Finding the Perfect Co-Founder: Where to Look.

The myth of the “lone genius” (like Zuckerberg coding alone in a dorm) is exactly that: a myth. The reality of the startup world is that successful companies are built by teams, not individuals. In fact, statistics show that startups with two or three co-founders are significantly more likely to succeed—and raise money—than solo founders.

But here is the golden rule: Do not clone yourself. If you are a business administrator (the “Hustler”), looking for another administrator adds little value. You need a “Hacker” (someone to build the tech) or a “Hipster” (someone to handle design and user experience).

Finding a partner is like a marriage. You will spend more time with this person than with your family. Therefore, you need shared values but different skills. In Colombia, where trust is everything, it is tempting to start with close friends, but be careful: a business disagreement can destroy a friendship forever if roles are not clear from day one.

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.”

— Steve Jobs, Co-founder of Apple

Where to hunt for talent?

Stop waiting for your co-founder to knock on your door. Here are the three best hunting grounds in the Colombian ecosystem:

1. LinkedIn & Torre: Use digital tools. Search for people who list “looking for a project” in their bio. Platforms like Torre (founded by Colombian Alex Torrenegra) use AI to match you with professionals based on personality and skills.
2. University Campuses: Look outside your faculty. If you study Business, go hang out at the Engineering building. Students are the best co-founders because they have time, passion, and low financial risk.
3. Hackathons and Meetups: Events like “Startup Weekend” or local tech meetups in Bogotá and Medellín are designed to connect developers with idea-makers. Go there not to pitch, but to listen.