> 4) Did the founders have a personal or professional relationship before deciding to start the company together? As I understand this is desirable, right? I w

> 4) Did the founders have a personal or professional relationship before deciding to start the company together? As I understand this is desirable, right? I wonder if there are any good successful stories of newly-acquainted, "JIT" founders? How about data that supports that being friends or colleagues equals success and greater valuations? My instinct tells me that a previous relationship is probably a good predictor of success. But it's always good to rely on hard data to avoid any correlational fallacies.