Where to Find a Technical Co-Founder If You're a Creative, Introverted, and a bit ADHD

Finding a technical co-founder is one of the most important and intimidating steps for a startup founder. I should know, I’m a non-technical founder. When I started Dauntless, I had the vision, the market insight, and early traction, but I needed someone who could actually build the product.

And this was pre-AI, so I couldn’t even vibe code an MVP to help sell the vision. But even with AI, I still get dozens of DMs every day asking me, “But where do I find someone?!? Do I even need a co-founder??”

Sorry to break it to you, party of one advocates, but most founders benefit from building with a co-founder or two. The good news: I found out that there isn’t just one way to find your person(s). Here are five proven, simple, scrappy ways to meet your entrepreneurial match, and start not after you pick the “perfect company name, not after you have the website published, not after you feel ready. Today.

1. Post For a Co-Founder on Job Boards

This is way more common and accepted now than it was during our 2018 founding era. Platforms like Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent), LinkedIn, and FractionalJobs.io are good starting points. When you post, don’t just describe the role, set the vision, and be honest about compensation. It’s hard to draw in strong candidates with “steal mode stealth startup doing stealth, sweat equity only”.

Be clear about:

• The problem you’re solving.

• Why now is the right time.

• What makes you uniquely suited to build out this concept

• What you’re offering (equity, salary, or a mix).

Make sure your LinkedIn profile and online footprint are up to date, too. The best candidates won’t just evaluate the job; they’ll evaluate you. This is how we found our CTO, James! ⤵️

2. Partner with a Venture Studio and Make Them Your Co-Founder

If speed is a factor and you don’t have the time or patience to go through 100 job applications and want to shortcut the “find one perfect technical co-founder” problem, venture studios offer a different model.

Firms like Dauntless Studios act as an all-in-one technical co-founder. Instead of relying on a single individual, you get a team that covers engineering, product management, operations, and even go-to-market strategy.

This approach can:

• Accelerate your build timeline.

• Reduce execution risk.

• Provide structured support beyond just code.

We have a list of venture studios by product type and industry here. It’s especially useful if you want to move fast or if you don’t want to spend months interviewing technical talent without really knowing what you’re looking for. The tradeoff is typically equity or structured fees, so treat it like bringing on a serious long-term partner, not a one-off service.

3. Attend Startup Events and Network with Aspiring Founders

Some of the best co-founder relationships are formed in person.

Pitch events, accelerators, startup mixers, hackathons, and conferences are all prime events for meeting technical talent.

During our formation phase, we pitched at SXSW, attended Decelera (the anti-accelerator) in Spain, signed up for a dozen mixer events at our local WeWork, spoke at Augmented Work Expo, participated in some more typical programs like Mass Challenge, and even considered an offer from Techstars.

Meeting people in these environments let me assess something you can’t get from a resume: how someone thinks, communicates, collaborates, and how weird they are (all founders are a little weird, embrace it).

When attending, I found that you can minimize the cringe by:

• Talking about the problem you’re solving, not just the idea.

• Asking others what they’re building and why.

• Looking for shared values, energy, and curiosity, not just credentials.

You don’t need to go into an event and be a business idea pitching machine. In fact, please don’t. There’s always that one guy; don’t be that guy. The goal is to build a relationship. Odds are you aren’t going to co-found a company with someone after one 30-minute conversation, so if you genuinely don’t want the conversation to end, and plan to meet again later, that’s a good sign.

4. Use Co-Founder Matching Platforms

If you want a more structured approach, matching platforms can help. We tried a matching platform specifically for AR/VR founders back in 2018. Here's Sofia and I perfecting our company profile:

It’s no longer around (RIP), but YC’s Co-Founder Matching is one of the most well-known options still available. It allows you to connect with thousands of founders looking for partners, with filters for skills, interests, and commitment level.

What makes this effective:

• Everyone is there for the same reason.

• You can quickly meet multiple candidates.

• It lowers the friction of starting conversations.

As with anything YC-related, it has mixed reviews. Personally, I think niche-specific matching programs yield better matches, but they are hard to find and don’t always stick around for long. Whichever platform you use, treat it like online dating for startups: expect to meet several people before you find the right fit. Value alignment matters just as much as technical skill.

5. Use AI as Your Temporary Co-Founder

You don’t need to wait for the perfect person to start building.

AI tools help you prototype, validate ideas, write basic code, design interfaces, and simulate early product workflows. While AI won’t replace a true technical co-founder, it can dramatically extend how far you can go on your own. Plus, it won’t be mad when you dump it for a human.

Use AI to:

• Research the target pain point and market appetite.

• Build early prototypes or MVPs.

• Validate demand before investing heavily.

• Better understand the technical scope of your idea.

When the right technical co-founder comes along, they’ll be joining momentum, not starting from zero. Just don’t be upset when you do find a technical founder and he or she calls your vibe coded baby ugly.

Finding a technical co-founder is a mix of luck and intentional effort. The best founders don’t wait; they test, meet, build, and refine until they find the right co-conspirator. Reply/comment below if you’re a speed-to-market founder and want to co-build something awesome with Dauntless. I’ll send you a link to book a call.

xoxo,

Lori-Lee

The Most Valuable Business Asset in 2030: Your Personal Brand

In 2030, the richest company might be you.
Forget real estate, oil, or even AI, the most valuable business asset on earth will be your personal brand. As AI floods the internet with trillions of generic posts, the only way to cut through the noise is to be unmistakably, unapologetically you.

Why Personal Branding for Founders Matters More Than Ever

By the end of this post, you’ll know:

• Why AI is both a blessing and a curse for online entrepreneurs

• How personal brands break through the AI content storm

• Five actionable steps to claim your founder-led brand today

The Coming AI Content Tsunami

AI tools are about to unleash unlimited content in the form of blogs, tweets, videos, and even full-blown courses. Imagine a fire hose of clickbait, memes, and “insightful” LinkedIn posts. We’re already seeing it: generic, AI-generated content with no personal touch. When I spot it, I unfollow, because I’m not interested in following a bot.

Here’s why:

• People crave value, scars, failures, and unique perspectives, not recycled AI output.

• Content curation alone isn’t enough; remember Tumblr? Curation fades, but original voices last.

• Your audience wants you, not just another search result.

Why Personal Brands Will Break Through in an AI World

Human > Machine.
People crave authentic connection. And that craving will only grow as AI-generated content increases. When everything sounds like an echo chamber, real humans stand out.

Here’s what sets founder-led marketing apart:

1. Trust & Authenticity: You can’t fake a real laugh or a story about your grandma.

2. Parasocial Relationships: Your wins and failures are hooks AI can’t replicate.

3. Relatability: We follow people, not faceless logos or generic “thought leaders.”

Example:
Love him or hate him, Gary Vee’s content is instantly recognizable. He’s built a founder-led brand that’s impossible to fake.

Founder-Led Brands: Proof in the Wild

A founder-led brand is simple: the business is driven by the person who started it. Think Steve Jobs (Apple), Sara Blakely (Spanx), or Ben Francis (Gymshark). Or, hey—me.

Why does it work?

• People buy stories, vision, and a bit of founder magic, not just products.

• Founder-led brands are authentic, mission-driven, and human.

• Customers want to see the messy, unfiltered journey, not just the highlights.

Case Studies

Gary Vaynerchuk:

• Started as a wine critic

• Daily video blitz across platforms

• Now runs VaynerX, with millions of followers and a branded ecosystem

Ben Francis (Gymshark):

• Shared gym selfies and honest failures

• Built a community-first brand

• Grew from a garage startup to a $1.3B valuation, anchored in Ben’s story

Key Takeaway:
Your face is your best logo. Your story is your best marketing channel.

Note: Founder-led brands can be less acquirable than faceless corporations. If you plan to sell your business, make sure to eventually scale your marketing beyond just your face.

Claim Your Personal Brand Before the Window Closes

The AI wave is already building. Every day you wait, a dozen new clones pop up. If you don’t plant your personal-brand flag now, you’ll be lost in a sea of synthetic noise.

It’s like beachfront property—the earlier you claim it, the more valuable it becomes.

Your 5-Point Personal Brand Blueprint

1. Define Your North Star
Pick a core theme (e.g., “AI entrepreneur,” “wellness rebel,” “finance for creatives”). This anchors every piece of content.

2. Show Up Daily (or Nearly)
Post short videos (1–2 minutes) consistently. Treat it like brushing your teeth, a non-negotiable. If you’re consistent for long enough, it becomes harder to skip a posting day than to just keep going.

3. Be Unapologetically You
Share flaws, funny moments, and pet peeves. Vulnerability = relatability.

4. Engage & Iterate
Reply to every comment, especially your first 1,000. Use polls, Q&As, and live streams to test what resonates. Established personal brands stop engaging to create an illusion of exclusivity. You’ll know when you have enough eyeballs on your content to stop responding to every comment, but it won’t be in the first 1000 posts.

5. Repurpose Like Crazy
Turn one video into quote graphics, tweets, and newsletter nuggets. Reach different audiences with the same story.

Tools & Tactics to Amplify Your Founder-Led Brand

You don’t need a Hollywood crew, just a smartphone and a few smart tools (all of which have free tiers):

• Descript: Fast editing and filler-word removal

• Canva: Turn your key quotes into scroll-stopping graphics

• Substack or Beehiiv: Launch a weekly “behind-the-scenes” newsletter

Pro Tip: Batch content and film 5 shorts in one session, then schedule them out. Automate your consistency.

Conclusion: The #1 Asset of 2030 Is You

Recap:

• AI creates noise; you create connection.

• Human stories cut through generics.

• Founder-led brands already own their categories.

Your Next Steps:

1. Pick your core theme and write it down.

2. Commit to posting 5x/week, starting today. Text post, photo with a caption, or video. Dealers choice.

3. Find a buddy or join a virtual accountability group to keep you honest.

Ready to build your founder-led brand and master personal branding for founders?
Unlock my Write Like a CEO AI System Prompt and start creating content that connects, persuades, and grows your business, even in the age of AI.

Vibe Coding & The Next Generation of Digital Nomads

Build from a Bali villa. Launch from a seaside hammock. Sell to the world. As I write this, I’m vibe coding a tarot app from a cafe in Milan, eating an apricot croissant and drinking an Americano to combat the jet lag.

Up until now, the digital nomad life was synonymous with client work. Garden variety freelancing, but with the perks of a better location and a boss who doesn’t care what time you clock in and clock out. It was a dream come true.

Vibe coding AI tools rewrite that digital nomad playbook. They hand nomads product ownership and IP on a silver platter. Here’s how:

Vibe Coding Takes Digital Nomads From Freelancer to Founder

Most digital nomads are in creative or management roles, and have little desire to establish the roots necessary to build a team that supports an app or agency. AI tools like VibeCode, Loveable, Replit, and Bolt help the non-technically inclined to craft prototypes, write production-ready code, and spawn go-to-market assets with plain English prompts. You don’t trade time for money. You build assets that earn while you sleep.

• Prototype in 24 hours
• Launch version 1.0 in 7 days
• Monetize in 30 days

Why IP Matters to Digital Nomads More Than Ever in the Age of AI

Remote workers and freelancers trade time for money for hours. By shifting to founders/owners, digital nomads get the benefits of:

1. Ownership: You control the repository, the roadmap, and the revenue streams.

2. Resale Value: Products with IP sell for 5–10× earnings multiples.

3. Scalability: Code serves 1 user, or 1 million.

Your Runway to Nomad Entrepreneurship Awaits

Building your own dream has downsides, too. You’ll face technical glitches, marketing flops, and funding uncertainty. But the potential financial freedom upside is worth the learning curve headaches, especially for those familiar with customer pain points.

If you’re ready to take the next step, here are some resources:

1. Get started with beginner-friendly vibe coding platforms like Bolt.new or vibecodeapp.com.

2. Grab Write Like a CEO, my digital guide to crafting c-suite-sounding narratives to help create content.

3. Book a free consultation for Vibe Coding App Launch. Turn your MVP into a revenue-generating machine without a team (or a lot of hair pulling).

Freelancing is soooo 2024, so what are you waiting for?

The Secret to Magazine-Quality Content for Founder-Led Brands (No Copywriter Required)

Most entrepreneurs wear more hats than an it-girl model at fall fashion week. You’re the CEO, the marketer, the customer support rep, and the entire content department. But when it comes to writing, there’s a big gap between “I wrote this at 2 am” and “Wow, this could be in Forbes.”

So, how do founders bridge that gap without hiring a team or selling their soul to the algorithm gods? Here’s the secret: you need a system that gives your DIY drafts a glow-up, without losing your voice.

Why Most DIY Content Falls Flat

You know your business better than anyone. But when it’s time to write, the words either sound stiff, robotic, or like you borrowed them from a 2007 business textbook. Meanwhile, the pros publish punchy, polished content that grabs attention and builds trust.

The difference? Pros don’t write. They edit. There’s a system (and probably a team).

How You can Compete: AN AI Writing Assistant System Prompt

Here’s where an AI Writing Assistant System Prompt comes in. Think of it as your backstage pass to magazine-worthy content, minus the editorial team price tag.

This is a “write me a blog post” prompt. What I’m talking about here are instructions you give an AI so that all of its output adheres to your brand voice rules. You can use a system prompt to:

• Capture your unique voice: quirks, sass, and mannerisms

• Apply proven editorial rules (goodbye, filler and fluff)

• Imbue storytelling principles that others can’t copy

• Deliver content that’s crisp, clear, and ready for the spotlight

How an AI system Prompt Works for Content (No Ivy League Degree Required)

1. Set up a prompt document.
   Open up a Google Doc and create five sections:

   1. Writer Profile

   2. Voice

   3. Tone

   4. Details

   5. References

2. Establish the Writing Rules
   Fill out each section with very literal instructions for the AI tool to follow. The writer profile should talk about who you are, who your audience is, and what your goals are. Voice needs to cover the richness and elevation of your speech, and any common phrases you use. Details should include specific details about you, your product, business or brand. Names, colors, emotions, etc. Get as granular as you can, and if you get stuck, reference the five senses for inspiration. Finally, in references include reference to past work of your that you are proud of, and/or works of others that you draw inspiration from. You may even want to include a section on specific anecdotes or stories you like to tell.

3. Plug them into the prompt.
   Save everything as a PDF and upload it into your AI tool. Most platforms have premium features that allow you to create a project with a set of reference documents so you don’t have to keep uploading or referencing the PDF.

4. Get magazine-level polish.
   The result: content that sounds like you on your best day.

Why Strong Writing Matters for Entrepreneurs

You don’t have time to write and rewrite every post. You don’t have the budget for a full-time copywriter. But you do have a story worth sharing—and an audience that’s hungry for it.

With the right AI system, you can:

• Stand out in a sea of mediocre sameness

• Build authority in your industry

• Attract dream clients and collaborators

• Grow your audience

Ready to Upgrade Your Content?

Stop settling for “good enough.” Start publishing content that looks, feels, and sounds like it belongs in a glossy magazine with your name on the byline.

Want to see how easy it can be? Check out my AI Writing Assistant System Prompt here and give your brand the voice (and polish) it deserves.

The One Skill Every Entrepreneur Needs to Succeed in 2025

AI-generated content now floods our feeds. AI can crunch data, draft emails, and spin tweets in seconds. How are entrepreneurs, especially those of founder-led brands, supposed to stand-out in a sea of AI slop sameness?

The answer is low tech and as old as humanity itself: storytelling.

Why Storytelling Matters to Entrepreneurs in 2025

Generative AI works by predicting the next word in a sentence, based on all the other sentences it’s trained on. AI is basically a fancy auto-complete.

Founders and entrepreneurs can get their content to stand out by employing some age-old writing tools that collectively make up the thing we call storytelling.

Bonus: These writing tools work for audio and video content as well.

Storytelling tools are so effective because they fill in the gaps of the narrative that AI can’t replicate. It provides richness and detail to writing the evokes emotion, paints a mental picture, and ultimately persuades.

Actionable Steps to Integrate Storytelling into Your Content

1. Delete Fluff: Remove unnecessary words that bloat sentences and don’t add new meaning.

2. Include Details: Be specific when describing your product, your customer/user experience, and how your product/service makes people feel. Use sensory details (sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch) and be exact. It’s not a blue sweater, it’s a cerulean blue cable knit sweater.

3. Prioritize Original Language: Take 30 seconds and come up with a novel way of describing something. Don’t rely on cliches or stereotypes to get a message across.

4. Edit for a Unique Voice: Write the way you talk in real life. Include references and analogies you use when speaking to colleagues and friends.

5. Give Direction: Tell the reader/viewer/listener what is happening, and don’t dwell on a point. Deliver the message and move on to the next step. This is what gives writing momentum and keeps people engaged until the end.

Lived Experience: Your Competitive Edge

No algorithm has lived your life. The reason founder-led brands are so effective right now is because a real human is telling prospective customers their lived experience, sometimes as said experience is happening. Sharing your stories, or your customers’ stories, is a quick and dirty way to inject storytelling. Some examples:

• The early morning Uber ride after a lost deal.

• The offstage high-fives after your first investor pitch.

• The all-nighter before your first launch.

• The feeling of seeing your first sale come in as a Shopify ding.

AI doesn’t have access to these stories. Use them to stand out and connect.

The Takeaway on 2025 Entrepreneur Skills

Copywriters and marketers across the board all push “storytelling” as a strategy. Few can tell you what that means. Don’t waste another minute, or another dollar, trying to decode business coach/chief marketing officer/social media guru BS.

Turn on a few simple writing tools and you’ll deliver original thoughts in a voice people instantly recognize as yours. Direct language and concrete details cut through the noise and make you unignorable. You’ve got this. And if you don’t got this, check out the AI System Prompt for Entrepreneurs.