Over the years, working at multiple VC funds and running multiple accelerators, I’ve often been asked about the secret to a successful partnership. While driving outsized returns is obviously the goal, there is another crucial ingredient: the ability to foster intelligent, respectful discussion.
A good partnership balances a shared investment thesis with enough room for independent conviction. In my experience, when a team does not have someone passionately championing a deal or, conversely, someone strongly opposing it, those investments tend not to succeed. You need that conviction on the table, because without it, it is just consensus for the sake of consensus.
One of the best examples of this dynamic comes from Pixar, specifically the book Creativity, Inc. In it, they describe a culture where anyone, regardless of their role, could offer candid feedback. They called it the “Braintrust.” The idea was simple: the work gets better when people feel empowered to disagree, all without making it personal. It is a model worth borrowing in venture, where the stakes are high and the unknowns are many.
Disagreements are not a sign that something is broken. In fact, they are often evidence that you have hired smart, thoughtful people who see different angles. What matters is how you handle those moments. The healthiest partnerships I have seen create space for dissenting views while preserving mutual respect. They recognize that a strong voice of conviction can sharpen everyone’s thinking, even if you end up passing on a deal.
If you are building a firm or joining a partnership, consider how you will make room for conviction. Are you creating an environment where someone can pound the table in support or in opposition without fear of being labeled difficult? Do you have a process to revisit disagreements with the benefit of hindsight and see what you can learn?
Ultimately, the strength of a partnership is not measured by how often everyone agrees. It is measured by the trust you build when you don’t.