Why Cofounder Agreements Matter Before There Is Revenue

This lesson explains why cofounder agreements matter most when a startup is still pre-revenue, informal, and optimistic. At that stage, founders often believe trust and shared ambition are enough, but the absence of written terms can turn normal uncertainty into expensive conflict.

Students will learn what a cofounder agreement is meant to accomplish, which early assumptions tend to become disputes, and why the agreement should clarify decision rights, ownership expectations, roles, exits, vesting, and intellectual property before the company has meaningful value.