Where to find a coder - exiang/startup-resources GitHub Wiki

Where to find a coder

80% of my mentees' question are related to this. They are founders with idea but lack of skills to implement. Failed after spending months searching for a tech cofounder, they gave up and resort to:

Outsource to Freelancer

Employ a freelancer is similar to getting somebody to work for u except being present at your office. Most freelance/outsourcing project failed because lack of communication. Even with advance technology, face to face meeting still the most efficient method by far.

Explaining your idea by speech is easy, draw it out on paper is a bit harder but still fast to do. However, put that into code is a real production that takes time, resource and effort. None tech founders think the difficulty level is somewhat similar to producing a powerpoint slide but it is not in reality. Unrealistic expectation and lack of software project management experience is another reason people failed.

Anybody who run business understand there's a distinct different between worker and partner. You dont expect salary man to work extra for you: they will works according to your instruction, but not working the extra mile simply because they don't own your business.

For example, a freelancer might not give you advice on why your requested feature will not add value to your business. They are more than happy to implement it as it means more revenue, even they knew this feature is useless.

Furthermore, at the early stage of your startup, you would not have a clear idea on your product, even you think you have. It is actually an iteration process where a lot of experimenting, testing, fine tuning and rebuilding are expected. You won't be able to get it right in one outsourcing contract. The best way to do it is by hourly pay but this means costly for you.

Hence, I do not recommend startup founder to outsource to freelancer from the beginning. If you are unable to build your idea, what you really needs to do first is to pick up required skills. However, base on my experience that close to 0% will take this advice from me, my next advice to you is: You can't escape from getting a tech cofounder.

First pitch to tech cofounder

You may thinks you only needs to pitch when raising fund. Truth is, your very first pitch will be to a tech guy, trying to convince him to do all the technical works for free for you.

If you spent too long to get a cofounder, it could be your pitching skill needs to be improved.

Stop thinking your idea worth billion dollar. Because if that's true, you would have taken up bank loan and proceed regardless of what. Believe me or not, when you pitch your idea to a tech guy, most likely he already hear it from 10 other people.

You should have done your validation

Only an insane programmer will give up his high paying job (10k above for a fullstack who can works independently) and join your startup. You will have little luck to convince them to help you on part time basis, as they are flooded with highly paid freelancer jobs too. The less motivated one would rather spend his free time on computer game.

Instead of wasting time buzzing programmers, you should use your time to validate your idea. Use free & paid tools out there to help you. Lazy is not an excuse for not doing the labour intensive manual works yourself. Always remember, programmers time are more precious than yours because that is how market pay them.

“One of the most common types of advice we give at Y Combinator is to do things that don’t scale.” Paul Graham

Tech is all about scaling

You had established some sort of SOP now and you had hit the limit operating it on a spreadsheet. People already paying to you and your idea is validated. To get more customer you have this urgent needs for a proper software, you are willing to pay 50% of your revenue to make this happens.

Congratulation, you prepared for the product development stage. You shouldn't have much difficulty in finding a tech cofounder now. Many would be pulled to you.

Your effort in building a proven SOP and recording data in structured format that you gone thru in validation stage makes your tech cofounder job easier. Best is, you can tell if he is not building the right thing as you know every detail and inside out of your business.

Refer: https://blog.ignite.io/how-to-test-startup-ideas-with-no-code-and-no-cash-ef5e3f6731af