Get a hacker cofounder.
How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
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Re: How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
#12One of the first American Billionaires once said he could answer any question asked. He called in a meeting and ask each journalist to come armed with top notch questions (of course industry related ), which they did. The day of the meeting they were surprised to see 16 phones at the Great Entrepreneur 's desk. For each question asked he pick up a phone and call someone who then, somehow, provided the proper answer.…
It's a little different when searching for technical experts, however, because it's often not possible to tell a technical expert from a technical nincompoop without a solid background in the subject. There are a lot of folks out there who can play buzzword bingo with the best of them, but can't actually sit down and code something.
Ask someone you do trust to recommend someone to...
Build a chain of trust to someone with technical knowledge, and use them to assess possible technical people.
Re: How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
#13I am in the same position as you. All suggestions here seem reasonable but my advice is don't wait until you have a hacker cofounder. Use rentacoder and try to create a prototype.
Re: How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's a little different when searching for technical experts, however, because it's often not possible to tell a technical expert from a technical nincompoop without a solid background in the subject. There are a lot of folks out there who can play buzzword bingo with the best of them, but can't actually sit down and code something.
Ask someone you do trust to recommend someone to... Build a chain of trust to someone with technical knowledge, and use them to assess possible technical people.
Of course the problem is, not being technical you are always prone to the 'Warren Harding' error. [0] You know, someone who dresses badly, uses a mac notebook, talks real fast about technical things that has all the attributes of the hacker except they are crap at building product.
Some suggestions for finding a co-founder can be found reading, Students guide to Startups. [1]
Reference
[0] Warren Harding was 29th President of the United States and had the distinction of being pushed forward because he had the perceived traits of a leader and turned out not to be so good. I picked this up reading the Malcom Gladwell book 'Blink', 0-7139-9844-X.
[1] pg, 'A students guide to startups'
Re: How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
#15Well back in 1984 four guys decided to start a software company called Nantucket. The two developers first ever C project was writing a dBase compiler. That compiler became a full fledged dBase dialect that even spawned an active third party tools market. Not to bad for a first project.
Re: How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
#16Get a hacker cofounder.
And learn Lisp :)
Re: How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
#17Get a hacker cofounder.
Didn't you write something about it being quasi-impossible for a non-technical person to recognize a great hacker?
Re: How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
#18i am working on a startup at the mo but am not technical, we got someone to build a proportype (by paying) but realise if you wanna iterate and create a decent app, you cant keep paying people. I wonder how kul and harjeet YC Alumni managed (as they are not coders)
the solution to my problem is simple
a) im learning how to code from the ground up xhtml, css, php, mysql and then prob move on to ruby (this will take many months if not longer)
b) im looking for a technical cofounder, problem is, they all have the 9-5 mentality.
I majored in Politics as well, maybe i need some Joe Kraus magic!
Re: How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
#19I am in the same position as you. All suggestions here seem reasonable but my advice is don't wait until you have a hacker cofounder. Use rentacoder and try to create a prototype.
I'm using eLance - this is just to get something started and then I'm hacking the features I want myself as and when I learn...oh yeah, and then get a co-founder with an unfeasibly large brain who can help you out!
Re: How can a non-hacker (with very basic C++ knowledge only) start a start-up successfully?
#20i am working on a startup at the mo but am not technical, we got someone to build a proportype (by paying) but realise if you wanna iterate and create a decent app, you cant keep paying people. I wonder how kul and harjeet YC Alumni managed (as they are not coders) the solution to my problem is simple a) im learning how to code from the ground up xhtml, css, php, mysql and then prob move on to ruby (this will take ma…
As someone with a bit of technical skill: when the greatest motivation to work on a project is the money you'll pay me, I have a 9-5 mentality, because that's what you're paying for.
When the greatest motivation to work on a project is the insane coolness of the project itself, things are different. Then, the money is just a bonus.
Can you figure out something about your idea that hackers will find cool?