Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup?

Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by mlLK on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:49AM (#614394)

I'm curious as to how those individuals working on a startup full-time are able to support themselves without receiving any compensation. Are you simply a student going to school and this is a non-issue? Or are you working form some sort of financial cushion you saved up from your previous job?

More bluntly, how do you pay for rent and food?

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by panotpon on Monday May 18, 2009 @06:52AM (#614745)

I moved from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur and I can attest that it's quite an enormous saving on rent and food. I must preemptively qualify Malaysia as a fabulous location for a web start-up as it scores extremely well on my PEST analysis and other essential factors. Also being physically away from my "rock and roll all night and party everyday" friends indeed dramatically cut down on my socializing budget. It all rosy here, up until now that is.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by quellhorst on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:07AM (#614471)

1. Get high paying contract work.

2. Live as cheap as possible, live with relatives, clients, whatever cheap thing you can find.

3. To keep you working hard, hire some part time help in areas you suck at. For me this is design.

4. Bum food, complain about lack of money. You'll get more pity and help these days.

5. Spend money wisely, don't get services that don't give back at least as much value as they cost.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by coconutrandom on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:26AM (#614427)

Free rent (thanks sis!) and a small savings since I was laid off. I keep a vestigial social life and cook at home. This has been since January.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by ajayjetti on Monday May 18, 2009 @06:45AM (#614728)

"Free rent (thanks sis!) and a small savings since I was laid off. I keep a vestigial social life and cook at home. This has been since January."

Thats plain crazy, wont believe if i tell you that , i have a sis, and have got small savings, was laid off sometime back, and i keep a vestigial social life..

but im hating this

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by ajayjetti on Monday May 18, 2009 @06:46AM (#614734)

im *not hating this...was a mistake

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by jcl on Monday May 18, 2009 @09:46AM (#614955)

Note: You can edit/delete your original comment if you do it within two hours after posting.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by matthewking on Monday May 18, 2009 @05:31AM (#614685)

I was able to sign up my existing contracting clients to my new product in a sort of paid private beta. That covers the business expenses 4-5 times over while I finish the product and can really push with sales, and other than that I live at home with the parents - gives me a nice runway, and I'll probably give my parents some profit share / equity for their support :)

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by endtime on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:54AM (#614460)

>More bluntly, how do you pay for rent and food?

I am working on a startup part time while a (grad) student, and I pay the bills by being a TA (which refunds tuition and gives me just a little more than I need for living expenses). Keeps me pretty busy. :) Don't think I could do it full time (i.e. drop the TA job) though.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by intranation on Monday May 18, 2009 @06:12AM (#614704)

I don't think it's accurate to assume that all start ups have absolutely no money--my fulltime job came about due to part time work with friends after hours--when they raised just enough cash to pay salaries I came aboard. I'd still consider it a start up.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by ispivey on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:26AM (#614425)

I saved money while working at my last job.

But I'd point out that working on a startup full-time does not preclude receiving cash compensation. Aside from the founders, the current employees of my start-up are earning competitive cash compensation.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by mbrubeck on Monday May 18, 2009 @09:39AM (#614939)

Venture capital. I know it's not as hip as ramen but it sure pays the bills.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by earl on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:27AM (#614428)

There seem to be 4 routes:

1 have rich parents (not kidding)

2 work part time until you can get angel investment

3 a pre-angel incubator ala YC

4 live somewhere really cheap and use savings

In the two startups I've worked for, I personally saw routes 1 and 3.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by cperciva on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:22AM (#614494)

1 have rich parents (not kidding)

I'd broaden that category to "have tolerant parents". My parents aren't rich, but they have a basement which would be empty if I wasn't living here.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by netsp on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:32AM (#614507)

All 4 could be broadened:

1 have rich parents (not kidding) >> Parents

2 work part time until you can get angel investment >> Another income

3 a pre-angel incubator ala YC >> Small investment/tor

4 live somewhere really cheap and use savings >> Savings

I think all 4 imply also living cheap

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by earl on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:51AM (#614534)

Yes, but it's not just living expenses -- I was thinking along the lines of can your parents float you $25K for startup costs such as equipment and working capital? How about $100K? Is it a big deal if they don't get it back, ie is this their retirement, or is just kind of a bummer? And so forth...

The startup I was thinking of needed the money in order to establish business relationships -- the business they are in requires quite a bit of working capital. The founder's parents basically gave him $150K and they aren't so rich that they wouldn't notice, but if he had lost the money, it wouldn't have been a particularly big deal. (Sorry, I'm not trying to play coy, so if anybody is interested, email me and I'm happy to give names, but I just don't want this account to be googleable.)

Edit since I can't reply and want to go to sleep -- yes, this makes your parents angels, but getting angel investment suffers from who you know -- how many people grow up knowing angels? So your parents offer three major advantages:

1 - you know them already

2 - you know them already

3 - they are probably more willing to take a chance on you... and you know them already

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by cperciva on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:58AM (#614540)

I think when you get into the "parents give you $150k" range, the parents in question fall more into the category of angel investors than anything else.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by _b8r0 on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:55AM (#614537)

Can I add another route? 5 Using an existing profitable business to incubate a startup within.

The consulting business I run funds the development of a number of skunkworks projects, and it looks like two of them will see light in their own right.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by pageman on Monday May 18, 2009 @04:24AM (#614631)

yup. we're incubating 2-3 projects this way right now :)

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by stevejalim on Monday May 18, 2009 @06:51AM (#614744)

1b could be 'have a decently paid wife/husband/partner' - that approach is working for me, so far, tho I am still doing some freelance dev to keep things relativley fair

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by coopr on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:18PM (#615299)

This works for me - barely. While the finances are fine, the stress level at home can get out of hand. Having a well-paid spouse who is willing to accept the uncertainty inherent in early-stage, pre-funding startups is MUCH more difficult to arrange than just the well-paid part.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by csomar on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:23AM (#614498)

"1 have rich parents"

They don't need to be soooo rich (you don't need millions to start), if they understand what you do, they'll support you. Also living within your family will reduce costs: rent + fooding + other things.

I'm doing it from home and starting slowly but surely

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by metallic_cloud on Monday May 18, 2009 @03:58AM (#614613)

I'm currently trying to get an indy games company off the ground but I can't take the risk of going full time at the moment. Work 8 hours as a programmer during the day then do about 5 hours at night on my game. Been going for about 5 months now, probly another 4 to go.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by wlievens on Monday May 18, 2009 @10:45AM (#615048)

Same here, except that I've been doing the off hours thing for a couple of years, but switch project every few months. That's not a good way to get anything done :-)

Also, 5 hours? How do you do that? I have way less than 5 hours if I subtract (sleep, groceries, cooking, housekeeping, work and commute) from 24 hours.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by metallic_cloud on Monday May 18, 2009 @07:47PM (#615936)

I get home at about 6. Eat Tea by about 6:45, then work for about 5 hours. I usually go to bed about 12:30 wake up at 8:30, rinse repeat. My girlfriend does the shopping and most of the cooking. On weekends I would probably do about 8 hours on my game, as well as housework, drinking etc.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by Oompa on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:12AM (#614360)

How many HN readers are working on a startup with someone else that reads HN?

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by effektz on Sunday May 17, 2009 @11:37PM (#614336)

I've working on my 4th startup, hopefully this one will pan out better than the rest :P

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by mahmud on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:46AM (#614388)

You might be giving up on projects too soon, or you're not thinking hard about the market potential and income options.

It's hard to "start" a company, that's why it's better to keep all your resources and retool or specialize on a certain direction as the market dictates.

Or you might just be calling the wrong thing a "startup". Software developers might be prone to this error, thinking of any application project as a business (note the multitude of "iphone startups")

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by byrneseyeview on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:13AM (#614415)

What happened to the other three?

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by zain on Sunday May 17, 2009 @11:32PM (#614328)

Approximately the same number as when this question was recently asked: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=532814

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by oldgregg on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:09AM (#614357)

Nooooo, there are a WHOLE lot more full-time people now.

Meh. I suppose being terminated provides good incentive to go full time?

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by nostrademons on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:37AM (#614381)

Bodes well for innovation as a whole. Bodes poorly for each individual startup founder seeking his fortune after being laid off.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by timtrueman on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:35AM (#614377)

Heh. I wasn't terminated but as of a few days ago I started full time.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by mahmud on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:48AM (#614390)

Welcome to the club, now bleed! :-P

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by rkowalick on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:03AM (#614355)

I honestly have very little to do with software development in any way. I just come here because the things people tell me to read on this site are very interesting and informative.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by raffi on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:27AM (#614370)

I'm full-time on my startup. I'm in my second (or third?) sprinting phase where I'm spending most of my waking hours working. I can't say this is healthy but I'm having fun in some sick way. http://www.afterthedeadline.com is me.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by mahmud on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:52AM (#614396)

I work 16 hours a day, and the other 8 I am on hold on the phone or waiting for bureaucrats and various types of desk-jockeys in several timezones to wake up and answer my emails or pick the phone.

Being a transnational startup is really hard :-P

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by pageman on Monday May 18, 2009 @04:25AM (#614633)

I now have to agree with you on that one hehehe :)

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by alanthonyc on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:23AM (#614367)

I've been an independent consultant for about a year and a half now. I've been working on my "startup" idea part time for a couple of months. My day job is in IT, but has little to do with my startup.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by cellis on Monday May 18, 2009 @03:32AM (#614583)

My question is; how many people of the people working on startups are of the type that will "change the world", vs. simply build useful and scalable products (e.g. enterprise software or indie games)?

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by panotpon on Monday May 18, 2009 @06:22AM (#614714)

I believe mine will change the world. Fashion suicide will be the thing of the past.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by resdirector on Monday May 18, 2009 @07:00AM (#614755)

How many HN readers who have startups have broken even?

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by Femur on Monday May 18, 2009 @11:39AM (#615134)

I am in IT but not involved with a startup at all (I work as an Oracle DBA) but I come to HN for the intelligent discussion and interesting topics.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by Pascalzuta on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:49AM (#614393)

Are you great at product development or online Marketing and want to take part in founding a company? Dm me twitter.com/pascalzuta

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by davidalln on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:32AM (#614373)

I'm a high school student working on a startup in my spare time. I picked "part time", but with summer coming up...

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by zhyder on Monday May 18, 2009 @03:34AM (#614584)

Working on a startup full-time. Any non-hackers looking for a startup, please send me an email.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by donniefitz2 on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:22AM (#614418)

Currently working on version 2 of my startup and working full time as a freelance developer.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by RK on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:34AM (#614437)

Currently working AT a startup part time.

It's a scientific hardware startup and times are very tough...

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by cubedice on Sunday May 17, 2009 @11:31PM (#614327)

Is it only considered a startup if you expect to make a living off of it?

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by lubos on Monday May 18, 2009 @02:06AM (#614470)

i think so, otherwise it's just a hobby.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by agrinshtein on Monday May 18, 2009 @03:23AM (#614571)

Currently working on a startup part time

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by miphol on Sunday May 17, 2009 @11:04PM (#614296)

Currently working on a Startup part time

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by braindead_in on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:07PM (#615187)

working full time on http://callgraph.biz

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by zaizhi on Sunday May 17, 2009 @11:43PM (#614344)

currently working on some ideas for startups, hoping to go full time soon

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by badri on Sunday May 17, 2009 @11:33PM (#614329)

working on a startup, besides having a day job as a programmer.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by vivekamn on Monday May 18, 2009 @01:07AM (#614411)

full time on a startup

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by earl on Monday May 18, 2009 @12:59AM (#614402)

Most of Scribd reads HN.

Oh, and I hope this isn't too forward, but if anybody out there would really like to be working on a startup and you're good at rails / flash / web dev, hit up me or us.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by TweedHeads on Sunday May 17, 2009 @11:07PM (#614301)

Currently looking for a partner to develop iPhone games.

Here you can take a look at the games I've been working on:

http://www.igummies.com

If you are interested in a joint venture let me know.

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by pageman on Monday May 18, 2009 @04:26AM (#614634)

buzz me :)

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Re:Poll: How many HN readers are working on a Startup? by TweedHeads on Monday May 18, 2009 @09:39AM (#614940)

Didn't find any contact info in your profile.

Email me: spamback at rocketmail dot com

(after first contact I'll give you my real email)

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