For cofounders in it for the long haul.
There's no perfect cofounder. There's the right one.
Find out where you'll clash, and how to defuse it, before it costs you the company.
- Free · 10 min
- Research-backed, field-tested
- Private by default
What kills startups is rarely the product
of founders have had a serious conflict with their cofounder but keep it to themselves
of founding teams lock in their equity split within the first month
How partnerships die
Rarely for lack of talent. Almost always because they skipped a step.
Diving in before knowing yourself
He had the idea, and a cofounder ready to start the next day. What he didn't have were answers to questions he'd never asked himself.
Trusting without testing
“I've got a good feeling about him. I trust him.” That gut feeling was never put to the test, until reality did it for them.
Committing without ground rules
“50/50, no founders' agreement, we don't have time for that.” The day they disagreed, there was nothing left to negotiate. Just a deadlock.
The cofounder cycle
How to keep them alive
Tools to support you at every stage, from first meeting to day-to-day.
Know yourself
Tool: The Mirror · Your cofounder profile
Before you look for a cofounder, get to know yourself: what you want to build, how you handle pressure, what you won't compromise on.
Why now
The sooner you talk, the less it costs
Reassure your investors
Show you're a team that's already put the hard conversations on the table.
Avoid months of unspoken tension
Partnerships rarely die in a blowup. They die from everything that went unsaid.
Get ahead of friction
Spot where you'll butt heads, and how to defuse it.
Already teamed up? Test your partnership →
FAQ
Before you bring it up with your cofounder
Is it free?
The Mirror is free. The Duo Report is in private beta (access code required) and will be paid once it launches.
Will my cofounder see my answers?
You each answer separately and never see each other's answers during the questionnaire. The Duo Report, though, is shared: it puts your profiles, your friction points and some of your expectations side by side (commitment, equity, who gets the final say). That's the whole point: having the conversation from common ground.
How long does it take?
About 10 minutes for the Mirror. For the Duo Report, about 15 minutes each, or 10 if you've already taken the Mirror, since your answers carry over. The Read Me, which you fill in after the report, takes longer: it's real work on how you operate, and you can do it over several sessions.
What is it based on?
Two things: research on founder profiles, conflict management and equity splits, and hands-on experience with cofounder teams we've worked with closely.
Read the methodology →Who's behind Ally or Die?
Founders who've lived the cofounder relationship from the inside and now help other founders navigate it. We're not certified coaches: our tools help you prepare for, and kick off, the right conversations with your cofounder. They're not a substitute for a coach or a mediator. If the relationship is already badly damaged, professional support is still your best bet. We can refer you to cofounder coaches we trust: just email us at hello@allyordie.com.
Is this a personality test? Are you going to put me in a box?
No. We describe a dominant style and its nuances, never a fixed type. And there's no score or verdict on your duo: the goal is to know where things are likely to rub, not to tell you whether you're “compatible.”
What if the report shows a lot of friction? Should we call it off?
No. No partnership is 100% complementary. There will always be friction. What makes the difference is knowing where it'll come from, and having the tools to defuse it when it does.
We've been cofounders for years. Is this still useful?
Yes. The Duo Report and the Read Me help you put words to what's not working today. A tool dedicated to keeping the relationship healthy over the long haul is in the works.
Does it replace a founders' agreement?
No, it complements it. The agreement protects your equity. Ally or Die helps you prepare the conversations the agreement doesn't cover: who decides what, how you handle disagreements, what each of you actually expects.
We're a team of three. Does it work for us?
For now, the Duo Report is for two cofounders. A three-cofounder version is planned after the beta.
Where to start
Where's your partnership at?
Pick your situation and we'll point you to the right tool.
No tool for your stage yet?