However our personalities are quite different. In other words, I wouldn't want to be friends with him or hang out with him as a friend. Actually come to think of it, he's not someone I want to sit next to for too long.
I figured that if I am to build a startup with someone, I could be sitting next to them 12 hours a day, every day, for many years to come. I have to enjoy or at least tolerate their company. At the same time, it's a rare opportunity to meet someone whose interests are very similar to mine with complementing skillsets.
I could keep looking for other cofounders, or I could try to see if I can learn to tolerate this potential cofounder. What would you do in this situation?
That's a hard no.
But maybe you don't need to be friends to be effective together in business.