
EP 28 John Coogan: Cofounding Soylent, Becoming a Tech YouTuber, And Joining Founders Fund
The Dock with Omar Waseem
Cofounder with shared experience
Shared experiences from childhood through adulthood, like attending the same schools, getting married around the same time, and having aligned values, create a strong bond between co-founders. This shared history fosters deep trust, enabling them to prioritize their relationship over business disagreements. The emotional connection to a shared community plays a role in this trust, as individuals are less likely to reject someone from their community. The depth of relationships and ingrained community ties increase the likelihood of successful long-term partnerships. The correlation between wedding attendance and marriage length illustrates the importance of having a support network during tough times. Investors and programs like Y Combinator often prefer founders with shared experiences, as these connections are more likely to withstand challenges and maintain cohesion.