Not every great company starts with a founding team—but most do.
In fact, only 35% of startups in 2024 were founded by solo founders. And of those, just 17% went on to raise venture funding (Carta data).
So why do most founders team up?
Here are four reasons I see again and again:
1. You Double Your Resilience
Starting a company is hard. Doing it alone is even harder.
A co-founder gives you someone to problem-solve with, celebrate wins with, and push through the lows. You’re not just splitting work—you’re multiplying your ability to endure.
2. Complementary Skills Make You Stronger
No one is great at everything.
The best co-founder teams bring together different strengths—technical and business, product and go-to-market, analytical and creative. That combination helps you make better decisions, move faster, and build stronger companies.
3. You Get Built-In Stability
Life happens.
Health issues, family emergencies, burnout—any of these can take a founder offline. A co-founder keeps the company moving when life gets messy, ensuring there’s always someone to lead.
4. You Prove You Can Lead Together
Having a co-founder shows you know how to build trust, navigate conflict, and make high-stakes decisions as a team. These are core leadership skills that extend far beyond the early days.
Solo founders can succeed.
But the data—and the stories I see every day—show that going together often beats going alone.
What do you think? Have you built with a co-founder, or gone solo?
I’d love to hear your experience in the comments.
—Michelle
Menlo VC
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