The Agile Startup: Quick and Dirty Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know

Needle in a Haystack

Having one or more partners can be incredibly helpful. With the right partner, it’s possible to get to market sooner, iterate faster, build a better product, network wider, and increase your chances for success. Partners can help make your startup dreams come true, but they can also be your worst nightmare. Bad partnerships are one of the top startup killers, which is why it’s often harder to find a solid business partner than a spouse.

In the beginning, you and your partner are in the courtship phase. Everything is new and fun as you brainstorm ways to attack the market, dream about the future, and create your go-to-market plan. It’s after the novelty wears off that things might start going south. Your startup is your baby, and it can be hard to let someone else in on the creation process. You might find yourself compromising on everything from the long-term vision to the nuts and bolts of product design. For founders with different ambitions and visions for the future, getting in sync can be an impossible task.

Ultimately, there’s no right answer—whether to partner is a personal decision. Go with your instinct, and if it doesn’t feel right, don’t be afraid to go it alone.

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