"Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family," as Kofi Annan put so eloquently, acquiring and sharing knowledge is key to progress.In our Roundtable Discussion Series, we've asked our network to share their personal knowledge and experience so that we, in turn, can help share the invaluable information to fellow entrepreneurs on their path to success.Do you and your co-founder want to launch a startup? The Founder Institute can help. Apply today!Searching for the right co-founder can be a long and tedious path. As we've mentioned in "Till Death Do Us Part - Secrets of the Most Successful Founding Teams", finding the right business partner can occur through various happenstance. There are countless ways teams are formed and differing reasons as to why they work out. Below, members of our network share in-depth advice on how to find a co-founder and what characterisitics are key to a succesful team.What's your advice on finding a co-founder? Take your time to find the right one. It's like a marriage, but could be worse than a divorce. [Tweet this!]What are some traits you look for in a cofounder? They should complement me more than anything else.Suggestions on where to find one? LinkedIn and AngelListWhat's your advice on finding a co-founder? Are you like-minded on big issues like employee equity, fundraising and exit strategy? When [my co-founder] and I decided to work together we talked about these issues and many others to see if there was any area where we had a major disconnect. These big philosophical points don't "just work themselves out", and they have the potential to derail your working relationship and therefore your company if you really, deeply disagree on them.What are some traits you look for in a co-founder? Trustworthy, has a sense of humor, shared mutual respect, shared ideals, passion, and a good attitude under stress.Suggestions on where to find one? Hang out with people who know a lot of people. Go to tech events, do some Startup Weekends, and keep half an eye on social media. Secondly, look for opportunities to lead something, anything, in your local startup ecosystem. Taking a visible lead on a project makes it more likely that smart, motivated, experienced people will seek you out, and that makes the first point a lot easier. [Tweet this!]What's your advice on finding a co-founder? Obviously your co-founder has to have all the skills needed and have [skills] that complement yours, but you must genuinely like and get along with your co-founder. You will be spending so much time together, so you want to hang out with a good likeable person! [Tweet this!]What are some traits you look for in a co-founder? Trustworthy, honest, funny, and hard working. What's your advice on finding a co-founder? Seek out the most remarkable people, those who are as dedicated to the dream as you are. In order to do the impossible, you need the best people collaborating. Ideally, all in the same room. [Tweet this!]What are some traits you look for in a co-founder? Social Intelligence, compassion, mastery of a skill, lifelong-learners, and a collaborative mindset.Suggestions on where to find one? LinkedIn What's your advice on finding a co-founder? Firstly, ask those closest to you to help identify your biggest weaknesses. Then, find a person who excels at those things. However, if you can't spend numerous nights happily working with this person in a cramped and hot room, you haven't found the right co-founder.What are some traits you look for in a co-founder? Obviously, technical skills shouldn't be overlooked, but a strong work ethic and natural curiosity are very important me. [Tweet this!]Suggestions on where to find one? I think it's crucial to stay connected in startup communities. Many people will look amazing on paper, but only your peers in your startup community can vouch for the person who will truly do anything it takes to help your company be successful. What's your advice on finding a co-founder? Don't apologize for having high standards. Ability without opportunity is a waste. Any fool can complain, condemn or criticize and those that do usually are! [Tweet this!]What are some traits you look for in a co-founder? Integrity, shared vision, and purpose. Suggestions on where to find one? I suggest professional associations and membership associations.The Founder Institute helps both solo founders and co-founding teams. What's stopping you? Apply today! (Team Teamwork Discussion Meeting Project by Shutterstock)
