How to Build a Co-Founder Relationship That Lasts

What happens when two unlikely co-founders challenge everything about the venture capital world?In this episode of The Courageous Leaders Podcast, I sit down with Check Warner and Matt Penneycard, the duo behind Ada Ventures. They open up about money, stress, parenthood, relentless rejection and what it takes to build a business from nothing but trust and audacity.If you’ve ever wondered how to start a company with zero roadmap, navigate co-founder friction, or fundraise against the odds this one’s for you.We Cover: 01:40 – Check’s bold career pivot into VC with no finance background04:46 – Matt’s courageous leap despite the financial and family strain06:18 – Why Check didn’t believe Matt was “real” (and how that changed everything)08:40 – Equal partnership: how they split everything 50/50 from day one11:54 – Building Ada Ventures with no salary, no certainty, just vision13:13 – How trust and shared risk carried them through tough times15:25 – The first moment of friction (and the awkward feedback conversation)18:35 – Leading with inclusivity, especially when no one else was doing this29:47 – Did they ever think about quitting? Yes. Here’s how they didn’t.32:10 – The viral “privilege” article and why Check had to speak upDon’t miss out on this powerful episode. 👍 Stay inspired by joining our YouTube community! Click the link, hit the subscribe button, leave a comment, and never miss an episode. Your support helps us empower courageous leaders like you!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2kZ-x8fDHKEVb222qpQ_NQ🚀 Elevate Your Leadership:Book a call for transformative leadership and team coaching:Website: https://thechangecreators.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannahowes/ → Join our newsletter for courageous leadership insights and advice. 👉 Subscribe here: https://the-change-creators.kit.com/1a5f3c9e54