I. Define Your Goals and the Differences Between an Investor and a Partner

Investor:

• An individual or organization that invests money in a project with the aim of earning a profit.
• Involvement is limited to financial aspects, with no participation in management.

Investor-Partner:

• In addition to financial investment, actively participates in the startup’s development.
• Contributes expertise, strategic vision, or helps build a network of contacts.

If you are specifically looking for a partner, it is crucial to clearly indicate that you need someone who is willing to actively engage in the project’s development, not just provide capital.

II. Prepare Your Startup for Partner Search

Before starting the search, ensure your project is ready for presentation:

Business Plan (Project Concept, Roadmap):

• Description of the product or service.
• Market analysis and target audience. Market positioning.
• Step-by-step implementation plan.
• Resources required for the project.
• Financial forecast (expenses, revenues, profitability).
• Risks and risk management.
• Scaling strategy.

Pitch Deck:

• Should be concise and visually appealing (10-15 slides).
• Includes the uniqueness of the product, partner benefits, and growth prospects.

Financial Model:

• Describes the calculated scenarios for the project, assumptions, and input data.
• Projected revenues, costs, and profit, cash flow plan, and forecast balance for 3-5 years.
• For European startups: consider tax and legal expenses.

Legal Documents:

• If the startup is registered, prepare a certificate from the registry (e.g., Company Registration Certificate).
• If not, determine the legal form (LLC, Sole Proprietorship, etc.) and location, taking into account tax planning requirements.
• Draft a partnership agreement (including share, duties, and exit rights).

III. Determine Who You Need: Partner’s Role and Profile

Depending on the specifics of the startup, its development stage, and the founder’s competencies, the need for a partner may vary.

Partner Role:
For example:

• Idea and MVP Stage: Technical partner (CTO).
• Growth Stage: Marketing partner (CMO), investor-partner.
• Scaling Stage: Financial partner (CFO).

Partner Profile:

• Competencies: Skills that are lacking in the team (e.g., development or management experience).
• Personality Traits: Shared values, readiness to take risks.
• Financial Capacity: Willingness to invest capital or offset its absence with active participation.

We will further discuss the topic of partner roles in startups in our Telegram channel.

IV. Create an Attractive Advertisement

Key elements:

• Clarity and professionalism:
  Avoid vague phrasing. Clearly state what you offer (share, role).
• Startup viability:
  Provide data: market size, initial results.
• Cooperation terms:
  Specify the partner’s share in the company and responsibilities.

Example: “Looking for a technical partner (CTO) for a FinTech startup. The product has been tested, and early customers confirm its value. We are offering 20% equity in exchange for involvement in development and scaling.”

V. Structure of an Effective Announcement

• Title: Provide key information. Example: “Looking for a partner (CTO) for developing an AI product.”
• Project Description: Specify the field, project stage, and your goal.
• Needs: Describe what you’re looking for in a partner (skills, role).
• Cooperation Terms: Outline the share and responsibilities.
• Contacts: Provide email, LinkedIn, or Telegram.

VI. Choosing Platforms for the Search

The platform choice depends on the type of partner. Examples include:

Professional Networks and Platforms:

• LinkedIn – for finding specialists and business partners.
• AngelList – for startups and investors.
• Crunchbase – information on startups and their participants.

Communities for Entrepreneurs:

• Hacker News – popular among developers.
• Reddit (r/startups, r/entrepreneur) – international audience.

Local and Specialized Platforms:

• EU-Startups, StartupBlink, Telegram and Slack groups.

VII. Legal Aspects

If your startup is based in Europe, consider:

Registration Type:

• Impact on taxation, rights of participants, and investment opportunities.

Partnership Agreement:

• Define ownership conditions, duties, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Intellectual Property:

• Secure product rights with the company.

Taxation:

• Check compliance with local legislation (e.g., Directive 2011/96/EU).

Conclusion

Attracting a partner to your startup via the internet is a complex but manageable process. Success depends on thorough preparation, clear goal-setting, and the right strategy. By following the steps outlined above, you will be able to find a partner who shares your values and helps your business reach new heights.

Additional Materials:
Soon, you will be able to read more materials in our Telegram channel on topics such as:

• Types of partner roles in a startup.
• The optimal profile for searching for startup partners.
• The ideal partner profile depending on the startup development stage.