4 ms·

A startup is not a small business. A startup is attempting to build something of tremendous value for a large number of people. At that level, you can't treat

by frisco 17y ago

A startup is not a small business. A startup is attempting to build something of tremendous value for a large number of people. At that level, you can't treat internet systems as a black box: the skills needed to successfully launch a webapp and manage it with users are very non-trivial. Put another way: you can't manage devs who are an order of magnitude more deep technically than you are. Outsourcing works when there's local management who can make sure everything isn't falling apart and can vet the code submitted.

adrianwaj 17y ago
The crux of the matter here is that I am bringing a complete idea to the table, and have already worked it through with a talented developer who doesn't have the capacity to go further with the idea. It says in the YC rules that a remote co-founder is permissible. Although this may be construed as biased, for someone that wants to potentially solve a massive and pressing problem, I am offering the opportunity to do so with someone knowledgeable and passionate about it, in a valued context that's associated with this forum. There's no downside in working with me, I'd prefer established teams of two. What's the worst thing that can happen? How am I wrong? I am an affable person.
- apsurd 17y ago
  FWIW , no one is saying you are wrong. If we thought that, your post would not be on the front page. Simply put, you said it yourself: "I am bringing a complete idea and some code to the table". The code may be worth something. The idea, not so much[]. [](at this stage)
  - adrianwaj 17y ago
    I'm not bringing code to the table (the dev didn't start, but we worked the idea, requirements and functionality through). I am bringing myself to the table. ;) There's only a certain length to which I can sell myself and my idea in a public way like this without making myself look desperate, which I'm not, or lowering its value due to exposure. The main message I can give is: if what I am saying and want to do resonates with you, Try Me. Also, I have to be careful of people who just want to hear me out but then not do anything afterward.
    - chrischen 17y ago
      You might have missed the point. If you are the thing that is of value, then it'd be more important if you can show us your good idea. You'd have to, eventually, after we show our interest right? It'd be more important that you show how valuable you are than to show us that you, somehow by chance, stumbled upon a great idea. If it wasn't by chance, and you are just a smart person capable of great ideas, then you wouldn't fear telling everyone about it because you can refine the idea better than others. But if it was just by chance or you feel that you've already refined the idea (which I don't think is possible unless you've truly put it to practice and tested the startup), then you can give at least the general idea. But even then it's a hard sell if the idea is your only asset, since to have a developed idea probably requires having some developed prototype that's in production. Most would naturally still assume you have nothing but a general idea.
- pavs 17y ago
  Don't want to be rude, but ideas are a dime a dozen. An idea is only a "good idea" (in business terms mostly) when you have at least something to show in action. What you consider to be a "groundbreaking" idea, can be considered as "meh" to people who knows what they are doing. I don't think you need a "co-founder" (read: free developer), what you need right now is to hire a developer who can transfer you idea in to action.
  - adrianwaj 17y ago
    Right on. Happy to hire a more conventional developer/programmer but the PR exposure and endorsement of being YC funded is invaluable. YC funds hackers, so I am turning to the hacker community. I can always fallback to other roads, but I thought my idea would be appealing to this community. Selling tickets and music downloads as sourced straight from artists, now who's doing that? I've done the research and it has been on my mind for ages.

by frisco 17y ago

adrianwaj 17y ago

The crux of the matter here is that I am bringing a complete idea to the table, and have already worked it through with a talented developer who doesn't have the capacity to go further with the idea. It says in the YC rules that a remote co-founder is permissible. Although this may be construed as biased, for someone that wants to potentially solve a massive and pressing problem, I am offering the opportunity to do so with someone knowledgeable and passionate about it, in a valued context that's associated with this forum. There's no downside in working with me, I'd prefer established teams of two. What's the worst thing that can happen? How am I wrong? I am an affable person.

apsurd 17y ago
FWIW , no one is saying you are wrong. If we thought that, your post would not be on the front page. Simply put, you said it yourself: "I am bringing a complete idea and some code to the table". The code may be worth something. The idea, not so much[]. [](at this stage)
- adrianwaj 17y ago
  I'm not bringing code to the table (the dev didn't start, but we worked the idea, requirements and functionality through). I am bringing myself to the table. ;) There's only a certain length to which I can sell myself and my idea in a public way like this without making myself look desperate, which I'm not, or lowering its value due to exposure. The main message I can give is: if what I am saying and want to do resonates with you, Try Me. Also, I have to be careful of people who just want to hear me out but then not do anything afterward.
  - chrischen 17y ago
    You might have missed the point. If you are the thing that is of value, then it'd be more important if you can show us your good idea. You'd have to, eventually, after we show our interest right? It'd be more important that you show how valuable you are than to show us that you, somehow by chance, stumbled upon a great idea. If it wasn't by chance, and you are just a smart person capable of great ideas, then you wouldn't fear telling everyone about it because you can refine the idea better than others. But if it was just by chance or you feel that you've already refined the idea (which I don't think is possible unless you've truly put it to practice and tested the startup), then you can give at least the general idea. But even then it's a hard sell if the idea is your only asset, since to have a developed idea probably requires having some developed prototype that's in production. Most would naturally still assume you have nothing but a general idea.
pavs 17y ago
Don't want to be rude, but ideas are a dime a dozen. An idea is only a "good idea" (in business terms mostly) when you have at least something to show in action. What you consider to be a "groundbreaking" idea, can be considered as "meh" to people who knows what they are doing. I don't think you need a "co-founder" (read: free developer), what you need right now is to hire a developer who can transfer you idea in to action.
- adrianwaj 17y ago
  Right on. Happy to hire a more conventional developer/programmer but the PR exposure and endorsement of being YC funded is invaluable. YC funds hackers, so I am turning to the hacker community. I can always fallback to other roads, but I thought my idea would be appealing to this community. Selling tickets and music downloads as sourced straight from artists, now who's doing that? I've done the research and it has been on my mind for ages.