I think most people interested in starting a company have a different time frame in mind than people who are dating.

But who knows... I'd be curious to see actual data rather than supposing.

I'm not quite sure what your point is. You said "best co-founders are those who you've got some history with, who you know and trust. That doesn't happen overnight"

I agree but then how do you start it in the first place ? Isn't the point of startup school or dating school is to connect people and then from that, over time you can build that history and trust and then use that as consideration whether you want them as your co-founder ?

Is that what YC has observed?

My theory is that people are looking for people to start a company with ASAP, rather than 4-5 years in the future after they've worked together for a while.

But I could be wrong.

Sure there are people like that but the thing is you don't have to. No one is dictating you that you must start a company within certain time frame.