
The Data Minute The Solo Founder Era | Julian Weisser, Co-founder, ODF & solofounders.com
Is the "co-founder mandate" dead? This week on The Data Minute, Peter sits down with Julian Weisser, co-founder of ODF and solofounders.com, to unpack the data behind a massive shift in the startup ecosystem: solo founders now make up over a third of all new companies.
Julian breaks down the "Denominator Delusion"—the survivorship bias that tricks founders into forcing partnerships that often fail. They discuss why co-founder breakups are the silent killer of early-stage startups, the structural advantages of going it alone (including a 30-40% equity buffer), and why "authorship" matters just as much as ownership in the early days.
Plus: Why founding a company has become too "high status," how AI is unlocking the solo path, and why the best investors are finally changing their tune on single-founder startups.
Read the full "State of the Solo Founder" report: https://carta.com/data/solo-founders-report/
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Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: The rise of the solo founder
01:15 – Welcome Julian Weisser
02:00 – Challenging the co-founder default
04:31 – The "Denominator Delusion"
06:20 – Why VCs talk themselves out of solo founders
08:32 – Is AI the ultimate unlock for solo builders?
10:30 – The hidden frequency of co-founder breakups
13:15 – When interpersonal misalignment destroys a company
15:04 – Can you add a co-founder two years in?
17:52 – Is being a founder too "high status" now?
21:28 – The difference between serious founders and "tourists"
24:13 – Deep Dive: The State of the Solo Founder Report
26:46 – Chart 1: Over 1/3 of startups are now solo
28:30 – Changing investor minds: A story from the Midas List
30:56 – How solo founders hire and build teams differently
34:22 – The equity advantage: Why solos exit with more ownership
36:33 – "Authorship" vs. Ownership
38:12 – Outro
This presentation contains general information only and eShares, Inc. dba Carta, Inc. (“Carta”) is not, by means of this publication, rendering accounting, business, financial, investment, legal, tax, or other professional advice or services, and is for informational purposes only. This presentation is not a substitute for such professional advice or services nor should it be used as a basis for any decision or action that may affect your business or interests. © 2025 eShares, Inc., dba Carta, Inc. All rights reserved.
