[dheera]

I agree. Co-founders are by definition not hired. They should not have to "prove themselves" over the span of a week. Rather, you should already have the proof and conviction based on months to years of prior experience that they are the right person with the right skills.

Moreover, please do not be the silly business person who walks up to some engineer and be like: "I have this great idea, it's going to be great! Can you build it for me? Oh and by the way, because I guess it looks like you're going to be the technical one, I guess I'll have to be the CEO, and I'll take 80% of the equity [despite you doing all the work]." I've had enough of those stupid conversations before.

Good technical co-founders build what they want to build. Not what you want to build. Thus, you need to align as people, and build what you collectively want to build together. Technical co-founders work for themselves, not for you.

[hkmurakami]

Regarding the non technical cofounder, he or she should ideally have a track record in either acquiring consumer users with the acquisition channel he/she intends to use, or has successfully sold to enterprises in that vertical and size.

Without that track record, you're in for a crap shoot imo.

[uptownfunk]

A Harsh truth but quite enlightening. Thanks.