Work together before you commit.
A short, structured trial gives founders and potential cofounders real evidence about pace, communication, and fit.
Set the objective
Agree on one useful outcome, clear success criteria, and a realistic weekly commitment.
Do the work
Record activity and milestones so the conversation is grounded in what happened.
Decide with evidence
Review the experience together before moving into a deeper commitment.
Make the expectations visible.
Why test a cofounder relationship first?
A good conversation shows you how someone talks about work, not how they do it. A short trial on a real piece of work shows how each of you handles pace, communication, disagreement, and follow-through, before ownership is on the table.
Choosing one outcome keeps the trial honest. Shipping a prototype, running customer interviews, or preparing a pitch are all stronger tests than a general period of working together.
What to agree before you start
Agree on the outcome, the dates, the hours each person will commit each week, and what evidence you will review at the end. It also helps to decide up front who owns the work produced during the trial if you choose not to continue.
When the trial ends, review what happened together and decide whether to continue, extend, or part ways. If you continue, the Equity Split Calculator gives you a starting point for the next conversation.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a trial partnership last?
Long enough to finish one meaningful outcome. You set the date range and weekly commitment together, so choose a period that fits the work and both of your schedules.
Does a trial give anyone equity?
The trial is there to help you decide before making an equity commitment. If you want rights or ownership to be binding, put them in a written agreement and have a qualified adviser review it.
How do I invite someone?
Create an account, set up the trial, and send the other person an invite link so you can work from the same objective, milestones, and evidence.