I would first look for someone you can trust who is an experienced software engineer or software engineering manager to take a look at what you're trying to bui

I would first look for someone you can trust who is an experienced software engineer or software engineering manager to take a look at what you're trying to build and give you a gut feel on the scope and schedule. You'll need to factor in some risks on top of that basic gut feel. I think being in Europe is a plus here in terms of being able to get talent for a reasonable cost. I think you can find good people in any industry but it's never easy. Paying well, benefits/perks and good working conditions are a good start. Count on it taking time and effort. You will need at least 1-3 strong people (one is a bit risky but can also work) and those can help you grow the team and also lead more junior engineers. What about making some arrangements with your provider with you paying for time/people and them making changes/fixes/custom features for you? Could even be on your premises or some other similar arrangement. That can work if the software has some good bones.