What do you do if you're unsure how to choose the right co-founder or team members for your Web3 startup?

Before diving into the talent pool, identify your startup's critical skills. Do you need a rockstar blockchain developer? A marketing guru with crypto cred? Being clear on your needs helps you target the right talent and avoid shiny-object syndrome.

Finding the right co-founder in Web3 is a journey that shouldn't be rushed. While you both may be passionate about blockchain, it's crucial to ensure your long-term visions align. One may see Web3 as a vehicle for short-term market plays, while the other envisions lasting industry impact. In my experience, building a strong team requires more than shared enthusiasm—it needs shared goals. Discuss where you see your venture in 5 or 10 years. Are you both committed to being long-term innovators? Or does one prefer riding the next token wave? When co-founders truly align on their Web3 goals, that harmony attracts like-minded teamates. It's about finding partners who not only understand the tech but are genuinely committed to its impact.

Shared vision and values Answer generated using Human Intelligence not AI :) Choosing the right co-founder for your Web3 startup is absolutely critical and the two things I would prioritise complete alignment on is a shared vision and shared values. For the shared vision, the picture of the long-term future we want to create for ourselves and that creates value for others should excite all co-founders equally, even though the strategy of how to get there will change many times within the journey The second are shared values, which is how the co-founders will act day-to-day in pursuit of their shared vision. This "culture" should align so that problems become easier to solve together.

Being aligned on the same vision is crucial in selecting a viable co-founder in any business, specifically in a new technology field like Web3. First, assess for yourself what you want to achieve with your business and write down 3 non-negotiable elements of your vision. Make those three parts the foundation of your selection process.

Cultural fit is an element of partner or employee selection that I would deem to be the most important one (depending on the position and tasks the person is brought on board for, of course). My experience as a former officer in the Air Force and serial startup founder has shown me, that almost every work skill can be taught (the effort needed and the ROI on that depends purely on your needs). However, molding someone into a cultural position that he or she is not a fit for is almost impossible. The repercussions of a "bad apple" in the company can be devastating and lead to the destruction of teams and the business itself. Spend time on developing a good way to determine the cultural fit of a candidate as soon as possible.

Sure, skills are important, but company culture is the code that keeps your team running smoothly. Look for individuals who share your values, communication style, and work ethic. A harmonious team environment fosters creativity, collaboration, and reduces friction down the road.

Resumes can be deceiving. Put those listed skills to the test! Assign technical coding challenges, assess marketing campaign strategies, or grill them on their understanding of DeFi protocols. Verify their abilities before making a critical decision.

Your network is a goldmine! Reach out to mentors, advisors, or even other founders in the Web3 space. Seek their recommendations for potential co-founders or team members. Their connections and insights can be invaluable in finding the perfect fit.

Consider a trial period before making a permanent commitment. This could involve a short-term contract or a project-based collaboration. See how they work under pressure, how they integrate with the team, and if their skills align with expectations.

A web3 startup can be multiple founders like a DAO as well. Building in and with community. That is the only upside of having a web3 style startup, incentives and believers around a purpose, vibe, meme. If you are not set up like web3, then the question reduces to how you find a cofounder. If you are lucky, work with people who you built things with before. Otherwise all the above sections in this article.

Look beyond the usual suspects! The Web3 space is brimming with fresh talent. Consider recent coding bootcamp grads with a passion for crypto or young marketers fluent in the language of DAOs. Diversity of experience and perspectives can breed innovation and give your startup a unique edge.