I frequently get emails that say something like:
I have an idea for a product that I want to build, and I need to hire a web developer or find a technical co-founder. Where should I start?
I’m going to try to give helpful guidance that I give to people who approach me with this. First, I want to give personal context. I am a mechanical engineer and a partner in a software development company, but not a programmer. I am much more of a hustler than a hacker. So, I do understand when people need to find and depend on someone else to build out their vision.
Step 1 – Check Your Ego
Step 2 – Get Perspective
Step 3 – Get Out There
Step 4 – Value Your Need
Alternative Approach – Learn to code yourself.
If I sent you a link to this post in response to your email, I hope this is a good starting point for you. Good luck. Have feedback or other resources? Please share in the comments.
Fast Company interviewed me for part 8 of their series “Why you should start a company in….” where they have been profiling the best startup cities around the country. It was a privilege to speak on behalf of so many great entrepreneurs in New Orleans.
If you haven’t seen it, why not give it a read. Here are my thoughts on “Why New Orleans is different or better than other cities?”
In a lot of ways, New Orleans is the city for our times, it fits the post-financial-crisis world. We dealt with our knockout blow in 2005 and the people here literally have rebuilt and re-imagined the city. We are ahead of the rest of the country that is just now dealing with the financial crisis. We’re already well into recovery and growth mode, so it’s an exciting time. There’s something kind of magical that’s going on right now and it’s that gelling at the very beginning of an uprising where things really become a movement.
This really is a great time to start a business in New Orleans. Here are a few places to dig a little deeper:
I’d love to hear your thoughts on what makes New Orleans such a great place to start a company right now.