Hi HN,<p>Like many others, I believe I have a really good idea for a start-up. I won't go into detail, but having done some research I've seen there's noone else doing this, and I think it's a product which can be widely used.<p>The problem is, I don't have the skills to make it. It'd include quite a lot of features, most of which would have to be custom-made, in languages I don't speak. So I have a few options:<p>-Just doing it, and seeing where it ends. Problem is that I don't have much time, and I'm already trying to get more skills in another language.<p>-Find a more technical co-founder. I'm just afraid, wouldn't this completely sideline me? I mean, I have clear ideas about what I want and stuff, but as long as the product is being developed all I could do is ask the co-founder how it's going, and giving some of my input. I'm afraid it'd feel like it's not my thing anymore. Also, I feel unsuitable for the business-side of things. No experience, still very young, nowhere near any kind of scene.<p>-Just throw the idea out there for anyone who wants to use it, and move on to something which suits better. I'd feel like I throw away a great idea, and not only that, it's <i>my</i> idea.<p>Any idea what I should or shouldn't do?
You've got nothing right now, treat it as such. Details are good and people will be willing to give you feedback on your thoughts if you give them. I've had a million ideas and most of them seem great until you start talking about them. Have you asked a potential customer, another entrepreneur, or a partner for feedback? If not, that is the first thing you should be doing.<p>The next thing you can do is to run some tests to validate your target market. There are a plethora of ways to do this from interacting with potential customers to adwords'ing a custom landing page. It really just depends on the idea you want to test.<p>The way you mention finding a technical cofounder sounds an awful lot like finding someone to do all the work for you. That is a fool's errand. If you don't have time to invest in it yourself, you're not going to own any part of it. Developing an app, and more specifically, a business, takes a HUGE time investment. You've got to be committed.
Anyone can think of a good idea but not many of them can turn it into a successful business. To create a successful business the idea/product should be the last thing you need to worry about because idea changes all the time during stages of a startup. There are many other factors that are more important than your idea i.e ( financing, marketing,legal, team). Many entrepreneurs have the same ideas but why are some more successful than others? For example Gowalla vs Foursquare. An idea is worthless without an execution plan. You can begin by researching your market and form a team who believes in your idea and vision. I give you props for your youth entrepreneur's spirit. Don't wait too long to start because you will mistakes. Just learn how to fix them along the way. Just remember Nike's Slogan "Just Do It". Good Luck
Hire an outsourced coding team to make the product. Now, its going to be really crappy , but then you will have the prototype built and can hire on a co-founder or take it in a different direction.<p>If you think the idea is really that great, don't throw it away, find a way to make it work :)<p>Just my 2cents.