Question
My startup is an educational platform for marketing courses http://knowledge.ly . A similar model done well in another niche is http://codeschool.com .
The company is profitable (but not funded), however to grow and evolve I need someone invested as a partner (I think :-).
Ideally I would like someone experienced in digital publishing and distribution.
Locating people is less difficult, it's the approach of running it by them, making sure it is structured correctly. etc.
Answer
When evaluating a team member, there are a few key things to evaluate:
1. Does the team member have a complementary goal and ability to take on risk? If you are looking for a big exit, and your partner wants to make a nice living, your interests will not be aligned. Are they going to quit and work full time, like you?
2. Do all your team members have the skills to take the business where it needs to go? What's missing?
3. How connected are you to your suppliers, customers, sources of finance, accrediting bodies or other key relationships? Can your cofounder fill in those gaps?