Ask HN: Looking for an engineer/developer "life partner"
I've been working on a start-up concept for about 3 months now and we're really struggling to find the right fit with an engineer. Over time, it's occurred to me that what I'm truly looking for is someone who will take the plunge with many different ideas and really go after things. We're coming up with new concepts on a weekly basis, but have no engineer to gut check against or even build basic models to test out.
What I am hoping to find is someone who can be the ultimate partner, OWNING the technical development while working with me to outline & pursue the business opportunities.
So here's some more about me:
--I think I'm really capable when it comes to identifying opportunities. I believe I have a knack for envisioning innovative products and how they can be delivered to users in a valuable & profitable way.
--I am extremely passionate and hard-working. Simply put, I will work as hard as anyone to pursue something I believe in.
--I know what I'm not: an engineer. I have some design skill and think I have a strong feel for quality user experience and product development, but I'm not looking for someone to do all my dirty work. I want a partner, in the truest sense of the word. Someone who I can brainstorm ideas with, and then together we can go running with them. Someone who will own the development from vision to code, while we work together to analyze the markets & business angles. We both should exploit our strengths.
--I live in SF and am really only looking for someone in the Bay area
--I'm a pretty good guy to be around and extremely extremely loyal
--I currently work for a top tech company (starts with G and has an OO in it) and have a pretty strong set of people & business skills. I've got a really valuable network that can connect us to investors, other entrepreneurs, and resources we might need.
At the end of the day, I've learned a ton talking to other start-up founders, developers, etc. over the last few months. I am absolutely determined not to be some business type who is naive enough to play down the value of an engineer, try to tell them what to do, or think that my "idea" is the valuable part (and not the implementation).
If any of the developers out there are looking for this kind of partnership, email me. I'd love to chat, share concepts, talk strategy, and just get a feel for the fit.
Thanks all, feel free to comment away and ask any questions you want. E-mail is in my profile.
Jon
19 comments
[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 49.3 ms ] threadE-mail should be there now, sorry about that.
Everything I've learned from those with experience is that outsourcing is a poor, short-term fix. I need the expertise & insight of a real engineering lead, and one way or another when we get past the prototype phase, I'll just have someone else's code and still no lead engineering presence.
Perhaps you should work hard on learning to program then you won't need a life partner and can do it yourself.
However - and I think many would agree - there are engineers who have been doing this their whole lives who are far beyond my capabilities and will be even if I work incredibly hard for many years. I think it's naive (and somewhat offensive) for me to think I should be able to fully catch up.
I do want to learn as much as I can, but I find it important to embrace the skills I have. Ultimately, a real team is a requirement if any start-up is going to succeed.
Not true. Keep working on learning how to program and do it yourself. Try harder.
>>>Simply put, I will work as hard as anyone to pursue something I believe in.
This assertion only has meaning if you actually work as hard as anyone. If you worked as hard as anyone on learning to program then you would evenutally get there.
If your business plan is solid enough you would probably need to prove it, by putting the plan onto paper and begin shopping it around to the VC's and angel investors in SF. You'd need to show a developer that your idea is solid enough that you can obtain funding otherwise I can't think of any reason a developer would join a startup from square one at >50% dilution rather than start his own project.
Not to be a dick about this either but most people think they have a knack for "envisioning innovative products and how they can deliver value" but most fail on finding challenges within their own ideas. Of course on the positive side, you're at least willing to hash things out and explore ideas. That said though, you probably need to bring some solid value proposition of which I'm not seeing in the above pitch.
DStein2: I've been given repeated and direct advise not to pursue funding without a functioning prototype; most important reason is b/c terms are never favorable.
I should add that quite a few of the folks we've talked to have been very interested, it's been more that the fit really hasn't quite been right on both sides yet.
And if I've learned anything from the engineers, it's that this game is about 5% idea/95% follow-through.
Steven: I can't really dive into this but it's just not as simple as you think. Trust me, I wish it were, but employee NDAs and such are major hurdles.
Also, I've not ruled out getting a prototype done, but of of the engineers I've talked to (>15) most said they would prefer to be involved from the beginning as opposed to inherit a prototype.
Hoodoof: I am definitely planning to learn as much as I can, and would like to develop the skills to build a prototype, at least.
I was just pointing out that I have a respect for the experience developers have. Yes, I think I have a strong work ethic, but that's quite different than being adamant I'll be able to out program more experienced people.
As for possibly getting a prototype done, I don't understand the comment here. If you outsource the work, you pay X and they code Y and you guys do the exchange. There's no inheriting or whatever you're referring to. Sounds more like you're trying to recruit employees or something than to purely just get the prototype finished.
I am not worried about losing my idea. I am not 100% focused on getting a prototype done. I want to find a real partner to work with on my current concept or any others.
Our lives away, basically.
You mix 'I' and 'we'...which is it?
The "I" and "we" is a little tricky. Someone else is involved with the current concept, but his role really comes into play farther down the road.
The purpose of my post was regarding a partner, not just with this concept, but with many opportunities going forward. In that sense, it's an "I."