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Choosing the Wrong Co-founder is Worse Than the Wrong Idea

I (Mike) raised $12 million to bring the brilliant Shape Matrix technology to market. With one of the smartest crews I've ever worked with, including a former FBI agent, I personally pitched more than 30 companies.

None of them bit. Zero revenue while I was at the company.

The technology wasn't the problem. The co-founder relationship was.

My co-founder and I (not Kass for this one!) never had the hard conversations before going into business together.

While I focused on commercial applications, my co-founder explored new ways to apply the technology without customers in the room. We had different visions. We never talked about it until it was too late.

Why This Matters

Who you start a business with is more important than what the business does. It's far easier to change the business model than to change co-founders.

Yet entrepreneurs rush into partnerships the same way people rush into marriages: blinded by excitement, skipping the difficult talks.

What We Learned

I (Kass) was skeptical from the beginning. I loved Mike's co-founder and the technology. But my gut told me something was off. Mike didn't listen.

With us, we never had that problem. Our skill sets are complementary. I think in spreadsheets; Mike thinks in screenplays. He focuses on ideas, sales, and strategy. I handle operations, finance, and making sure everyone paddles in the same direction.

We had years of working together, raising kids, and navigating hard conversations before we ever co-founded Buddy Media. We de-risked the relationship before we signed the paperwork.

With Shape Matrix, Mike skipped that part.

A Question to Sit With

Have you had the hard conversations with your co-founder? Or are you just excited about the idea?

The best partnerships aren't built on shared enthusiasm. They're built on shared vision, complementary skills, and difficult talks before you need them.

Love,

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INSIGHT

🔁 Scale Starts With Repetition — Don't scale what you can't repeat. Build the system before you chase the growth.

📖 Your Story Is Your Strategy — Campaigns fade. Stories stick. Stop selling and start sharing what's real.

🤝 Accountability Without Fear — People listen to the hard truths when they know you're fighting for them, not against them.

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FOUR FAVORITE FINDS

💰 SpaceX Investors Hit the Jackpot — Ron Baron, Cathie Wood, and Fidelity backed SpaceX before its success was obvious. Now they're reaping some of the largest gains in venture capital history.

🎨 From Facebook Post to Multimillion-dollar Business — Paula Blankenship posted a photo of a painted table in 2013. People wanted to know how she did it. Today, Heirloom Traditions Paint does $31 million a year.

🍕 The Firm That Rescued Arby's Now Wants Pizza Hut — LongRange Capital turned a dying fast food chain into a $20B empire. Now they're in talks to do the same with Pizza Hut.

📉 Oracle Is Spending Like Big Tech — Oracle spent $56 billion on data centers last year and plans to spend $70 billion more to compete with Microsoft and Amazon. Investors aren't convinced.

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AROUND THE FARM

↗️ Starting Up, The Real Way — Harlan Cohen came to our home to talk about entrepreneurial mindset, selling yourself, and leaning into discomfort.

🎙 Scaling, Exits, and the AI Era — Mike joined Paul Morris to talk about building companies from golf.com to Buddy Media, and why timing and storytelling matter more than technology alone.

🤑 Money Mindset Deep Dive — We got real with Kareen Zahr about how we think about money, risk, and building wealth as entrepreneurs.

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FINALLY, WANNA GET INVOLVED?

🌾 Harvest Mentorship — Stuck? Get 1:1 mentorship with Kass & Mike and start moving. Reserve Your Spot

🚜 Farm Council — Bring your hardest problem. Leave with a plan from Kass, Mike & 4 sharp peers. Grab a Seat

📖 Bulk Orders for Your Team — Want to get the book into the hands of your whole crew? We've got you. Order Bulk Copies

⏰ Book Us to Speak — We'd love to bring the shoveling mindset to your next event. Invite Us

🤯 Join the Conversation — Share your thoughts on social using #FoundersFarm

⏩ Spread the Word — Know 3 entrepreneurs who should be getting this? Forward it to them!

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