[brudgers]

Forget about the idea. What matters is the people. In priority order:

1. Do you trust them in the "If I died they would make sure that my family was taken care of" way?

2. Are the executing right now even without technical talent?

3. Do they have a track record in the industry they are about to try to enter?

That's it.

Now the red flags:

  Do you really want to work with *two* idea guys?

  Do you really want to work with two people who think
  4 or 5 hours a week is going to get a solid app built?

  Do you really want to work with two people who believe
  that high pressure is a good way to establish a long term
  business partnership?

Go with your gut. This won't be your last offer to work on someone else's idea. Don't get sucked into the idea of owning a company. Particularly when you don't have a controlling interest and there is an aggregate controlling interest that sees you as providing commodity value.

Good luck.

[gregthompsonjr]

So far, they showed me video mockups of what they want built (they paid a graphic designer).

One of the big yellow flags to me was that they would be idea guys. They told me that they're willing to learn how to code, but considering they don't have super technical backgrounds (one is an electrical engineer, so he'd have the best chance at learning), they probably wouldn't be of aid in the interim.

[brudgers]

1. Have you verified that the graphic designer was paid?

2. IMO, when it comes to going into business:

   Yellow = Red

3. What did they show you in regard to market validation, funding efforts, user acquisition, business plans, etc?

4. What does the buy-sell agreement look like?

5. What has the electrical engineer been doing that has prohibited them from developing a technical background?

[gregthompsonjr]

I never verified that they paid the graphic designer, but they told me they did (I took their word for it).

They didn't show me anything as far as validating the idea; nothing shown towards funding efforts (just, "I have people in my phone I can call right now for funds."), nothing towards user acquisition (I asked about their plan; one involved marketing against a hit movie's release).

No buy-sell agreement.

Not exactly sure what the electrical engineer is afraid of in terms of learning how to write code on his own in order to develop at least the alpha of this. He just told me, "It's not my thing." The other guy said something similar. Both said they're willing to learn but that it'd take them a really long time and that, essentially, because I already know how to do it, they called on me.

[brudgers]

[disclaimer: this is just my take from far away and over the internet without a lot of direct context]

1. Calling the graphic designer yourself to find out about payment is basic due diligence. No one in business should take offense at it, in case you're worried. If someone does, that's not good.

2. If they're bringing you in as an equal equity holder, vagueness about funding isn't really a good basis for a partnership.

3. Tying into a movie release isn't a solid marketing plan for a startup. Sure it's nice to get a boost from lucky timing, but there needs to be a Plan A.

4. No buy sell agreement combined with pressure to commit is absurd: commit to what?

5. If the software is the critical bit of their business, not being into the software is not being into the critical bits of their business. Work with people who will take out the garbage and jump up and down on top of the dumpster if it won't fit when that's what needs to be done.

Questions:

Do they have a track record that you're not mentioning?

What are they doing day in and out to add value?

How will they be adding value if you come on board during the time you are working on the code?

Why no buy-sell agreement?

Why no business and marketing plan as formal documents?

What do you think will happen if you decline their offer?

[nicholas73]

Wish there was a follow button after these solid pieces of advice.