(Sorry about the weird characters..trying again)

Suggest you remove "CEO" from your title.

Having that word in your title has one, and only one, positive effect – your co founders are agreeing that you are the leader - and that increases your team’s efficiency in the race to develop your prototype.

But the negatives are far too many.

When investors think of the word “CEO”, what typically comes to their mind is a person experienced in taking companies from the startup stage to the exit stage. Furthermore, a having a CEO position filled indicates to them that a significant funding round is in place.

If you are thinking that by giving yourself that title today you are positioning yourself for being the CEO post-funding, that is a false assumption. What is more likely is that at some stage in the company’s evolution, an outsider will be better suited to take the company to the next level.

Of course, there are many, many exceptions such as Dell, Bezos, etc. But rather than claim the CEO title at the onset, and subject yourself and future CEO candidates to unnecessary discomfort, (“we are seeking a CEO” versus “we are seeking to replace our CEO”), let your funding stockholders make that decision.

What’s most important is that your baby gets funded…avoid all barriers to that critical event.

Suggest you remove "CEO" from your title.

Having that word in your title has one, and only one, positive effect – your co founders are agreeing that you are the leader - and that increases your team’s efficiency in the race to develop your prototype.

But the negatives are far too many.

When investors think of the word “CEO”, what typically comes to their mind is a person experienced in taking companies from the startup stage to the exit stage. Furthermore, a having a CEO position filled indicates to them that a significant funding round is in place.

If you are thinking that by giving yourself that title today you are positioning yourself for being the CEO post-funding, that is a false assumption. What is more likely is that at some stage in the company’s evolution, an outsider will be better suited to take the company to the next level.

Of course, there are many, many exceptions such as Dell, Bezos, etc. But rather than claim the CEO title at the onset, and subject yourself and future CEO candidates to unnecessary discomfort (“we are seeking a CEO” versus “we are seeking to replace our CEO”), let your funding stockholders make that decision.

What’s most important is that your baby gets funded…avoid all barriers to that critical event.

I've given myself the title Executive Coffee Drinker, and my partner is the CIO - Chief Idea Officer.

As for co-founder - I think it sounds a bit weak. Even if there are more than one founder, they can all be called Founder. Vice President's of other companies aren't called Co-Vice Presidents.

What are most people calling themselves? We have three co-founders, one of whom runs the place.

Right now we're going with:

CEO, Co-Founder

Co-Founder

Co-Founder

I can't decide if I like this or not, but I've seen it in quite a few places.

We usually just use Co-founder, sometimes but rarely "CEO" and "Tech lead".

What do you write on your business cards?

My biz cards to come will read: ceo / co-founder

My partner: chief technology officer / co-founder

-Zaid

Co-Founder