How to Recruit a Technical Co-Founder for Your Startup | Hacker News

"Offer me a decent salary" should be on the top of this list. If you have a solid, established relationship with somebody technical, and he or she is interested in a startup endeavor, raising the possibility of going into business together is one thing. But if you have to "recruit" a technical co-founder because your social circle is void of competent technical people, the number of potential co-founders who will be eager to jump on board your boat without monetary compensation is probably fairly small. Let's face it: the kind of person who would make for a good technical co-founder probably doesn't have any shortage of opportunities in today's market. So what's the appeal of a jumping in bed with a complete stranger if all that's on the table is equity and "salary upon funding"? There typically is none, which is why so many of the people trying to find a technical co-founder experience so much angst.