I did the first StartupWorkaway in Costa Rica. The other 15 founders were awesome (handpicked from 200ish applicants if memory serves). The venue was epic (12,000 square foot villa with 2 pools on a cliff). And it was cheaper than any vacation that I've ever taken (the economies of scale when 15 founders rent a big villa and a chef are pretty amazing). In fact, it was probably cheaper than staying home.<p>I'd recommend the experience without reservation.
Worth noting: You don't need to join somebody else's program to take advantage of this. Big cool rental properties in exotic locations become really cheap when you split them among an entire product team, especially if you consider the alternative to be a month's lease at a cube farm.<p>My personal experience doing this:<p><a href="http://expatsoftware.com/articles/2006/12/chamonix-branch-office.html" rel="nofollow">http://expatsoftware.com/articles/2006/12/chamonix-branch-of...</a>
You do know it's illegal to work in Thailand without a work permit? Even planning a startup is likely to be classed as working.<p>This may sound stringent but people have gotten into trouble for more trivial activities such as karaoke.<p>I hope you've cleared this with immigration or everybody attending could face deportation.
Warning: Once you get to one of these things you may not go back home. You realize that as a coder you can just keep working remotely and stay there (though not in the same expensive place after everyone leaves.) Crazy times we live in.<p>NOTE: As others have mentioned. You aren't supposed to be working while on a tourist visa but Thailand isn't the U.S. In some regards it's a bit like the wild west where people won't bug you as long as you aren't taking jobs away from the locals or making a bunch of cash off the local economy and people start to wonder if you are really playing by the rules. You didn't hear this from me though, respect the laws!
I'm glad this was posted again, because I was trying to remember the name of it late last year and I couldn't find it.<p>The reason I was trying to find the site was that some friends and I did something similar (we called it "Vacation Startup Club") in Costa Rica in November. It was awesome.<p>We rented two houses in Manuel Antonio (these: <a href="http://casamonotiti.com/" rel="nofollow">http://casamonotiti.com/</a>). They were easily the nicest vacation lodging I've ever used, and the view was epic, and with 10ish people, very reasonable.<p>I was surprised how much we got done. We usually woke up early (it gets light around 6am), had breakfast and coffee, then some people would start coding, or go to the park or beach. After lunch, we'd begin in earnest and work until dinner, then until about 9 or 10 most nights.<p>We finished our app, and then learned how hard it is to launch one. ;-) But all in all, an amazing experience.
This looks great, I hope it goes well!<p>If I may make a suggestion for next time though: please consider finding a place with better wheelchair access.
It's very disheartening to see the de facto bias towards able-bods reenforced. Of course, I'm certain this wasn't by intent, but it's something I'd love to see improved.
Given the <i>frigid</i> weather here in Italy (not at all what I signed up for!), the idea of tropical beaches sounds particularly fantastic right now. Not sure it'd work out with a wife and small kids though, maybe another time:-)
I think I saw that two of the spots for this workaway are being given away as a prize for the AngelHack competition(?) I'd go just to be able to spend time working with that kind of talent.
NPT4279: 2 total submissions.<p>Startup Workaway II: Thailand. 25 founders. 10 days. 1 kick-ass resort. (startupworkaway.com)
19 points by npt4279 33 minutes ago | 3 comments<p>Startup Workaway: 20 founders. 10 days. 1 beach house in Costa Rica. Apply now (startupworkaway.com)
61 points by npt4279 283 days ago | comments<p>Not saying this isn't interesting or appealing to the HN crowd, but disclosing that you are probably affiliated with this organization.
Why is it only 10 days? Is it to fit with most people's 2 week vacation slots? I would think a month would be more productive, or even better a 3 month y-combinator style intense MVP rush.<p>Also isn't the internet on Ko Samui kind of shitty? Wouldn't a mainland location by a nice beach be better internet wise?
Our whole startup (Wingify) spent one week in Thailand during December. Here are our pics: <a href="http://team.wingify.com/thailand-trip-pictures" rel="nofollow">http://team.wingify.com/thailand-trip-pictures</a><p>Though, to be honest, we couldn't work much there. It was all fun and adventure.
I love this concept and hope to do some remote working like this soon. Most important factor though, how good is the wifi?<p>The world needs a website with tropical resorts rated by wifi quality.