HN Explorer

Ask HN: Founders: Interested in earning extra cash?

18 points by bryanjoseph ↗ HN
Hey HNers. Need some feedback: How many founders / cofounders could use, or could have used, extra income while starting up your company? The typical job/gig search thing just doesn't seem efficient or practical for entrepreneurs. I'm thinking about starting a service that helps founders get recruited for extra remote work ---- and get paid very well for it.

I'm thinking something along the lines of a marketplace exclusively for entrepreneurs, where you'd create say offers or packages which employers can purchase, and on our end we'd go out and ultimately serve as your recruiter and find you work that fits in your schedule.

The issue is that founders don't have time to look for work and browse job descriptions, or interview --- so we'd need to make it clear that you have x amount of availability, you're being hired remotely, and at a rate you specify.

For employers, entrepreneurs typically have highly desirable skill sets --- even with limited availability and performing remote work.

Is this of interest? Thoughts?

20 comments

[ 0.28 ms ] story [ 52.0 ms ] thread
chewxy
You have my attention. Now, what's the pitch?
bryanjoseph
I'm thinking something along the lines of a marketplace exclusively for entrepreneurs, where you'd create say offers or packages which employers can purchase, and on our end we'd go out and ultimately serve as your recruiter and find you work that fits in your schedule.

The issue is that founders don't have time to look for work and browse job descriptions, or interview --- so we'd need to make it clear that you have x amount of availability, you're being hired remotely, and at a rate you specify.

For employers, entrepreneurs typically have highly desirable skill sets --- even with limited availability and performing remote work.

Thoughts?

kohanz
packages which employers can purchase

Have you validated the employer demand? Seems like that would be the tougher part of the equation.

Sure, employers need part-time, remote workers, but are they willing to pay a premium for entrepreneurs? I'm skeptical.

bryanjoseph
Yeah, working on that feedback/validation as well. Typically larger companies lack innovation and are encouraged to hire entrepreneurs. Especially if you've proven yourself, and can show what you've done --- it eliminates a lot of uncertainty and validates your worth. But even if you haven't, if you can show what you're working on, and your skill set --- it's a big plus. I'd personally like to hire from this pool.

Again though, do need to validate from the other end and working on it.

chewxy
I like the idea. The problem I see with this is, actually matching to employers. I would be willing to give this a try.

Also, put this description at the top thread.

bryanjoseph
Cool glad to hear. Matching functionality / process will be very important, agreed.
gregcohn
FWIW, I know of at least one member of the billion-plus exit club who was a core founder & did sidework during the early days....
mindcrime
Is this of interest?

Oh yeah, definitely.

Thoughts?

Want. Now.

Seriously, I could see this being really useful if it works. I'd be very interested in giving it a try.

karmajunkie
What I really want is an agent. I'd be willing to give up a small percentage if my hourly every month to an agent who brought me contracts I was really, really interested in. I've thought many times about how to pull this off, and I just don't know if the dynamic is right in the industry.
sixQuarks
What is your hourly rate, and what qualifies you for such a high rate? I'm asking honestly, as a person who's actually interested in being an agent. Basically, help me help you.
bryanjoseph
Cool. So you'd be interested in being an agent. Can you expand on your ideal user experience?
karmajunkie
Email is in my profile, feel free to contact me and I'd be happy to talk
lawncheer
Same here, this is a great idea. An ideal setup, would be an agent, that could find me 15-20 hours/wk consistently, at my current rate (125$/hr), so that I can split time between the company, and the contract. I'd give away 25$/hr of that hourly.
bryanjoseph
Nice. This is really interesting. I was thinking we could somewhat automate the agent process but perhaps we allow recruiters to sign up and represent you for a revenue share. Interesting.
karmajunkie
I don't want a recruiter. I want an agent. Those might seem like they overlap, but there's enough differences that you have to watch it. Recruiters have to work in volume. Agents (at least MY agent would )work off quality. Think jerry maguire for geeks instead of athletes. And they absolutely cannot take money from the employer when I take a contract. I'd fire a hypothetical agent in a heartbeat if I ever found out about that.

I think it really only works with hourly. Salaried positions are how we ended up with recruiter dynamics in the first place.

bryanjoseph
Thanks. Yeah, I totally get it. Makes sense all the way.
AndTheyLoveIt
I'd be super interested in this. Been working on a startup full-time but might have to look for contract work soon. I think the value add of something like this is having you curate the job listings for entrepreneurs and you being able to convince companies the value of our unique skill set. Might be best done manually at first but I'd pay for a service like that.
bryanjoseph
Nice, glad to hear and thanks for the feedback. I agree clearly communicating the value of your unique skill set is key. Any other ideas please keep them coming