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Proposition HN: I will pay $8000 for you to build your side-project/MVP

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61–70 of 395 posts

Re: Proposition HN: I will pay $8000 for you to build your side-project/MVP

#61

We split the resulting company 50-50, as equal co-founders. - you must be trolling?) How would you like to become equal to the years of thinking and trying by just throwing some money?

Its a classic startup. One partner has the money/business expertise, and one develops/produces. Apple started like that. If Woz told Jobs, "You can't code? I don't need you", there'd be no Apple today.

Re: Proposition HN: I will pay $8000 for you to build your side-project/MVP

#63
post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If interested, drop me a line at hnproject2013@gmail.com If you have questions or HN-style critic on the structure/proposition, write below and help me build proposition version 1.1!

I'd take you up on the offer, but for a couple things. Maybe it just means this isn't for me. 1 - That 50 - 50 split is a killer when I'm doing most of the work. 2 - You talk about taking a month or two and full time working on this project until completion. Trust me when I say I'd love to do that, the issue is I can't just go jump back into the same job as if I didn't ditch everyone here for two months. Like I said…

You're asserting that customer acquisition is easy and low cost. It's not.

For a product that can be built in 2 months (per the guidance here), it is going to take much more time to develop the sales and marketing and acquire enough customers to make it profitable.

I think this underscores why this may be a great deal for a (young?) developer with limited business experience. I learned a lot of hard lessons like this once I stepped away from an editor.

Re: Proposition HN: I will pay $8000 for you to build your side-project/MVP

#64
Obviously everything depends on hmexx's credentials, but I think to many this may be quite attractive proposition (depending how fast you can achieve MVP) eg. if it's a 1-2 month thing you can just take a break from contracting and do this - if it works out - great! you have 50% of the business if not then you just go back to contracting...

Re: Proposition HN: I will pay $8000 for you to build your side-project/MVP

#65

The deal amounts to $6500 dollars in exchange for 50% equity. The $3000 spent acquiring users/customers is to the benefit of both parties equally. As the offer is written, the $3000 could be spent on AdWords and similar services.

Correct. Thought I'd confirm this response so there is no confusion as to what I am offering. The $8000 in the title is not 100% accurate.

Re: Proposition HN: I will pay $8000 for you to build your side-project/MVP

#67
Initial thoughts: not disruptive enough to justify the extremely low valuation. How are you different from a reputable angel investor, who also brings connections? $5000 lasts about a month in NYC or the Bay Area.

I like the ambition (of disrupting the funding process) but, in all honesty, to me this sounds like "I just need an idea guy" (as opposed to "I just need a programmer").

Re: Proposition HN: I will pay $8000 for you to build your side-project/MVP

#68
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting idea, but it sounds like you are just trying to have someone make a product for 8k which you can go and sell. Can you specify ways that you will be involved to justify the 50-50 split?

Isn't the $8k to build it enough to justify a 50-50 split? We're talking about ideas that would otherwise never see the light of day.

You have to question why the idea would never have seen the light of day. If it's strictly because you have a cruddy job that pays minimum wage but you are smart and capable then yeah this would be the kind of opportunity one would be able to take advantage of. If you are like many of the people here, in that we aren't making terribly low amounts of money and can save up then it's not money that's keeping you from your dreams, it's you.

I guess what I'm trying to say is it REALLY depends on the person. This isn't for everyone.

Re: Proposition HN: I will pay $8000 for you to build your side-project/MVP

#70

Financially I do not think this is a great deal. Emotionally its probably what many devs need. Accelerators, meetups, co-founders, all serve the same need. Believing that the idea has at least one person who believes in it, and prods you to move on. That said, this is probably a bad split - hmexx might be better to decide if he is an investor (early stage) or a co-founder -> if the latter then really its just one com…

Agreed about the co-founder vs. investor problem. I would suggest anyone who wants to take this offer up do their diligence on hmexx and find out what he's bringing to the table as a co-founder. If it's just $8k for half a company that you will have to split 50/50 for the rest of it's existence, be wary. If he's a co-founder, he should join in on the workload after the MVP is proven. I would also consider vesting for…

Yeah - I am sure hmexx has hit on something - and I think it needs to evolve before its right (pivot! :-)

My guess (above) is that HN is the ideal place for investor / 'prenuer matchmaking. Whether pg will let it be I cannot tell you. But it should beat AngelList just because.

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