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Technical founders who don’t sell also use bad proxies (”Harvard MBA!”)

So, what's a better proxy for figuring out who a good business/sales co-founder is? (I ask as a tech guy with a Harvard MBA co-founder ;-))

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There's a huge difference between biz dev and sales. Most MBAs are "above" sales. If you need business/strategic/distribution partners, MBAs are great. If you need someone cold calling and knocking on doors, find a frat boy or sorority chick. (I'm serious - it's what every drug company, liquor distributor, and whoever else does.)

I vaguely remember in Malcolm Gladwell's most recent book that one of the best predictors of success in a business role on grads coming out of big name schools going to Wall Street was whether they were an athlete or not. That seems to jive decently with the "frat boy" suggestion.

Makes sense really, pick team players with a drive to win.

I wish I could up-vote this comment twice. So true.

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