You've set out the requirements you want in your cofounders
- smart
- talented
- a strong personality (perhaps you mean fortitude)
Ask them to tell you stories about themselves that exemplify these traits.
Ask them to tell you stories about themselves that exemplify these traits.
Find out what else they've done to demonstrate they are entrepreneur material. Do a short trial project or two. Pay close attention to how they react to different circumstances during the projects. Challenge their ideas and see how they respond. Ask yourself if you could really work well with them, and if they really improve the odds of success enough to merit becoming a significant shareholder.