Startups rarely fall apart because of bad ideas. They fall apart because the people building them stop working.
Co-founder conflict is the silent killer of early-stage startups, and according to recent data, it accounts for up to 65% of startup failures. As a VC, you’re investing in founders just as much as you’re investing in the product. So why isn’t founder relationship health part of every portfolio strategy?
That’s the question we’re unpacking over lunch.
This private lunch is for VCs and platform leads who want to understand how co-founder dynamics play into risk - because they do, whether you evaluate it or not.
In partnership with Confidante, we’re hosting a candid, off-the-record conversation about what makes co-founder teams succeed or quietly fall apart. It’s not theory. It’s the stuff you see play out months later when the round has closed, the team is under pressure, and no one’s talking to each other.
Date: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM EDT
Location: New York City (register to see address)
RSVP: https://lu.ma/BambooX-Investors-Lunch
You’ll hear from:
Annie Garofalo, founder of Confidante, who’s worked behind the scenes with dozens of founder teams
Alex Pavlou, co-founder at Bamboo X, bringing a recruiting lens on how co-founder misalignment shows up before anyone admits there’s a problem
They’ll cover:
How to spot tension before it turns into a split
What healthy founder relationships actually look like under pressure
What VCs can do to support better communication without getting too involved
How to incorporate team health into diligence and platform support without adding process for the sake of it
This event is built for investors and platform operators who know that product and market fit aren’t enough. If the people at the top can’t stay aligned, the company stalls—no matter how strong the idea.
It’s for:
General partners who’ve sat in board meetings where founder tension was obvious but never addressed, and later watched the company quietly unravel
Platform leads who are expected to support founder teams but are rarely given the tools or space to influence team health early
Talent and people partners who have seen how misalignment between co-founders leaks into hiring, culture, and retention before anyone names the real issue
Anyone supporting early-stage companies who’s watched momentum fade, not because of market timing or competition, but because two founders stopped trusting each other and no one stepped in
If you’ve ever sensed something was off in a team, but couldn’t name it or didn’t think it was your place to ask, this conversation is for you.
This conversation didn’t come out of nowhere. It’s part of an ongoing effort to make founder support more real, more practical, and more visible, especially at the earliest stages. Behind this event are three teams focused on exactly that.
Bamboo Crowd: We help startups build high-impact product, design, and engineering teams. We also work directly with investors to support hiring across their portfolios and strengthen the relationships that hold teams together. This event is part of a broader effort to create space for conversations that often get ignored, like how co-founders actually work together once the term sheet is signed.
Confidante: A trusted resource for co-founders navigating growth, tension, and everything in between. Confidante works behind the scenes to help teams stay aligned, communicate clearly, and resolve issues before they threaten the company. They bring structure and strategy to the relationship side of building a business - something most teams don’t realize they need until it’s too late.
Lynx Collective: Focused on building real connection within NYC’s startup ecosystem, Lynx creates events and programs designed for founders, operators, and investors who want substance over noise. Their weekly newsletter surfaces practical insights, sharp takes, and the conversations people are actually having in early-stage rooms.
These teams are on the ground with startups every day, supporting growth, catching blind spots early, and helping founders build companies that actually hold together. And with this event, they’re bringing that experience to the table to help investors spot the cracks before they spread.
Seats are limited to keep the room focused and the conversation real.
If co-founder alignment is something you’ve thought about but haven’t had the right space to explore - this is that space.
If you’re serious about improving founder dynamics and team alignment within your portfolio, we’ve got you covered. Stay up-to-date with exclusive events designed to help you navigate co-founder conflict and build stronger, more resilient teams.
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