Here's practical advice for finding a cofounder while participating in On Deck. I met my cofounder Justin through the platform in March 2020 (Cohort 3).
1. Speak to Everyone and Anyone
Rather than attempting to meet all 200+ cohort members, use the community directory to filter candidates by location and skills. Schedule back-to-back 30-minute Zoom calls to efficiently meet potential cofounders. Technical founders may find it easier due to higher demand.
Benefits of broad networking include:
- Meeting diverse community members and sharing stories
- Identifying genuinely interesting prospects
- Receiving referrals even when pairings don't work
- Building lasting friendships beyond business partnerships
2. Cross the Cohort Lines
Don't limit your search to your own cohort. Justin was in Cohort 2 while I was in Cohort 3. Previous cohort members might still be available — perhaps they joined too early, experienced team fallouts, or reconsidered their commitment.
3. Agree and Commit Early
Venture capitalists operate efficiently with structured processes rather than extended dating periods. Here's a four-stage evaluation:
- Initial meeting focused on sharing background stories
- Follow-up discussion exploring specific topics and ideas
- Extended conversation examining thinking depth and problem-solving ability
- Final commitment to working together
Justin and I committed in March despite our first project failing. We nevertheless developed working knowledge and achieved important learning outcomes.
4. Avoid Prolonged Trial Periods
Extended cofounder dating with multiple simultaneous partners creates significant opportunity costs:
- Trial work often involves projects neither party genuinely cares about
- Failed experiments leave everyone in awkward positions
- FOMO means potential partners may form teams elsewhere during extended evaluation periods
Make a decision after 3-4 conversations rather than pursuing months-long trial periods.
5. Get Involved
Active participation in the program — appearing on Zoom calls, posting in Slack, and attending talks — signals genuine engagement and provides previews of people's character and thinking style before formal meetings.
While cofounder matching feels hasty, committed early engagement creates stronger foundations than prolonged uncertainty.