Need Advice For Start-up App

1yr ago

13 replies

Hello all. I've been a UX/UI Designer for over 11 years and have worked on many projects with fortune 500 companies, start-ups, fintech, eCommerce, etc. I've also been through multiple acquisitions in my career. I've always designed the best user experience for many companies. Over the years I've had solid ideas for apps. I'd design them end to end and have them ready to go, but the biggest blocker I hit is finding a developer. Then, having to pay them a huge chunk out of pocket. A VC told me that once "never spend your own money on your idea, you want to spend someone else's money." I am not a developer. I am purely a designer and finding a developer that doesn't charge is a huge pain point in my process. I see all these kids out of high school and college getting funding for their ideas with some basic developed version of their idea and it blows my mind. I've reached out to VCs, sent in my proposals, and usually hear we'll pass or let's see a functioning version. Anyone has recommendations/advice on how to find a developer to build your app or product? How do I get past this blocker? Thanks!

Replies

Paul Sutton @robert_sutton1

Hey Michael, I, like Y-Combinator, believe the core team should be able to build a minimum viable product with no external resources. The college students who get funding tend to have a basic product with some users before they receive funding. VCs today are unlikely to fund a product in its idea phase. Therefore it seems you need a technical cofounder to build your MVP with. Good candidates for a technical cofounder are past schoolmates or coworkers.

Nov 10, 2022

Michael L @michael_lemma

@robert_sutton1 Is there a website or anywhere I can find co-founders? That's the struggle. Can't seem to find anyone who is incentivised with equity.

Nov 10, 2022

Paul Sutton @robert_sutton1

@michael_lemma Indeed it is a difficult challenge. Again, I would try people you already know first if possible. There is a platform Ycombinator runs for matching cofounders: https://www.ycombinator.com/cofo... Ycombinator tends to be very high quality. There is also cofounderslab: https://cofounderslab.com/ but I am not very familiar with them.

Nov 10, 2022