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Need good interview questions for startup founders

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Re: Need good interview questions for startup founders

#11
post #8

The thing is that technology is only a means, so ask a real question such as: What "can" you design under $1 that solves a major problem in the world? Example answer: packets of salt and sugar is all it takes to prevent/solve dehydration in many sub-saharan countries. Can it save the world? Yes. Is it executable? Yes. Is the UI simple? Yes, ziplock sugar packets. Marketing costs? evangelize. Point is that the technic…

How do salt/sugar solve dehydration?

Re: Need good interview questions for startup founders

#12
In my opinion, the person should be clear why (s)he wants to do a startup. Does the person aspire to (hopefully) earn a lot of money in a relatively short time, or is it sheer satisfaction of doing your own thing or some other valid reason?

It might be better if your core thinking and goals, match to some extent with your probable co-founder.

Having said that, the 'skill set' of the person should compliment yours, so that as a team you are able to achieve more.

Re: Need good interview questions for startup founders

#14
post #8

The thing is that technology is only a means, so ask a real question such as: What "can" you design under $1 that solves a major problem in the world? Example answer: packets of salt and sugar is all it takes to prevent/solve dehydration in many sub-saharan countries. Can it save the world? Yes. Is it executable? Yes. Is the UI simple? Yes, ziplock sugar packets. Marketing costs? evangelize. Point is that the technic…

"The thing is that technology is only a means, so ask a real question such as:

What "can" you design under $1 that solves a major problem in the world?"

With all due respect I wonder how many successful entrepreneurs (Steve Jobs for e.g) would be able to answer this question?

This sounds like one of those textbook/puzzle questions which sound very clever but don't stand up to any rigorous analysis( imo).

I would be very surprised if answering this question "well" (your salt/sugar answer for example) correlated with any significant measure of entrepreneurial success. Needless to say, I would love to to data or studies that show otherwise.

Re: Need good interview questions for startup founders

#15
post #11
post #8

The thing is that technology is only a means, so ask a real question such as: What "can" you design under $1 that solves a major problem in the world? Example answer: packets of salt and sugar is all it takes to prevent/solve dehydration in many sub-saharan countries. Can it save the world? Yes. Is it executable? Yes. Is the UI simple? Yes, ziplock sugar packets. Marketing costs? evangelize. Point is that the technic…

How do salt/sugar solve dehydration?

OMG. Did you never heard about one spon of sugar, one spon of salt and one liter of water? It's the best for dehydration.

Re: Need good interview questions for startup founders

#16
post #11
post #8

The thing is that technology is only a means, so ask a real question such as: What "can" you design under $1 that solves a major problem in the world? Example answer: packets of salt and sugar is all it takes to prevent/solve dehydration in many sub-saharan countries. Can it save the world? Yes. Is it executable? Yes. Is the UI simple? Yes, ziplock sugar packets. Marketing costs? evangelize. Point is that the technic…

How do salt/sugar solve dehydration?

"How do salt/sugar solve dehydration?"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_rehydration_therapy

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