3 Steps for Assembling a Startup Dream Team You may have a great idea, but your company's fate depends in large part on the strength of your team.

You may have a great idea, but your company's fate depends in large part on the strength of your team. In fact, many venture capitalists say that the character, complementary skill sets and working style of the key players are some of the most important factors in selecting companies in which to invest.

We spoke with Naeem Zafar, who teaches entrepreneurship at the University of California, Berkeley, and serves as CEO of startup Bitzer Mobile, to walk us through the steps you should take to assemble a group that will start you on the road to profitability.

The Founders
The first and perhaps most difficult step is to evaluate your business partners. "The quality of people in this phase will define the DNA of the company later," Zafar says. "It's critical to be ruthless."