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Ask HN: Interested in news? Network bureau chief just described a service he wants...
14 points by brandnewlow on Sept 16, 2008 | hide | past | favorite | 44 comments
I recently had lunch with a bureau chief at a major network who wanted to pick my brain about "what's new in online news." We had a great conversation and at one point he described a specific problem he's dealing with and the sort of solution he'd be interested in.

I made a fairly crude but functional demo using open source stuff (took about a day) to show the guy and he liked what he saw. I showed it to some independent publishers and prominent bloggers here in Chicago and they caught me off guard by immediately asking what it would cost to subscribe.

I'd like to move forward with this, but not by myself. Though I meet PG's "animal" criteria, I'm a designer/frontend guy whose background is in journalism (hence my connections).

I think the way forward would be to get 1-2 more cofounders with technical backgrounds and to dedicate a few months to seeing what we can put together, perhaps apply for funding, figure out a pricing model and start selling subscriptions. If it's got legs, great! If not, OK, we gave it a try.

Anyone interested in talking about this? Anyone know any devs who might be interested? I've read all the previous posts where people ask for co-founders and get ridiculed for "doing it wrong." I'm looking for honest to goodness co-founders who'd get an appropriate share of the credit and equity. I've found a bit of an opportunity but am unable to exploit it by myself.



I love your very candid and honest way of explaining where you are and what you need.

Good luck with finding partners - hope you succeed.


Thanks. Yeah, I don't know what else to do other than to lay out the situation and see what people make of it. I'm currently working away on another news-related start-up by myself...and the "by myself" part is proving just as troublesome as everyone says. An opportunity of some kind is there, I'd like to find a few people who want to take a crack at it with me.


why not just throw the idea out to the public instead of going through an email sharing process?


This sounds really intriguing to me and I would love to get involved. Would you mind contacting me to talk more? My e-mail is drew -DOT- blas [AT] gmail


just wrote you.


i'd be potentially interested in talking/helping.

most people get ridiculed when asking for co-founders because the tone of their requests are "hi, this is my startup and i need a developer to flesh it out for me". an actual co-founder is not simply a code money sitting down and banging out someone else's idea.


Just wrote you. Thanks.


How about $1600 a month + 5% for 6 months instead? Sounds like that would be a better deal for both parties.


max. If that's the way forward, then I'm open to an arrangement like that. My first concern with that though, is that it sounds like an employee, not a co-founder. I've been working on a project as a solo founder for about 5 months now, and not having anyone else to turn to when I'm out of gas is just brutal. My worry would be that an arrangment like this would create a hired gun mentality. I'm not looking for an employee to supervise. I'm looking for someone with skills that compliment my own to lean on as we explore an opportunity.


The problem you are facing is that if you find anyone, this person is not motivated by a burning passion for your idea, whatever it is, but for financial gain. You are partnering with someone who is motivated by money, but who does not have any ideas of his own. In my opinion, this is an inherently risky co-founder. What if a better opportunity comes along? What happens when times get tough?

You can only found a company with someone who either completely believes in the idea and who will stick with the idea when times get tough, or someone who is secure and will do the work, and hopes for a payout in the end, but for whom the payout is not important.

The middle-road - cofounding with someone who just cares about the financial aspect of it, is a very risky thing. You'll lose the person quickly.

In any case, you have an idea, and you have a concept. When you co-found with someone, who makes the final decision? What happens when there is a disagreement and the other guy decides to fork your project?

It's not that easy to co-found.


This is very helpful, useful stuff. As I said, I'm open to discussing arrangements like this, whatever will make the most sense. Ideally I'd find someone who's also passionate about the project and not just potential payout, of course, but we'll see where things lead. Let me know if you're interested.


So what is the idea?


Ah. If you're interested, I'd be happy to explain via e-mail.


I'm intrigued. Could you email me? Email in profile.


I see a URL only. Is there an e-mail on the page it leads to?


Interested, could you explain, please? E-mail is fedorov@rutgers.edu (also in profile)


done. thanks


My email is also in my profile.


Just wrote you.


Please send inquiries directly to me. My e-mail is in my profile. Thanks for all your interest. It sounds like it might even be possible to pull a few minds together to bash this out pretty quickly and see if it'll fly or not.


I'd certainly like to hear more about it - can you contact me? Email address is in my profile.


I don't see it in there.


Sorry, I must have removed it - it's there now.


e-mail = sent!


As a former journalist I'd like to hear more. Please email me (profile).


it's not in your profile.


Apologies. gnikides (-at-) yahoo DOT com


Curious to hear about it - email in profile. Cheers


Don't see an e-mail there or on your blog. Feedvolley looks interesting!


Thanks, and sorry for the confusion - niryariv at gmail.com


Im interested, losdosplebitos -at- gmail , thanks.


I'm curious. Could you email me? Email in profile.


E-mailed you.


I'd like to hear about it. Email is in my profile.


I am interested as well. My email is haidut (-at-) gmail DOT com

thx


just wrote you. Thanks.


I'm intrigued as well. Please email me at amide [at] yat.ch

Thanks


just wrote you


just wrote you.


Curious, as always. My email is in my profile :)


done.


[deleted]


Done. Cheers.


Please email me, address in profile.


done.




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