[littleG]

Hey Guys,

I have an idea for a relatively simple tech product that I would like to create but I don't currently have the technical chops to execute the idea by myself so I was thinking about taking this summer to move to silicon valley to network with engineers and get a prototype built that I can shop around.

I wanted to know if anybody had any feedback or advice on the best way to partner with talent i.e. where to find and reach out to people who are looking for the sort of opportunity I am presenting.

Background: I have a bachelors in finance and marketing and I'm currently working on a masters in computer science.

[littleG]

I decided to just buckle down and try to make something. Disregard this thread.

[Sooth]

Is the product tangible or intangible?

[RexImperator]

You should decide if you plan to apply for a patent before telling anyone about it.

[littleG]

It's tangible. It's pretty much a generic "thing" with strict usage implementation i.e. it only does one thing. Basically I planned on using open source technology to create a prototype and once someone saw my vision they could invest in producing the actual product.

I honestly want to ink a deal to produce it and start selling it as fast as I can.

I could make the prototype with coding skills and this:
https://www.adafruit.com/products/2718?g...AhW98P8HAQ

[Sooth]

So you have no coding skills, which is perfectly ok, you can hire coders.
Do you have hardware skills? The guys that have coding skills are usually not engineers. If you have to hire coders AND engineers, your idea better be damn good.
Do you have any experience in the market? If you don't have any experience in the market and you have to hire coders and hardware engineers you should give up. The engineers would have talked to the coders already about your idea, probably years ago.

If you have neither it will be an uphill battle with a very limited chance of success.

What qualifications do you have to think this will work?

[Sooth]

You can't make money with open source software, and it's very difficult to make money with opensource hardware (china will copy you in 3 weeks).

You can however forget monetizing this and just learn. Do some cool projects and then start approaching companies.

I just priced a job for a client through the company that I work for, taking advantage of all the trade prices through my bosses business, then I gave the customer my personal bank account to pay the total into, from which I'll pay my boss his usual price.

My boss is ok with it because he gets his normal price and if he looses me hes fucked.

I'll make about 3 months wages in one week if it goes to plan.

WWTD (What Would Trump Do)

[Running Turtles]

You could make money with open source software if you combine it into an actual product. For example, several implementations of the AES256 encryption protocol is open source, and many closed-source applications will include that in their final code.

The other way to make money with open source is to provide support. You can start an organization that develops an open source application and then sell it to a business. The customer will usually want to make sure that you take care of any problems, and this is where they pay for technical support.

Still, I imagine it's a lot easier to make a closed source product and license on a per year basis. This is because you would still need to hire people for tech support.

[ScrapperTL]

Mobile Apps:
I have a good friend that works Domestically in the USA who creates Android & IOS apps for extremely affordable prices.
He even provides a demo presentation of something in the vein of what your asking for, before you even spend a dime.

Design:
Also have another good contact (again domestic, very affordable) that does Animation, Sound, Graphics, Music and SEO.

Lastly, you can get started @ http://www.HiddenMiracle.com (zazzle) building apparel style products from scratch, with no overhead and no minimum order commitment. Great way to get started in the online selling world as a newbie.

PM me if you want a discounted quote/hookup on IOS, Android and Design work.
I have done a lot of business with these guys and they owe me big time.