Diners were out in full force last week, firing questions at the wonderful Matthew Bradley, Investor at Forward Partners, on a variety of topics. Here’s a selection of what was asked and answered after dinner:

What is the definition of a ‘co-founder’?
A co-founder isn’t just a job title. Investors are interested in businesses that have a ‘founding team’. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, a co-founder should bring their own skills to the table that compliment yours, building a solid team of founders.

What is the balance between vision and customer feedback? How do you find the balance?
You need to know what to implement and when, so always have bucket loads of product vision. Take a look at Carlota Perez – a Researcher, lecturer and international consultant. It may sound silly (and a bit obvious) to say, but it’s a bad idea to build a product when no one wants it. Always ask open-ended questions and listen to what people want.

What’s the criteria that makes you choose a startup?
For us, charisma and passion are important. As an investor, you’re always looking for a gigantic exit – can it get big enough? We’re looking for things that can return our fund.

When do you need a co-founder?
At series A, you’re expected to have a co-founder as you need a person to talk with and bounce ideas off. Make sure you recruit at the right time. It’s worthwhile knowing where you’re skills are lacking so you employ someone who plugs those gaps. This is the best way for a business to grow; make sure you do it with the best people. It’s important for us to know that you know what your weaknesses are.

How much time do I have for you to exit and be successful?
At Forward Partners, there is no specific time pressure, although we do expect a time frame of between 7 to 10 years. Be prepared for when you do seed rounds to give away 20% of equity. Before seed, expect anywhere between 35-45%.

To get your chance to ask investors, journalists or founders questions to your heart’s content, join one of upcoming TableCrowd dinners.