By Fernando Berrocal

Regardless of how great your product is, you shouldn't expect a well-known Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to quit everything and work for free at your new startup. There are, however, different types of methods to position yourself such that you may discover a suitable applicant who is just as enthusiastic about your product as you are.

Where to Find a Sales and Marketing Co-Founder?

If you are an eligible startup entrepreneur on the lookout for the co-founder of your dreams. You've to determine that you'll need some assistance to make your dream a reality. If your idea is an excellent one, finding someone to join you in your startup shouldn't be difficult. As the phrase goes “There are plenty of fish in the sea”; in this case, in the startup ecosystem.

In Your Network:  Although your search will most certainly take you to a variety of new places, the most apparent location to look for a co-founder is in your existing network. Trusted acquaintances, past classmates, or respected coworkers are examples of this. You've probably shared your big ideas over lunch in the breakroom before, so there's no problem with giving those you know a second look to see whether they'd make a good co-founder. Because trust is so important in creating a co-founding relationship, beginning a business with someone you already know removes a lot of the ambiguity about whether you'll be able to work together and communicate successfully. Even if no one in your network is interested, you can ask for recommendations for someone trustworthy and interested. However, if the startup fails, this technique runs the danger of ruining a vital personal relationship; as a result, many people consider co-founding with family members to be an extremely hazardous option. Although this is one of the best scenarios for finding a co-founder, it is also one of the least likely to happen. 

Make New Connections:  Spreading the word about your innovative solution might be enough to attract potential co-founders before you even start looking. Returning to the notion of a large number of fish in the water, sometimes all you need is bait on your fishing pole for the fish to come to you. Someone seeking a startup business opportunity may approach you out of curiosity if you launch an early version of the app or raise awareness of it online. Returning to the notion of a large number of fish in the water, sometimes all you need is bait on your fishing pole for the fish to come to you. Someone seeking a startup business opportunity may approach you out of curiosity if you launch an early version of the app or raise awareness of it online.

However, gaining enough visibility to attract a large number of suitable suitors organically might be challenging. To capture the most fish, anglers must go where the fish are swimming, obtain bait that will attract them to the hook, and then reel them in. Putting the metaphor aside, if you want to locate a co-founder, you'll probably need to be proactive and go where possible co-founders are. This will take a lot of studies, especially for someone who has never worked in a startup business before.

Participate in Events: Building a trusting connection with someone in person is simpler than doing it over a computer screen. Face-to-face encounters can help you determine their enthusiasm for the problem you're trying to solve and whether you'd get along. Attending events allows you to get to know prospective co-founders better and establish credibility in the area you're seeking to break into. In this situation, determining whether or not you could collaborate with someone long-term is considerably easier. There are many different sorts of events where co-founding takes place; all you have to do is discover the ones that are relevant to you in your region.

• Startup Events: At gatherings oriented to people interested in starting a business, you will undoubtedly encounter like-minded entrepreneurs. While seminars and lectures are beneficial, some activities require you to join a team and work together to establish a company. For example, Business Weekend challenges entrepreneurs to develop a startup in a weekend using lean techniques.

• Technological and Industrial Events:  Local meetings, where individuals interested in the technology may interact in a relaxed atmosphere, to large conferences, where industry leaders can network and present the newest developments, are all examples of tech events. In any case, events are especially beneficial when they are related to the industry in which your business operates.

• You may organize your event:  Being the center of attention during an event is the finest method to acquire notoriety and exposure. You may learn about consumer-specific problems, obtain advice on your concept, and analyze industry trends while looking for a co-founder by hosting an event for industry professionals. Though it would almost certainly need a substantial amount of effort, one successful event may be all you need to locate someone who suits your needs.

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Ready to bring your startup to the next level? Apply to MassLight’s next batch. MassLight supplies capital and a dedicated tech team. We take equity in return. Have questions? Refer to our FAQ page.

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