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Tag: Founder Dating

My Search for a Technical Co-Founder

Batman and Robin

Yes, I know I haven’t been blogging. But my mom taught me that when you have nothing to say, keep your mouth shut.

It’s not like I haven’t been active but my journey has taken me in a new direction.
Just as I was about to hire a team of freelancers to tackle the beta version of StashWall, I realized that I’m probably not going to be able to scale that way. That I need a team with skin in the game. So I switched tactics midstream and started my search.

And it has been a huge challenge. I’m over 40 so old/elderly in geek eyes. I don’t have an engineering or computer science degree. Or friends in that world. I’m the “business” person. And I’m not connected to the PayPal, Facebook, Google mafia. I’m an outsider.

And so I’m starting from scratch. Trying to break into a new world. One where every founder (Batman) has an idea and is looking for their Robin. Because it’s impossible to do it all and even more sobering, in technology it’s the geeks that are valued most.

I’ve been to countless meetups and conferences in San Francisco, Silicon Valley
And LA. There’s a whole industry that’s sprung up to help match people up. Taking the idea behind online dating and moving it to co-founder dating. Some virtual and some IRL (in real life).

And boy, it certainly feels like dating. You meet someone across a crowded room, exchange cards and say I’ll call you. But they never respond. Ouch. Or you do meet someone and go on that date. Spend 2 hours together. Feel really good about it and then, rejection. They don’t even have the decency or manners to say, sorry, you’re not the one.

Last night I went to an event organized by Founder Dating. A new organization I joined. They promised a 50/50 mix of engineers and business founders but only 13 of the 25 invitees showed up and only 3 had technical chops. Kind of like going to a high school dance where it’s mostly girls and the boys are mobbed.

But like in the romantic version of dating, you stick with it. Hoping, wishing that the next person will be the one.

So if you know anyone who may be right for me, please know that I’m willing to be fixed up. Hope springs eternal.