Collaborative Entrepreneurship Roles (and how to discover yours)
What is Collaborative Entrepreneurship?
Collaborative Entrepreneurship is the intentional practice of co-creating businesses, revenue streams, and impact by aligning your unique strengths with others - not as an employee, and not through outsourcing - but through aligned partnership.
In this model, you're not just asking "What can I build?" but also: “Who can I build with? And in what role can I thrive?”
And let’s face it, building alone is….well, lonely. It’s also pretty limiting because we only have so much bandwidth, expertise, and reach.
Instead, we’re going to explore some potential roles you might explore to co-create more success and impact in your businesses together.
Why it works:
Do more with less by dividing roles strategically
Grow faster by partnering with aligned talent
Expand your impact without growing a traditional team
Generate revenue through shared or plug-in business models
Do what you do best and let others do the same
Share the load (and the freedom)
It doesn’t just reduce burnout and create more stability, It amplifies your impact.
Example:
Alex is a leadership coach with a full client load but no time to build a course. Instead of doing it solo, she partners with Maya, a curriculum designer, and Theo, a systems expert. Alex leads as the Visionary, Maya joins as the Builder, and Theo optimizes the operations. Together, they launch a high-impact program — and no one burns out.
Collaboration Isn’t a Strategy, It’s a Paradigm Shift
You know the story: You’re supposed to have the vision…build the product or offer…build a bulletproof funnel…write the perfect copy…be a social media maven…network…close the sales…and then maybe, when you’ve “made it,” you can afford help.
It sounds heroic. But here’s the truth: It’s a myth, and it’s exhausting.
Entrepreneurship was never meant to be a solo sport. In fact, this “do it all yourself” mentality doesn’t just wear you down - it dilutes the very gift you’re here to share.
The more hats you wear, the less space you have to shine in the one area where you’re truly exceptional.
Let me offer you a new metaphor: If a successful, thriving business is a complete puzzle board - you're one beautifully essential piece of it - NOT the whole puzzle.
And when you find others with pieces that fit - who share your vision, complement your strengths, or serve the same people…you unlock something entirely new.
That’s where Collaborative Entrepreneurship really begins.
So if you’ve been trying to do it all…It’s not that you’re failing, it’s that you were never meant to go it alone.
Side note - if you’re a startup looking for Angel or VC funding, investors almost never invest in solo founders. Why? Because they already know that a single human almost never has all the capabilities it takes to ideate, build, launch, and scale something worth investing in.
What Role Do You Play in Collaboration?
Roles are more about HOW to contribute to a collaboration more than WHAT you do.
Determining which role or roles are right for you now, depends on your current goals and situation. You can also take on different roles in different collaborations — even at the same time.
For instance:
- You might be the Visionary leader in your own business, bringing others in to build it together …
- And an Expert contributor in someone else’s program, simply plugging in a unique skill they need to widen your revenue stream …
- While also playing a Cheerleader (affiliate) role in a partner’s launch.
All of these partnerships provide you with earning, impact, and growth opportunities if you’re aware and open to them..
Knowing your desired roles helps you:
- Attract the right partners
- Say yes (or no) with clarity
- Protect your energy
- Grow with less friction
The Seven Collaborative Roles (And How to Spot Yours)
You don’t need to be the leader of every project. Sometimes your magic shows up in support, refinement, or amplification.
These seven roles help you understand *how* you contribute best—so you can say yes (or no) with clarity.
The Visionary
The firestarter with the long-range view
You bring the spark. You see what doesn’t yet exist and inspire others to build it with you.
Strengths: Innovation, long-term thinking, charismatic clarity
Best collaborators to start with: Builders, Optimizers, Producers
Watch out for: Trying to lead without support & not releasing control when you need to!
Example 1:
Asha dreams up a mentorship platform for BIPOC creatives. She brings in Elle (Producer) to map the experience and Rowan (Builder) to test a first cohort. Asha stays focused on vision and storytelling while her partners build the bones to help get it off the ground. Asha offers profit split in line with their contribution.
Example 2:
Marco want to create a trauma-informed branding studio. He teams up with Talia (Expert designer) and Jay (Optimizer) to develop a clean offer suite and backend systems that reflect his values and vision. They decide to become equal partners and ownders.
Example 3:
Kim, an Learning Models Consultant, sketches a whole new learning model for career development. Rather than tackling it solo, she looks for a potential Producer, Builders and Experts before committing to full development. Because she plans to seek VC funding, she offers her new team an equity stake and deferred payment until they nail down their first funding tranche.
2. The Missionary
The values-driven rally point
You rally people around a shared cause. You’re values-first and community-driven. Shared leadership is your game.
Strengths: Alignment, purpose, storytelling
Best collaborators: Other Missionaries, Producers, Cheerleaders
Watch out for: Vagueness or lack of structure
Example 1:
Sophia feels called to help neurodivergent entrepreneurs find aligned visibility. She joins up with 2 other entrepreneurs passionate about the cause and they co-hosts a free mini-series to see if creating an offer together makes sense.
Example 2:
Jared leads a nonprofit focused on decolonizing wellness. He partners with other Missionaries and Builders to prototype a collective funding model and distribute the work across a mission-aligned crew. Their diverse skillset and experience sets them up well for grant funding - helping to support their initiate and time.
Example 3:
Maya is devoted to co-creating ethical marketing education. She invites her passionate community to contribute their experiences and advice - ultimately leading to a co-authored e-book that seeds a future collaborative business with several dedicated partners.
3. Producer
The glue who maps out how it gets done
You make ideas real. You organize, strategize, and hold the container.
Strengths: Project management, prioritization, accountability
Best collaborators: Experts, Visionaries, Builders
Watch out for: Getting stuck without a creative partner or working with an unclear vision and mission.
Example 1:
Naomi loves turning chaos into clean, doable plans. She meets a Visionary looking for someone to help guide her vision for a co-facilitated retreat and becomes the linchpin for bringing the whole idea to life. Naomi & her partner split the work and profit from the retreat equally.
Example 2:
Leo is a behind-the-scenes genius who takes big ideas and sequences them into 90-day sprints. He collaborates with three Visionaries each quarter, working on retainer as a plug-in Producer.
Example 3:
Toni is a retired manufacturing ops specialist who now loves helping small manufacturing startups get their footing. Instead of acting as a traditional consultant, Toni collaborates with founders to help them launch in exchange for equity.
4. Expert
The go-to for that missing piece
You plug in and do your thing. You don’t need to lead or be part of the building; you just want to deliver deeply.
Strengths: Mastery, execution, depth
Best collaborators: Visionaries, Producers, Missionaries
Watch out for: Feeling unseen or overused
Example 1:
Devon, a trauma-informed copywriter, plugs into a wellness leader’s quarterly launches. She doesn’t touch strategy, just creates great messaging support as part of a revenue-share deal.
Example 2:
Nia is a financial strategist who lends her skill to three mission-aligned start-ups, helping them build out sustainable models. She loves contributing deeply without having to lead. She bills them hourly for her time.
Example 3:
Pearl is a strategy coach and partners with a Social Media Marketing firm to come in and map out an overall strategy for each new client they onboard. She loves the in and out nature of their partnership. While Pearl doesn’t work for the firms directly, her services are included in their client’s agreements and Pearl acts as a member of their team and is paid her portion of the work when the firm receives their payment.
Example 4:
Kai is software architect with a passion for social impact. They plug into 3 different software teams providing guidance when needed on each client project. They’re service is built into each proposal and Kai is paid monthly on retainer.
5. Builder
The creative, iterative engine
You co-create from the ground up. You love the messy middle and thrive in experimentation. You don’t want to lead the vision, but you’re passionate and all in to help build it.
Strengths: Flexibility, action, creativity
Best collaborators: Visionaries, Missionaries
Watch out for: Staying too long in chaos without clear direction
Example 1:
Jake teaches somatic resilience for entrepreneurs. Through a guest presentation he runs, he meets a Visionary founder and gets invited to co-create a signature offer with them to help entrepreneurs connect with their inner wisdom. Jake agrees to help them curate the experience and run some of the workshops. They agree that he'll receive 20% of the program’s profit.
Example 2:
Breana is a sales funnel guru and joins a startup team to build out their launch and evergreen strategy and pull it all together based on their vision. In exchange she’s given equity in the business which she can exchange for 2x salary deferred if she chooses to convert when they become profitable.
Example 3:
Manny joins a podcasting crew to test a niche content series. He pulled all the technical pieces together and they share time interviewing each other. They make 4 episodes and decide together whether to keep going — he’s the one who made it real.
Example 4:
Kara floats between different startup teams, co-developing MVPs for equity or deferred pay and first offers for equity or deferred pay . She thrives in fast pivots and high creativity — and moves on once the structure solidifies
6. Optimizer
The systems-thinker and refiner
You refine and enhance. You see what’s broken and know how to fix it.
Strengths: Systems, efficiency, discernment
Best collaborators: Producers, Experts, Visionaries
Watch out for: Perfectionism or control
Example 1:
Trish sees broken processes and immediately starts mapping solutions. She partners with a Creator Collective to streamline their backend process, freeing everyone up to create more. They build her service into their membership dues. They each get 3 hours a month with her and Trish earns a percentage of the membership dues.
Example 2:
Ben plugs into an education-based startup to rework their curriculum delivery and automate their onboarding. He doesn’t build new — he upgrades what exists. He’s offered deferred payment for 3 months at 150% his rate for the inconvenience.
Example 3:
Aria, a well-know beauty salon owner just sold her hair studio to a long-time partner to free up her time. She now partners with other salon owners to help them refine their marketing and nurturing process to increase business and loyalty. She’s so good at what she does offers her support in exchange for a percentage of monthly profit over the prior 12-month average.
7. Cheerleader
The amplifier and connector
You amplify others. You show up with energy, belief, and your network.
Strengths: Visibility, connection, enthusiasm
Best collaborators: Missionaries, Visionaries
Watch out for: Overextending without clarity
Example 1:
Sam doesn’t want to lead or build, but he’s spent years building an audience around his expertise. And when he believes in something related to his area of influence, he tells everyone. He becomes a top affiliate for 2 big partners - just by sharing with his community and earns enough on their launches to sustain him for the year.
Example 2:
Yara supports her friend Anna’s new program by hosting a live convo, writing a love letter to her email list, and giving warm intros to aligned collaborators. Anna pays Yara a referral award for new client’s who sign with her.
Example 3:
Dani is an insurance broker. They’re always spotting potential connections to make in their community and while Dani is a natural and loves making those magical connections, it also builds tons of goodwill and many of her connections recommend them to their friends and family. Most of Dani’s customers end up coming from their connectedness and helpfulness in the community.
Now what?
Remember, you can play more than one role You might be a Missionary in a project you co-lead… and a builder in someone else’s. Or an Expert who occasionally steps into Producer mode when something really lights you up.
Consider the focus or goals you have in your business right now;
Are your sights set on launching something new and exciting?
Are you trying to diversify your revenue streams and add stability?
Is your desire to focus more on what you love and less on the other stuff taking up all your time?
Roles are fluid. But knowing your current focus helps you to protect your energy, match with aligned partners and grow with less friction
Try asking yourself:
* Where do I feel most *energized* in collaboration?
* What kind of work makes me lose track of time?
* When do I feel deeply *seen and useful?
Ready to experiment with Collaborative Entrepreneurship?
Join us in the next Collaborative Entrepreneurship Lab — a guided experience where solo entrepreneurs, founders, coaches, and creators come together to:
- Play with potential partnerships
- Explore collaborative opportunities in real time
- Test ideas in a safe, low-stakes environment
- Connect with values-aligned entrepreneurs
- Discover your most natural role in co-creation
This is your invitation to try collaboration — not just think about it.
👉 Save your seat in the next free Lab!