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Ask HN: How does a non-hacker get into a start-up?

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Re: Ask HN: How does a non-hacker get into a start-up?

#11
post #2

Learn to hack? At least a bit. That'll give you a bit of street cred. In the early stages you need to be able to quickly 'muck in'. Learn some linux sysadmin, apache setup, email setup, html/php/mysql etc It'll certainly come in useful.

Yeah, I was thinking about doing this. Starting off with a community college class or two this summer.

If you want a DIY taste, try this: http://appjet.com/learn-to-program/lessons/intro

Re: Ask HN: How does a non-hacker get into a start-up?

#13
post #2

Learn to hack? At least a bit. That'll give you a bit of street cred. In the early stages you need to be able to quickly 'muck in'. Learn some linux sysadmin, apache setup, email setup, html/php/mysql etc It'll certainly come in useful.

If you can't help with something technical, early-stage bootstrap projects are not the place for you. I know a guy who knows a guy who is full of ideas for websites or iPhone apps or whatever the hot technology of the day is, and can't program a single line, and doesn't _want_ to learn to program. Instead, he seems to hope that his programmer friends will be overwhelmed with the beauty of his ideas, and launch into a frenzy of all-nighters while he rallies a user base through Twitter.

Ain't. Gonna. Happen. Sad thing is, if he could help even on an apprentice level, maybe people would collaborate with him.

Re: Ask HN: How does a non-hacker get into a start-up?

#15
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I was thinking about doing this. Starting off with a community college class or two this summer.

If you want a DIY taste, try this: http://appjet.com/learn-to-program/lessons/intro

Perfect, this is exactly what I need. Thanks so much for this resource!

Re: Ask HN: How does a non-hacker get into a start-up?

#16
Have you looked at Steve Blank's Customer Development stuff that has been making the rounds here? Blank formalized a process for developing customers that has the same impact that formalizing software development process has on software development (reduces risk).

Using his process, the technical team will have their hands full and will need someone out on the field talking to people right in the beginning. It clarifies the role of early stage marketing/sales/etc. in relation to early stage product development.

My partner and I have been working on both product and customer development using Blank's process, and I can tell you it takes as much brain-effort on the customer development side as it is on the technical side. Someone skilled with customer development process will be as highly valued as the crack founding technical team.

At the very least, you would be able to find out how to sell yourself better for startups.

If you want to find out more, check out the blog posts here: http://steveblank.com/category/supermac/ ... and definitely get his book.

Re: Ask HN: How does a non-hacker get into a start-up?

#17
Not all hackers are programmers. If you really are really enthusiastic about technology then you may already be a hacker. You just need to find your niche. You're probably not going to be the next Linus Torvalds but with a whole lot of effort you might just turn out to be the next Guy Kawasaki.

I think you should look for companies that are doing something you really "get" and help them evangelize whatever it is they do.

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