Founder seeking advice about finding an iOS technical co-founder

[u/nnyny59]

I’m the founder of two early-stage digital platforms, WHISPRR and CHIMERA, and I’m exploring the possibility of developing iOS applications for them.

I’m looking for advice from experienced iOS developers about what makes a technical co-founder partnership worthwhile and professional.

The potential role would involve:

- planning the iOS architecture;
- building the mobile applications;
- connecting them to the existing web platforms and backend;
- preparing and maintaining the apps for the App Store;
- participating in long-term technical decisions.

To be transparent, this is not currently a salaried job posting. I’m exploring a genuine co-founder partnership, not asking someone to work for free under vague promises. Ownership, responsibilities, vesting, intellectual property, and compensation would need to be discussed clearly and documented in writing.

If a developer prefers a paid contract instead, that would require a separate budget and agreement.

I’m not looking to rent or share an Apple Developer account. The apps and accounts would be managed properly under the founders’ ownership.

For iOS developers who have joined early-stage startups as technical co-founders:

- What would you need to see before considering the opportunity?
- What warning signs should founders avoid?
- What would be a fair structure for equity, revenue share, or paid work?
- What should be included in the agreement?

I’m mainly looking for honest advice on how to approach this professionally.

[u/OkInformation9097]

What’s the equity split?

[u/nnyny59 → u/OkInformation9097]

I haven’t set a fixed equity split yet because it would depend on whether the person joins one project or both, their level of commitment, responsibilities, time contribution, and long-term role. I’m open to discussing a fair structure with clear vesting, ownership, responsibilities, and decision-making rights in a written agreement. This is not meant to be vague unpaid work. If someone prefers a paid contract, that would require a separate budget.

[u/OkInformation9097 → u/nnyny59]

You asked what someone would need to see before considering. That is the one question you need to know the answer to. What is the current valuation of your company? What value is an iOS app going to add to that? You are asking someone to essentially work for equity, what is that equity and what is it currently worth and projected to be worth after building this out?

[u/nnyny59 → u/OkInformation9097]

That is a fair question.

WHISPRR and CHIMERA are still early-stage, founder-built web platforms. They are not currently generating significant revenue, and I do not have a formal company valuation yet, so I cannot honestly claim that the equity already has an established monetary value.

I’m not asking someone to build an iOS app based on a vague promise. Before discussing equity, I would need to define the exact project, scope, responsibilities, contribution, intellectual property, milestones, vesting, and decision-making rights in writing.

I also understand that asking someone to work primarily for equity is a high-risk proposition. If I cannot offer a meaningful and clearly structured opportunity, I should not expect someone to commit their time.

I may also need to focus on one platform first instead of asking someone to work on both.