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Ask HN: How to find the right tech angel investor for new programming platform?

2 points by ellis0n ↗ HN
Here is platform/OS demo video https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/732098541

The tech https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32181251

12 comments

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verdverm
The first step is typically to get users who like the platform enough to use, share, and advocate for it.
ellis0n
I agree. Here are a little bit users (developers) and they are waiting for a usable application. The project is in the top 100 in Europe in the Pioneer.app tournament and people like it both online and offline, developers or non-coders (9 of 10). I think it's easy to organically join 30,000 developers when people can use the app. But a few bugs need to be fixed. So I'm looking a way how to find an angel who is tech, can invest and wants to make x10 or more.
verdverm
People say they like things at much higher rates than they will actually use & pay for them. This is why actual users & customers matter way more than survey results or ranking in tournaments. These things are quite artificial.

With the spectre of a looming recession, the days of excess capital flowing into hopes and dreams is drying up. While you _may_ be able to find an angel, more likely than not you will need hard evidence that users will use/pay for your product.

> wants to make x10 or more

Everyone wants to do this. The question is why you and why now? Are you willing to take the leap of faith to see the project to the next step? Will you quit a cozy paycheck to work through the few bugs and get users on the platform?

ellis0n
> users will use/pay for your product

There are several monetization models here: subscription, advertising and publication of applications, and even donations. They all work for other development tools. Plus, a market for developers will be created and they will be able to sell their creations. Plus web3 friendly.

Here is the samples https://github.com/goldenwebb/Tasks/issues

The project will grow and need thousands of developers will be able to improve the system, which will ensure KPI and investors will be able to earn

> Everyone wants to do this. The question is why you and why now? Are you willing to take the leap of faith to see the project to the next step? Will you quit a cozy paycheck to work through the few bugs and get users on the platform?

I created the core, the technology, it works and now it's time to expand the community. 10 years ago I left my job to do this project. Initially, I did not want to take investments, because I needed to figure out what it was (I'm a techie) and I thought that I could complete the project in 3 years maximum. In 2014, external circumstances such as the war changed my plans and my expenses increased exponentially, so I had to spend a lot of time at work. 2 months ago I left my last job and was able to fix most of the bugs to show the project to the public, but the time is up and now the choice is either to take the job again, which will mean a downtime in the project, or to find a donation / investment "willing to take the leap of faith to see the project to the next step" and give investors and developers an opportunity to earn money and get a fan. New programming is fun.

verdverm
> The project will grow

How do you know this?

ellis0n
Because there are technical superiorities and gives new opportunities. People like and want to install the app, from designers to programmers. People only ask when? As an experienced developer and programming languages evangelist, I have never seen anything like this. This is fun.
verdverm
Then give them what you've got!

https://www.ycombinator.com/library/6i-how-to-launch-again-a...

I've put my own project out there (https://github.com/hofstadter-io/hof) and got feedback that I would never have, had I not. I now use the feature more than the user does :] What's even more motivating than having them tell you they want it, is hearing about how they are using it, and then learning what household name companies they work at!

They also found bugs that I would not have, just by using the tool differently than I had. Your early users will be tolerant if bugs are what keeps you from releasing the first version. No software is bug free, no product survives first contact.

ellis0n
Thanks for the extended suggestion. This motivates. I was thinking about this but wanted to show a better solution with no bugs in the UI. But on the other hand, developers can modify their interface from a computer. There is also a documentation issue, although this can be resolved in chat. There are not so many people with iPad here, I think more people will be here https://forums.macrumors.com do you know how to get an invite there? My old account was lost a few years ago after a website redesign. I wrote to them but no response.
verdverm
Not sure about mac related things other than you'll probably want to make your project installable via homebrew... some many distribution systems... such a pain
ellis0n
Hey, just checked your profile and saw that you are working on the CUE proglang. CUE is amazing, I saw it a while ago. :)

I usually use config.js or config.py but that's unsafe.