The document discusses trust between founders and how to build and maintain it. It identifies the eight pillars of trust as clarity, compassion, character, competency, commitment, connection, contribution, and consistency. It recommends clearly defining roles and responsibilities, creating accountability, communicating frequently, and having a plan for how failures should be addressed gracefully. If trust is broken, the options are complete reconciliation, changing leadership roles, bringing in a new leader, having the offending founder leave, or jointly shutting down the company. Overall, investing in building and keeping trust will go further than any other type of investment.

1. ON FOUNDER DISPUTES,
FALLOUTS & BUILDING TRUST
CARLOS EDUARDO ESPINAL
@CEE | @SEEDCAMP

2. THE FOUNDATION OF ALL RELATIONSHIPS IS
trust

3. THE FOUNDATION OF ALL DISPUTES IS A
LACK OF TRUST

4. THE 8 PILLARS OF TRUST ARE:
|
CLARITY, COMPASSION, CHARACTER,
COMPETENCY, COMMITMENT, CONNECTION,
CONTRIBUTION, AND CONSISTENCY
|
*‘THE TRUST EDGE’, DAVID HORSAGER

5. STARTUPS = AMBIGUITY.
THAT “CAN” BE OK, BUT YOU SHOULD STILL
TRY TO PURSUE CLARITY.

6. SIX ACTIONS TO HELP CREATE AN
ENVIRONMENT OF TRUST

7. CREATE A STRONG &
CONSISTENT CULTURE

8. CLEARLY DEFINE ROLES
RASCI - RESPONSIBLE, ACCOUNTABLE,
SUPPORT, CONSULTED, INFORMED

9. CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY

10. COMMUNICATE FREQUENTLY

11. HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW
THINGS SHOULD FAIL
GRACEFULLY
FOUNDER’S COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

12. IF THINGS GO SOUR, TAKE
ACTION QUICKLY TO RE-ORGANIZE

13. WHAT IF TRUST IS BROKEN?
HERE ARE 5 OPTIONS TO DEAL WITH IT

14. OPTION 1 - COMPLETE RECONCILIATION AND
RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST BETWEEN
FOUNDERS

15. OPTION 2 - ONE FOUNDER TAKES THE
LEADERSHIP HAT AND THE OTHER(S) A
MORE OPERATIONALLY DEFINED ROLE

16. OPTION 3 - THE FOUNDERS JOINTLY AGREE TO
BRING ON A NEW LEADER INTO THE
ORGANIZATION

17. OPTION 4 - THE OFFENDING (OR OFFENDED)
FOUNDER LEAVES THE COMPANY

18. OPTION 5 - THE FOUNDERS JOINTLY AGREE TO
SHUT THE COMPANY DOWN

19. INVEST IN BUILDING AND KEEPING TRUST, IT
WILL GO FURTHER THAN ANY OTHER TYPE OF
INVESTMENT