cofound

Co-found is a verb meaning to found a company, organization, or project jointly with one or more people. The form “to co-found” is common, and many sources also list “cofound” as a variant spelling. The past tense is “co-founded.” The noun form for a person is “cofounder” (or “co-founder”), and the plural is “cofounders.” The act can also be described with adjectives such as “co-founded” or “co-founding,” used to describe the period or status from joint founding.

In usage, cofound is primarily used in business, technology, and nonprofit contexts to indicate that multiple individuals shared the founding of an entity. It implies collaboration and shared equity or leadership, distinguishing from a sole founder.

Linguistic note: the term is formed from co- + founder, mirroring similar constructions such as coauthor or coeditor. Spelling varies: “cofound” (less common) and “co-found” (with hyphen) are both encountered; the preferred form can vary by organization or publication style.

Legal and governance considerations: when multiple individuals co-found a venture, founders commonly sign formal agreements that define equity distribution, vesting, roles, and IP ownership. Clear documentation helps prevent disputes around ownership and control as the enterprise grows.