Idea + powerpoint + Excel projections + research + pilot
You want someone to execute
Vesting
Agreements – pay a lawyer
Get to know your partner (lunches, spouses)
Reference checks
Product direction
Our beta process timeline
Feb join
Mar roll off contract
Apr research/product direction
May beta
June launch
Charge from the get go
Discounts are fine
Build community
Business or tech risk. Derisk tech. What do you know? What can you buy or get as a gem?
Sharetribe
Bullettrain
Not the time to try your microservices idea or to learn a new database (unless it is key)
Test
On call
Sole technical troubleshooter
Stay calm
Exercise
Focus on your long term goal
Co-founder
Find community (rands)
Don’t work 100 hour weeks
Not your problem.
Strategy: Co-founder! Domain expert! Playing the long game
Tactic: Content marketing, facebook group, building lists, discount for deadline signup
Charge
Discount for non profits
Raise prices over time (grandfather) because they are getting more value
Stripe for subscriptions
So thankful.
Up when down, down when up
Split work
Hats off to Adam
Tens of paying clients, raised money, converted to a C corp. Still around and kicking.