Co-founder disputes are a top killer of startups. But with AI providing the leverage of a full team, a new wave of "seedstrappers" is rising fast. Could going solo actually be a safer bet than a "forced co-founder marriage"?

Kevin Brockland, Managing Partner at Indelible Ventures, joins BFM’s P&L to kick off our 4-part series on "The New Math of Business Building, Powered by AI." We unpack startling new data showing that 36% of new startups in the first half of 2025 were solo-founded (up from <24% in 2019), suggesting a structural shift driven by AI leverage.

We discuss:

The "Reliability" Myth: Kevin explains why VCs historically avoided solo founders due to lack of expertise and support structures, but argues that a bad co-founder "marriage" is often riskier than going it alone.
AI as the Ultimate Lever: How AI tools allow individuals to launch complex tech businesses (like SaaS and HealthTech) that previously required a full C-suite, fundamentally changing the "time-to-MVP."
Distribution > Product: With AI shortening the time to build and copy products, Kevin argues the real value has shifted entirely to distribution, a game where incumbents like Google currently have the upper hand.
The Speed Advantage: Solo founders are dictatorships, not democracies. We discuss how this allows for faster decision-making and why solo founders are reaching priced rounds quicker than teams.
The "Seedstrapping" Trend: A look at the new model for 2026 where founders skip pre-seed rounds, maintain larger equity stakes, and use that equity to hire top-tier talent instead of bringing on co-founders.
The Southeast Asia Angle: While the trend is US-centric, Kevin highlights the "leapfrog" opportunity for ASEAN founders to build B2B solutions that integrate seamlessly into corporate structures.

Ambition vs. Lifestyle: A critical look at the risks: will solo founders in Southeast Asia cash out early for a "lifestyle business" once they hit financial comfort, rather than aiming for regional domination?