And they lived happily ever after. If they exited that is (and happiness is subjective).
We need to talk.
And this month we’re going to talk about relationships!
Everyone says you need a cofounder. I’ve been through a lot of different cofounder adjacent positions (business partner, operator) but QuietConversion was the first time I ever had to find a partner to work with.
And I had no idea how to do it.
I’ve had three major business partners. These are the ways I partnered up and some of the things I learned.
Vibes:
I wasn’t even looking for a cofounder. I was still developing my thesis and then one day we got on a call, there was a click moment, and I thought, “Oh shit, I think this is it.” Later that night, before I could lose my nerve, I texted him and the rest was history. We split because of a capacity mismatch. It was amicable. 10/10 would break up with again.
Resume + History:
A long time ago I had this amazing business partner. We were quite literally the perfect team. She managed budget and on-site duties. I handled escalations and strategy. I had known her for decades. It was an expensive lesson in money, cognitive load, and stress. Oh and heartbreak.
Pressure:
I needed someone fast while I was addressing the issues with my previous business partner. He was inexperienced. It was the best choice I had at the time under that time pressure. Another set of expensive lessons but now he’s experienced. Yay?
Business relationships are like other relationships. The scars of your past dictate who you choose in the future only this time it comes with severe legal ramifications and you’re signing up for 7-10 years.
At the cofounder mixer I attended for this pre-accelerator, a founder said, “VCs say that the biggest reason startups fail is because of cofounder issues.”
After my business partner history, yeah same.
I like optionality, exits, and safety nets. Jumping in with a new partner, barely vetted, sounds like the opposite of that.
In the next article I’ll go over my journey as a solopreneur and the things I realized I need in another business partner.
Strategy matters, but
Trust moves markets.
— Rhea Lynn Mascarinas
GTM Strategist, Quiet Conversion
© 2026 Quiet Conversion. All rights reserved.
QuietConversion (Beta) 
One response to “Marriage, but Make it Startup!”
[…] first business partner, the one from my February series on relationships, was my oldest sister. It’s been years since we had contact. I’ll spare you […]
LikeLike