What I Look for in a Business Partner

Founder Mindset | Trust Over Talent

No secrets, no shortcuts — only shared weight and aligned values.

I’ve had partners that lifted with me and some who vanished when it got heavy. I’ve learned to ask: “Can they carry their cross?” I look for honesty, delay of gratification, and a respect for the grind. Books over brunch. Strategy over hype. If you’re not obsessed with learning and you flinch when it gets hard — we won’t last. Here’s my checklist.

Ideas are easy. Execution takes people.
But not just any people. The right business partner can take your vision and multiply it. The wrong one? They’ll drain your energy, kill momentum, and leave you rebuilding from scratch.

I’ve had both. Here’s what I’ve learned.

It’s Not About the Resume

I don’t care where you went to school or if you’ve got a decade of experience.
I care about:

• How you think when things go wrong
• What you do when no one’s watching
• Whether you finish what you start

Because startups live in chaos. I need someone who thrives in it.

My 5 Non-Negotiables

1. Self-awareness – Can you own your weaknesses without ego?
2. Action bias – Talkers stall. Doers build.
3. Financial transparency – No secrets. Ever.
4. Resilience – I need someone who shows up, even when it’s hard.
5. Shared values – Hustle. Ownership. Integrity. If we don’t align here, we won’t last.

Real Talk: How I Test This

• I give small tasks with unclear paths and watch how they move.
• I ask about their biggest failure and listen to how they tell the story.
• I go slow before going fast. Anyone can show up for the honeymoon phase—what about month 6?

Red Flags I’ve Learned the Hard Way

• “Let’s split 50/50 before we’ve built anything.”
• “I’m all in… once I get back from vacation.”
• Ghosting during conflict.
• Big talk, no calendar invites.

The right partner isn’t a mirror. They’re a multiplier.
I don’t want someone who agrees with me. I want someone who challenges me—and still shows up the next morning ready to go.

Choose partners like you choose life rafts. Carefully, and with both eyes open.