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Ask HN: Where to meet non-technical cofounders?

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Re: Ask HN: Where to meet non-technical cofounders?

#31

Post by arbitrary_name »

jjguy wrote: post #16

I’d recommend joining an existing, early stage startup in the same/similar niche you eventually want to build your own product in. While there, make an effort to network with the non-technical staff. Not only will you learn a ton about shipping product in a startup (risking someone else’s money), but you will also grow your own network - including non-technical founder types. This model worked for me. I spent twelve…

A variation of this was posted above and I want to repeat: not always a great idea as it is easy to end up not having deep engagement with other business functions. It becomes heavily dependent on finding the right team.

Good options for maximizing your network 1) stay with a Faang and reach out to people internally - many of the best non tech people are inside Amazon, FB etc 2) consider consulting that blends you with larger teams or different functions, either with a company or freelancing.

Re: Ask HN: Where to meet non-technical cofounders?

#32

Post by neilv »

paulsutter wrote: post #23

From Paul Graham ( http://www.paulgraham.com/bronze.html ): > The good news is, choosing problems is something that can be learned. I know that from experience. Hackers can learn to make things customers want. [6] >This is a controversial view. One expert on "entrepreneurship" told me that any startup had to include business people, because only they could focus on what customers wanted. I'll probably alienate this g…

You can understand the customer backwards and forwards, but I think you still need a business person who both knows how to court funding, and is willing to spend all their time doing that.

One example, from my past, abandoned self-funded startup: my co-founder (customer domain expert) and I (all-in-one engineering) didn't want to be the ones courting VC, but we were also too slow to seek out a startup business person. For maybe two reasons:

1. We had a couple outside-the-box approaches, which would only really resonate with users because we weren't doing something in the way every other CEO in that space did it.

2. We were busy, and didn't know offhand where to look for the kind of CEO we needed -- who we'd trust to embrace the approach, not twist it before launch, nor (ethically worse) bait&switch our users afterwards.

Maybe some kind of incubator would've helped us launch and get far enough for the right CEO to come to us. But we didn't have time to jump through the hoops of something like YC, for a small chance at a small amount of funding. And the process still seems oriented towards founders who want to be doing all the business stuff.

PG might've sought to mold technical founders into business people -- but some technical people already have some idea what business is about, and know they'd rather someone else (trustworthy!) do the business parts they don't want to do much of.

Re: Ask HN: Where to meet non-technical cofounders?

#35

Post by walterbell »

Offer free technical reviews, delivered by video call, for business pitch/plans written by founders who are looking for a technical co-founder.

Either you recruit them to your idea, or they recruit you to theirs.

In the best case, you will jointly come up with a new idea.

Re: Ask HN: Where to meet non-technical cofounders?

#36

Post by sopromo »

csunbird wrote: post #33

Kind of relevant to the topic, but I am unable to find a technical co-founder to work with me on my pet project that might or might not take off. I am a software developer but it is a two man job, because I lack knowledge on mobile department. Any ideas?

I am always open to new ideas and if it sounds like a good one I can get onboard

Re: Ask HN: Where to meet non-technical cofounders?

#37

Post by Cro_on »

right here on hn is / has the potential to be an ideal recruiting ground for non technical entrepreneurs.

i mean, what you're essentially looking for is the intellectual equivalent of a bar, or more conveniently, the halls of residence in a good university.

the reason universities are so ideal for finding cofounders is that perfect blend of infinite trajectory (minimal real world obligations) and equal standing. ideally, the place you're talking about has the capacity to integrate these things into a social sphere, without the media.

hn can fulfil this role more or less, and could do so to a greater extent if they had the incentive to. you have the karma / profile to judge someone's character and understanding, and their further contact if that's what they want.

it so happens that all of the job postings are for technical positions, but that is due to the fact that it is more likely for someone nontechnical to need an engineer than the other way around.

where else would the millennial steve jobs be lurking? (this is not exclusively rhetoric – if there is another answer that's not hn then go there)

if they're nowhere obvious, then they're hustling, and good luck finding them if you didn't go to school with them.

Re: Ask HN: Where to meet non-technical cofounders?

#38

Post by fgimenez »

I’m a VC, so this take is biased. Liberally apply grains of salt.

If you are looking to start a VC-scale startup, I’d suggest talking to VCs who can help introduce you to domain experts. There are a few reasons this is beneficial:

- You get to battle test your idea to hone the story. This will help you recruit non-technical people.

- You build relationships with VC for the moment you need funding.

- You learn which VC are actually helpful. The meme is that all VC have to pitch how much value they add, but the reality is most can’t/won’t/don’t outside of MBA 101 platitudes.

- A great VC is always building out networks for BD and founder identification. You should leverage that to help in your space.

- Even if the idea doesnt pan out, if you prove yourself to be talented and hard working, they are incentivized to help you find a role relevant to your interests.

This is colored by my personal investing philosophy that you should prioritize meeting “makers”. Others prioritize meeting executives, or sources of capital, or influencers, etc... None is a “true” path, there are successes in each. But the ones focused on makers always want to chat with folks like you.

Re: Ask HN: Where to meet non-technical cofounders?

#40

Post by mav3rick »

fgimenez wrote: post #38

I’m a VC, so this take is biased. Liberally apply grains of salt. If you are looking to start a VC-scale startup, I’d suggest talking to VCs who can help introduce you to domain experts. There are a few reasons this is beneficial: - You get to battle test your idea to hone the story. This will help you recruit non-technical people. - You build relationships with VC for the moment you need funding. - You learn which V…

I doubt you all reply to cold emails ? As someone who has no connections to the VC world, it does feel intimidating just writing a cold email. Then again - nothing to lose.
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