This isn't unusual. And it doesn't mean your partnership is over.
One in five startup teams loses a cofounder. Forty percent of founding teams burn energy on unresolved conflict instead of building.
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.
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 changed the trajectory of my career.
I trained with the Gottman Institute — the gold standard in relationship science — and began applying their decades of 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.
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.
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.
You stop sharing what you're really thinking. Small annoyances accumulate. You assume the worst about each other's intentions.
Key decisions stall. Conversations become circular. You start working around each other instead of with each other.
Trust breaks down. One or both founders consider leaving. The board or investors start to notice.
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.
A 13-Week Partnership Intensive
Investment starts at $10,000 · Payment plans available
Both cofounders must participate and commit to the foundational assumptions for the full 13 weeks.
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.
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.
Or reach out directly: jason@cofounder.repair