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Ask HN: How to find and convince a skilled dev to join a bootstrapped startup?

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Re: Ask HN: How to find and convince a skilled dev to join a bootstrapped startup?

#21

Post by mattmanser »

deanmoriarty wrote: post #14
mattmanser wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why any equity at all? It's a job.

Profit sharing/equity sharing is an excellent way to motivate employees and attract talent, especially if the employment nature is as risky and unstable as an early stage startup. My friend works as a social worker, completely different field, and her employer created a profit sharing plan. They all love it. This is not limited to tech.

A profit sharing plan is not equity, and probably has a clause they can pull it whenever they want.

Re: Ask HN: How to find and convince a skilled dev to join a bootstrapped startup?

#22

Post by lmarcos »

YKreator wrote: post #8
lmarcos wrote: post #5

Just pay them 20% more of what they are currently making.

Do you think money is the only criteria? In this case it seems impossible to compete with US Startups.

Not only, but it's a huge motivator. But if the project idea itself doesn't convince, then it's hard to convince with perks other than compensation.

Re: Ask HN: How to find and convince a skilled dev to join a bootstrapped startup?

#23

Post by deanmoriarty »

mattmanser wrote: post #21
deanmoriarty wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Profit sharing/equity sharing is an excellent way to motivate employees and attract talent, especially if the employment nature is as risky and unstable as an early stage startup. My friend works as a social worker, completely different field, and her employer created a profit sharing plan. They all love it. This is not limited to tech.

A profit sharing plan is not equity, and probably has a clause they can pull it whenever they want.

I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned it, HN is always quick to remind me that a tangential point, if casually mentioned as a way to give more context to a conversation, is going to be the focus of any further reply, rather than addressing the core. Truly my bad here, you did what you are supposed to do.

Good luck hiring engineers at a tech startup with no equity, that’s all I’ll say.

Re: Ask HN: How to find and convince a skilled dev to join a bootstrapped startup?

#24

Post by Jeremy1026 »

seattle_spring wrote: post #12
mattmanser wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why any equity at all? It's a job.

Because if you don't offer fair equity then any engineer worth their salt will just go somewhere that does.

Give me real money over potential maybe future money any day.

Re: Ask HN: How to find and convince a skilled dev to join a bootstrapped startup?

#25

Post by jonas_kgomo »

internetslave wrote: post #7

I’m all ears if you’ve got something interesting and lots of equity? I work at Amazon, lots of experience with the cloud, scale, computer science etc. 6 years experience as a dev.

hey, i would like to talk with you, we are working on something that relies on cloud and scaling. Best way to reach out? email : jonaskgmoo@gmail.com

Re: Ask HN: How to find and convince a skilled dev to join a bootstrapped startup?

#26

Post by mattmanser »

deanmoriarty wrote: post #23
mattmanser wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A profit sharing plan is not equity, and probably has a clause they can pull it whenever they want.

I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned it, HN is always quick to remind me that a tangential point, if casually mentioned as a way to give more context to a conversation, is going to be the focus of any further reply, rather than addressing the core. Truly my bad here, you did what you are supposed to do. Good luck hiring engineers at a tech startup with no equity, that’s all I’ll say.

I think it's entirely cultural, maybe in the US in SV?

Everywhere else, you're a bit silly giving equity away for free.

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