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Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

lederhosenlabs.com

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Re: Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

#61

Post by netcan »

palish wrote: post #59
netcan wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're thinking about this wrong. It's not "right because its justified" it's excusable because it's minor in the scheme of things. Imagine everyone is working really long hours for a couple of weeks to get something important done. You don't make it to the gym, miss a yoga class, get less sleep etc., eat junk food and get irritable. You're unpleasant and insulting to some people for a few days. Is that good?…

That's an interesting and objective viewpoint, and I understand completely where you're coming from. Personally, my sole objection is that they knowingly violated the law for personal gain. Is that excusable? Pragmatically, yes, but only because we tolerate it. I would hate to live in that kind of world (even though we do), so I speak out against this behavior.

Didn't I just say this isn't my viewpoint :)

Interestingly, you can hold this position and still speak out against it. Stretching my analogy: If Joanne is being a bitch and you don't know her well you can talk about her behind her back. If you're usually cool you can tell her to get her cranky ass to yoga and watch the fucking lip.

It's not that it isn't wrong or bad. It's just a question of thinking about it socially (the way people, though not necessarily the people of this site, are built to operate) rather than judicially/bureaucratically. Socially we take into account grey area, degrees, mitigating circumstances, and sometimes the voluptuousness of Joanne's buxom. We don't even have to be 100% consistent.

We the people (HN readers, Airbnb sleepers, etc) are not Interpol, we are humans. We don't always have to be completely objective and consistent when deciding how to feel about something. People on this site are smart, but I do have a lot of forehead smack moments when being people becomes such a struggle for some.

Re: Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

#62

Post by [deleted] »

mattmanser wrote: post #48
temphn wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the choice between a world without AirBnB and a few emails to Craigslist users about a better service, most rational people would vote for AirBnB to exist. The ends do justify the means. Just be sure your ends are defensible, and be prepared for blowback if you get too many people clutching their pearls in feigned outrage.

Because AirBnB have cured cancer? Or was it prevented genocide? Or something, like, worthwhile? Most rational people don't give a flying toss whether Airbnb existed. It's pretty obvious the ends did not justify the means. They're a reservations website, wake up, sniff reality and stop drinking the koolaid. Is it ok the aggravation they've caused to small business owners and the total lying. And that's ok because they…

[deleted]

Re: Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

#63

Post by MatthewB »

This is amazing and exactly what I am doing. I kept thinking I need a technical cofounder, and I still wouldn't mind having one, but that doesn't mean I can't become a technical cofounder myself.

I took the same route. I picked up a ruby on rails book and just started building. I have experience with C++ and Java, but I haven't done any major coding in a couple years. I'm now building out my idea and it feels great not to have to depend on someone else to drive development.

Re: Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

#64

Post by naveensundar »

palish wrote: post #17
jonnathanson wrote: post #14

This is a great, concise story. To me, the most valuable insight in this article isn't that a non-tech founder needs to get super-technical. Rather, it's that he needs to demonstrate a willingness to do everything he possibly can. That is the secret sauce. It's not about being able to talk shot for shot with a super-techy coder. It's about not being the kind of person who throws his hands up in the air and sets limit…

"Being a successful entrepreneur means doing anything and everything it takes to get to success." I think the world would be a healthier place if we didn't place so much ... emphasis ... on the idea of "do whatever it takes to succeed". Just look at what Airbnb did to succeed, for example.

It is okay to break rules once in a while.

Re: Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

#65

Post by naveensundar »

mattmanser wrote: post #48
temphn wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the choice between a world without AirBnB and a few emails to Craigslist users about a better service, most rational people would vote for AirBnB to exist. The ends do justify the means. Just be sure your ends are defensible, and be prepared for blowback if you get too many people clutching their pearls in feigned outrage.

Because AirBnB have cured cancer? Or was it prevented genocide? Or something, like, worthwhile? Most rational people don't give a flying toss whether Airbnb existed. It's pretty obvious the ends did not justify the means. They're a reservations website, wake up, sniff reality and stop drinking the koolaid. Is it ok the aggravation they've caused to small business owners and the total lying. And that's ok because they…

Well, it is not like they caused genocide or cancer.

Re: Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

#66

Post by capdiz »

Before you learn or when your contemplating to learn how to program its best you don't tackle programming as a whole. Get the basics first then start work on an idea you might have. Its suprising how solutions will stream in fast because you have a well defined problem in your mind no matter whether the idea is a desktop or web app. The best way to learn is to work on a real problem a few days after getting the basics. The hardest part isn't getting the answers but defining the problem at hand clearly.

Re: Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

#67

Post by erikpukinskis »

mattmanser wrote: post #48
temphn wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Given the choice between a world without AirBnB and a few emails to Craigslist users about a better service, most rational people would vote for AirBnB to exist. The ends do justify the means. Just be sure your ends are defensible, and be prepared for blowback if you get too many people clutching their pearls in feigned outrage.

Because AirBnB have cured cancer? Or was it prevented genocide? Or something, like, worthwhile? Most rational people don't give a flying toss whether Airbnb existed. It's pretty obvious the ends did not justify the means. They're a reservations website, wake up, sniff reality and stop drinking the koolaid. Is it ok the aggravation they've caused to small business owners and the total lying. And that's ok because they…

I won't defend their marketing practices, but I don't give a flying toss if they've made it harder for small businesses. The market changes, old businesses die and new ones are formed. Or are you one of the people who think we should subsidize old businesses so we don't "lose jobs" or whatever?

As for rational people caring wither Airbnb existed, I'm pretty rational and I think it's great. They've enabled a lot of microbusinesses. People who have a spare room can rent it out and make some extra cash. It allows people to travel more, and still make rent. It allows people to rent out space in tough times to make extra cash. It allows people to find cheap places to stay when they can't afford a hotel room.

I think it's done a lot of good. I'm confused where your negativity is directed. Are you just angry at them for spamming Craigslist?

Re: Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

#69

Post by Tyrannosaurs »

palish wrote: post #17
jonnathanson wrote: post #14

This is a great, concise story. To me, the most valuable insight in this article isn't that a non-tech founder needs to get super-technical. Rather, it's that he needs to demonstrate a willingness to do everything he possibly can. That is the secret sauce. It's not about being able to talk shot for shot with a super-techy coder. It's about not being the kind of person who throws his hands up in the air and sets limit…

"Being a successful entrepreneur means doing anything and everything it takes to get to success." I think the world would be a healthier place if we didn't place so much ... emphasis ... on the idea of "do whatever it takes to succeed". Just look at what Airbnb did to succeed, for example.

I agree with what you're saying, though in this instance I think it's more a case of being willing to turn your hand to whatever needs doing and not being precious about whether it's your job or not, rather than the implied ruthlessness of "doing everything it takes".

It's not a bad attitude to have towards most aspects of life really.

Re: Technical Co-founders Are Overrated

#70

Post by liquidcool »

I have a friend that has done pretty much the same thing, although he hasn't found a tech cofounder yet.

My recommendation to the business types is to spec it out. Even if coding is beyond you, using something like Balsamiq to create a prototype that you can workshop, usability test, gauge interest in, etc. is a big help. Even if you can't convince a techie to join you, they'll be more likely to help point out the parts that will be easy or hard to implement, which can help define your MVP and estimate startup costs if you decide to outsource it.

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