In startups, it's all about the team. Ideas change, business models change and even roles can change, but the hope is that you can build a core team that is lasting. From the first step of finding a good co-founder to adding key members to your early team, it's a good idea to have a framework for what you're looking for.  What I look for are the 3 C's: Chemistry, Competence and Customer Focus.

You can't throw a stone in the startup community without hitting a blog post, tweet, or discussion around co-founders.  While I think there's a great deal of good advice out there on the search for a co-founder on places like Venture Hacks, Humbled MBA and OnStartups, it's as important to understand the potholes to avoid.  Just like a pothole will disable an otherwise great car, these mistakes will derail your company...and your cofounder search.

We all know how hard it is to find a cofounder (especially if you're looking for a technical one).  So what if you think you might be able to go it alone? Maybe you have the technical skills to get your idea off the ground or are willing to bite the bullet and pay someone to build your idea.   It may seem like a great idea, and in some cases may work out, but I'd like to caution against not having a co-founder.  Here's why: