3 ms·

"But, he's going to basically 'donate' an hour a day to review code and help shape strategy, and is interested in coming on board for salary/equity if we can fi

"But, he's going to basically 'donate' an hour a day to review code and help shape strategy, and is interested in coming on board for salary/equity if we can find seed." My beef here is that the people who do the least amount of work or, in the case of you and your wife, have the least amount of tech-related skills, would be running the show. If I'm working all day on your startup, the last thing I want is to have that day end with a CTO looking over my shoulders and criticizing my code, especially when that CTO obviously lacks the same amount of commitment that I have. It'd be even more grating if that CTO would then come on full time and essentially jump over me and my colleagues who have done all the work, both in salary and title. Also, you'd have to be able to prove that you are actually an interesting founder to work with and have skills (if not coding, something else) that will be an asset for the company in the long run. Nobody wants an "idea man" as his/her boss. Lastly, if you work 12 hours a day, whether you do so in Hawaii or in Siberia doesn't really matter all that much. If you only expect your coders to work for 4-5 hours a day, now that's something else. Coding-for-space isn't offensive, it just isn't all that appealing.

c52Andy 15y ago
This feedback is exactly why I posted - and thanks for the scenario. We def bring a lot more to the table than ideas (UI design, proven branding and marketing knowledge/experience; enough skills to jump in wherever needed and whenever needed - "Hey, write me some CSS for that page while I tweak xyz..." "OK, done.") - and the site is admittedly more of a marketing play then a tech play (words of another hacker that's reviewed materials to date). That said, super valid points re. someone 'hopscotching' and well spotted on 12hour days in Siberia. That said, I work about 16 on average and still enjoy the view (and weather) a lot more in those down hours - so surely environment carries some equity. No mai tais in Russia... good Vodka though!
- stdbrouw 15y ago
  "the site is admittedly more of a marketing play then a tech play" — that could actually be an advantage if it means you chiefly need coders for a couple of months to get things started, rather than a multi-year commitment. Makes it look more like a vacation.
  - c52Andy 15y ago
    "Makes it look more like a vacation." True assuming an MVP in exchange for a short vacation sounds fair; and effectively that was our thought - spend the time to get it launched here, then go home. BUT, equity in exchange would be restricted stock options with vesting clauses - so longer commitment required beyond an MVP. If we had e.g., 1/2+ the cash to pay a team for 6 weeks full-time that might be fair w/no equity and a 'paid vacation' on reduced salary; but I personally wouldn't go for that... not without an extra month of no-work live-in included anyway!

c52Andy 15y ago

This feedback is exactly why I posted - and thanks for the scenario. We def bring a lot more to the table than ideas (UI design, proven branding and marketing knowledge/experience; enough skills to jump in wherever needed and whenever needed - "Hey, write me some CSS for that page while I tweak xyz..." "OK, done.") - and the site is admittedly more of a marketing play then a tech play (words of another hacker that's reviewed materials to date). That said, super valid points re. someone 'hopscotching' and well spotted on 12hour days in Siberia. That said, I work about 16 on average and still enjoy the view (and weather) a lot more in those down hours - so surely environment carries some equity. No mai tais in Russia... good Vodka though!

stdbrouw 15y ago
"the site is admittedly more of a marketing play then a tech play" — that could actually be an advantage if it means you chiefly need coders for a couple of months to get things started, rather than a multi-year commitment. Makes it look more like a vacation.
- c52Andy 15y ago
  "Makes it look more like a vacation." True assuming an MVP in exchange for a short vacation sounds fair; and effectively that was our thought - spend the time to get it launched here, then go home. BUT, equity in exchange would be restricted stock options with vesting clauses - so longer commitment required beyond an MVP. If we had e.g., 1/2+ the cash to pay a team for 6 weeks full-time that might be fair w/no equity and a 'paid vacation' on reduced salary; but I personally wouldn't go for that... not without an extra month of no-work live-in included anyway!