I am sure this is just one way but from all the times I remember having a great experience working with someone else, it just happened without me analyzing beforehand bullet by bullet how good the guy is. And I do have couple instances where the paper analysis of the guy was great but once we started work it wasn't so great.<p>My experience is that if you aren't deep into a stage where you HAVE to give away a cofounder title, just start working with the guy! When we associate the cofounder title it carries the stereotypical image of a cofounder which makes us double guess if this guy is "co founder material"--but there is no such thing as "cofounder material." <p>All you have are people passionate and skillful enough to help you start and execute your venture and people that aren't. Before thinking of someone as a "cofounder" think if he can practically help you with a skill you need that you yourself lack or aren't best at.
Your relationship with your co-founder is EXACTLY like being married. Think how high your bar would be for marriage and set it at the same level (namely very high - you're going to go through stupidly stressful times with his person so make sure your relationship can cope)
Depends what you want him to do. Things can be learned and you can always use an extra hand. What you want ot worry about is "why is he getting into it?" In the "world is Flat" T.Friedman states P+CI. That is Passion + Curiosity Intelligence. Your startup and mine have less than 5% chance to succeed and yet we believe like no-one else that 5% is big enough to go thru this journey.We like the money, but if money is your first drive then you will eventually quit at some point when evrything says it is going to be over in One minute. At that point the co-founders who were in it for the money will walk out. The one who were in it for the passion and the challenge to learn and master the ultimate startup language ( not Technology, but "loyal and satisified Users") )will get 2gether and ask themselves " How the F<i>&$ we got into this mess and how the F%^$ can we clean it up now, make it look good and have more users?
[I submitted this anonymously because the person in question may very well read this site now or at some point in the future.]<p>In short: I have a potential co founder, which is something that everyone seems to say is good. The problem, though, is that I don't think this guy is perfect (he may well think the same of me), for various reasons. Ok, no one is perfect, but I know people that I think would be "about as good as you could get" (unfortunately they aren't available), and this guy doesn't measure up.<p>Better to strike out on my own, or throw in my lot with someone who's perhaps not the right person?
"Better to strike out on my own"<p>are you planning to steal his ideas, or any part of them?<p>----------------<p>update: thanks for clarifying that you wont!
----------------<p>My 2 cents:<p>WAKE UP!<p>He is doing the best he knows to do - pitch to VCs and raise funds.<p>You are doing the best you know to do - build a prototype and bootstrap.<p>
Both are valid paths. <p>In fact, a former advisor - I say former because he was your cofounder's type. He had "no skin in the game" but kept forcing me for months, to abandon work on the prototype and pitch the idea and raise funds. But it worked for him - he sold a company in China to Disney.<p>Truth is relative - at least in this area.<p>However, when you say your cofounder is not up to par, "does not measure up" - even though he came up with the idea,
to me that is not very respectful. You dont really value him. I can see a big fight looming ahead. Several months down the road, you will want to spend 90% time bootstrapping; while he will want you both to be pitching to investors instead. Unless - you do both.