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Have you considered learning how to code? How hard is your idea to implement? I know people who were not coders at first but learned how to do it just so they c

by mion 14y ago

Have you considered learning how to code? How hard is your idea to implement? I know people who were not coders at first but learned how to do it just so they could build prototypes and simple versions of the product. Check out codeacademy.com And also this interview with YC partner Harjeet Taggar, he talks about learning how to code among other interesting stuff: http://techcrunch.com/2012/05/30/y-combinator-harj-taggar-interview-video-tctv/ http://techcrunch.com/2012/05/30/y-combinator-harj-taggar-in... You should also be careful with that "99%" statement. I don't wanna discourage you or anything, but you should definitely think about validating all your assumptions before investing money and time into building your startup. I strongly recommend reading The Lean Startup. And IMHO you should definitely have a technical co-founder. Even if you managed to save money and you can hire some decent programmers (which would be quite expensive for a student), you'll have no idea of how long it takes for something to done.

zeynalov 14y ago
Thanks for reply. I've already read The Lean Startup. The reason why I say 99% I'm sure that it'll be successful, is I talk to 23 of my potential costumers and 22 of them said Yes I would definitely buy your product, I like it and I need it. One of them said, mmm I must see the software now I can't tell anything. It's related to medicine, and because me too have this kind of problem and all other my doctor friends, I think it will work. Some time ago I've tried to learn Ruby on Rails but in my first week I saw that it's not that easy. I've learned how to make a website, blog etc., but making complex softwares are too hard for me. I need some time, which I don't have. Every workday I must be at the clinic and I have too many patients, I come home very tired, even though I work on my startup. One thing I don't understand, why should one learn to code, if he has enough money to hire someone to code? I always see everywhere that founders must learn to code. Why? I understand that it will save money and you can do whatever you want, you'll have freedom by coding. But is it worth it? To be able to code as an average hacker you should spend at least 3 month to learn to code.
- chris_dcosta 14y ago
  You will find out sooner or later that having an understanding of coding and technology, is indispensable when it comes to: a) briefing tech people a) creating functional specs a) creating technical specs b) managing tech projects c) testing results d) resolving issues It can be done by trial and error but that is a very expensive way to learn. Best advice get a tech co-founder who understands and believes in your project and vision, and work with them to get it done. Do not under estimate how difficult it is to do what appears to be the most simple tasks.
- mion 14y ago
  You're welcome! :) Ah I see, then you're in much better shape than I thought. But still, one can never be that sure about a startup, you have to be really careful with that. Put some fake screenshots together and tell your potential customers your product is ready and ask them to buy it. If they reply "ok send me your bank account" you're good. I say this because I've experienced it firsthand: you may find out that your assumptions are not that well-validated. But that's just a quick tip, now back to the topic. I don't think learning how to code is a must if you have a technical co-founder, someone that you can trust and will handle all the coding while you handle other business related issues. That usually works well. That's what I would do in your place, since you're finding it too hard to code it yourself. In my opinion, why is it bad to "just hire" some programmers (instead of giving them/him equity and thus having a co-founder): - Since you don't know how to code, you can't really tell if they're giving you what you paid for (is this shitty code or not?); - Your runway will be a lot shorter since you have to spend money paying them. Also, if you're willing to invest your money in your startup, think about the fact that, for example, with $1000/month you can only hire a lesser programmer but you could pay for a badass server with huge bandwidth, etc; - Startups are also about passion. Hired programmers wouldn't come close to the dedication needed at the early stages of a startup. Unless you were willing to spend a serious amount of cash and hire some seriously good hackers with +- $100k/year; - And theoretically, there's nothing to stop them from "stealing" your idea; There you go, my thoughts on the subject.
  - zeynalov 14y ago
    Your last point is my biggest problem. The reason why I can't decide if I should hire someone to code, that he can easily take it to himself, it consist of codes and it's just a software and actually he did everything. Why should he not steal the idea and the code?! This also applies to tech-cofounders which are strangers that I know from HN willing to start the startup with me. Your first point about showing screenshot to the potential costumers, seeing if they would buy it, remembers me Bill Gates selling his software when he even didn't start to build it :). I'll try to do it, good idea.
    - mion 14y ago

by mion 14y ago

zeynalov 14y ago

Thanks for reply. I've already read The Lean Startup. The reason why I say 99% I'm sure that it'll be successful, is I talk to 23 of my potential costumers and 22 of them said Yes I would definitely buy your product, I like it and I need it. One of them said, mmm I must see the software now I can't tell anything. It's related to medicine, and because me too have this kind of problem and all other my doctor friends, I think it will work. Some time ago I've tried to learn Ruby on Rails but in my first week I saw that it's not that easy. I've learned how to make a website, blog etc., but making complex softwares are too hard for me. I need some time, which I don't have. Every workday I must be at the clinic and I have too many patients, I come home very tired, even though I work on my startup. One thing I don't understand, why should one learn to code, if he has enough money to hire someone to code? I always see everywhere that founders must learn to code. Why? I understand that it will save money and you can do whatever you want, you'll have freedom by coding. But is it worth it? To be able to code as an average hacker you should spend at least 3 month to learn to code.

chris_dcosta 14y ago
You will find out sooner or later that having an understanding of coding and technology, is indispensable when it comes to: a) briefing tech people a) creating functional specs a) creating technical specs b) managing tech projects c) testing results d) resolving issues It can be done by trial and error but that is a very expensive way to learn. Best advice get a tech co-founder who understands and believes in your project and vision, and work with them to get it done. Do not under estimate how difficult it is to do what appears to be the most simple tasks.
mion 14y ago
You're welcome! :) Ah I see, then you're in much better shape than I thought. But still, one can never be that sure about a startup, you have to be really careful with that. Put some fake screenshots together and tell your potential customers your product is ready and ask them to buy it. If they reply "ok send me your bank account" you're good. I say this because I've experienced it firsthand: you may find out that your assumptions are not that well-validated. But that's just a quick tip, now back to the topic. I don't think learning how to code is a must if you have a technical co-founder, someone that you can trust and will handle all the coding while you handle other business related issues. That usually works well. That's what I would do in your place, since you're finding it too hard to code it yourself. In my opinion, why is it bad to "just hire" some programmers (instead of giving them/him equity and thus having a co-founder): - Since you don't know how to code, you can't really tell if they're giving you what you paid for (is this shitty code or not?); - Your runway will be a lot shorter since you have to spend money paying them. Also, if you're willing to invest your money in your startup, think about the fact that, for example, with $1000/month you can only hire a lesser programmer but you could pay for a badass server with huge bandwidth, etc; - Startups are also about passion. Hired programmers wouldn't come close to the dedication needed at the early stages of a startup. Unless you were willing to spend a serious amount of cash and hire some seriously good hackers with +- $100k/year; - And theoretically, there's nothing to stop them from "stealing" your idea; There you go, my thoughts on the subject.
- zeynalov 14y ago
  Your last point is my biggest problem. The reason why I can't decide if I should hire someone to code, that he can easily take it to himself, it consist of codes and it's just a software and actually he did everything. Why should he not steal the idea and the code?! This also applies to tech-cofounders which are strangers that I know from HN willing to start the startup with me. Your first point about showing screenshot to the potential costumers, seeing if they would buy it, remembers me Bill Gates selling his software when he even didn't start to build it :). I'll try to do it, good idea.
  - mion 14y ago