Ask HN: Looking for NYC-based technical co-founder for green meta-retail site • Hacker News Board

Post by octavia » Thu, Mar 05, 2009, 5:54 PM UTC

Fully-functional, uniquely positioned green/social impact ecommerce site seeks a co-founder to help oversee site development, co-raise capital, and grow the organization with the existing founder. The existing founder is strong in finance and business development and has founded three Internet startups to date. The perfect co-founder will be strong in technology but also capable of confidently co-pitching the company to potential investors.

This is the perfect opportunity for someone interested in the environment, helping small businesses thrive, and doing something positive for the planet to walk in as a partner and have an immediate impact on the direction of a startup that, with a small round of investment, can be launched in a very short amount of time. The site is real and it's 95% of the way towards being launch-ready in a basic form with plans for continuous improvement. Launch fast, update often.

The company is a for-profit venture, although it's social impact is beneficial, thus it fits the profile of traditional and social capital market investors. It is funded by the founder and friends&family to date. Co-founder salary will depend on successfully raising a round of capital. Existing founder realizes the importance of the role to be filled by this new co-founder and that will be reflected in the equity package presented to the right person.

If you have a strong business background, but not a technical one, and are looking for such an opportunity, feel free to contact us. A third co-founder who significantly increases the company's potential is not out of the question.

The company is based in New York City and the code for the site was written by a reputable local contracting firm.

Contact egreen.site1@gmail.com

Post by smoody » Thu, Mar 05, 2009, 6:19 PM UTC

HNers,

I have personally known the founder of the above startup for a decade and can vouch for her abilities as both a serial entrepreneur and as a genuinely good person. This isn't her first time doing this, so she has a track record. And, although the funding climate is a bit bumpy these days, there are some unique opportunities specifically in NYC for startups, startups that help local (and non-local) businesses, and for social impact startups in general.

There are plenty of 'looking for programmer to implement idea as described on the back of a napkin' situations out there (and I'm not knocking them -- those can be amazing), but this is different. And there is plenty of room for innovation as the site evolves over time.

I guess my post raises at least two potential questions:

1) Why am I not stepping in as a co-founder? Answer: I'm busy with my own startup. Additionally, she's a good friend of mine and I've learned again and again that working with friends is, in the long term, often high risk with more downside than upside.

2) Who can vouch for me? No one on this site perhaps, but even if there were, it's turtles all the way down. :-)

   Scott