Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?) • Hacker News Board

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#21

Post by Tangurena » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 5:36 PM UTC

dasil003 wrote: post #19

Tangurena wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've come across this exact thing before (where the techie has to do it all - including spending $10 at godaddy). Always with folks who convince my family to get hold of me. The cure has been to get the relative involved in the fiasco, where I'll do the work, but they have to be involved. By the time all the poop hits the fan, they finally got a hefty dose of what we have to go through. In the most recent one-of-thes…

Trying to put 2 and 2 together here... this "serial entrepreneur" was a cult leader? Or was that unrelated?

Sorry. No. He is not the cult leader. Most of her friends for the past few years have been folks who've also left the same cult, so there might be a common background, but no. This isn't the cult trying to take her for a few hundred more thousand dollars.

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#22

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 6:27 PM UTC

magsafe wrote: post #20

[deleted] wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

AAAARGH. Rick Roll warning.

[deleted]

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#23

Post by j45 » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 6:27 PM UTC

magsafe wrote: post #20

[deleted] wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

AAAARGH. Rick Roll warning.

Sorry, I'll delete it, didn't mean to rick roll anyone, it was just referring to other memes I wish would die.

Evidently the negative hits to my karma means that belief wasn't shared and y'all want rickroll to live on.

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#24

Post by paulnelligan » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 6:34 PM UTC

Are there any signs for non-technical co-founders that we should take as 'positives' - like this guy knows what he's talking about ??

I guess the one that springs to mind for me is someone who has previously launched some startups and had some success ...

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#25

Post by larrik » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 6:57 PM UTC

paulnelligan wrote: post #24

Are there any signs for non-technical co-founders that we should take as 'positives' - like this guy knows what he's talking about ?? I guess the one that springs to mind for me is someone who has previously launched some startups and had some success ...

I look for "guy in some field thinks app/site is desperately needed by that field." This implies domain knowledge and existing relationships for target customers.

That's actually pretty rare, in my experience. But, it's how I've seen several non-tech companies start, basically.

The non-technical co-founder should BE that guy. Not know that guy. I get THAT one a lot.

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#26

Post by paulnelligan » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 6:59 PM UTC

larrik wrote: post #25

paulnelligan wrote: post #24

Are there any signs for non-technical co-founders that we should take as 'positives' - like this guy knows what he's talking about ?? I guess the one that springs to mind for me is someone who has previously launched some startups and had some success ...

I look for "guy in some field thinks app/site is desperately needed by that field." This implies domain knowledge and existing relationships for target customers. That's actually pretty rare, in my experience. But, it's how I've seen several non-tech companies start, basically. The non-technical co-founder should BE that guy. Not know that guy. I get THAT one a lot.

I actually WAS that guy, but I couldn't find my technical co-founder - so I just became a technical founder ... took me a few years, but I'm there now ;)

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#27

Post by j45 » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 7:14 PM UTC

Tangurena wrote: post #9

pitdesi wrote: post #4

Is it actually true that there are founders of companies who haven't bought a domain name? I find that piece of this to be quite silly. GoDaddy buys superbowl ads - buying a domain is very mainstream. I have seen the "multiple startups in the works" thing though- that is definitely not a good sign.

I've come across this exact thing before (where the techie has to do it all - including spending $10 at godaddy). Always with folks who convince my family to get hold of me. The cure has been to get the relative involved in the fiasco, where I'll do the work, but they have to be involved. By the time all the poop hits the fan, they finally got a hefty dose of what we have to go through. In the most recent one-of-thes…

Sorry to hear about this story. I hope she can learn the positive lessons from this to not take anyones dreams seriously unless they have a track record.

Since that eliminates nearly every story-dreamer, its best to take small steps in a traditional "pay me for my time until we agree that we can be partners".

Owning 10% of something is still owning 10% of nothing until it's making profit. Profit is a funny word, meaning once you've spent everything in your revenue. I don't hear of many people making money when they take shares in a company like this.

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#28

Post by tchock23 » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 7:17 PM UTC

paulnelligan wrote: post #26

larrik wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I look for "guy in some field thinks app/site is desperately needed by that field." This implies domain knowledge and existing relationships for target customers. That's actually pretty rare, in my experience. But, it's how I've seen several non-tech companies start, basically. The non-technical co-founder should BE that guy. Not know that guy. I get THAT one a lot.

I actually WAS that guy, but I couldn't find my technical co-founder - so I just became a technical founder ... took me a few years, but I'm there now ;)

Same here... I had domain expertise but wasn't technical so I just sucked it up and learned. It's taken me a few years, but it's well worth it.

Looking back, I think that's the only way to go. That, or at least learn enough to have a decent conversation with technical people so when you ask them to do something, you know how big of a pain in the ass you are being.

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#29

Post by rickmb » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 7:25 PM UTC

paulnelligan wrote: post #24

Are there any signs for non-technical co-founders that we should take as 'positives' - like this guy knows what he's talking about ?? I guess the one that springs to mind for me is someone who has previously launched some startups and had some success ...

Even without experience, a very good sign is that they know and are passionate about the market they want to enter.

Sure, it will be a bigger risk if that person has no startup experience, but if they've been working in the X-industry for years, are passionate about said industry and believe they've identified a major (and preferably disruptive) opportunity, that significantly improves the odds.

Re: Warning signs in a non-technical cofounder (can you spot them?)

#30

Post by shazow » Thu, Oct 13, 2011, 7:31 PM UTC

Another warning sign I've found: They start doing other things, like checking their phone, while you're answering their question.

Even if you disregard that it's a disrespectful and rude thing to do during a conversation, this person is trying to sign you up for a major role in their future and already he can't focus on the task at hand.

The best founders I've had the pleasure of meeting are usually the most respectful and attentive people. Not only do they completely focus on what you're saying but they make you feel like there's no one more important right now than you.