Valantoine

Some moments in life are transformational. Sometimes you know they are and others they reveal themselves to be. This one definitely feels like it is.

On November 1st 2024, Valentin was 2 months into the Entrepreneur First program and at the bitter end of his 3rd co-founder partnership attempt. Antoine was still in employment but feeling a fast growing desire for entrepreneurship. That is when we both met and started a collaboration that over the following weeks came to feel like a transformational event for both of us.

Finding the right co-founder can feel daunting. Valentin, who had already taken the plunge into entrepreneurship made this his priority focus. He joined Entrepreneur First primarily for this. His first partnerships revealed to him what was important in a co-founder, what he was willing to work with and what was a dealbreaker. Intensity levels, ways of working, conflict resolution and flexibility resume the deal breaking aspects of his first attemps.

However finding the right co-founder is essential. Jonathan, a Talent Investor at Entrepreneur First, skilled in finding complementary and compatible founders turned to his network to find the right match for Valentin. In different countries at the time, the first meetings between us were on Zoom.

As start-ups move fast, so must co-founder matching. Both sides aim to detect potential red flags while discussing important subjects ranging from the project under works, ways of working and personal life. The pace of relationship building increases the feeling of high stakes. In a few meetings you are trying to decide whether you are willing to spend a good part of the next 10 years with the other person and if you trust them with your professional success. This is extremely intense. Of course, this isnt cemented after a few weeks but builds with the startup and countless are the stories of co-founder disputes after months and years of collaboration.

On November 10th, Valentin joined Antoine in London for a week of in-person sussing out. In the mix of brainstorms and beers it became clear to both that this was something to pursue. Alignment on ambition, interests, respect and admiration for one another: tick, tick, tick. After a week in London, the transformational moment materialised. Antoine resigned from his position and joined Valentin at Entrepreneur First where they would continue to work on their relationship, the project and aim to secure pre-seed investment in January, but that’s another post.

We are still early in our partnership and getting to know eachother better. However, this partnership feels right. The motivation and reassurance that come from working together is the primary shield to the hardship of early stage startup building.

We’re excited to share more on how this life-changing moment sparked the creation of a billion-dollar company—and all the pivotal moments that propel us along the way.