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The requirements aren't an indication of equity, at all. We're looking for someone who's skilled, not necessarily experienced. Room to grow and a chance to prov

The requirements aren't an indication of equity, at all. We're looking for someone who's skilled, not necessarily experienced. Room to grow and a chance to prove yourself is one of the opportunities a startup offers, after all.

tptacek 18y ago
For a person who can walk in the door as a key developer, there are plenty of paying projects that can make the same promises...
ryanwaggoner 18y ago
We're looking for someone who's skilled, not necessarily experienced. Are you sure you have the ability to differentiate between the two? On the whole, I'm pretty skeptical of startups that have no revenue or funding and are looking for an equity-only lead developer. It sounds like a bunch of non-technical people trying to get a code monkey for a few percent. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Harkins 18y ago
The requirements don't, however, say that growing and proving one's self will result in increased equity. In programming, usually you have a first job where you grow and prove yourself, and then go get a job for a significantly increased income.
swombat 18y ago
If the guy is going to be your technology lead, and he's a founder, then he's clearly your cofounder CTO. You might want to read this article I wrote on the subject of technology recruitment in early start-ups. http://inter-sections.net/2008/09/03/technology-recruitment-in-an-early-start-up http://inter-sections.net/2008/09/03/technology-recruitment-... If you don't have anyone on your current founder team capable of building the product, you don't have a start-up yet. This guy, if/when you find him, will change that. I suggest equal equity with you.
bprater 18y ago
Bringing in someone who doesn't have years of experience is going to bite you later on. (I say this from experience: I was co-founder of a tech company in '99 and I simply didn't have the experience to build the foundation cleanly.) These folks can come in with half-cocked knowledge and leave you with a trail of misery later on. Leave the opportunity for hired guns the lead brings in. The lead needs to be experienced.
thwarted 18y ago
Prove themselves to who? Without either another technical person play off of or a cofounder/business-guy/whathaveyou that is able to recognize contribution and not treat technical resources as replaceable cogs. Recognition by someone skilled or experienced or has background in the art is much more valuable than recognition by someone who is or has not. In my experience, I've proven myself to non-technical people who were peers with me at the time (we worked under the same blowhard), and that afforded a certain kind of respect that wouldn't come from having to prove yourself to a superordinate.

tptacek 18y ago

For a person who can walk in the door as a key developer, there are plenty of paying projects that can make the same promises...

ryanwaggoner 18y ago

We're looking for someone who's skilled, not necessarily experienced. Are you sure you have the ability to differentiate between the two? On the whole, I'm pretty skeptical of startups that have no revenue or funding and are looking for an equity-only lead developer. It sounds like a bunch of non-technical people trying to get a code monkey for a few percent. Hopefully I'm wrong.

Harkins 18y ago

The requirements don't, however, say that growing and proving one's self will result in increased equity. In programming, usually you have a first job where you grow and prove yourself, and then go get a job for a significantly increased income.

swombat 18y ago

If the guy is going to be your technology lead, and he's a founder, then he's clearly your cofounder CTO. You might want to read this article I wrote on the subject of technology recruitment in early start-ups. http://inter-sections.net/2008/09/03/technology-recruitment-in-an-early-start-up http://inter-sections.net/2008/09/03/technology-recruitment-... If you don't have anyone on your current founder team capable of building the product, you don't have a start-up yet. This guy, if/when you find him, will change that. I suggest equal equity with you.

bprater 18y ago

Bringing in someone who doesn't have years of experience is going to bite you later on. (I say this from experience: I was co-founder of a tech company in '99 and I simply didn't have the experience to build the foundation cleanly.) These folks can come in with half-cocked knowledge and leave you with a trail of misery later on. Leave the opportunity for hired guns the lead brings in. The lead needs to be experienced.

thwarted 18y ago

Prove themselves to who? Without either another technical person play off of or a cofounder/business-guy/whathaveyou that is able to recognize contribution and not treat technical resources as replaceable cogs. Recognition by someone skilled or experienced or has background in the art is much more valuable than recognition by someone who is or has not. In my experience, I've proven myself to non-technical people who were peers with me at the time (we worked under the same blowhard), and that afforded a certain kind of respect that wouldn't come from having to prove yourself to a superordinate.