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by mindcrime 4558 days ago
I'm sure most of you all have heard or read about the poor guy who pissed off his kids college fund on a pipe dream but I can't and won't let that happen to me

Good, don't do that. Web-based applications can be developed fairly inexpensively, especially if you were willing to learn to code yourself. Otherwise, try to spend other people's money (but with the caveat about being careful about how much equity you give up if you get this thing going and start raising money).

Another thing you have to consider... if you want this built, you have three realistic options:

1. Learn to code, and do it yourself, at least through the initial stages.

2. Subcontract the work to somebody on a pure "work for hire" basis

3. Bring in a co-founder who receives a share of the equity in exchange for building the site.

In many ways, (3) above is the most attractive, but in this case, you face an interesting conundrum... you have an idea, but a potential co-founder is going to ask what else you can bring to the table? If you aren't going to code, what are you going to do? If all you have is the idea, and the other person(s) have to do all the work, they are (rightly, IMO) going to want the lion's share of the equity. You, as the originator of the idea, may not be so comfortable with such an arrangement.

Given that, unless you have some money you are comfortable spending on option (2), I seriously recommend considering (1). It wouldn't be the first time a non-technical person learned to code and built their own prototype and then used that to work their way forward... once you have a prototype, you're in strong shape to seek a co-founder or outside investment.

All of that said, if you want to subcontract the work out to somebody, feel free to shoot me an email. I might be able to help you find somebody.

1 comments

Thank you for your reply. Option 1. I have a full time job, I am limited in time to learn how to code. Option 2. I looked into websites like Elance and Odesk and not really sure who to trust based on some bad reviews. Option 3. I believe can build the website with funds I have. I prefer not to have a partner at this time. Been there before and I usually run circles around them. You did not mention hiring a web developer / company?
Option 2 is hard. It means you're in the role of engineering manager. Most people on oDesk/elance are individual engineers and the consulting shops on there are generally just loose associations of friends or crappy outsourcing firms.

I'd suggest finding a small, local consulting shop and asking them to build it for you as a work-for-hire giving you full copyright ownership. Full-time consulting orgs will have no interest in stealing your idea as it's their lifeblood to build out other people's ideas. Meet with the owners, see their offices, evaluate their past work, get a free consultation, and only pay what you can afford.

Finding a co-founder is also hard. I think it's the same success rate of starting a rock band. And I think it's more likely to have a bitter end where you're trying to divide a baby.

I agree. Your suggeston of finding a "local" consulting shop is probably the direction I will take. Thank you for your input! .
I was consolidating the idea of hiring either a full-fledged company/agency or a freelancer/freelancers, as option (2). The ELance /oDesk route is somewhat risky if you don't have prior connections with one or more people you know you can trust.

If you're really interested in subbing it out, ping me directly, I may be able to help you find somebody.

Thank you. I just might do that. Stay tuned......
Hiring someone was option 2.