You built something real together.

But now the partnership needs help.

5 min read

01 — The Problem

You're avoiding hard conversations. Meetings that used to be productive now feel tense. You're second-guessing each other's decisions. Maybe you've stopped communicating altogether.

1 in 5
teams lose a cofounder
40%
burn energy on conflict
80%
report improvement

The problem isn't that you disagree — it's that you've lost the ability to disagree well.

“Jason helped us see that our conflict wasn't about strategy — it was about trust. Once we rebuilt that foundation, the strategic disagreements became productive again.”

— Alex R., Series A CEO (YC W22)

02 — Who I Am

I'm Jason Shen. I'm a 3x founder and Y Combinator alum. I've been a product leader at Meta and Etsy. I've been in the room when cofounder relationships fall apart — including my own.

After my second startup, I went through a painful cofounder breakup. It nearly ended the company. That experience led me to train with the Gottman Institute — the gold standard in relationship science — and apply their research to the unique dynamics of startup partnerships.

Since 2020, I've coached over 50 founders through cofounder conflict. I understand the pressures of fundraising, board dynamics, hiring, and scaling — because I've lived them.

03 — The Approach

Most coaching treats symptoms. I work on the system.

My approach combines Gottman-based relationship science with deep startup experience. I help cofounders rebuild trust, develop sustainable communication patterns, and align on the decisions that matter.

This isn't therapy. It's not mediation. It's a structured program designed specifically for high-performing founders who want to fix what's broken and get back to building.

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“What I appreciated most was that Jason understood both the emotional and business sides. He's not just a coach — he's someone who's been a founder and gets the pressure we're under.”

— Priya M., CTO & Cofounder (YC W24)

04 — The Framework

The Four Phases of Cofounder Conflict

  1. Drift — You stop sharing what you're really thinking. Small annoyances accumulate. You assume the worst about each other's intentions.
  2. Gridlock — Key decisions stall. Conversations become circular. You start working around each other instead of with each other.
  3. Crisis — Trust breaks down. One or both founders consider leaving. The board or investors start to notice.
  4. Resolution or Dissolution — With the right intervention, most partnerships can be repaired. Without it, the relationship — and often the company — ends.

Most teams reach out during Phase 2 or 3. The earlier you start, the more options you have.

05 — The Program

Back in Business: 13-Week Partnership Intensive

Weeks 1–3: Assessment — Diagnostic tools, individual sessions with each founder, CliftonStrengths analysis. We map the conflict and understand each person's perspective.

Weeks 4–5: Foundation — De-escalation techniques, structured listening exercises, and communication frameworks. Building the skills you'll need.

Weeks 6–11: Practice — Bi-weekly facilitated sessions applying new skills to your real, live issues. This is where the work gets real.

Weeks 12–13: Stress-Test — We pressure-test your new patterns, establish maintenance practices, and create a plan for staying aligned.

What's included

Investment: Starting at $10,000

Payment plans available

Both cofounders must participate and commit to four foundational assumptions for the duration of the program.

“The Gottman-based work on affirming positive needs gave us a framework we still use every week. Jason didn't just help us resolve our conflict — he gave us tools to prevent the next one.”

— David K., CEO & Cofounder (Seed stage)

06 — Next Step

If you're reading this, you already know something needs to change.

The first conversation is free, confidential, and zero-pressure. Let's figure out if this is right for you.

Book a Free Consultation →

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