What No One Tells You About Power Dynamics Between Cofounders
When people talk about cofounders, the conversation usually centers on alignment. Shared vision. Complementary skills. Trust. Those things matter. But they are not the whole story. What rarely gets discussed is power. Not the obvious kind. The quiet kind. The kind that shows up in who speaks first, whose opinion carries weight without explanation, and who is expected to adapt when things feel misaligned. In the early days of a company, power can feel invisible. Everyone is moving fast. Decisions are made informally. Roles are fluid. What feels like flexibility at the start can slowly harden into something else. Power shows up in small ways. Who sets the agenda. Who frames problems. Who is seen as decisive versus emotional. Who gets the benefit of the doubt when something goes wrong. These dynamics are rarely intentional. Most cofounders are not trying to dominate or diminish one another. But intent does not erase impact. Over time, repeated patterns shape how safe it feels to spea...