Field notes
Frameworks for stronger partnerships.
Field notes, frameworks, and applied research on how co-founder partnerships actually hold up under pressure.
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12 November 2026Partnership3 min readFounder reference check questions for investors
Before signing with a VC, call three founders whose companies did well and three whose companies failed, then ask what the partner did when numbers dropped.
11 November 2026Conflict3 min readYour cofounder quits right after the raise
A cofounder who quits right after a round leaves two problems: their equity and investor confidence. Check vesting first, then talk to your lead.
10 November 2026Partnership3 min readFounders agreement template: what free ones miss
A free founders agreement template covers names and equity, then stops. Add exit mechanics, IP assignment and a tie-break before you rely on one.
9 November 2026Conflict3 min readWhat to tell investors when a cofounder quits
Tell investors as soon as the decision is final, with a plan already forming. Explain what changes for equity, the roadmap and the cap table.
6 November 2026Conflict3 min readHow to announce a cofounder's departure to the team
Announcing a cofounder's departure to the team works when you say what's changing, what isn't, and who to ask, before rumors fill the gap.
5 November 2026Equity4 min readDead equity: when an ex-founder owns too much
Dead equity is stock an ex-founder keeps after leaving. What it is, why investors reject it, and how vesting cliffs and buy-back clauses prevent it.
4 November 2026Conflict3 min readHow to leave your startup as a cofounder
Leaving a startup as a cofounder means settling equity and vesting, telling your cofounders and team, and handing over accounts and IP in writing.
3 November 2026Equity4 min readGood leaver and bad leaver clauses explained
Good leaver bad leaver clauses decide what happens to a departing cofounder's shares. Here is how the triggers and payouts work in practice.
2 November 2026Conflict4 min readShould I leave my cofounder? Two questions to ask first
Should I leave my cofounder. Two questions cut through the noise: is this the work or the person, and have you actually tried to fix it.
30 October 2026Conflict3 min readCan you remove a cofounder without their consent?
Removing a cofounder without consent only works if your bylaws or shareholder agreement already give someone that authority and procedure is followed exactly.
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