E-book · Battle Scars

More companies fail because of toxic relationships than lack of budget.

A brutally honest guide to choosing the right business partner - before you destroy your company. Tests, checklists, and the author's real scars.

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✓82 pages · PDF & EPUB✓English only✓Instant download✓30-day guarantee

More companies fail because of toxic relationships than lack of budget.

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65%

of startups fail due to co-founder conflicts

Noam Wasserman, Harvard Business School, 2012

Is this your story?

After a painful co-founder breakup

You lost time, money, or a friendship - and you don't want to make that mistake again.

Looking to complement your skills

You know what's missing, but you don't know how to verify if a candidate truly fits.

Exhausted by conflicts over vision and money

Constant friction with your partner drains energy instead of fueling it.

What's inside

Not theory. Tools.

Every chapter ends with a checklist and concrete actions you can implement. E-book in PDF & EPUB, English only.

Self-Awareness

Know your gaps before you start looking for anyone - because chaos in your head is a bad start.

Values

Why values matter more than hard skills and how to surface misalignments before it's too late.

Communication

How to talk about hard things - money, equity, exits - without destroying the relationship.

Time Tests

Methods for stress-testing the partnership before signing anything.

Formalization

How to structure a Founders Agreement that protects you in a crisis - not just in good times.

The cowards never started and the weak died along the way. That leaves us, I guess.

- Phil Knight, Shoe Dog

About the Authors

Author

Grzegorz Bielski

Tech Executive · CEO of Risk Proof AI · Entrepreneur

Grzegorz Bielski is a technology executive, entrepreneur, and the CEO of Risk Proof AI. With 19 years of experience in creating digital products and building profitable businesses around them, he bridges the gap between complex technology and strategic business growth.

Throughout his career, Grzegorz has served as a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for fast-growing global tech companies and startups, including PuzzleGroup and Research.com. In these roles, he successfully scaled engineering departments, optimized multi-million-dollar cloud infrastructures, and led cross-functional teams.

Today, he specializes in practical AI implementation and AI Act compliance, helping companies leverage cutting-edge technology safely and effectively. In this book, he shares the hard-earned lessons on self-awareness, partnership, and the crucial steps to getting your startup journey right from day one.

19 years of experience

CTO at PuzzleGroup & Research.com

CEO of Risk Proof AI

Author

Darek Wojciechowski

Product Development Leader · BizDev · Operator

I've been walking the startup trenches for nearly 20 years - which, in 'startup years', is more than enough to qualify for a senior citizen discount. Today I split my time between being a Product Owner at ArtScore, driving BizDev at Sudvid Automate, and steering the ships at SmartSpine and Morrow.

With millions in VC raised and 40% in operational costs slashed, the game isn't 'paying bills' anymore - it's fixing companies before they spectacularly implode. I treat stability as a synonym for crushing boredom.

A specialist in rapid prototyping and UX research, my ADHD isn't a bug, it's a feature - it lets me spot business patterns faster than an Excel sheet can crash. As a card-carrying INTJ with dyslexia, I might butcher a vowel, but I rarely butcher a strategy.

20 years in the trenches

Millions in VC raised

Strategic operator

Sneak Peek

Practical tools, not empty theory.

Every chapter includes ready-made templates you can use tomorrow morning. Delivered as PDF & EPUB; content in English only.

Red Flags Checklist

PREVIEW

Competency Matrix

Founder's Goal Map

Red Flags Checklist

Included

Competency Matrix

Included

Founder's Goal Map

Included

Founders Agreement - skeleton

Included

Skills Matrix (1-10)

Included

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Pricing

Get the e-book

E-book

$7.99

Complete guide in PDF & EPUB. Content in English only.

PDF & EPUBEnglish only

82 pages of substantive content
Checklist: Are you ready for a co-founder?
Checklist: Is this the right partner?
Founder Goal Map template for aligning long-term visions
Skills Matrix tool to identify your team's critical gaps
Values Exercise to test true partnership chemistry
Founders Agreement - skeleton

Buy the e-book

30-day money-back guarantee

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Frequently asked questions

You receive both PDF and EPUB files, ready on any device. The e-book is written in English only. After purchase you'll get download links by email.

The e-book is available in English only. The interface of this site may be in other languages, but the book content is English.

The book is most valuable for people who are planning to find a co-founder or are in the very early stages of collaboration. If you already have a co-founder, the chapters on communication and formalization give you concrete tools to improve the relationship.

Every chapter ends with a set of tools: a checklist, exercise, or template ready to implement. This is not an academic guide - it's a practical toolkit you can apply that same day.

Yes. If within 30 days you feel the book brought no value, we'll refund you without asking for a reason.

Part 2 will cover team building. The release date hasn't been announced yet - subscribe to our newsletter so you don't miss it.

SyncFounders is a platform for founders looking for co-founders - tools, community, and matching based on values and competency compatibility. The platform is in development. The e-book is the first step into this ecosystem.

Have another question? Write to us