<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><urlset xmlns="http://www.sitemaps.org/schemas/sitemap/0.9" xmlns:news="http://www.google.com/schemas/sitemap-news/0.9"><url><loc>https://substack.mark-carroll.com/p/co-founder-contractor-or-1st-builder-ai-founder-first-hire-decision-rights-judgment-authority-startup-collaboration</loc><news:news><news:publication><news:name>Empathy Engine</news:name><news:language>en</news:language></news:publication><news:publication_date>2026-06-22T12:00:29+00:00</news:publication_date><news:title>Before You Name the Relationship, Name the Judgment</news:title></news:news></url></urlset>