SG Mastermind 1: Build from scratch or use existing software?

Dear HN I hope you don't mind me temporarily hijacking 2-3 threads (to use as mastermind sessions) for Startup Guild. No need to vote this up as folks will be arriving here directly from the SG mailing list. (It might actually be better if it can quietly slip off the new section causing as little fuss as possible!)

Dear SG: Should we build the main SG community from scratch, or use existing software?

Hopefully this mastermind thread will resolve this question within the next few days.

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Working Spec (thx Scott)

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1) Forums/Blog Commenting: High lever conversations with the entrepreneur community at large (message board, divided into different topical areas that appeal to different types of entrepreneurs). Process for accepting new members to this community, like verifying their identify and having their posts associated with their real names. I’d also consider walling this off from the public.

2) Private Mastermind Groups: Anyone can create a mastermind group which will have its own private forums. Anyone seeking to join a mastermind group will be subject to a unanimous vote.

a. Include some basic tools to facilitate offline meetings, and (digitally?) signing NDA’s and optional non-competes (each mastermind group can set policies on which docs must be signed)

3) Robust bio pages: Detailed social proof section, Game Mechanic Badges, Give/receive endorsements, detailed bios, ability to follow people’s activity, etc

Note: Game mechanic badges. [$1k/month] [1000/users] etc.

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Existing Software Possibilities (Can they do it?)

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- http://www.ning.com/

- http://buddypress.org/

- http://vanillaforums.org/

- (Know any others?)

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Build From Scratch

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- Who?

- Pay for it?

- Build as open source tool?

- Extend buddy press?

Please chime in, SG needs you!

I'm for django/pinax .. built from scratch, though there is a lot of functionality we can already use from pinax. Sign me up if you go this route.

Use existing tools and as (if) the idea gains traction then consider building tools meeting it's specific needs. There's momentum here, capitalize on it by getting people engaged as opposed to spending a month or two building out a site. You may not have the momentum a month from now!

How about stack exchange? There exists one for onStartups that's pretty good. I'm not suggesting using their community but there's probably a ton we could learn by looking at their questions and answers.

I completely agree with graceyang that the community is the important part. While it would be nice to have a custom tool, that adds months to the startup process full of debating how the tool should be made and what it should do.

The mere fact that you ask this question is usually an indicator that you should go with existing solutions. If you had a compelling reason in mind not to use off-the-shelf solutions, you'd not bother asking, and if you don't have a compelling reason in mind, why bother? This is obviously not always true, but is rather a general rule, but it's a good one to keep in mind.