If you’ve been following the startup scene, you’ve probably heard it a hundred times: “The idea is great, but the founders are fighting.”
It happens more often than people admit. Two friends or colleagues come together, fueled by passion, to build a tech company. In the first year, everything feels exciting. There’s late-night brainstorming, long coffees, and the thrill of launching something new. But by year two or three, cracks start to show. Suddenly, the dream partnership feels more like a bad marriage.
In mid-2025, Astra, a promising SaaS startup backed by the Perplexity founder, shut down entirely because its two cofounders couldn’t resolve their differences. As CEO Supreet Hegde explained in a candid LinkedIn post, they were simply at “different crossroads regarding the pace of growth,” and that mismatch led them to end the venture altogether
About two years into the journey, cracks start to appear. In a heartfelt LinkedIn post, CEO Supreet Hegde lays it out honestly: he and cofounder Ranjan Rajagopalan couldn’t agree. They were literally standing at different crossroads when it came to how fast Astra should scale. One wanted all-in growth; the other was more cautious. And that disagreement was enough to pull the plug.
Why does this happen? Let’s break it down.
1. The Vision Gap
In the beginning, founders often agree on the big idea: “Let’s disrupt real estate!” or “Let’s build the next great AI tool!” But as the company grows, the real questions arrive:
- Do we raise money now or bootstrap?
- Should we go after big clients or small businesses first?
- Do we expand into other markets or master one?
This is where visions begin to clash. One founder sees a global empire; the other wants to dominate one niche. Neither is wrong—but if they can’t align, conflict brews.
Takeaway: Many cofounder crises aren’t about what to build, but how to build it.
2. The Pressure Cooker of Fundraising
Money changes everything.
In year one, everyone is focused on building the product. By year two or three, investors enter the chat. Suddenly, the stakes are higher: term sheets, valuation debates, and board seats. If one founder is more investor-friendly and the other is more product-obsessed, tension rises fast.
Investors themselves sometimes play one founder against another, intentionally or not. A partner at a VC firm once admitted: “When I see founders disagree on direction, I know who really has control.”
Takeaway: Fundraising doesn’t just test your product; it tests your partnership.
3. Roles and Resentment
At the start, everyone wears many hats. But as the company grows, titles begin to matter. One founder becomes CEO, another CTO—or maybe COO. And that’s when ego slips in.
- “Why is he the CEO when I started the idea?”
- “Why does she make all the final calls when I’m working harder?”
This resentment quietly builds until it explodes. Many cofounders don’t talk about roles early enough, and it becomes a power struggle later.
Takeaway: If roles aren’t clear from day one, they’ll become a warzone by year three.
4. Burnout and the Human Factor
Let’s not forget: founders are human.
The startup grind is exhausting—long hours, endless uncertainty, personal sacrifices. By the second or third year, fatigue kicks in. Maybe one founder is newly married or starting a family, while the other still wants to hustle 24/7. The imbalance creates friction.
A lot of conflicts are less about “the business” and more about two tired humans projecting stress onto each other.
Takeaway: Burnout doesn’t just kill individuals; it kills partnerships.
5. The Silent Killer: Communication Breakdown
Here’s the truth: most cofounder crises are not about money, strategy, or even vision. They’re about communication.
When founders stop talking openly—when they start bottling frustrations—resentment festers. A small disagreement over hiring can spiral into “I don’t trust you anymore.”
Startups die not because of bad products, but because of broken relationships.
Takeaway: If you can’t talk to your cofounder about the hard stuff, you’re heading for crisis.
So, What Can Founders Do?
If you’re a founder (or planning to be one), here are survival tips:
- Define Roles Early: Decide who leads what, and respect those boundaries.
- Align on Vision: Keep revisiting the “why” and “how” of your company. Don’t assume you’re always on the same page.
- Have the Money Talk: Be honest about risk tolerance, fundraising, and exit strategies.
- Prioritize Communication: Set weekly “founder check-ins,” not just product meetings. Talk about personal stress, too.
- Get External Help: Advisors, coaches, or even mediators can prevent issues from exploding.
Final Word
The first two to three years of a tech startup are a battlefield. It’s not just about market fit or product launches—it’s about whether the founders can survive the emotional, financial, and strategic rollercoaster.
Some do. Many don’t. But those who build strong communication and trust have a fighting chance.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about building a company. It’s about building a relationship that can survive the storm.
