convore.json/groups/entrepreneurship/what-do-you-look-for-in-a-cofounder/messages.json

[{"user_id": 4581, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300845732.847578, "message": "Imagine looking for a cofounder in person and online.  What sorts of tangible and non-tangible things do you look for?", "group_id": 250, "id": 413466}, {"user_id": 23765, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300849015.5455129, "message": "@bkmontgomery Once you've figured out what you need try posting for a cofounder on startupwindow, it's free.", "group_id": 250, "id": 413631}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300847091.743814, "message": "Honesty, commitment, passionate co-ownership of the vision, attention to details, to quality, perspective, ability to delay gratification (financially and mentally). That and mad rad iOS / Objective-C skillz. Fit the bill? Inquire within!", "group_id": 250, "id": 413559}, {"user_id": 4581, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300849019.8741751, "message": "@jdunck I'm actually working with someone I've only recently met (3 months), but we've spent lots of time discussing the business, our backgrounds, what we want to achieve, etc. I've seen and talked with a lot of people that really have a difficult time finding talent/ambition among their friends and families.", "group_id": 250, "id": 413632}, {"user_id": 4581, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300847502.903513, "message": "@blacktar So, once you start meeting people, how would go about verifying any of that?", "group_id": 250, "id": 413571}, {"user_id": 23765, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300848169.1147239, "message": "Check this out from Marissa Mayer recently: http://startupwindow.com/2011/03/21/marissa-mayer-on-founders/", "group_id": 250, "id": 413593}, {"user_id": 1883, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300848125.350307, "message": "@bkmontgomery I think it just takes time to get to know people.  I can't really imagine co-founding with someone I just met.", "group_id": 250, "id": 413590}, {"user_id": 23765, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300848264.4810121, "message": "@jdunck I agree, it's better to look for a complimentary person that you have some work experience with.  Classmates/Co-workers make great co-founders.", "group_id": 250, "id": 413598}, {"user_id": 4581, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300848834.4463539, "message": "@travell Thanks for the link, that looks like good info.", "group_id": 250, "id": 413623}, {"user_id": 2060, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300869919.0641129, "message": "Money", "group_id": 250, "id": 415459}, {"user_id": 4581, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300892836.762054, "message": "@hornbeck From a cofounder or an investor?", "group_id": 250, "id": 418002}, {"user_id": 11378, "stars": [{"date_created": 1300915504.7014711, "user_id": 14070}, {"date_created": 1301100744.050832, "user_id": 10406}], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300900207.2338719, "message": "Start with a coffee and maybe later a beer... If you can talk with this person about almost everything, probably is a good match or at least an interesting person... About work style and ethics, asking, but nothing beats working with that person, so maybe a little side project first, before entrusting anything more than a couple dollars", "group_id": 250, "id": 418934}, {"user_id": 22978, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300904146.6532249, "message": "Pick somebody that scares you. As in: \"OMG he's way better at it than me at everything and will be huge in a few years!\"", "group_id": 250, "id": 419395}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300919172.2094049, "message": "@bkmontgomery I also started by asking my closest (personal buddy) network and expanding, escalating if needed, currently from there to contact network and so on.", "group_id": 250, "id": 421399}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [{"date_created": 1300943559.820776, "user_id": 4581}], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300919079.6967881, "message": "@bkmontgomery I first look for social proof. That is, who do I know that would vouch for him or her, with whom/for whom have they worked, what have they actually built in the world. That sort of thing.", "group_id": 250, "id": 421390}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300919351.194329, "message": "@bkmontgomery After talking and spending time with candidates, I assume I will just know. Don't quote me on it, but it seems it's also how most good VCs judge; Within minutes they just know in whom they should invest. It's a click, chemistry kinda thing. After all, we're all just human beings.", "group_id": 250, "id": 421406}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300920386.182544, "message": "Also, feel free to roam through my public scrap bin on the startup/entrepreneur topic at \nhttp://www.evernote.com/pub/blacktar/general_startup", "group_id": 250, "id": 421479}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [{"date_created": 1302628685.332988, "user_id": 24097}], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300920153.194664, "message": "There's also these (in no particular order) links that I shuffled out of my delicious: http://cofound.org http://foundrs.com http://techcrunch.com/2009/10/11/finding-your-co-founders http://ebackers.com http://builditwith.me/", "group_id": 250, "id": 421462}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300920297.521714, "message": "And these series of posts might be inspiring http://viniciusvacanti.com/2010/09/13/cant-find-a-technical-co-founder-do-it-yourself/", "group_id": 250, "id": 421477}, {"user_id": 2060, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300943673.60883, "message": "@bkmontgomery both", "group_id": 250, "id": 424253}, {"user_id": 4581, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300943742.7068241, "message": "@blacktar thanks for all the feedback!", "group_id": 250, "id": 424256}, {"user_id": 24254, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300945685.4784451, "message": "I would look for basic qualities first like trust and intelligence. Then they must be able to bring something unique to the table. I think too many people select partners that are just like them. If you are the artistic one your partner should  be the finance type guy.", "group_id": 250, "id": 424373}, {"user_id": 4581, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300943828.583472, "message": "@hornbeck Surely money is not all you want in a co-founder?  I'd expect some sort of talent is worth much more!  :)", "group_id": 250, "id": 424261}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300945618.15168, "message": "@bkmontgomery  @hornbeck I think you'll find most successful founders prefer that their co-founder has equal amount of skin in the game,  matched equal invest in time and money", "group_id": 250, "id": 424366}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [{"date_created": 1300989156.428431, "user_id": 4581}], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300946850.1675661, "message": "BTW: I totally forgot to mention that if you haven't already you should definitely listen through most of these excellent Stanford podcasts: http://ecorner.stanford.edu/podcasts.html I've never learned so much in such a short time in my life before.", "group_id": 250, "id": 424408}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1300990071.185776, "message": "I just saw this: http://www.founder2be.com/ Can't vouch for the seriousness or quality, though.", "group_id": 250, "id": 429228}, {"user_id": 21360, "stars": [{"date_created": 1301045668.3179049, "user_id": 7577}], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301006325.9250469, "message": "Alot of good points, most important though in a 2 person team....  in addition to finding someone that compliments your abilities, one person needs to find the work and one needs to do the work.  Each person has to have clearly defined responsibilities.  And if your not friends already, find a way to be best friends (because something has to motivate the team besides money, especially when bootstrapping).", "group_id": 250, "id": 432079}, {"user_id": 2060, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301042215.3380761, "message": "@bkmontgomery yeah, you're right.", "group_id": 250, "id": 436822}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [{"date_created": 1301100855.258178, "user_id": 10406}], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301045236.9380529, "message": "Just slightly on topic again; I found this thread interesting: http://www.quora.com/Finding-Co-Founders/How-do-I-find-good-technical-co-founders", "group_id": 250, "id": 437132}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301045654.4176941, "message": "@Energypanacea Yes. I'm looking for someone who can do something I can't (i.e. program) to compliment me and hopefully someone a lot smarter than me in areas of relevance. If you have matching skill set, chances are one of you is redundant.", "group_id": 250, "id": 437197}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301045784.6963561, "message": "@Energypanacea Actually a lot of successful entrepreneurs I've listened to from Stanford vehemently recommend not having a friend as co-founder. Mileage might vary, of course.", "group_id": 250, "id": 437207}, {"user_id": 21360, "stars": [{"date_created": 1301306781.4958041, "user_id": 7577}], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301143899.7804501, "message": "@blacktar I think our difference view on the \"friends\" topic is due to when you become friends.  If you have a longtime friend, it is a bad idea to make him a co-founder.  But if you find someone that compliments your business, then make him your best friend.  See the difference?", "group_id": 250, "id": 446030}, {"user_id": 21360, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301144580.9730561, "message": "@blacktar  A longtime friend co-founder will often expect some slack because of your history together.  By the way, those Stanford lectures are a great reference.  Thanks.", "group_id": 250, "id": 446060}, {"user_id": 25773, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301244135.325568, "message": "What to look for will depend largely on the role they will fill but ability and commitment are key.", "group_id": 250, "id": 452023}, {"user_id": 25773, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301260720.7071109, "message": "@blacktar Cheers", "group_id": 250, "id": 452880}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301306826.6754739, "message": "@Energypanacea Yes, that's my opinion too and I think that is what most of the other entrepreneurs I've been listening to talk about. I think we are talking about the same thing. :)", "group_id": 250, "id": 456853}, {"user_id": 6091, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301325619.8371861, "message": "They need to be as dedicated/invested as you.  There will be extremely hard times ahead -- if they aren't very, very dedicated, they will just pick up and leave.  Possibly when you need them most.", "group_id": 250, "id": 458581}, {"user_id": 22729, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301378293.9881129, "message": "Appetite for risk, determination, creativity, execution, ability.", "group_id": 250, "id": 466643}, {"user_id": 22729, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301378386.317524, "message": "Then spend time coming up with a new biz idea with them just as an exercise to see how they think, analyze and their general sense is street smarts. It's also worth seeing how they handle debate and being challenged.", "group_id": 250, "id": 466652}, {"user_id": 22183, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301378534.4224241, "message": "Broad knowledge and vision are key.  Don't have to know everything, but have to know everything related to a particular idea(s)", "group_id": 250, "id": 466665}, {"user_id": 22729, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301378254.802737, "message": "Passion,", "group_id": 250, "id": 466638}, {"user_id": 22729, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301378327.810991, "message": "Verify by projects they've done in the past (particularly that done outside of work).", "group_id": 250, "id": 466648}, {"user_id": 22729, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301378261.422874, "message": "Dedication,", "group_id": 250, "id": 466639}, {"user_id": 4581, "stars": [{"date_created": 1302608756.1115639, "user_id": 7577}], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301493640.073555, "message": "@freshfunk This is a really interesting idea. Start an \"argument\" and see how productive it becomes :)", "group_id": 250, "id": 481767}, {"user_id": 22729, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301529720.502341, "message": "There is a problem though. There are personal characteristics and then there's performance. I had two semi cofounders initially who are both smart but never worked as hard as I did. I did see it coming though (and, really, I chose to work with them because I had few other options). Mostly it's stuff that if you read Paul Graham, you can see it coming (eg. people who have one foot in and one foot out always have something have something else to fall back on).", "group_id": 250, "id": 485973}, {"user_id": 22729, "stars": [{"date_created": 1301885326.10446, "user_id": 4581}], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1301529606.055434, "message": "hehe. I was thinking more like going through some of the business generation exercises with them. See if they can identify things like a value proposition, customer segment, marketing channels, revenue segments, etc. See where they surprise or where they don't perform as expected.", "group_id": 250, "id": 485965}, {"user_id": 25773, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1302557013.5749321, "message": "I have just created a group \"Start Up - Meet a Co Founder\" for those looking to post positions in start ups they are part of or for members who wish to be part of a start up and have expertise to offer. ", "group_id": 250, "id": 630289}, {"user_id": 26065, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1302589970.339926, "message": "@freshfunk same here, if co-founders are not at the same passion and commitment level it rarely works out and it drags you down.", "group_id": 250, "id": 638589}, {"user_id": 7577, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1302608862.9655881, "message": "@undefined I did this, started an argument early on, and the result was the end of the relationship as founders. No fun but all for the better.", "group_id": 250, "id": 640812}, {"user_id": 22729, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1302721947.9108541, "message": "I've talked to people about my idea and while they were playing devil's advocate (which I don't mind) I've had the experience where the guy was so completely convinced that he was right and I was wrong that I would never work with such a person. While others have been devil's advocates because they're simply exploring potential risks and problems and know how to play such roles without being jerks.", "group_id": 250, "id": 669974}, {"user_id": 22729, "stars": [], "topic_id": 14590, "date_created": 1302721868.427897, "message": "For the record, I wouldn't advise starting an \"argument\" per se. I think that's confrontational and adversarial. But I do think that a good team has people that have different roles who bring different perspectives. And it's worth seeing how people handle point of views that are different from their own. Plus any idea in its initial stage is going to be wrong (that is, not 100% right) and so it's up to the team to discover how their product really fits into the market, which different direction to take, which initial assumptions were wrong and being open to all of this without being bitter and without being a jerk.", "group_id": 250, "id": 669949}]