You’re betting on learning speed and resilience. Probe:
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● Why this team? Prior domain insight, earned secrets, complementary skills.
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● Execution loop: Evidence they test hypotheses fast, ship often, and incorporate feedback.

● Hiring magnetism: Can they recruit people better than themselves?

● Founder‑market fit: Personal motivation to grind through the messy middle.

● Ethics & trust: Clean references; transparent about risks and unknowns.

Talk to customers and former teammates. Red flags: “tourist” founders chasing hot buzzwords; reluctance to share data; team churn without learning.