"Self-fund on credit cards and a second mortgage"<p>It shouldn't have to come to this. It's so cheap to start a software startup, at least in the initial prototype phase.<p>Most founders already currently have jobs as developers where saving enough to cover your expenses for a few months shouldn't be too hard.
| Do consulting on the side to self-fund. This is less risky than using credit cards. One partner works for a Big Old Dinosaur on contract for $20k per month and splits it 50/50 with the other partner, who builds the company which is shared 50/50 between the two. It gets a little more complex with more than two people.<p>This sounds like an awfully big share to give to someone for that much capital! Am I wrong?