Ask HN: Building a startup as a part time non technical person?

[sparknlaunch12]

What advice would you give to a non technical (non coder) who is currently working full time looking to build a startup?

Should you look for a coder to start the process? Or do as much independently, considering out sourcing early development?

Can you work evenings and weekends to build the plan?

How would you approach potential team members?

Has anyone had experience with making this transition?

[SkyMarshal]

There have been several posts that made it to the front page the past few months where someone in exactly your position learned to code and built their app, at least their prototype themselves. Very inspiring. I don't the bandwidth to dig them up at the moment but try some searches. Here's one to get you started:

https://www.google.com/#q=site:news.ycombinator.com+learned+...

[sparknlaunch12 → SkyMarshal]

Thanks. Seen a few stories successful non technical startup stories. Certainly good starting points.

I was thinking of the benefits of getting involved with developers sooner in the process - Maybe allow me to provide benefit elsewhere rather than struggling to code something?

[SkyMarshal → sparknlaunch12]

Some random thoughts in no particular order (3am, just back from poker night, brain fuzz)...

A non-technical founder who takes the time to learn rudimentary coding and actually puts something together is much more attractive to potential technical co-founders.

Not because they expect you to actually do any of the real coding work, but because it shows you're willing to dig in, step way the fuck out of your comfort zone, and do the really hard work required to succeed at the startup.

The devil is in the details, be it the code itself, figuring out the business processes that you're abstracting and implementing in the code, the legal nitty gritty, fundraising, etc.

It's not uncommon for non-technical cofounders to inadvertently signal that they intend to the be the high-level idea guy and hire other people to figure out how to make their ideas work, starting with their technical co-founder. But that's a big turnoff to good engineers.

Having said that, you should probably do both. There's a shortage of engineers right now and it will probably take a while to find one, so definitely better to start sooner in the process. Spend half your time networking and looking for a co-founder.

However, it could take a long time to find one, and it would probably behoove you to learn and build during that time, even something rudimentary. Start with HTML + CSS + Javascript + Node.js, which is probably the easiest web stack to get started with (only one actual programming langauge to learn, Javascript, which you can use both in the browser and an in Node.js on the server).

... Hmm, had more, but it's slipped my mind, drawing a blank now. Will continue if/when I remember it.

[sparknlaunch12 → SkyMarshal]

Thanks. Some good suggestions.

Already familiar with HTML, CSS, JS. Just felt quicker to get someone involved who knew what they were doing.

[SkyMarshal → sparknlaunch12]

It would definitely be quicker if you could get someone like that on board right away. It's just not a given that that's possible. Depends on how compelling your idea is, etc.

But if you're already familiar with the trio, that's all you need to get started. Try to go ahead and build your prototype with Express.js, a Node.js web framework.

Server-side/backend:

http://expressjs.com/

http://nodejs.org/

Client-side/browser/frontend frameworks:

http://twitter.github.com/bootstrap/

http://ajkochanowicz.github.com/Kickstrap/

http://html5boilerplate.com/

Tutorials for HTML5 Rich Web Apps:

http://www.html5rocks.com/en/

[sparknlaunch12 → SkyMarshal]

I am planning to spend the next month or so getting up to speed on the following:

JavaScript + NodeJS (Given how widely supported and used it is)

Twitter Bootstrap (Really easy to build front end)

I have considered Ruby/Python however think that the learning curve is too great at the moment. I just want to know enough to build a good looking site that has basic functionality.

HTML5 is attractive but will have to wait for now.

[tferris → SkyMarshal]

> Try to go ahead and build your prototype with Express.js, a Node.js web framework.

Good recommendation: node+express rock

[arobb]

Without knowing much about you or your expertise, my first impression is you're about to undertake a project that may be too much to handle.

Before you consider launching any startup, you need to find at least a few people who believe enough in your idea to help you. If you don't have that network at this point, start with a small project and see who will help.

From there, start another, slightly larger project. Keep progressing. Eventually and ideally, you'll develop the resources to launch a startup.