What value do you add to the relationship? Why would a hacker want to work with you? If your business plan involves extensive sales and marketing from an early

What value do you add to the relationship? Why would a hacker want to work with you? If your business plan involves extensive sales and marketing from an early stage, non-hackers might be able to add some value (you need someone to place all those Apple II's at the computer shops). Remember that an idea is worth nothing. A funded idea is worth something, but it doesn't sound like you have funding since you're asking someone to work for free. Most of the non-hacker founders that I heard of were personal friends of the hackers involved. It's hard to convince a hacker to take a chance on you otherwise. "Great opportunity to work for free!" is not a good value proposition.