The first thing I'd look for is someone who was themselves a technical co-founder. For someone who is not that technical, that would be a big drawback. I woul

The first thing I'd look for is someone who was themselves a technical co-founder. For someone who is not that technical, that would be a big drawback. I would say in that case that they be an adult. Even if they're in their mid-20s - they are an adult. They are confident and decisive. They're optimistic about the business. I don't know how to put it into a word, but it's all one thing. Insofar as avoiding - nepotism for one thing. Relatives, wives etc. working for the company is not a good sign for a company on the rise. I can think of companies we all know of who have been harmed by co-founder nepotism, which has all kinds of pitfalls. Also petulance, inability to handle stress, the desire to point fingers and blame in an unproductive way. Not wanting to deal with things - passive-aggressiveness. Also, flightiness. Bad CEOs seem to have many projects in flight, and seem to start and cancel products with no rhyme or reason. Good CEOs are usually focused on one product (or maybe product suite). Good pivots or new products are usually due to customers throwing boatloads money at the company because they want us to do something they don't offer, we don't pivot because the CEO thinks up a new idea and wants to chase a new shiny. Lack of focus.