HN Explorer

Can I buy your side project?

38 points by grantsch ↗ HN
My business partner and I want to jump into a cool project. My partner is a software developer and I'm a marketer/sales guy.

We're looking for side projects with users that are not monetized or just not making a lot of money. Our ideal partner in this would be someone who loves building things and wants to get compensated for doing so, but isn't as excited about running a business and doing marketing.

Email in my bio

Thanks!

Grant

44 comments

[ 6.1 ms ] story [ 105 ms ] thread
zapstar
What is your budget?
grantsch
we have access to capital for the right thing
TuringNYC
I am intrigued. It would help if you could share some success stories where you have done this, perhaps with before and after.
grantsch
hey we can talk email me (in bio)
_bxg1
This is a weird way to go about things, especially since most "side projects" these days are open-sourced by default. Why not come up with your own idea?
grantsch
thanks for your input
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biolurker1
> most "side projects" these days are open-sourced by default

what???

_bxg1
*side projects that aren't already a for-profit endeavor (why would someone sell it if they're already making/planning to make money?)
krzepah
Isn't there a bias because open-sources projects are those more easily seen ?

What happens to those projects that are put on "wait" ? I doubt everyone just put-on his work free of consequences

grantsch
this is a very smart comment
_bxg1
Personally if I start hacking on something, and the idea doesn't immediately stand out as something I might want to build a business out of, it goes straight to a public GitHub repo.
system2
How can someone trust you with their valuable ideas and already in-motion projects?
grantsch
well there's a trade-off.

they get money in return.

TuringNYC
Make sure there are clear milestones and metrics with an earn-in vesting schedule. The last thing you need is a stranger who immediately owns 25 or 50% of your company doing nothing except collecting rent 9or encumbering you’re business.

That said, if the arrangement can be structured to be fair to both parties this sounds like a great deal.

One particular thing I’d warn techies about are “business guys” asking for an ever longer list of uncompensated enhancements, only after which they put in their effort. If anyone suggests this — run. Both sides need skin in the game.

grantsch
I agree w/ you on this.

Complicated earnout arrangements aren't something we're interested in.

We're interested in taking over businesses and using our skillset (marketing for me / software for my partner) to unlock value in the business

1121redblackgo
Look I totally think that if you can negotiate with someone and come up with a deal that all parties find equitable, that that is legitimate business, and I'm not sure why you should meet resistance on that front.

However, I am not sure if this is the type of thread that I would like to see on hacker news.

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chad_strategic
I have a stock trading algo that tracks over 500 stocks profitably. Never been able to market it on the web. Even in today’s market. Website is in my profile, not for sale but can license it.
grantsch
if it's really profitable why don't you raise a fund
skinnymuch
Aren’t there others similarly profitable? Doubt they can all raise funds. Or would want to.
grantsch
I’m confused

If you have a profitable strategy that scales up, raise capital to execute on it. Doesn’t seem too hard.

skinnymuch
What about bootstrapped companies? Basecamp technically took Bezos’ money, but pocketed it mostly. 1Password didn’t take “funding” until now, again, mostly to cash out.

Gumroad was scalable and makes a decent amount of money. It just wasn’t for the way the VCs wanted. So it didn’t work out that way, but the founder was still making mid 6 figures.

grantsch
if you had a machine that could profitably pick stocks why would you ever invest just your money (not a lot) vs other people’s money (could be infinite if your strategy scales)
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chad_strategic
It if we’re only that easy.
grantsch
Email me your performance #s if this is real. I can help you.

Email address in my bio.

Thanks

hhmc
Copy on your site like "Since we know that Gold, Silver and the VIX, along with market is completely manipulated, you have to find other measures to value stocks." sets off all sorts of red flags for me.
chad_strategic
Cheers. Markets are made for different points of views. It takes two to make a market.
hhmc
At the very least I would fix the grammar (or pay someone for a copy edit) if you want to be taken seriously.
chad_strategic
I will look into that, thanks. Grammar and marketing is not my strong suit. Finding patterns in markets, stocks, options and future that is where I excel. Does anybody know where I can find a good writer/editor.
karmakaze
Have a look at gitgrep.com and quicklog.io and let me know if interested in either of those. I also run hackerer.news but that's a public service and to keep me from wasting too much Fomo time 'refreshing'.
knowyourleadcom
Knowyourlead.com I work on a team of engineers with a few side projects if interested. Craig@knowyourlead.com

Www.knowyourlead.com you can get a instant trial and play with it but Haven’t gone live yet (turned on payments, finalized marketing messaging), business is proven by high priced competitors with a lot of overhead and I was taking it the low over head automated route. Was going to clean up a few things and release in April.

justanotherc
I have an SEO based tool that's been limping along because I'm neither good at marketing nor interested in learning in order to scale it up. Its a customizable audit tool.

If that sounds interesting to you, get in touch with me and I can show you more.

abhishek99
hey, I'm interested in checking this out. please contact me via the email in my bio.

Would love to buy this.

dhruvkar
keto.fm

please buy it from me. it's a content site but could evolve to be an indiehackers for keto. There wasn't a site out there last I checked.

instaash
Would you be interested in investing in a invention that I do not have any money to get started better yet if you wanted to just pay me for my idea and only when you start making money on it I would be happy with 5% my name is Ashley and my email is l0v3l0ng3r@gmail.com if your interested.
pidtuner
Mine is pidtuner.com, currently have 1000 engineers visiting each month. Not much, but quite specialized.