Co-Founder Dating: How to Find Your CTO (Lessons from Y-Combinator)

CTOs play a crucial role in the success of startups. 

They serve as the organization's technology leaders — managing infrastructure, staying ahead of market trends, and driving the product vision forward. 

However, finding a CTO for your startup is no easy task. 

It is an elaborate, time-consuming process that we in the startup world endearingly refer to as the "co-founder dating" phase. Much like in a romantic context, this period normally comes with long waits, frequent visits to your inbox, and disappointing letdowns.  

Remember, CTOs can single-handedly make the difference between a thriving tech brand and just another failed startup. 

That's why every entrepreneur needs to approach co-founder dating with a strategic and patient mindset. 

Read on to learn more about co-founder dating, the role of CTOs, and how to find the "right one" for your startup.

Understanding the Role of a Chief Technology Officer

The first order of business is to understand exactly what a CTO should bring to the table. 

Here is a list of their functions and responsibilities in a startup:

• Oversee technology and infrastructure strategy. CTOs are primarily in charge of building and maintaining the startup's technology infrastructure. 
• Lead technology procurement. The CTO also manages the integration of new solutions or tools to streamline development and enhance product features.
• Provide visionary leadership. As the technology leader, the CTO sits down with product designers and engineers to discuss the technical feasibility of ideas while overseeing the entire development lifecycle.
• Manage the development team. CTOs are also in charge of hiring, training, guiding, and retaining the engineering team —  all while keeping them energized and motivated on a day-to-day basis. 
• Communicate with stakeholders. Finally, CTOs should be able to effectively communicate advanced concepts to non-technical stakeholders, including marketers, investors, and customer service representatives. 

Defining Your Needs

Just because a CTO fits the blanket description of their role, doesn't mean they're automatically the perfect fit.

You shouldn't put your startup's specific technology-related needs as an afterthought.

Ask yourself, what technical expertise do you need to achieve your startup vision?

Start from the top and define the specific high-level or emerging technologies you need — be it AI, Augmented Reality (AR), blockchain, or cloud computing. Evaluating technological expertise should significantly narrow down your search for the best-fit CTO. 

Here's a tip: If possible, consider building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) using no-code tools or design mockups with tools like Figma to demonstrate your vision and attract talented CTOs. Doing so helps ensure alignment while you discuss product features and explore possible improvements.

Ways to Look for CTOs

At this point, you're now much better positioned to look for the right CTO for your startup.

Here are five proven tips to get the ball rolling:

1. Attending Networking Events

Some of the biggest brands in the tech world, including Airbnb and Stripe, came together by attending co-founder dating conferences and events. 

Founder dating events are hosted by organizations like Indie Hackers, CoFoundersLab, and Founders Network. You can also use platforms like Eventbrite to browse free-for-all founder dating event listings. 

Ideally, aim for in-person dating events to assess factors that would otherwise be intangible through online communication. This includes chemistry, communication style, and cultural fit.

2. Use Y Combinator's Co-Founder Matching Platform

To say that Y Combinator has a huge network of innovation-driven founders would be an understatement. And, with the Co-Founder Matching platform, you can tap into this network to potentially find the CTO your startup needs.

With Co-Founder Matching, you'll be in the same sphere as technology leaders in renowned companies, including Microsoft, Visa, Google, and SpaceX. Simply build out your profile, check the top-recommended connections based on your preferences, and initiate the conversation.

3. Explore Other Networks (LinkedIn, Tech Forums, Etc.)

Want to widen your co-founder dating net?

Here's the thing: Not all successful startups found their CTOs specifically from co-founder dating platforms or events.

Kissmetrics, Awario, CloudTask, and countless other companies started with co-founders who met on LinkedIn. And you can do the same, especially if you participate in popular co-founder groups like The Founders Exchange.

4. Consider Hiring Fractional CTOs

Sometimes, the best way to ensure you're partnering with the right person is to look for fractional CTOs.

In simple terms, a fractional CTO is someone who provides visionary leadership and technical expertise on a part-time or contractual basis. Their career revolves around quickly adjusting and adapting to different startups — solving problems related to technology, building technical infrastructures, and mobilizing engineering teams.

TL;DR: They're pretty much guaranteed to have all the intangibles you're looking for.

You can look for fractional CTOs from agencies that offer staff augmentation services. Here at Horizon Labs, we helped companies like Yura Health and Flair Labs address technological challenges — from building an MVP to scaling product features — working as their fractional CTO. 

We'd love to sit down for a nice, productive chat. If you're in, click here to schedule your free consultation.

5. Use Online Directories and Job Boards

Finally, you can scrub through online directories or job boards specifically built to help entrepreneurs connect with CTOs.

Just a word of advice: Services like CTO Jobs HQ are a mixed bag. You need to be deliberate and meticulous when assessing the listings to find a potential candidate. 

Apart from CTO Jobs HQ, below are other CTO job boards and recruitment directories you can use:

• Indeed
• CTO-Jobs.com
• Dice
• Wellfound
• Startup.jobs

Best Practices for Finding the Perfect CTO

Getting ahold of potential CTOs is just the first half of co-founder dating. 

Now, the real work begins.

Here are five best practices to help you find the best person for the job:

• Look for passion — A CTO must be driven by the desire to build a successful product. If someone is mainly concerned about the paycheck, there might be times when they lower their standards to the "bare minimum," especially when the going gets tough.
• Check for similar projects in the past — When interviewing a potential CTO, one of the first questions you need to ask is, "Have you worked on similar products or features in the past?" Ideally, their portfolio should include products that are still active or — better yet — thriving.
• Conduct a thorough interview — Be sure to ask questions that will shed light on how a CTO responds to real-world challenges. Focus on important aspects like technical debt, team management, employee retention, and finding compromise with higher-ups who are resistant to technological change.
• Perform reference checks — Even if an interview goes exceedingly well, don't make a hiring decision on the spot. Instead, take some time to ask their references (i.e., previous colleagues) to validate what you've learned.
• Consider working on a small test project — Finally, working together on a low-cost test project is a surefire way to evaluate your compatibility. Try to focus on technical tasks related to your product, MVP, or technology stack.

Conclusion 

Co-founder dating for your CTO is a tedious but necessary process towards startup success. 

Remember, you need a clear definition of your startup's technology needs first. Go over your pre-launch checklist to ensure you find someone who fully aligns with your vision. 

If you need a head start in the co-founder dating game, remember that we're bringing that YC and VC expertise along with decades of collective experience running startups to the table. Schedule a free consultation here and let's talk about our services — whether you're looking for a fractional CTO, custom software development, or anything else related to startups.