Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#1

Post by shubhodeep » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:04 PM UTC

I've pretty much conceptualized all aspects of a new web application that I'm rather excited about. (I know that kinda sounds like what everyone does these days, but I have!) I've talked to a few people about the idea (mostly entrepreneurs themselves) and they've advised me to go ahead with it without wasting time.

However, the major problem is this: I have mainly had an education in Business Management with some programming experience interspersed in between simply because I enjoy it as a hobby (a few questions on Project Euler as and when time permitted). But because I have treated programming as a hobby, I'm afraid I don't find myself competent enough to develop a relatively advanced web app on my own.

So what I'd like advice on is this: Do you recommend I learn the skills first and start development before looking for co-founders to help with development (there's no way I can do this alone anyway) or just look for an interested programmer/designer first and learn with him on the go? (The reason I say designer is that my conceputalisation pays a lot of emphasis on UI and UX).

Would appreciate some advice!

Re: Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#2

Post by shubhodeep » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:06 PM UTC

I'm primarily looking to develop a Rails app. (Sorry, missed that out!)

Re: Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#3

Post by redredraider » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:09 PM UTC

I would get cracking on web development if I were you. You can definitely do it alone for a while. That way you're not at the mercy of a programmer and you will have learned a useful skill in the likely event your idea doesn't make it.

Re: Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#4

Post by shubhodeep » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:13 PM UTC

redredraider wrote: post #3

I would get cracking on web development if I were you. You can definitely do it alone for a while. That way you're not at the mercy of a programmer and you will have learned a useful skill in the likely event your idea doesn't make it.

Appreciate the advice, but I primarily wanted to know how much importance to give to the "time factor" - you know, I could spend 6 months developing skills for something I wanted to do only to realise that someone's get their foot into the hole I had my eyes on? I'm sorry if this sounds puerile or naive, but it's just the first time I've had an exciting idea for a startup so I really want to see this come to fruition soon!

Re: Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#5

Post by redredraider » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:19 PM UTC

shubhodeep wrote: post #4

redredraider wrote: post #3

I would get cracking on web development if I were you. You can definitely do it alone for a while. That way you're not at the mercy of a programmer and you will have learned a useful skill in the likely event your idea doesn't make it.

Appreciate the advice, but I primarily wanted to know how much importance to give to the "time factor" - you know, I could spend 6 months developing skills for something I wanted to do only to realise that someone's get their foot into the hole I had my eyes on? I'm sorry if this sounds puerile or naive, but it's just the first time I've had an exciting idea for a startup so I really want to see this come to fruition…

I think it depends how much money you have to spend. If you have money then see about finding a developer. If you don't have money and you don't expect investment then I would say take your time. 6 months is not that long. Unless you're idea is fully developed it will probably take that long to figure out what it is you're really going to end up building based on feedback.

Re: Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#6

Post by tastefulwords » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:24 PM UTC

I would advise you get started coding as soon as possible. And there's two reasons I'm giving you this advice:

(1) no "learning experience" in the world compares to actually having to do something to your app's code -- I've been doing development for 10 years, and this is basically how I "learned" everything; by actually having to do it.

(2) your idea will probably change once you start working on it; they always do.

And don't worry: it's very unlikely that someone will just decide, out of the blue, to execute the exact same idea as you. And even if they do, the thing to remember is that it's the execution that matters, not the idea itself.

Re: Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#7

Post by shubhodeep » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:30 PM UTC

redredraider wrote: post #5

shubhodeep wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Appreciate the advice, but I primarily wanted to know how much importance to give to the "time factor" - you know, I could spend 6 months developing skills for something I wanted to do only to realise that someone's get their foot into the hole I had my eyes on? I'm sorry if this sounds puerile or naive, but it's just the first time I've had an exciting idea for a startup so I really want to see this come to fruition…

I think it depends how much money you have to spend. If you have money then see about finding a developer. If you don't have money and you don't expect investment then I would say take your time. 6 months is not that long. Unless you're idea is fully developed it will probably take that long to figure out what it is you're really going to end up building based on feedback.

Yeah, I think more than money, the reason I am actually considering learning development myself is that it gives me some sort of "ownership security" - you know, the feeling that I didn't just have an idea but I own what I made of that idea rather than having got it done by others. Thanks for your advice!

Re: Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#8

Post by shubhodeep » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:32 PM UTC

tastefulwords wrote: post #6

I would advise you get started coding as soon as possible. And there's two reasons I'm giving you this advice: (1) no "learning experience" in the world compares to actually having to do something to your app's code -- I've been doing development for 10 years, and this is basically how I "learned" everything; by actually having to do it. (2) your idea will probably change once you start working on it; they always do.…

Yeah, I understand that point - but I'm still a bit unsure how to hit the ground running - you know, the initial qualms, what's the point that I start at? Do I just dive in and learn on the go? Or learn a bit, create, learn more and develop and so on.. ? Glad to have some pros provide some great advice!

Re: Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#9

Post by tastefulwords » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:49 PM UTC

shubhodeep wrote: post #8

tastefulwords wrote: post #6

I would advise you get started coding as soon as possible. And there's two reasons I'm giving you this advice: (1) no "learning experience" in the world compares to actually having to do something to your app's code -- I've been doing development for 10 years, and this is basically how I "learned" everything; by actually having to do it. (2) your idea will probably change once you start working on it; they always do.…

Yeah, I understand that point - but I'm still a bit unsure how to hit the ground running - you know, the initial qualms, what's the point that I start at? Do I just dive in and learn on the go? Or learn a bit, create, learn more and develop and so on.. ? Glad to have some pros provide some great advice!

What I would do -- what I actually do do, as a matter of fact -- is dive right in and learn on the go.

Necessity is the mother of invention -- or, in our case, the mother of resourcefulness. I.e. nothing will make you learn something faster, and better, than having your website crash/not-work if that particular something isn't done right.

That being said, don't go overboard; or be overconfident. Do practice the basics, before diving head first into your new website/app. And by "the basics" I mean getting a website up and running.

Then, you take that and you run with it -- as fast and for as long as you can. There; that's the secret to startups, right there :)

Re: Help/Advice needed with starting a startup

#10

Post by tadruj » Mon, Mar 21, 2011, 9:54 PM UTC

shubhodeep wrote: post #2

I'm primarily looking to develop a Rails app. (Sorry, missed that out!)

I recommend you to find a developer. There are guys on the market that are humble and really kind people, besides being awesome developers with style. Try to find mini projects on github and check their developers blogs/tweets to get a feel of what kind of person they are. I've found a developer for my team this way and he is magic. Ruby communities are especially vibrant and all of those guys will understand UX importance when you speak to them. Be nice, it attracts nice people and a nice future to you :)