The life of a founder can be just as isolating and lonely as it is exciting and gratifying.

One of the best pieces of advice for any founder is to seek out a co-founder, or even a coach, to help them through the ups and downs of startup life.

Let’s dive in!

What is co-founder coaching?

As the name suggests, co-founder coaching is a type of coaching designed specifically for co-founders. This can be helpful whether you’re just starting to look for a co-founder or you’ve been working with one for a while.

A co-founder coach can help you in many different areas, such as:

  • Defining your co-founder role within the company
  • Figuring out what kind of co-founder you need
  • Navigating co-founder disagreements
  • Managing co-founder expectations
  • Building a strong co-founder relationship

Long story short, there are all sorts of co-coaches out there, with experience navigating every aspect of co-founder relationships.

Co-founder coaching vs. founder coaching

It’s important to note that co-founder coaching is different from founder coaching, despite the similar names.

Founder coaching is typically focused on helping founders build and grow their businesses. This can include things like developing a business strategy, raising capital, and hiring employees.

Co-founder coaching, on the other hand, is focused specifically on co-founder relationships. This means it’s designed to help co-founders build trust, communicate effectively, and work through disagreements.

Co-founder coaching vs. CEO coaching

Another type of coaching that’s related to (but different from) co-founder coaching is CEO coaching.

CEO coaching is designed to help CEOs of startups and small businesses build and grow their companies. This can include things like developing a business strategy, raising capital, and hiring employees.

Like co-founder coaching, CEO coaching can also help with communication and team-building. However, CEO coaching is typically more focused on the CEO’s relationship with their employees, while co-founder coaching is focused on the co-founders’ relationship with each other.

Last type of coaching is focused on marketing, aiming to help you take your marketing efforts to the next level.

What do co-founder coaches actually do?

Now that we’ve answered the question, “What is co-founder coaching?” It’s time to take a look at what co-founder coaches actually do.

A co-founder coach can help you in many ways, but their ultimate goal is to help you build a successful and long-lasting co-founder relationship. This means they will likely focus on things like:

  • Communication: One of the most important aspects of any co-founder relationship is communication. A co-founder coach can help you learn how to communicate effectively with your co-founder, whether you’re working through disagreements or simply trying to stay on the same page.
  • Building Trust: Trust is another key element of any co-founder relationship. Without trust, it’s very difficult to move forward and build a successful business together. A co-founder coach can help you learn how to build trust with your co-founder, so you can feel confident moving forward together.
  • Working Through Disagreements: Disagreements are inevitable in any co-founder relationship. A co-founder coach can help you learn how to work through disagreements in a constructive way, so you can come to a resolution that works for both of you.
  • Managing Expectations: It’s important to manage expectations from the beginning of your co-founder relationship. A co-founder coach can help you set realistic expectations for your co-founder relationship, so you can avoid disappointment and frustration down the line.

The actual format of a co-founder coaching session can take many forms, depending on the coach you’re working with and the specific goals of the session:

Co-founder therapy sessions

If you’re experiencing co-founder conflict, a co-founder coach can help you work through the issue in a co-founder therapy session. This type of session is typically more focused on emotions and relationships, rather than business goals.

Related: Everything you need to know about therapy for startup founders.

Business strategy sessions

A co-founder coach can also help you develop a business strategy for your startup. This type of session is usually more focused on the business itself, rather than the relationship between co-founders.

Accountability sessions

Another type of co-founder coaching session is an accountability session. In this type of session, the coach holds you accountable for your actions and progress. This can be helpful if you’re struggling to stay on track or meet your co-founder’s expectations.

Combination sessions

Some co-founder coaching sessions are a combination of all of the above. This type of session can be helpful if you need help in multiple areas of your co-founder relationship.

What are the benefits of co-founder coaching?

There are many benefits of co-founder coaching, but here are a few of the most notable:

1) Helps build a strong co-founder relationship

One of the biggest benefits of co-founder coaching is that it can help you build a strong co-founder relationship. This is because co-founder coaching focuses on things like communication, trust, and working through disagreements.

All of these things are essential for a strong co-founder relationship. Without them, it’s very difficult to move forward and build a successful business together.

2) Helps you find the right co-founder

If you’re still looking for a co-founder, co-founder coaching can be a great way to find the right one for you. This is because co-founder coaches often have a network of co-founders they can introduce you to.

In addition, co-founder coaches can help you figure out what kind of co-founder you need and what role they should play in your company. This can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run.

3) Helps you avoid common co-founder problems

Another benefit of co-founder coaching is that it can help you avoid common co-founder problems. This is because co-founder coaches are familiar with the most common issues that arise in co-founder relationships.

Problems like:

  • Communication Breakdowns
  • Trust Issues
  • Disagreements
  • Unrealistic Expectations

By working with a co-founder coach, you can avoid these problems and set yourself up for success from the beginning.

4) Helps you grow as a founder

Finally, co-founder coaching can help you grow as a founder. This is because co-founder coaches often have a wealth of experience and knowledge to share.

They can help you learn about things like:

  • Building a Strong Co-Founder Relationship
  • Managing Co-Founder Expectations
  • Navigating Co-Founder Disagreements

Working with a co-founder coach can help you become a better founder, which will benefit your business in the long run.

What should you look for in a co-founder coach?

When you’re looking for a co-founder coach, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Here are a few things to look for:

1) Experience

First and foremost, you should look for a co-founder coach with experience. This is because you want someone who knows what they’re doing and can help you avoid common co-founder problems.

In addition, an experienced co-founder coach will have a wealth of knowledge and insight to share. This can be invaluable as you navigate the early stages of your business.

2) A good reputation

Another important thing to look for in a co-founder coach is a good reputation. This is because you want to make sure you’re working with someone who is respected by their peers.

One way to do this is to ask around and see if anyone you know has worked with a co-founder coach they would recommend. In addition, you can read online reviews to get an idea of what others have said about a particular co-founder coach.

GrowthMentor makes it easy to gauge a coach’s reputation thanks to reviews and ratings from past and current clients. By clicking onto a coach’s Growth Mentor profile, you’ll be able to gain insights into everything from their coaching philosophy to their personality!

3) A good fit

Finally, you should make sure you find a co-founder coach who is a good fit for you. This means finding someone who you feel comfortable working with and who understands your goals and objectives.

If you’re not comfortable with a co-founder coach, it will be very difficult to build a strong relationship and move forward together.

How to find a co-founder coach

Co-founder coaching is a fairly niche industry. After all, there aren’t that many founders to begin with! As a result, it can be difficult to know where to start when you’re looking for a co-founder coach.

Here are two places to look:

1) Google search

One of the easiest ways to find a co-founder coach is to do a simple Google search. Just type in “co-founder coach” and see what comes up—you know the drill! This should give you a good starting point to begin your research.

One of the top results you’ll probably find is Cofounder Clarity—a coaching agency that aims to strengthen your organization through co-founder alignment. Cofounder Clarity offers three programs:

  1. Stop the Bleeding: A 30-day intensive for co-founders on the brink of disaster.
  2. Build a Strong Foundation: A 90-day program for co-founders who want to lay a solid foundation for their business.
  3. Maintaining Growth: An ongoing program for co-founders who want to continue growing and evolving their business.

2) Online platforms

A great alternative for finding a co-founder coach or mentor is online platforms like GrowthMentor. Online platforms make it easy to connect with co-founder coaches from all over the world based on the specific traits you’re looking for.

We’ll talk more about finding a co-founder coach or mentor with GrowthMentor next!

How to find a great co-founder coach with GrowthMentor

If you’re looking for a co-founder coach, GrowthMentor is a great place to start. We’re an online platform that connects founders with experienced coaches who can help them grow their businesses.

To get started, all you need to do is sign up and answer a few questions about your business and goals. From there, there are three ways to connect with coaches with years of experience navigating the co-founder relationship:

1) Personalized recommendations

As soon as you log into GrowthMentor for the first time, you’ll see a few suggested mentors listed on your dashboard. These are personalized recommendations based on the information you give us during the sign-up process, including your:

  • Goals
  • Role
  • Industry
  • Growth Challenges

If your goals and growth challenges are centered around your co-founder(s) or interpersonal issues, your suggested mentors will reflect that! These suggestions are a great place to start if you’re looking for a great co-founder coach.

2) Search

If you’re looking for a co-founder coach with specific skills or experience, our search tool makes it easy to find them. Simply type in what you’re looking for (e.g., “co-founder coaching”) and you’ll be presented with a list of coaches who match your criteria.

You can also use our filters to narrow down your search even further. For example, you can search for coaches who have experience working with startups or co-founders who are based in a particular country.

3) Collections

Within GrowthMentor, you’ll also be able to browse collections of coaches and mentors built around specific goals or challenges, such as:

There are plenty to look through, but the one we’re interested in right now is: Advice on Dealing with Co-Founders. Here you’ll find a curated list of coaches with experience helping co-founders navigate difficult situations and build strong relationships.

If you’re looking for a mentor with experience as a co-founder, browsing collections is a great way to find someone who understands what you’re going through and can help you achieve your goals.

4) Help requests

Last but not least, GrowthMentor also gives members the option to post a help request and wait for the coaches to come to them.

To do this, simply click on the “Post a Help Request” button located on your dashboard. From there, you’ll be asked to fill out a form with details about your situation and what you’re looking for in a coach.

Once you submit your request, it will be sent out to all the coaches who are subscribed to our help requests service. If a coach thinks they can help you, they’ll reach out and offer their services.

It’s that easy! With GrowthMentor, finding a co-founder coach is simple and straightforward. We make it easy to connect with experienced coaches who can help you achieve your goals.

Co-founder coaching made simple

GrowthMentor is the best place to start your search for a co-founder coach. With GrowthMentor, you can connect with experienced coaches who can help you grow your business. Simply sign up and answer a few questions about your business and goals, and you’ll be on your way to finding the perfect co-founder coach for you.

If you’re interested in co-founder coaching, sign up for GrowthMentor today!