Hello all you scary anonymous internet people,<p>I have an app that is currently stuck in limbo. I opened it up to a private alpha test awhile ago and learned a lot about what would make it successful and a lot about what is currently unsuccessful. I'm not really looking for ways to improve the site - as I said, I pretty much know already.<p>I have put the project on hold as I have exhausted my ability to self-fund development. I believe that there is big potential for the project, but don't think the site is far enough along to seek vc funding. I have a rather succinct roadmap to beta, but there is a lot of work to be done. Maybe angel investment is an option, but I've exhausted all my personal connections to investors.<p>I am good at the creative side of things - not so much the business/networking side. Ideally I would like a talented rails programmer and/or business guru to partner up with on the project, but I don't know how to go about finding someone who fits the bill. Are there still people out there who are interested in working for equity?<p>Should I be writing emails and or cold calling the vc and angel investors? I have a good idea, a prototype and a business plan, but no traffic, no team, and no relationships to speak of.<p>I am hesitant to release the site details in a public forum as the site is premature and I have no way to counter potential theft or competition. The site is still in private alpha and apart from learning rails (tried once, not a good idea), I have no way to get it out of there.<p>I can email an alpha pass to anyone interested in checking it out, but I'm not comfortable discussing the details of the site in a public forum so I would request that you keep site specific comments limited to emails or the site forums.<p>Thanks in advance for any other ideas or advice.
How did you build it in the first place?<p>I second the comment below. Release it, and hope that somebody likes it enough to take you to the next level.<p>Ideas are not worth much-- all that matters is execution (your predicament is a case-in-point). If all you bring to the table is the idea, then you should give it away to somebody that can do something with it. Anybody capable of stealing your idea and making it a reality without your help is already working on something else.<p>A piece of advice I hear often: "if you are not embarrassed by your first release, you have released too late." Post a link to the app, it's your only hope.
I think you should discuss it in a public forum. If someone likes the idea so much they want to steal it, they might just steal you with it, and fund you. Also if someone wanted to steal it what would prevent them from asking you for an alpha pass and then stealing that?