Building a Trust System in Startup Partnerships
A mentor once shared: "Instead of starting with the assumption of goodwill and subtracting for every misstep, approach every relationship with neutrality. Add points for positive interactions, and deduct for any suspicions, treating it as objectively as a bank evaluating its clients."
Inspired by my recent experiences and reflections from "Bad Blood," I've identified patterns in dishonest partnerships:
- Overemphasis on Personal Branding: Partners who focus excessively on their branding often do so at the expense of tangible deliverables.
- Inconsistencies: Small details that don't align with what they said about themselves can be early indicators of deeper issues. (e.g., be it a lack of industry knowledge or subpar professionalism)
- Opaque Structures: Complex company or organizational structures make it challenging to grasp the full picture (even for their internal staff), suggesting possible concealment of critical information.
To navigate these challenges and build trustworthy partnerships, I've evolved my hypothesis of finding the right partners:
- Verify Personal Credibility: Check the authenticity of their claims through mutual connections on social platforms.
- Consult Previous Associates: Insights from former colleagues or partners can reveal potential red flags.
- Understand Their Core: Understand their every details (e.g., for a SaaS startup, never trust them before seeing their product in action.)
