[danielvaughn]

It's virtually impossible to determine whether someone will be a good board member or equity partner. You can try your best, and some methods are undoubtedly better than others, but some people are just very good at lying.

[yowlingcat]

It's not virtually impossible. Whether it is possible or not is a function of that founder's relationships and information networks. If a founder is lacking in those categories, then yes, the deck is stacked against them.

[bedhead]

And yet, many people do it every year, over and over again, like magic.