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Ask HN: My startup just received seed funding, tips on building out tech team?

6 points by keecham ↗ HN
Hi all,

My startup just got accepted into an incubator program (can't tell you guys which one yet), and along with that received a decent chunk of seed funding. Myself and my co-founder are not "tech" people, though I've been actively trying to learn (proud to say I'm almost done with Shaw's LPTHW :)).

One of our challenges now is to recruit someone with strong tech capabilities full-time. We've been working with a couple of kids from college who've been great, but definitely need some full-time help now. In terms of where our product is, our website has a solid prototype up, and we want to build out a mobile app as well which is still in early concept (aka nothing) stage.

I know it's impossible to find someone with Python/Ruby/iOS/Android/everything experience, so I'd love to get everyone's thoughts on how you'd proceed in my situation. We've tried posting on university job boards in the location of the incubator, but haven't made a whole lot of progress. I also understand that with only seed funding we can't have the "ideal" tech team hired, but we're looking for people that can at least get us to a solid beta on mobile at least (since our site is just about in beta stage).

Thanks for any and all suggestions/help!

16 comments

[ 6.5 ms ] story [ 53.2 ms ] thread
Mankhool
I would love it if you guys would at some point elucidate about how 2 non "tech" people a) found some techies to help you with your project and b) got seed funding. Both of these seem to fly in the face of established start up culture.
keecham
We both have a very strong business background, and I actually launched a small socially minded enterprise internationally last year; also, we were able to prove that we can get stuff done as we had a prototype available by the time of our interview for the program.

Also, the incubator we are accepted into is industry-specific and not a general "tech" incubator like YCombinator (not that one is better than the other, YCombinator is awesome obviously, just that this was a better fit for us). Feel free to ask for more details if you'd like.

rush-tea
I would like to ask more details, but when I click your profile, I can't see your email.

If you can email me, that would be great.

Thanks.

_ud4a
congrats on the funding. i noticed that you mentioned you posted on university job boards. Personally at this stage for your startup, I would target a more experienced candidate compared to university grads. The college interns that helped with putting up your prototype is great but now that funding is there, you need an experienced engineer that can take your product to the next level technically and put in place a strategy and plan as far as technical details are concerned.

as mentioned above, the "jobs" threads on HN are amazing since you find very very good talent in them.

swalkergibson
I would not be so cavalier about dismissing college grads out of hand like this. Just look at Drew Houston, he was pretty green and took on a very significant technology problem when he built Dropbox. I am not suggesting that all college-age technologists are of his caliber, but there is nothing wrong with trawling those waters.

However, I would suggest being more proactive in that approach. You are more likely to find that type of individual at entrepreneurship/technology meetups that occur around the university, not necessarily in the job boards.

mrkmcknz
What is it you guys are working on? drop me an email my email is on my profile.
[deleted]
(comment deleted)
djb_hackernews
Depends on what you are looking for.

If you are looking for a cofounder, then a post on HN explaining the problem domain, the background of the current team, and other details will help you find one from this community. S ince you are experienced entrepreneurs now would be a good time to tap your network and approach the people who helped you with your past successes.

If you are just looking for someone to crank out a beta, I'd put out some RFPs to contractors, again HN may be able to help here.

If you are looking for a technical cofounder, I'd be interested to hear more. Email in profile.

keecham
Just e-mailed, thanks for the advice.
sunkan
You can go the route of using contractors. We have helped startups rapidly develop apps, while they are in the process of hiring their own developers. We built Hipster's iOS App before they had internal iOS Developers on board. My email and company is on my profile, feel free to reach out.
dylangs1030
Well, first, shameless plug - I'm a hacker and I can work full time if you're a good match. I know the languages you listed.

But enough about me. Here's what you should do.

1. LinkedIn - Network for experienced programmers, post jobs. 2. StackOverflow/GitHub/Gun.io - Network for experience programmers, post jobs. 3. Definitely make a jobs page and advertise it. Also network with other startups in your area. Are you in the Valley? NYC? Definitely hit up other successful startups. I've been directed work from different founders before - they generally know other people in the business on a professional level, if not personal.

One thing I cannot stress enough - screen by portfolio! If a programmer has no portfolio, it's a good chance they are not qualified. A degree is not a portfolio. Being able to talk about coding is not a portfolio. A portfolio of past and completed coding projects shows practical ability - not just theoretical ability. This is very important.

[dead] Eddyelo
I'd like to know the incubator that accepted your team (See email add. in my profile). Congrats by the way.
deam_roys
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