Hacker News Reader

Comment by kyro | Hacker News Reader

Yeah, see, the issue is, I am trying to find coders so that I can make my idea tangible. It is only idea as of now, and I'm looking for skilled people to make this idea a reality, such as a demo.

However, I am hesitant to just explain my idea and post it throughout the internet in hopes of attracting people for fear that someone can just run with the idea on their own. I mean, I am just the idea guy with creativity, they're the coder, they can live without me, but I can't live without them.

How do you suggest I lure coders without exposing too much about the site's idea?

How do I convey that good pay will probably not be the case, rather that he/she will be a partner in the startup, without turning away possible applicants?

View on HN

'... I am trying to find coders so that I can make my idea tangible ...'

Help! I'm trying to find great musicians to create a fantastic hit album bigger than Beatles. Now where's some great guitar players? I'm a great producer.

'... However, I am hesitant to just explain my idea and post it throughout the internet in hopes of attracting people for fear that someone can just run with the idea on their own ...'

Classic founder mistake. If you own the idea (hint, the most passionate) nobody is going to try. If you can't code, well then you are behind the eight ball. I've outlined the reasons why your not getting anywhere. Try reading from others who are more articulate & experienced than myself [0].

The rest is up to you.

Reference

[0] pg, 5. Obstinacy, '18 Mistakes that kill a Startup'

http://www.paulgraham.com/startupmistakes.html

"I mean, I am just the idea guy with creativity, they're the coder, they can live without me, but I can't live without them."

If that's the case, you really have a problem. Ideas are worth next to nothing. If you did manage to get one to join you, he'd likely leave at the first excuse. Why? Because you're contributing nothing.

Find some way to be of value as the startup grows. Learn some domain knowledge about the market. Talk to potential prospects. There are many things a technical cofounder can't or doesn't want to do on his own, and if you do them, he'll have a reason to work with you. But if you're just contributing the initial idea, there's no reason for him to work with you.

Well, don't get me wrong, I think I would contribute a lot to the team.

The reason for saying that was to outline my fear of luring in a coder by exposing my idea, and having such a person run off with it.

If you can't trust the coder with your idea, how are you going to build a good team?

1) Be open with your idea 2) If you're not coding, show what you are contributing

Thing is - if your business will fail because somebody ran off with your idea, you have a problem. Because the moment it looks like you're onto something, somebody will run off with your idea. The only way to keep it secret is to never launch, and that means you don't have a business.

It's more important to be able to move quickly once people copy your idea and stay ahead of them. That means finding a good coder, knowing a lot about the problem domain, and talking to lots of prospects.

Basically, success is all about having many good ideas, one after another. The first one just gets you in the door - it's usually wrong anyways. It can't get you in the door if you never tell anyone though.

kyro, try telling u r idea in your most trusted circle..say friends and if none can help you, ask them to suggest a possible reference who could do it for you. That way you can get a tech guy straight away. If you still cannot find one, narrate your idea and what u want to build to some tech guy and get his advice of which tools are needed, then u can start learning that language.

You'd think a guy with so much creativity would to be able to lure at least one "coder"...

Your insightful criticism is deeply appreciated.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com