I don't usually toot my own horn, but I'm really good at marketing and wish I could just find a good local designer/developer combo to do a startup with. I'm really tired of working with remote freelancers that don't do exceptional work, or they start off doing good work, then drift off into mediocre work. Admittedly, I'm not good at managing people, I just want to find people that work well on their own.
I wouldn't dare claiming to know why are you stumbling upon such people, but in my eyes most of the customers I had were just another invoice this month or week, so IMO for you that's a good vantage point from which to further analyze the situation with remote devs.
Keeping people motivated is key. And an absolutely mandatory entry filter must be for them to be at least somewhat excited about your project.
If I am very tired and annoyed (like I am most of the time sadly), I can still deliver everything you ask for, to the letter, with good quality and on time. But you might need more than that -- you want a person who gives you ideas about your product, who criticizes and challenges your ideas, somebody with whom you can have midnight enthuastic discussions (or yelling competitions -- these help as well).
Simply having a strong programmer isn't enough for a micro/small startup. Everybody has to be on the boat or it won't work. You can have the strong programmer as a lead once you have 2-3 others though -- in my experiences having an experienced dev is crucial once you're out of the phase of pure enthusiasm, and when you actually have something you can now work with.
I'd be interested in having a chat. Recently decided to pause / shut down my startup where I did a pretty good job with the developing/designing, but marketing was definitely a weakness. So we could be a good combo. Email me at hnusername[0:4] at uchicago dot edu, or let me know how to get in touch with you.
I don't want to give out URLs and names in a public forum, but I've started several 6-figure online businesses in different segments over the years. The one I'm focusing on now does about $400k/year in profit and I only have to put in about 5 hours per week, I'm basically retired at this point.
I'm brimming with ideas - really good ideas, but I don't want to pursue them without dedicated partners. I want to build great products foremost, the money follows naturally.
We can talk privately if you think there's an opportunity here.
"Several 6-figure online businesses" / "$400k/year and 5h per week" --> this is the kind of posts that make it look so easy to build this kind of businesses. And honestly, it seems unrealistic and almost bullshit. Why commenting if you don't give out your URLs?
Why would he post the URL and invite a bunch of new competitors to clone his software?
I seriously don't understand this trend of people blabbing their revenue numbers and showing their exact website... there is no better way to create a competitor than that. And for what, an ego boost?
No one here is in some secret market that no one knows about. If you have no competitors, you're either a government sanctioned monopoly or in the wrong market.
That's definitely false.... there are thousands of niche markets with 1-5 competitors where each can make 5 figures per month. Why invite more competition?
Also, it's not like you email your competitors and exchange revenue numbers.
I agree you shouldn't share the URL, someone could easily copy the startup or model. What I don't agree with is that someone would be able to execute it properly.
I find it crazy that you have the funds and those kinda revenues but can't find the talent. Don't take this wrong but could be people don't want to work with you. I don't know you but there's definitely something not right. It also could just be that most of the "WOW" Developers work on their own projects by themselves. If they really like you, your idea/concepts and you have the funds to support it, you shouldn't have a problem.
I don't know. The thing is I don't tell people my revenue, and it's not like I go to great lengths to try to find people. I've met up with a few in person, and it's just been a waste of time - none of them are willing to take the risk, and I can't blame them, there are too many biz guys with worthless ideas out there. And yes, it seems that great devs/designers are usually more interested in working on their own ideas, it's very hard to get them to work on someone else's vision.
I agree with all that. I've got a few ideas myself but as a designer with only frontend skills I can only go so far. Normally if I build something or design a prototype its easier to find someone who wants to join. They'll have a better understanding of the product and workflow. Right now I have a Saas startup in SF we are looking for a marketing/biz dev cofounder. Products in hand launching August. Also always looking for someone great at marketing like I said shoot me an email and we'll connect. If you have angellist follow me their too. Angel.co/brayson-ware
