I think if you're non-technical and you use odesk or elance, then you'll most likely end up disappointed. But you're right about the commitment.
My suggestion for testing a new idea if you're non-tech is to do manual testing of the idea. Run it with wordpress, google ads, paypal accounts, manual emails - whatever you can control until you actually know what to build - and more importantly, if you should build it at all. You might also be in a good position to convince a technical person to join, as you have some evidence, not just an idea and a few mock ups (which is what I used to do...) I'm serious about this, you can test a lot of businesses without any tech. To begin with the important thing is flexibility and speed of learning. Once you get it right, then it's about automation, features and scalability. Read about the story of Aardvark. Phil likes to call it the Wizard of Oz approach (which I think he borrowed from Andrew Jessup who borrowed it from... http://www.pollenizer.com/what-high-technology-startups-can-learn-from-the-wizard-of-oz/) Tech, non-tech, old, young, male, female, - just get out there and keep doing it until you succeed. No excuses. Mick "Manuel" Liubinskas On Apr 11, 7:34 pm, Phil Sim <philip...@gmail.com> wrote: > A couple of quick thoughts... > > If your a non-technical founder, it shouldn't cost you more than $10k to go > out to elance, freelancer or rentacoder and get a prototype built. Or else > learn enough programming to get your first iteration out, which is what I > did. If you haven't got the commitment to do either of those you're probably > not going to make it as a startup anyway. You should then take it out to the > market, test your idea and see if you realistically get some traction. IMO, > only then should you bother looking for a technical partner and I'd suggest > you'll find it a lot easier with a prototype and a vision someone can see, > especially if you have some initial customer feedback to go with it. > > phil > > > > > > > > > > On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 5:22 PM, Tristan <tristanknow...@gmail.com> wrote: > > I think Shane's idea is a great one. Like angel investment but time and > > coding rather than money. > > > Wasn't somebody in the SB group working with computer science departments > > at Universities to try and establish links? So projects that programmers > > work on as part of their degrees could be based on real business concepts > > people have. This would be great because it would allow programmers to work > > on something that was potentially more 'real' than any invented scenario > > their course prescribes. They would also gain useful experience dealing > > with a real client and potentially some equity. > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach > > Australia mailing list. > > > Guidelines on discussion: > >http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia/msg/351e183e13... > > > No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. > > > To post to this group, send email to > > silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com > > For more options, visit this group at > >http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en > > -- > Phil Sim > Chief Executive Officer, > MediaConnect Australia Pty Ltdwww.mediaconnect.com.au > phi...@mediaconnect.com.au > Ph: +61 2 9894 6277 > Fax: +61 2 8246 6383 > Mobile: 0413889940 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Guidelines on discussion: http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia/msg/351e183e1303508d?hl=en%3Fhl%3Den No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en
