[krisrak]

technical co-founder should get >50%, he can build product without you, u cannot without a technical co-founder. If you are a marketing guy then try starting business like groupon that requires more marketing and sales talent than technical talent at its core. If the core of the product relies on building good web app/mobile app then technical guys don't need you, if the product is great people will come onboard without help of any marketing guys. This does not work in case on businesses like groupon, which relies on building partnerships with good brands, that where pure marketings guys should focus on building.

[kls]

I am not sure I totally agree with this, If the non-technical co founder is a business dev and sales guy he is just as important to the equation. And I would say there are a good deal of technical individuals who should not have controlling interest in the company. I say that as a 3 time CTO of start-ups and a very technical person. I was in no way qualified to be the controlling party of any of those organizations. I have a good business intuition, but my partners where way more qualified in what they do, if I held controlling interest, I may have forced issues that I was wrong about. I agree with 50-50, but if I where investing in a company I would be leery of a company where the technical and not business partner held controlling interest.

[mindcrime]

technical co-founder should get >50%, he can build product without you

And? What good is a product if there aren't any paying customers willing to buy it? "Build it and they will come" has not proven to be a 100% effective strategy... in fact, history is littered with long lists of products that got built, some at great expense, but failed as businesses.

I think you underestimate - severely underestimate - the value the "business guy" brings to the table... IF said "business guy" is really a top-notch "business guy" and not just "some guy with an idea." Doing market research, identifying potential markets, interviewing customers and identifying pain-points and needs, determining pricing, determining market positioning, determining market type theory, cold calling to get leads, closing sales, raising funds, doing PR, determining channel strategy, generating demand and driving it into your chosen channels, arranging partnerships, etc., etc... these are the things that a good "business person" brings to the table, and they are essential.