The quality of connection between cofounders of a bootstrap has a HUGE impact on its eventual success. Most of the great founding teams had years of quality time together before launching their ventures - H&P, Jobs&Woz, Gates&Allen, etc. This critical time over many years creates trust. It also allows each to know the other's strengths and weaknesses and to develop the productive friction from which innovation springs.

At Bootstrap we work not only at helping potential cofounders connect, but also at increasing the quality of their connections with each other. While our meetings and online tools help create the basic connections, the most effective way to do this is through shared tasks and projects. All our sub-initiatives have 2 members leading them.

Of course, any organization can only do so much towards the development of quality relationships. It is finally up to individuals to spend the time together to forge an indestructable Power of 2.