If you're starting a company, you probably have some ideas about what qualities you want in your first 50 hires.
Intelligence is a no-brainer.
Initiative, flexibility, and, provided you can find it, experience all probably reside at the top of your list. Any list of desired qualities can quickly spiral out of control. Employees should have them. Startups need people with those qualities, too. In staffing a startup, begin with a series of assumptions.