5 ms·

Can I buy your side project?

38 points by grantsch 7y ago

My business partner and I want to jump into a cool project. My partner is a software developer and I'm a marketer/sales guy. We're looking for side projects with users that are not monetized or just not making a lot of money. Our ideal partner in this would be someone who loves building things and wants to get compensated for doing so, but isn't as excited about running a business and doing marketing. Email in my bio Thanks! Grant

zapstar 7y ago
What is your budget?
- i_am_nomad 7y ago
  They’ll pay in exposure.
- grantsch 7y ago
  we have access to capital for the right thing
  - TuringNYC 7y ago
    I am intrigued. It would help if you could share some success stories where you have done this, perhaps with before and after.
    - grantsch 7y ago
      hey we can talk email me (in bio)
_bxg1 7y ago
This is a weird way to go about things, especially since most "side projects" these days are open-sourced by default. Why not come up with your own idea?
- grantsch 7y ago
  thanks for your input
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
- biolurker1 7y ago
  > most "side projects" these days are open-sourced by default what???
  - _bxg1 7y ago
    *side projects that aren't already a for-profit endeavor (why would someone sell it if they're already making/planning to make money?)
    - krzepah 7y ago
      Isn't there a bias because open-sources projects are those more easily seen ? What happens to those projects that are put on "wait" ? I doubt everyone just put-on his work free of consequences
      - grantsch 7y ago
        this is a very smart comment
      - _bxg1 7y ago
        Personally if I start hacking on something, and the idea doesn't immediately stand out as something I might want to build a business out of, it goes straight to a public GitHub repo.
system2 7y ago
How can someone trust you with their valuable ideas and already in-motion projects?
- grantsch 7y ago
  well there's a trade-off. they get money in return.
- TuringNYC 7y ago
  Make sure there are clear milestones and metrics with an earn-in vesting schedule. The last thing you need is a stranger who immediately owns 25 or 50% of your company doing nothing except collecting rent 9or encumbering you’re business. That said, if the arrangement can be structured to be fair to both parties this sounds like a great deal. One particular thing I’d warn techies about are “business guys” asking for an ever longer list of uncompensated enhancements, only after which they put in their effort. If anyone suggests this — run. Both sides need skin in the game.
  - grantsch 7y ago
    I agree w/ you on this. Complicated earnout arrangements aren't something we're interested in. We're interested in taking over businesses and using our skillset (marketing for me / software for my partner) to unlock value in the business
1121redblackgo 7y ago
Look I totally think that if you can negotiate with someone and come up with a deal that all parties find equitable, that that is legitimate business, and I'm not sure why you should meet resistance on that front. However, I am not sure if this is the type of thread that I would like to see on hacker news.
chad_strategic 7y ago
I have a stock trading algo that tracks over 500 stocks profitably. Never been able to market it on the web. Even in today’s market. Website is in my profile, not for sale but can license it.
- grantsch 7y ago
  if it's really profitable why don't you raise a fund
  - skinnymuch 7y ago
    Aren’t there others similarly profitable? Doubt they can all raise funds. Or would want to.
    - grantsch 7y ago
      I’m confused If you have a profitable strategy that scales up, raise capital to execute on it. Doesn’t seem too hard.
      - skinnymuch 7y ago
        What about bootstrapped companies? Basecamp technically took Bezos’ money, but pocketed it mostly. 1Password didn’t take “funding” until now, again, mostly to cash out. Gumroad was scalable and makes a decent amount of money. It just wasn’t for the way the VCs wanted. So it didn’t work out that way, but the founder was still making mid 6 figures.
        grantsch 7y ago
        if you had a machine that could profitably pick stocks why would you ever invest just your money (not a lot) vs other people’s money (could be infinite if your strategy scales)
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
karmakaze 7y ago
Have a look at gitgrep.com and quicklog.io and let me know if interested in either of those. I also run hackerer.news but that's a public service and to keep me from wasting too much Fomo time 'refreshing'.
knowyourleadcom 7y ago
Knowyourlead.com I work on a team of engineers with a few side projects if interested. Craig@knowyourlead.com Www.knowyourlead.com you can get a instant trial and play with it but Haven’t gone live yet (turned on payments, finalized marketing messaging), business is proven by high priced competitors with a lot of overhead and I was taking it the low over head automated route. Was going to clean up a few things and release in April.
justanotherc 7y ago
I have an SEO based tool that's been limping along because I'm neither good at marketing nor interested in learning in order to scale it up. Its a customizable audit tool. If that sounds interesting to you, get in touch with me and I can show you more.
- grantsch 7y ago
  ok email me
  - justanotherc 7y ago
    Done!
- abhishek99 7y ago
  hey, I'm interested in checking this out. please contact me via the email in my bio. Would love to buy this.
  - justanotherc 7y ago
    Okay!
dhruvkar 7y ago
keto.fm please buy it from me. it's a content site but could evolve to be an indiehackers for keto. There wasn't a site out there last I checked.
instaash 7y ago
Would you be interested in investing in a invention that I do not have any money to get started better yet if you wanted to just pay me for my idea and only when you start making money on it I would be happy with 5% my name is Ashley and my email is l0v3l0ng3r@gmail.com if your interested.
pidtuner 7y ago
Mine is pidtuner.com, currently have 1000 engineers visiting each month. Not much, but quite specialized.