Free for solo founders, and the people who want to join them
Find the founder who fills your gaps.
Every solo founder is missing something, and somewhere another founder has exactly that, and is missing what you have. Founder Finder matches you by what you bring and what you need.
Totally free. Built by a founder who's looking for a co-founder too.
1 hour = 1 hour
Hiring is expensive. Co-founders are hard to find.
So founders trade what they're great at, or team up for good.
Founder Finder makes the introduction.
Three ways in
Choose your path
Trade time
- Tell us what you bring and what your company needs.
- See founders whose strengths fill your gaps, and whose gaps you fill.
- Agree the hours, sign a one-page agreement, and log the time you trade.
One hour is worth one hour. If neither of you plans to raise venture capital or private equity, you can include equity too.
Start: trade timeHow it works
From profile to partner in four steps
- 01
Tell us why you're here
Trade time, find a co-founder, or join a company. Then say what you bring and what you need.
- 02
See your best fits first
Founders are ranked by how well your skills and gaps line up. Stars show how many skills match.
- 03
Request an intro
Send a short note. Emails are shared only when you both say yes.
- 04
Agree, then get to work
Trading time? Sign a one-page agreement together and log the hours you give.
Raising money?
Keep your cap table clean, or don't. You choose.
We ask every founder one question: do you plan to raise venture capital or private equity? If you do, time trades stay hour for hour, with no equity. If neither founder does, equity can be part of the deal, especially when one of you gives time and the other gives a share instead.
Questions
Good to know
Is it really free?
Yes, completely. No fees, no premium tier, no catch. Founder Finder was built by a founder who's looking for a co-founder too, to solve the problem first-hand. If it helps you, you can chip in to keep it running.
Who built this?
I’m James! I spent my twenties as an indie rock drummer, touring the country when I could and selling, renting and managing properties in between. Even though I had gone to business school, I cut my teeth building my entrepreneurial self as a broke-ass artist.
Then came more than a decade in vertical farming, leading teams, redefining categories, and launching tech-forward ways to feed cities. Today I’m founder and CEO of Trusty aging in place, a fall-elimination platform to help seniors stay independent in their homes.
Each chapter of my life has reinforced the same two lessons: a band, a farm or a company is only as strong as the people in it; and it’s more fun, more productive, and more honest to do things together, especially when you fill each other’s gaps. I built Founder Finder to make finding those people easier, and because I’m looking for my next co-founder too. Thanks for being here.
What does "trade time" mean?
Two founders each give a few hours a week to the other's company. A strategy hour and an engineering hour are worth the same. No money changes hands.
What about equity?
If either of you plans to raise venture capital or private equity, keep equity out of time trades: investors expect clean ownership. If neither of you does, equity can be part of the deal. Co-founders usually share equity either way, and we always suggest a lawyer looks over the terms.
I don't have a company. Can I still join?
Yes. Choose "Join as a co-founder" and tell us the kind of company you'd love to help build. Founders looking for a co-founder will see you. Paid or equity-based help for founders is coming soon.
What if it doesn't work out?
Either founder can end a time trade with notice, and your agreement and hours stay on record. Best case, you find a true co-founder. Worst case, two founders got better, faster.
Who sees my information?
Only approved founders see profiles, and your email stays private until you accept an intro. See the privacy policy for the details.
Help shape Founder Finder
It's early, it's free, and it's built by a founder for founders like you. Tell us what's working, what's not, or what you wish it did, like paid or equity-based help. Every message is read.