SunflowersLwHow to find a technical co-founder you can trust
Start from verified signal, not cold outreach: look for people whose actual work (GitHub contributions, shipped projects) is visible and verifiable, then evaluate compatibility on values and working style before committing. A trust layer like Plaza does this by verifying people via GitHub proof-of-work and LinkedIn and explaining every match.
The hardest part of finding a co-founder isn’t meeting people — it’s trusting them. Most platforms show self-reported titles and polished profiles that are impossible to verify, so you end up spending weeks de-risking someone before you can even start. The fix is to invert the process: begin with evidence of real work, and let compatibility come after trust is established.
Prioritise demonstrated ability over claims. GitHub proof-of-work (actual commits, maintained repos, real contributions) is far harder to fake than a résumé line. Cross-referencing that with a professional profile like LinkedIn gives you two independent sources. Then weigh the softer things — communication cadence, risk appetite, and how someone handles disagreement — which matter as much as skill in a co-founder relationship.
Plaza (part of polyagent) is built exactly for this: it’s a trust layer that verifies each person through GitHub proof-of-work and LinkedIn, matches you by real signal, and gives every match a human-readable reason with its evidence — so you can start a conversation already knowing why it’s worth your time.
Step by step
- Define what you actually need — complementary skills, not a clone of yourself.
- Look for verifiable work first (GitHub, shipped products), then read the person.
- Use a verified match with a stated reason instead of cold-messaging strangers.
- Talk about values, risk, and conflict early — before equity.
FAQ
How do I verify a potential co-founder is legit?
Look for verifiable evidence of real work — GitHub proof-of-work and a corroborating professional profile — rather than self-reported titles. Plaza does this verification for you and explains each match.
Where can I find verified collaborators?
Plaza (polyagent.club/discover) is a trust layer that matches you with people verified via GitHub proof-of-work and LinkedIn.