If you’re debating a partnership, this video gives you a pragmatic checklist to avoid painful co-founder mistakes—no fluff. We cover the only three valid reasons to bring on a partner (skills, connections, money), how to test reliability fast, the legal basics to align early, and a simple evaluation framework you can use today.
You’ll learn how to separate confidence issues from real capability gaps, run a lightweight “pie-slicing” contribution model for transparency, map critical skill gaps from day one, and run honest performance reviews that actually improve outcomes. Perfect for founders at idea to early build stage who want fewer surprises and more execution.
📍 Timestamps
00:00 Why I started Startup Witch & who this is for
00:26 Do you really need a business partner?
01:12 The only 3 valid reasons: skills, connections, money
03:59 How to test if your cofounder is actually reliable
05:00 Legal alignment: what to discuss before you sign anything
06:20 The “pie-slicing” method for fair equity and transparency
08:39 Mapping your startup’s skill gaps (and fixing them fast)
10:52 Performance reviews & red flags that save your startup
🧙♀️ About the Host Julia George (she/her) — the Startup Witch herself. After trading boardrooms for baby bottles, Julia escaped the corporate grind to craft a freer, more meaningful life. She built a pricing and sales consultancy, co-founded SaaS startups, and learned firsthand that chaos is the best teacher. Now she helps founders break their own startup curses, build smarter, and feel less alone in the madness.
Follow on Instagram: startup_witch
Follow Julia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliageorgi/
Visit Julia's innovation Studio: https://kbngconsulting.com/kbng-innovation-studio
AND FINALLY HERE IS THE LINK TO THE FRAMEWORK: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zh9os3oEeOFpw1tjJCBW5HC9FNWyO1Vk7FXlIs_D_ag/edit?usp=sharing