside other teens through an immersive curriculum and mentorship support.
What to do when your co-founder stops putting effort into the business?
Have an honest discussion about what is going wrong and, if their workload needs adjusting, agree on a timeline for improvement. If nothing changes, revisit your agreement and discuss whether working together makes sense.
A tried and tested way of finding a good co-founder is to be already building something publicly so you are visible. This attracts passionate people to you rather than you having to seek them out. One way to do this is by joining the Young Founders Lab. The Young Founders Lab Program pairs you with a one-on-one mentor for 12 hours of personalized coaching, with a flexible start date, as you build and launch your own revenue-generating startup. Apply here.