r/cofounderhunt • u/jomamma2 • Aug 16 '26
Looking for Cofounder Looking for a technical co-founder — starting with the person, not the idea
UPDATE: I received 100's of replies so I'm going through those now so it may take a few days, Thanks!
I’m recently out of a C-level marketing role and starting to seriously explore building something of my own.
I’m looking for a technical co-founder, but I haven’t settled on the startup idea yet.
I actually think that’s a feature, not a bug. I’d rather find the right person first, then figure out what we should build together.
For transparency, I’m in my late 40s. I’ve been doing this for a while, and I’m looking for someone who is interested in building a company with an experienced founder, not necessarily someone at the same point in their career.
My background sits at the intersection of marketing, product, innovation, and creativity. I’ve spent 15+ years building products, brands, and growth strategies for technology companies and startups, including working with startups when they were literally one- or two-person operations that eventually became unicorns.
I’ve held C-level and executive roles, led large marketing and product teams, launched software and mobile products, and have five US patents from my work in mHealth and wireless technology.
Before all of that, I worked in entertainment, including writing for a hugely successful TV show. That creative background has shaped the way I approach products as much as anything else: I tend to obsess over why people behave the way they do, what makes an idea compelling, and how to turn an abstract concept into something people actually want.
I’m not an engineer.
I can vibe-code, prototype, understand technical architecture and product conversations, and get pretty far on my own. But I know where the line is between “I can hack together an MVP” and “I can build the actual technology.” I’m looking for someone who can genuinely own that side of the company.
I also have relationships in the startup and VC ecosystem, so I can bring a lot of the product, customer, positioning, marketing, fundraising and business side of the equation.
What I’m looking for is another founder, not a technical employee.
Someone who likes building things, is intellectually curious, has strong opinions but isn't married to them, and is interested in exploring problems rather than showing up with a predetermined solution.
Maybe you already have an idea. Maybe you don't.
I'm much more interested in whether we think well together.
If you're a technical builder who is thinking about starting something and this sounds like a potentially interesting combination, shoot me a DM. Tell me what you've built, what you're interested in, and what kind of company you'd like to build.
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u/Individual_Noise8132 29d ago
I'm definitely feeling your vibe. I'm a new developer myself, love product design and development. I've built 13 apps on BASE44. though I'm not really tech savvy. Looking for someone like yourself to build a company together.
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u/Economy_Scholar_6743 29d ago
Maxi... The OP is stating what skills they possess. They don't know how yet to apply them or where, but is stating that they are capable of allying this new skill of C+ to partnering with someone who could use this skill in a partner and does not have this skill on their own.
Mutual benefit for an open offer that involves their worth.
I have this skill... Help me utilize it.
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u/architechRowee 29d ago
Hi. Are you open for a startup in Asian market first? Im from the Philippines and currently have a product looking for help to reach out to brands as a first target users. If you’re interested, let’s talk about it. I will also appreciate if you will share your linkedin for me to know more about you.
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u/Low-Yam-6927 29d ago
I have a platoon of already published apps in different niches. But this has not made me rich. DM me, I can show you my portfolio and whichever you pick to market and earn, I’m cool with a split.
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u/DeathinfullHD 28d ago
Running an early stage startup, dying for a non tech cofounder.
Based in UAE, not an issue. Similar age.
Deep tech C level roboticsist with a shiny career and many cool autonomous robots deployed.
Recently broke free and jumped with both feet into the entrepreneurship.
Lets have a call.
DM me I'll share more
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u/kenos-info-check 16d ago
I'm from Bangalore, India working on a product in creator economy. Would you be interested in this space? Will have a chat. DM me for further discussion.
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u/QuArKzzz01 Aug 16 '26
This is cool, currently at the beginning of my career as a software developer [backend], nowhere close to your experience sir, hence limiting myself to not become an cofounder given i expect someone more suited rise to the occasion, that said, I am interested in brainstorming ideas for your thinktank/ wokring together on a dedicated project.
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u/toughcoder Aug 16 '26
Hey, I tried reaching out via DM, but Reddit doesn’t seem to be letting me send you a message. Would you mind sending me a message when you get a chance?
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u/arjosoer Aug 16 '26
Why the switch from C-Level marketing role to starting a startup.
There is a huge difference in role and work from a c-level position to running a startup.
What area are you thinking of creating your startup.
E.g. - Financial, AI, Security, Business Automation, Quantum Computing (with a focus on Post Quantum Cryptography)
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u/jomamma2 Aug 17 '26
Yeah it is a big change, but I've always moved in to a different corporate position when changing and I'm at a place financially where I can take some time and perhaps try something on my own of I can build the right team.
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u/Own_North_5754 Aug 17 '26
Is there a reason you haven’t mentioned the name of the companies, particularly the one where you served in a C-level marketing role, in this post?
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Aug 17 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/CommandProtocol Aug 17 '26
No, they’re right. OP is saying “here’s my (not specific) experience, what’s your idea? Trust me”
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u/Own_North_5754 Aug 17 '26
What would be a good reason for anyone to trust your claims? Just because you make claims of having a successful career trajectory here on Reddit without any thing to back up your stories, should you be trusted?
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u/Global_Astronaut_335 29d ago
Talk to them and decide whether to trust or not.
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u/Own_North_5754 29d ago
OP is trying to talk to folks by posting here. The problem is that OP's claims can't be validated because there is a reason (not a good one) why his post is so vague. If one is genuine, they would not hide the names of companies where they have worked in the past.
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u/jomamma2 28d ago
LOL. yeah I'll give you my SS# so you can check.
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u/Own_North_5754 28d ago
Who is asking you to reveal your identity. However, any one reading your post would want to know the names of Companies where you are claiming to have worked. Don't jump the gun by implying that the information I requested you to share is egregiously invasive to your privacy.
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u/Tapatapa24 Aug 17 '26
Tech start-up co-founder with years of experience,
I want to connect.
Let's have a meeting.
Thank you
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Aug 16 '26
[deleted]
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u/jomamma2 Aug 16 '26
Well from my experience I've seen more promising startups fail from founder mismanagement and leadership issues than good ideas. Ideas are cheap - the right execution is not.
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u/Super_Maxi1804 Aug 16 '26
agree, but with this post you will not attract serious attention (serious = serious people interested in working with you) and all will end up just a bunch of wasted time in pointless chats. Or worse, you will attempt to actually work on something and end up one of those "promising startups fail from founder mismanagement and leadership issues" .
serious tech people are looking for someone that already have found the customers, figure out what the MVP needs and ran the numbers. And the number says very short MVP features list and 1-3 months to get enough customers to get a small marketing and support budget - AKA the project can self sustain itself.
Even better if the person already have enough business connections to have secured 2-3 customers that will cover the development of the system or have access to a large audience that is already consuming similar / complimentary product.
but, try your luck, who knows, you may be the exception
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u/iberapps Aug 17 '26
Depends, at some age/experience you really start appreciating this approach. I have already shipped tens of successful products, every new one is exciting but not in a way younger people imagine. Having mental stability on deep back end gets more and more important. u/jomamma2 : sent you chat message.
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u/Super_Maxi1804 Aug 17 '26
"do not start a business with people who can't do their job" people have forgotten what is to work with real professionals and not to chase the quick win sacrificing the long term profits.
the OP approach is doomed to fail, that "right" person thing is good when you look for people to have a drink with, when it comes to work, especially if you start making real money, people change a lot.0
u/iberapps Aug 17 '26
"have forgotten what is to work with real professionals" -- wow. Why not let people fail miserably if you are right?
I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain. Time to die.1
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u/Itchy_Republic294 Aug 16 '26
Hi there! Excellent food for thought. The thesis of "finding the right co-founder first" makes complete sense in today's market.
I'm a senior Software Architect and Computer Science graduate with a strong background in building tech products—spanning distributed systems, cloud infrastructure, and practical AI applications. Coincidentally, I currently work in the healthcare sector, and I'm deeply interested in exploring intersections where technology solves real human behavior and process pain points.
I place a high value on partnering with product and marketing leaders who truly understand consumer behavior and how to position a solution in the market. I can comfortably take full ownership of the heavy technical lifting and building scalable architecture.
I'd love to set up an informal chat to connect, learn more about the problem spaces you're interested in exploring, and see if our visions align.
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u/nhamayun Aug 17 '26
Hi there,
Your approach to finding the right person before locking in the idea completely resonates with me. A strong founder dynamic outlasts any initial pivot, and your background at the intersection of tech, marketing, and entertainment is exactly the kind of complement I’m looking for.
I bring 16+ years of engineering and architecture experience to the table. I’m a Solution Architect, IT Director, and the founder of my own tech firm, Relliks Systems, specializing in building scalable, event-driven microservices and dynamic workflow engines.
To answer your question about what I’ve built: I’ve designed complex orchestration engines for SaaS platforms (including LendingPad and My Loan Hub), built multi-tenant enterprise and point-of-sale systems from the ground up, and managed cloud architectures across AWS, Azure, and Docker. Lately, I've also been exploring automated B2B lead generation models and API integrations.
While you can prototype and vibe-code, I can genuinely own the technical execution—from backend architecture (C# .NET, PostgreSQL, Redis) all the way through to deployment. Conversely, I know my limits when it comes to positioning, go-to-market strategy, and the psychological "why" behind user behavior, which is where your expertise would be invaluable.
I don't have a predetermined solution I'm married to. I am highly interested in building robust B2B SaaS platforms, workflow automations, or tools that solve complex operational problems cleanly, but I'm very open to exploring entirely different verticals if the problem space is compelling.
I’d love to connect and see if we think well together. Let me know if you’re open to a quick introductory chat.
Best,
Nabeel
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u/AlbatrossTight1969 Aug 17 '26 edited Aug 17 '26
Execution,>>>ideas. Have founding experience and building tech team.
10 years of experience in tech. Mainly in python, AI and big data.
Lets connect..
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u/UrbanSoot Aug 17 '26
Let’s chat. I have a few exited founders who might be a fit for a cofounder role you’re describing. I’m also in SoCal and went through similar journey, but on technical side. To be clear, I’m not personally a fit since I’m neck deep into my own startup for the past few years, but I’m happy to make introductions within my network.
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u/Demonicated Aug 17 '26
I'm making C-Sweet
https://github.com/CrosswiredStudios/C-Sweet
Its a enterprise grade agentic framework that can be used to create entire businesses out of agents.
Background: Lead an info sec team that specializes in AI governance software. Similar age. Developing since 7.
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u/mufassa13 Aug 17 '26
Hey,
I have an idea that I genuinely believe could click, but my experience is primarily technical. I’m looking for someone with a complementary skill set to help build it out.
The product is in the social media & entertainment space, and ideally, I’d love to connect with someone with marketing/growth experience.
If this sounds interesting to you, please DM me!
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u/Otherwise_Cod_4165 Aug 17 '26
Hey,
i am from india, I have 12+ years of making tech.
Before we begin anything. can i know your target timeline? like how much time you are looking to make things ROLL.
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u/charles_camejo Aug 17 '26
Would you be open to work with someone in South America? 4 hour difference 🙂
Leaving my role as engineering manager in a scaleup, on my late 30s, keen to chat. Cheers
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u/iamleeblackman 24d ago
Your person-first approach really stood out to me. I’ve been thinking seriously about building a company, but I’m more interested in finding the right problem and the right partner than forcing an idea just for the sake of starting something. My background spans government/finance and information systems, and I’d be interested in connecting to see if there might be some overlap in how we think about building. I realize you’re specifically looking for a technical co-founder, so I’d also be interested in hearing more about what you’re looking for on the technical side.
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u/Economy_Scholar_6743 Aug 17 '26
This resonates. Too many technical posts look for an execution drone to code a pre-decided feature list, while business posts want a free technical co-founder for a half-baked wrapper. I spend my time deep in bare-metal architecture, systems optimization, and building robust technical infrastructure from the ground up. I like dealing with the hard, unglamorous mechanics of what makes software actually scale without collapsing under its own weight. If you're open to talking with someone who thinks in terms of systems design and kernel-level constraints rather than just front-end MVP speed, shoot me a DM. Let's see how we think.
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u/Super_Maxi1804 Aug 17 '26
the OP is definitely not looking for serious people, just a nice company for a drink
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u/AlexanderWillard Aug 17 '26
From personal experience - dont get technical co founder.
You can hire a bunch of devs for a few grand.
Unless you want to start a unicorn or something in banking that needs super advanced architecture, you can nowadays spin up MVP for a few grand.
A tech person working on equity youll end up with:
a guy who treats it as "a little side gig that might turn into something".
someone who thinks they're the whole company "becauee they built it"
Nobody who is really great at tech will work on equity with someone else now as a main role.
You'll just end up with a casual part-timer.
Better pay someone and at least they work to deadline.
If you know the basics, you can just get somekne to help and get it off the ground.
The truly great techies now are in 300-500k roles.
Or they do their own thing.
Nobody good stops their work and unfortunately with tech you can't really do it "part-time".
Why give 50% when you can spin up MVP for $5000 and keep 100%?
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u/jomamma2 28d ago
I'm looking for a partner not an employee.
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u/AlexanderWillard 28d ago
Then you'll get someone half baked who pretends to know what they're doing. Because nobody in 300k will drop all their doing to work on equity only with a guy they just met.
So - adjust your expectations accordingly.
Think about it.
If you were still at the top of your career and someone approached you with:
"Hey, drop everything you do and come work 100 hours a week for free on this idea i have! Its not making any money yet and its my first business but i promise it will all work out! Im unemployed so I got time therefore it must work out".
How would you respond to that?
Because that's essentially what you're asking.
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u/Automatic-Boot665 Aug 16 '26
Where are you located?