I spent 2.5 years building Brainfood, solo. I urge you to find a co-founder.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Brainfood was my fourth startup in the past 10 years. It was nothing short of a phenomenal journey and I still learned volumes. Lacking a co-founder turned out to be a major variable, and I’d love to give you four reasons to not go it alone.

1. You’ll never be the best at everything.

As a designer, I was naturally consumed by product. We shipped over 50 iterations of Brainfood but neglected distribution until it was too late. A co-founder who could sell would’ve been a game-changer.

You’re probably a phenomenal designer, engineer, product person, or marketing genius. But the chances are, you’re not all of the above. Finding a co-founder who complements your strengths can allow you to go twice as far, twice as fast.

2. You’ll never have enough time.

In the early stages, you’re responsible for everything. You’re building the product, talking to users, running engineering, and guiding design. Doesn’t that sound like three full-time jobs? Well, you’ll also need to figure out marketing, distribution, and how to get traction.

Fundraising is another part-time job which means neglecting at least one of the above. Being able to divvy up ownership and give each of these the focus they deserve, is obviously easier when you have a co-founder.

3. Being a founder is lonely.

It’s exhausting when every big decision rests on your shoulders alone. You can confide in mentors and fellow founders, but those…