Status
Startups looking for a cofounder
Founders who built something real but need a partner to take it the rest of the way. No upfront cost. Equity only deals. A faster path than starting from zero with a stranger.
12 listings · Updated continuously
About this collection
These founders are not asking for cash. They built something real, they still believe in the idea, and they need a partner to take it the rest of the way. The deal is equity, not money. The asking price is your time and the work you can ship that they cannot.
Each cofounder listing tells you what is built, what is missing, and what kind of partner the founder is looking for. Some need a technical cofounder to ship the launch. Some need someone with distribution to find the first hundred users. A few need both.
Listing as a cofounder match is free. Joining one is free. The two of you negotiate equity, vesting, and roles directly. Failedups does not take a stake or a fee.
Current listings
Browse all projects →
Either Axiom
Axiom is an AI Based Search Engine That delivers accurate and factual results, combining AI intelligence with the simplicity of traditional search engines.
Cofounder Paperz
Help students write papers with AI
Cofounder c0dereview
c0dereview centralizes real-time development analytics and fosters collaborative code reviews
Either CherryBlossom 🌸
Assisting tourists with accurate and live tracking Sakura bloom season. Update and view the current blooming and track nearby attractions 🍒
Cofounder StudentPay (by SmartCards)
Allowing students to facilitate payment through their Student-Cards, not requiring an additional bank card.
Cofounder MoveMentors
A Marketplace for Yoga Teachers & Personal Trainers to sell their videos
Either HeroPrompts
Discover, share, and use AI prompts for ChatGPT, Midjourney, and more. Explore categories, upvote favorites, and get inspired by the community.
Either atHomee
At Home Services Booking Platform
Either 20MinsRecipes
Cook delicious meals in just 20 minutes.
Either Dojoma Rabbitholes
Professional AI-powered Procrastination search engine.
Cofounder Clarity Tools
A mobile app, a daily planner that blocks out distracting apps.
Either Remindful
Social network where you can send a notification to friends
Before you buy
What to look for
The five checks that separate a great listing from a regret. Run through them before any wire transfer goes out.
- 01
Get on a call with the founder
Cofounder fit is the whole game. Thirty minutes on Zoom tells you more than any listing copy. Ask why they need a partner, not just what they need a partner to do.
- 02
Read the code yourself
You will be working in this codebase. Pull it down, run it, read the messy parts. If the code does not match the pitch, the founder will not match either.
- 03
Agree on equity in writing
Verbal handshakes are how cofounder breakups happen. Write down split, vesting, what triggers buyout. Use a template if you do not have a lawyer.
- 04
Set a 30 to 60 day trial
Most healthy cofounder relationships start with a trial period before equity transfers fully. Mention this on the call. Founders who refuse have usually been here before.
- 05
Confirm the founder is still active
Some "looking for cofounder" listings sit for months. Check the last commit, ask when they last touched the project. A frozen project is closer to a sale.
After you buy
How to take it over
The hardest middle is already done. Four steps to turn a dormant repo into something live again.
- Step 01
Have the founding conversation
Why this project, why now, why a partner. Ask all three on the first call. Their answers should match what is on the listing.
- Step 02
Write down the partnership
Equity split, vesting, decision rights, what triggers exit. One page is enough for most early stage partnerships. Skip this and regret it later.
- Step 03
Start with a trial sprint
Two to four weeks of working together before equity moves. You ship something concrete, they ship something concrete, and you both find out if you actually want to do this.
- Step 04
Pick a launch milestone
A shared first goal turns two strangers into cofounders. Public launch, first paying customer, first hundred users. Pick one, set a date, work backward.
FAQ
Common questions
- How does a cofounder match actually work on Failedups?
- The founder lists their project as a cofounder search. Interested partners email them directly. The two of you talk, agree on equity and roles, and write it down. Failedups does not broker, does not take equity, and does not charge a fee on either side.
- What equity split is normal for joining a half built startup?
- Depends on what each side brings. 50/50 is common when both are full-time and equally invested. Lower for a partner joining a more developed project, higher when the new partner is bringing the missing skill that unblocks the launch. Negotiate openly and write it down.
- Can I cofounder first and buy out the original founder later?
- Yes if you write that option into your agreement up front. Some founders prefer this path because it lets a new partner prove themselves before more equity transfers. Make the buyout terms specific to avoid disputes.
- Do I need a vesting schedule?
- Yes. Vesting protects both sides. Standard is four years with a one year cliff, adjusted to the realities of a small project. Without vesting, one party can leave with their full equity stake intact, which usually ends the project.
- How do I evaluate the founder before joining?
- Get on a call. Pull the code yourself and read it. Ask why they need a partner, not just what they need help with. Look at how they answer hard questions. The founding relationship is more decisive than the project, especially this early.
- Is listing or joining as a cofounder free?
- Yes. Listing is free, replying is free, matching is free. The two of you negotiate equity directly. Failedups does not take a stake or a fee.
Looking for a cofounder yourself?
List your project, equity only, no upfront cost to either side. The right partner is faster than starting over with a stranger.
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