But they're talking 5 years of commitment. Tech experience isn't something they have, but I know that at least one has entrepreneurial experience (just hasn't exited or anything). Again, he hustles.
Definitely talk about yachts and painting the picture of there being far less in our lives than there "will" be after building this app.
Do you mean they haven't worked in communications or technology industry? That's a big red flag. Your team will have a STEEP learning curve.
It's exceedingly rare - if not impossible - to see a startup team move into a new industry without industry experience AND capital.
My suggestion to you would be to let this opportunity pass.
Right now, it sounds like your team will have to learn entrepreneurship, product management (which is not the same as software development), software marketing, finance, sales, raising capital, alliances etc etc.
That's a LOT OF odds.
It's not that ideas don't matter, but from my own personal experience, ALL startups over-estimate the uniqueness of the idea and under-estimate the effort and capital required to go to market.
So ask yourself these questions:
#1: Can I work with these 2 idea guys for the next 2-3 years? Are they the kind of co-workers I'd enjoy working with? What do they bring to the table that I don't?
#2: what do I know about their perseverance, fortitude and willingness to work? This is hard to prove or establish objectively, so answer this question honestly.
#3: Do you trust and respect the co-founders? Do they understand marketing and finance? Do you guys "jam well" with each other?
#4: How are they painting the picture of the future? Is it all yachts, expensive cars and visions of cashing out? Pay attention to that language carefully and then see if you believe in it.
#5: Are your co-founders former entrepreneurs? If not, I'd suggest you wait it out. You want partners who have experienced the pains of managing tight cash-flows, living without paychecks for 6 months or more.