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The fact that you don't know programming is no big deal. Being a programmer for over 12 years and looking forward to my next startup, what I can tell you is tha

The fact that you don't know programming is no big deal. Being a programmer for over 12 years and looking forward to my next startup, what I can tell you is that ideas do matter. Consider this.The same amount of time that Google spend building a billion dollar startup is what a two bit outfit spends generating a million dollars. Or another that goes belly up. In other words ideas and execution equally matter. Maybe execution is a little more important. That's why Oracle dominates database software although initially there were multiple database startups (same idea). A recent survey of forbes billionaires confirmed this. Many of them picked ideas over execution others picked execution.It all depends on the situation. In any case, you can try building a prototype by using freelance sites such as guru.com or elance and then see what response you get from your target customers. I think it is important to get feedback from would be paying customers. If it is positive then go for it. -Augustus

run4yourlives 19y ago
Do you by chance have a link to the Forbes study in question?
- byrneseyeview 19y ago
  http://www.forbes.com/2006/09/20/ent-manage_biz_06rich400_self_made_entrepreneurs_lander.html http://www.forbes.com/2006/09/20/ent-manage_biz_06rich400_se... Don't miss it.
ardit33 19y ago
That's complete bullsh!t. It is execution that matters. Ideas are a dime a dozen. What google did was excellent execution of an non-original idea (there were lots of search engines at that time). Look at the UConnect vs. Facebook. vs. that other dude that that the same idea. Facebook was able to execute much faster and better and got traction, while Uconnect is just crap, and they have to resort to lawsuits. Sure, if your idea is dumb to begin with, then no matter how good the execution is, you wont get anything out of it. But you still can change ideas and business plans around, and from a loser make a winner offering. (many startups end up changing their ideas business models at some point, including the company I am working for). If your execution team still sucks, your products will show it, and the next guy that likes idea, will copy it, and make a much better version of what you are offering. (just like Friendster got hosed by poor execution). But it is a common trait from "Business" people that think ideas matter more. It is more of a whishful thinking. Honestly being good at business is nothing more that having a good common sense and street smarts, and knowing how to B.S. a little. Things that no school teaches you. So my advice, learn how to build websites (as a programmer I'd like to concetrate on the harder stuff), do everything you can help the whole team, (from marketing, getting graphics, building mock-ups or prototypes) etc.. While you don't have to program, you better have some good technical skills, and really understand what's going on and how hard or easy is to do some stuff. One thing that is very annoying, is how non-technical people think it is sooooo easy to just have an ajax drop down, or that little thing here, that little thing there, without having the slightly idea how much work it really takes.
- jamiequint 19y ago
  Maybe thats true if the idea is "lets make a better search engine" but thats not much of an idea. If the idea is "lets make a better search engine that uses a unique ranking system based on links to estimate the popularity of any given page" then I'd say the idea is worth something. The probable difference between ConnectU and Facebook? Facebook spammed all of Harvard to get its initial traction, ConnectU didn't.
  - jimbokun 19y ago
    "If the idea is "lets make a better search engine that uses a unique ranking system based on links to estimate the popularity of any given page" then I'd say the idea is worth something." Not without a working implementation, no. "The probable difference between ConnectU and Facebook? Facebook spammed all of Harvard to get its initial traction, ConnectU didn't." Right. Execution.
  - sbraford 19y ago
    I work with a Harvard guy who has ID in the low 300s on Facebook and also had an account on the early ConnectU. His exact quote: "ConnectU was nothing like Facebook. It was a total joke." "Spamming" or not, Facebook executed better. Also even if another team had the Pagerank idea, they still could've royally blew it. You think Yahoo hasn't studied the algorithm and come up with their own version by now? If it was just the idea then Yahoo would have a search engine competitive to Google by now. (it's getting there but still has a long way to go)
chaostheory 19y ago
I could be wrong, but referencing the Forbes survey that you cited - the results went against your conclusion... Idea vs Execution (or which one is more important) votes: ------------------------ Arthur Blank: both Tim Blixseth: both Otis Booth: Execution Mark Cuban: Execution Gerald Ford: both Danny Gilbert: Execution Kennet Hendricks: both Wayne Huizenga: Execution George Kaiser: both Michael llitch: Idea William Moncrief: Idea Phillip Ruffin: Idea Jorge Perez: Execution James Sorenson: both ------------------------ Both are equally important (tie): 6 votes Execution: 5 votes Idea: 3 votes Conclusion: Execution wins

run4yourlives 19y ago

Do you by chance have a link to the Forbes study in question?

byrneseyeview 19y ago
http://www.forbes.com/2006/09/20/ent-manage_biz_06rich400_self_made_entrepreneurs_lander.html http://www.forbes.com/2006/09/20/ent-manage_biz_06rich400_se... Don't miss it.

ardit33 19y ago

That's complete bullsh!t. It is execution that matters. Ideas are a dime a dozen. What google did was excellent execution of an non-original idea (there were lots of search engines at that time). Look at the UConnect vs. Facebook. vs. that other dude that that the same idea. Facebook was able to execute much faster and better and got traction, while Uconnect is just crap, and they have to resort to lawsuits. Sure, if your idea is dumb to begin with, then no matter how good the execution is, you wont get anything out of it. But you still can change ideas and business plans around, and from a loser make a winner offering. (many startups end up changing their ideas business models at some point, including the company I am working for). If your execution team still sucks, your products will show it, and the next guy that likes idea, will copy it, and make a much better version of what you are offering. (just like Friendster got hosed by poor execution). But it is a common trait from "Business" people that think ideas matter more. It is more of a whishful thinking. Honestly being good at business is nothing more that having a good common sense and street smarts, and knowing how to B.S. a little. Things that no school teaches you. So my advice, learn how to build websites (as a programmer I'd like to concetrate on the harder stuff), do everything you can help the whole team, (from marketing, getting graphics, building mock-ups or prototypes) etc.. While you don't have to program, you better have some good technical skills, and really understand what's going on and how hard or easy is to do some stuff. One thing that is very annoying, is how non-technical people think it is sooooo easy to just have an ajax drop down, or that little thing here, that little thing there, without having the slightly idea how much work it really takes.

jamiequint 19y ago
Maybe thats true if the idea is "lets make a better search engine" but thats not much of an idea. If the idea is "lets make a better search engine that uses a unique ranking system based on links to estimate the popularity of any given page" then I'd say the idea is worth something. The probable difference between ConnectU and Facebook? Facebook spammed all of Harvard to get its initial traction, ConnectU didn't.
- jimbokun 19y ago
  "If the idea is "lets make a better search engine that uses a unique ranking system based on links to estimate the popularity of any given page" then I'd say the idea is worth something." Not without a working implementation, no. "The probable difference between ConnectU and Facebook? Facebook spammed all of Harvard to get its initial traction, ConnectU didn't." Right. Execution.
- sbraford 19y ago
  I work with a Harvard guy who has ID in the low 300s on Facebook and also had an account on the early ConnectU. His exact quote: "ConnectU was nothing like Facebook. It was a total joke." "Spamming" or not, Facebook executed better. Also even if another team had the Pagerank idea, they still could've royally blew it. You think Yahoo hasn't studied the algorithm and come up with their own version by now? If it was just the idea then Yahoo would have a search engine competitive to Google by now. (it's getting there but still has a long way to go)

chaostheory 19y ago

I could be wrong, but referencing the Forbes survey that you cited - the results went against your conclusion... Idea vs Execution (or which one is more important) votes: ------------------------ Arthur Blank: both Tim Blixseth: both Otis Booth: Execution Mark Cuban: Execution Gerald Ford: both Danny Gilbert: Execution Kennet Hendricks: both Wayne Huizenga: Execution George Kaiser: both Michael llitch: Idea William Moncrief: Idea Phillip Ruffin: Idea Jorge Perez: Execution James Sorenson: both ------------------------ Both are equally important (tie): 6 votes Execution: 5 votes Idea: 3 votes Conclusion: Execution wins