TechEcho

I read HackerNews almost daily, and I always enjoy the articles and the discussions about startups, software and code. So, I'm hoping that there might be a similarly minded HN reader out there who is looking for their next big thing.As a preface, I've had a lot of software developed, but I've never worked full-time on software with a co-founder/partner. Much of this is new to me, so I would definitely be open to comments or ideas about the way I'm performing this search from other members of HN, especially about the responsibilities I've listed below.The Offer : In one sentence, I'm looking for someone to work with me to build a Software as a Service business based in Japan. I'm experienced at IT sales, running a business and managing people. I have a large network of contacts in Japan, and Webnet IT has a large 'built-in' active customer base that are interested in software that provides value to their operations. Webnet IT is still my main operation, however I plan to spend a large portion of my time on this project once I find the right technical partner.Here are some basic guidelines that are important to me :- Skill Sets. I am not a coder. I have plenty of experience on the IT infrastructure side, and I've been running an IT business for 7 years, but I have no coding skills beyond basic scripts, basic PHP/MySQL and HTML. I'm hoping to find someone who is passionate about coding, and has either the experience in creating SaaS systems, or the periphery experience and the ambition and ability to create this level of application.- The Idea. I have a number of ideas based on software I've developed and our customers requirements, but I'm open to discussion. I see this as something we'd generate and agree on together.- Personality and Capability. I imagine we'll be spending a lot of time working together, and as a result, personality and attitude (and a sense of humour!) are paramount. This goes both ways - you need to be comfortable and happy working with me. I don't really mind about your background. I don't place too much stock in degrees and certificates. I'd be much more interested to hear about your personal software projects, your personal wins and your work experiences.- Compensation. I'm open to ideas on compensation structures. If we get as far as discussing compensation, we can work out a fair and reasonable structure based on who you are, what you want, and what you can contribute. Naturally, "I want a large base and no revenue sharing or company percentages" is a very different conversation from "Give me a place to sleep and X% of the company".- How we work together. I imagine that at the start, we'll discuss our ideas over Skype. I'll show you examples of the software I've designed and developed, you'll do the same for me. We'll put together a basic arrangement, and we'll do a couple of small projects to get an understanding of how we both work. When this goes well, we'll see if we can agree on a basic product road-map. If this goes well, we'll put together a plan to launch, detailing responsibilities and milestones. By this stage, we should have an agreement in place. Work begins. Within a few months, we'll need to be spending a good amount of time working together. As such, I'd like for you to be willing, happy and able to move to Japan. As we get busier and as we acquire customers, I'd be hiring more developers and support staff, most likely working under you.Bio : Like any relationship, or perhaps even more so, the co-founder/partner type relationship is based on trust and understanding. As such, here is a brief biography to give you an understanding of who I am.My name is Jason Winder, I'm Australian, I've been living in Japan for 8 years, and I run a business named Webnet IT that provides IT services to foreign companies in Japan.Introduction : I was lucky enough to get a 2nd hand clunker computer when I was a kid. For the technically curious, it was a x8086 with a green TV as a monitor, two 5.25 floppy drives, no hard disk and about 128K memory. I grew up breaking, fixing and learning from this computer. From the experience gained from this PC over the years, I landed a job working for a large company out of high school. I then found work at a smaller company in Australia, then I moved to Japan. I worked for various IT companies for a couple of years, then I started my own company, Webnet IT.Webnet IT : I didn't go to university, but I love learning. I started from a blank slate in regards to entrepreneurship. I've built up a consulting business by learning incrementally about business, sales and marketing. During this process, I designed software and systems that automate mundane tasks, and assist us doing things like generating quotes, invoices, sharing information with our customers, and many other things. Through this process, I've discovered I have a passion for developing software that helps people perform complex tasks both simply and efficiently. I'd like to build on this and develop useful software to sell to people.Side note : My main PC these days is an Apple 15" MacBook Pro. I built my home PC myself, it's an Intel Core2Duo 3.06GHz running Windows 7 with 2x24" monitors.You Would Be Responsible ForThe technical and architectural infrastructure, Initially all coding, Eventually managing a small team of coders, Brainstorming ideas, and Creating a product roadmap with me.I Would Be Responsible ForSales and marketing, Funding, General hiring and Management, Accounting, Brainstorming ideas, and Creating a product roadmap with you.I imagine these responsibilities will evolve over time, however I think it's important to do some initial general planning on expectations and responsibilities.If this describes you and your situation, or if you have any comments or thoughts, I would be very happy to hear from you. Please contact me at jason@webnet-it.co.jp.Thanks for your time reading this.Jasontl;dr 95%Biz/5%Tech guy looking for a Tech guy. btw Japan.

I must say this is a lot more intriguing and value-based than most of the other:<pre><code> 1) I'm an idea guy. 2) I need a code monkey to clone ___. 3) Profit. </code></pre> Thanks for being upfront and geninue (imo).I would certainly entertain the idea of working with you. I'm a 37signals kinda guy and roll with tha saas model. We can definitely get a feel for one another, but have to be honest and say, while I am not opposed to moving to Japan, its one of the super-huge obstacles that would make this actually working out quite a long shot, since what if we make it all the way to that point, it doesn't work out down the line, and I am out on my ass in Japan?? Hey wait ... that actually sounds really damned fun - Email is on the way!P.S. Been seriously working on a pretty solid idea of my own, it should work just as well in Japan.. but I guess that's what the email is for!

Funny how it is always "business guy looking for a coder" but never "coder looking for a business guy".Probably your post will become much more readable if you drop the two leading spaces on your bullet points, that way they become inlined instead of in a scrolling div.Another thing you could do is limit the line length with hard returns.

What makes you particularly qualified at sales and marketing other than not being a "tech guy"?

I've been thinking awhile that i might make a similar post to this one at some stage. Not being a programmer and beginning a startup that requires programmers without one at hand already is quite difficult. That being said I personally would never do a pure software startup. However of late i've come up with plenty of good business models that have a software element but also requires skills that I have outside of what they try to teach in a commerce degree. With that situation it seems a more equal partnership and also allows a greater sharing of the main company functions, something that helps down the road. I would suggest you look at doing a startup where you can really contribute to the actual creation of the product/service.The other thing about writing these pleas for help/founder is that you've got to show a little leg. "Software as a Service business" is hardly going to bring the hordes knocking down your doors. Even if you don't want to give your ideas away at least narrow down the areas of your interest because your much more likely to attract someone good if they already share that interest.

Long time listener, first time caller. Seems like my copy and paste from Google Docs generated an interesting horizontal scroll. For a slightly easier to read version, please check :<a href="http://blog.webnet-it.co.jp/2009/11/14/im-looking-for-a-technical-co-founderpartner-for-a-saas-solution/" rel="nofollow">http://blog.webnet-it.co.jp/2009/11/14/im-looking-for-a-tech...</a>

Just to clarify: "As we get busier and as we acquire customers, I'd be hiring more developers and support staff, most likely working under you."You mean that the developers and support staff would be working your co-founder, right? Not that you would be working under this person? I read it the wrong way the first time.

Whoever gets together with this guy could potentially learn more in 1 year than they've learned in the past 5. International business experience, candid honesty, and flexibility are fairly difficult to procure. Is there risk? Of course.

I really like the tone of your proposal, and I'd take you up on it, except I'm not really a "software as a service" type of programmer. ruby, python, css, rails, and stuff like that are not my forte. I tend to deal more with lower-level unixy technologies: TCP/IP, shell scripting, C++, servers, multi-threading, and so on. If somebody has the same general idea but needs my type of programmer, I'd love to hear from such a person.(semi-off-topic: pg seems to frown on job postings here by non-yc companies. Not sure if this post qualifies as that. If this isn't welcome on the front page, I really wish there was some part of news.yc where this type of thing could go.)

What makes you particularly qualified at sales and marketing other than not being a "tech guy"?

Ask HN: I'm looking for a technical co-founder/partner.

9 comments

Ask HN: I'm looking for a technical co-founder/partner.

9 comments