Finding a cofounder is one of the hardest steps when you launch a startup. Le Bon Associé is the French platform built for that meeting: you publish a card, you like profiles or projects, and you start talking as soon as the interest is mutual.
Le Bon Associé was called cofondateurauchomage.fr until October 2026. The matching model stays the same. The site now lives at lebonassocie.fr, and the old address points to it.
On October 13, 2026, the platform listed 5,404+ registered entrepreneurs, 3,128 available profiles and 2,276 projects looking for a partner.
How Le Bon Associé works
Le Bon Associé serves two groups:
- You have a project: you publish a project card in 5 minutes, describe the partner you are missing, then receive likes from interested people.
- You are looking for a project: you create a profile card with your skills and goals, then browse the projects that fit you.
In the explorer, you filter cards, like the ones that interest you and pass on the rest. When the interest is mutual, it's a match: the profile shows up in your selection and in your messages. The platform also computes a compatibility score and alerts you on every like, match or message.
Eight skill families organize the search: Tech, Product, Design, Growth, Sales, Operations, Finance and Marketing.
Free plan and Pro plan
The free plan covers creating your card, liking, matching and chatting with your matches. You see how many people liked you, but not who.
The Pro plan adds direct contacts (email, LinkedIn, phone), the list of people who liked you and advanced filters (city, availability, ambition). Prices listed in October 2026:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Monthly | €29 per month |
| 3 months | €69 |
| Annual | €199 per year |
You can cancel anytime from your settings.
👉 Create your card on Le Bon Associé
From match to first customers: four workstreams
Matching with a cofounder kicks off four workstreams before you land your first customers.
Validate the idea before writing a single line of code
The most common mistake among newly formed duos is diving into development before talking to 30 prospects. With a motivated technical cofounder on board, you will want to start coding right away. First confirm that the problem exists and that people are willing to pay to solve it. A well-filled lean canvas beats three months of building in a vacuum.
Structure the team and the partnership
Who does what, how to split equity, 50/50 or not: settle these questions before your first customer. Sign a shareholders' agreement from day one, with vesting, BSPCE (French employee stock options), and exit clauses written in.
Go get your first customers
Sell first and build second, even without a product. Start by selling a prototype, a mockup, or a manual service. One prospect who pays for a mockup is worth more than thirty who like the idea.
Decide: raise or bootstrap?
Should you pitch VCs in Paris or bootstrap the first few months? The answer depends on your market, your burn rate, and your ambitions. Make this call together with your cofounder, numbers in hand.
How swanbase supports cofounder duos
swanbase.co supports early-stage founders (pre-seed, ideation, MVP) over the long term, both in Paris at a space in the 2nd arrondissement open since May 2026 and remotely. Access costs €0 and is by application, and swanbase takes equity.
A duo that just matched on Le Bon Associé fits that profile as soon as it has an idea to validate and a partnership to structure. We also run the Trouve ton Cofounder speed-dating evenings with Le Bon Associé, so you can meet potential partners face to face.
Partner offer: promo code SWAN10
As a Le Bon Associé partner, swanbase offers the community a discount on the Pro plan:
Promo code: SWAN10
10% off your Le Bon Associé Pro subscription. Enter the code SWAN10 when you upgrade to Pro.
The code works for every Le Bon Associé user, including accounts created back when the platform was cofondateurauchomage.fr. On the swanbase side, access to the program is by application only, at €0: swanbase takes equity, with no paid subscription.
FAQ
Why is cofondateurauchomage.fr now called Le Bon Associé?
The platform changed its name in October 2026. The new site no longer focuses on job-seeking profiles: it is open to anyone looking for a partner or a project. The cofondateurauchomage.fr address points to lebonassocie.fr.
What is Le Bon Associé?
Le Bon Associé is a French platform that connects project founders with future cofounders. You create a card, like profiles or projects and start chatting after a match. On October 13, 2026, the platform listed 5,404+ members and 2,276 projects looking for a partner.
Is Le Bon Associé free?
Yes for creating your card, liking, matching and chatting with your matches. The Pro plan (€29 per month, €69 for 3 months or €199 per year) unlocks direct contacts, the list of people who liked you and advanced filters.
How does the swanbase x Le Bon Associé partnership work?
Le Bon Associé helps you find a partner. swanbase then supports the duos that apply, to structure and launch the startup (€0, by application, swanbase takes equity). The promo code SWAN10 from swanbase gives you 10% off the Pro plan.
When should you apply to the swanbase program after finding a cofounder?
As soon as possible after the match, once you and your cofounder have agreed on a shared vision, a split of roles and an action plan. swanbase support runs over the long term: apply when the duo forms rather than after the first few months.
How long is the SWAN10 promo code valid?
The SWAN10 code has no expiry date and works for every Le Bon Associé user.
