from Hacker News

Should you do a startup with your spouse?

by ebahnx on 2/16/14, 7:20 PM with 6 comments

• by jwarzech on 2/16/14, 8:02 PM

  Great way to visualize skillset match for co-founders, I however feel that this isn't isolated to doing a startup with a spouse but with any co-founder choice; making sure you have the right skill balance.

  Since starting backstitch (http://backstit.ch) with my wife we constantly get this question: "How do you work so well together?" We really don't see it different than if we were just two best friends from college that decided to start a startup.

  We were used to working together on projects in school and post graduation weekend hacks. Our careers led us to work on different things and pick up different expertise (font-end design vs operations vs data analysis, ect.) Yes you need to consider thing such as establishing a work vs personal relationship but the same is true when going into business with a close friend as many people do.

• by philwelch on 2/16/14, 7:57 PM

  Terms like "mom and pop store" or "family business" are cliches for a reason. While not all spouses make for good business partners, having a business partner whom you can trust and whose vested interests you naturally share is a powerful asset.