Ask HN: Non tech co founder • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Non tech co founder

#21

Post by ryanlm » Thu, Jun 30, 2016, 10:50 PM UTC

yishanl wrote: post #19

ryanlm wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He came up with the idea. Has no funding. He is a long time high school and college friend and the only person I know that wants to pursue entrepreneurship.

Eek, went through the same thing except we did it for a whole year. Skillset or not, sharing core values/beliefs is most important. Because when shit goes south, if you have someone who is just as committed as you are (for the right reasons), there is nothing you can't overcome when the core values align. Although this is really hard because people show their truest faces when shit goes south. So you won't know for s…

If I ask him those questions, and he becomes offended at the fact, I think that will be a red flag. He seems to think that anything he says can't be questioned...going back to earlier, how he says he doesn't want to argue to get his point across when I asked him about what his role would be.

He said the way I asked it made him offended.

My view is that I touched on one of his weaknesses and it made him insecure about his position in the business.

Re: Ask HN: Non tech co founder

#22

Post by Mz » Thu, Jun 30, 2016, 10:58 PM UTC

He is not a founder. He is an egomaniac with delusions of grandeur. He thinks he "shouldn't have to argue" because he is a founder? Utter bullshit. He has to be willing and able to communicate with his cofounder and that involves hashing things out.

I hate arguing online because it is almost always a form of fighting with people over emotional bullshit. But I have zero problem with the other definition of arguing: debating ideas to get at the truth.

You can't build a solid company if you cannot do that.

Don't start a company with someone whose precious feelings come ahead of clear communication. That's insanity.

Re: Ask HN: Non tech co founder

#23

Post by yishanl » Fri, Jul 01, 2016, 1:00 AM UTC

ryanlm wrote: post #21

yishanl wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eek, went through the same thing except we did it for a whole year. Skillset or not, sharing core values/beliefs is most important. Because when shit goes south, if you have someone who is just as committed as you are (for the right reasons), there is nothing you can't overcome when the core values align. Although this is really hard because people show their truest faces when shit goes south. So you won't know for s…

If I ask him those questions, and he becomes offended at the fact, I think that will be a red flag. He seems to think that anything he says can't be questioned...going back to earlier, how he says he doesn't want to argue to get his point across when I asked him about what his role would be. He said the way I asked it made him offended. My view is that I touched on one of his weaknesses and it made him insecure about…

I feel for you.

Don't do it.

Money brings out the worst in people.

Arguing is healthy. Just depends on how it comes & what it's over. Obviously, if your relationship deteriorates to the point that you are arguing for little value then that's bad - I do think arguing early is better than arguing late. It'll be insightful for you and him, to be honest. You'll learn a little more about yourself and a lot more about him in how the argument progresses and more importantly, how it ends.

All non-tech founders are insecure about their position in the business. I think any competent non-tech founder should be insecure about their position imo, if there is a component of technology to the business.

I was too, so I just kept working and supporting in as many ways as I could think of.

Thankfully, our product was online-to-offline, so there was plenty of work to be done.

But don't do it.

Re: Ask HN: Non tech co founder

#24

Post by bbcbasic » Fri, Jul 01, 2016, 8:52 AM UTC

ryanlm wrote: post #21

yishanl wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Eek, went through the same thing except we did it for a whole year. Skillset or not, sharing core values/beliefs is most important. Because when shit goes south, if you have someone who is just as committed as you are (for the right reasons), there is nothing you can't overcome when the core values align. Although this is really hard because people show their truest faces when shit goes south. So you won't know for s…

If I ask him those questions, and he becomes offended at the fact, I think that will be a red flag. He seems to think that anything he says can't be questioned...going back to earlier, how he says he doesn't want to argue to get his point across when I asked him about what his role would be. He said the way I asked it made him offended. My view is that I touched on one of his weaknesses and it made him insecure about…

> He seems to think that anything he says can't be questioned...going back to earlier, how he says he doesn't want to argue to get his point across when I asked him about what his role would be.

Such a red flag. Even if he is a great ... whatever this attitude is a big red flag. You won't be able to work this guy.

Re: Ask HN: Non tech co founder

#25

Post by MalcolmDiggs » Fri, Jul 01, 2016, 10:08 AM UTC

It really depends on the kind of product you're building.

In certain situations, non-technical co-founders will have more work on their plate than the engineers. In other situations, they'll have very little to do.

It sounds like you're building the kind of product where engineering is most of the work. But it's still worth asking yourself: is engineering going to end up giving you a real competitive edge in your market? Or is it the marketing, operations, sales, or other back-of-house departments that will drive your business? If the former, maybe you don't need the founder. If the latter, than his might be the most important role.

Re: Ask HN: Non tech co founder

#26

Post by Zelmor » Fri, Jul 01, 2016, 11:04 AM UTC

Yeeeaah, this sounds like a bad idea, OP. Ditch and get someone who is more than an 'idea guy'. Non-technical project founders are way too common in indie game development. No art skills, no programming skills, just ideas and a 'management mindset'.

Also, you should ask him to define API, then let him go for being a bad match for the project due to lack of technical skills. Waste no time on such people.

Re: Ask HN: Non tech co founder

#27

Post by ryanlm » Fri, Jul 01, 2016, 1:09 PM UTC

He also thinks it's his job to pick the tech platform. He literally thinks he is capable of doing it.

He likes to use buzz words a lot. I think he should be a tech recruiter/salesman