Why You Need a Co-founder and Where to Find One

Partnering with a capable co-founder may not be a requirement, but it’s strongly suggested by leading venture capitalists. Investor Paul Graham famously listed single-founder team structures as one of the leading causes of startup failure. Any iPhone app developer can tell you that the road to startup success is challenging emotionally as well as logistically, making a co-founder enormously beneficial for support when the company falls on hard times.

That being said, finding a co-founder is easier said than done. If you aren’t among the lucky few who already have a best friend or close business associate who believes in and shares your app dreams, finding someone willing to put everything on hold in the name of an iPhone app idea can seem impossible. Especially if you’ve never developed an app before, finding a co-founder with strong technical app development skills is sure to be a challenge.

Luckily, the process of searching for a co-founder can force single entrepreneurs to refine their business plan and build their pitching skills — assets that will prove indispensable to the startup when it’s time to partner with mobile app developers, make first hires, and network with angel investors.

The question of where to meet potential co-founders is actually easier than newcomers to mobile app development might believe. Which meetup place is best depends on your location and company, but overall fall into three categories: meetups/personal networks, social media, and specialized connection services like Founder Dating. Which context is most popular also varies from place to place. Meetups happen constantly in the bay area tech scene, for example, but take more legwork to find for Las Vegas iPhone app developers.

Real-life contexts are the best place to meet like-minded people, and connection points like Twitter and other online networks are at best a tool for networking with your local tech scene. Even smaller cities usually have tech scenes and events, so it’s critical to get tuned into local hackathons, meetups, and conventions as soon as possible. Tech events are designed to bring together like-minded mobile app developers, and even if you don’t meet your match they’re a great place to meet potential future team members and practice pitching your business.

Like any meaningful relationship in life, the only guarantee is that it’ll happen when you least expect it. The only way to boost your chances is to participate in the social side of the tech industry as much as possible. Becoming a part of the community, as it turns out, is its own reward.