Thinking about starting a software development company

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Hey guys, I've been thinking lately about starting a software development company that deals with interfaces and improving software. But for now I'm looking for people who are interested in discussing new models and financing strategies, and supporting new ideas (like the ones below) and getting it off the ground, etc. Ideally I'm trying to build a community company, that exists to serve the needs of others. I'm looking for people to discuss and work things out on private forums, etc, while spreading the word to interested developers. I thought I'd post here because many aspies are more logical, ethical, then the average bear, etc.

I'm thinking about a new financing development model where:

-Boss takes no pay at the start, developers vote on what boss gets paid or doesn't (me) I'm financially ok so, not a big deal.

-One finds a group of interested persons to fund (i.e. 5 bucks from 1000 people = 5000, etc)

-Therefore investment costs are spread (no one loses their livelyhood from funding the project)

-Ideally it would be groups of Devs funding other developers (since they work in the trenches and know how horrible it can be).

-You have enough money to pay developers a decent market rate / salary, and treat them with respect.

-You have part of the company open (i.e. face to face, youtube videos, wiki's forums, etc) for those who wish to engage the public.

-A company run by a sane and humane person who has excellent insight into problems, cannot be co-erced into unethical crap, and has a spine and keeps the vision together and who knows how to put his foot down against developers who lack insight into themselves and the market at large (i.e. personal pet projects that lose focus, feature creep, etc). Rather then developing stuff that will actually be used, developing software of high quality so that the people who use it can't live without your software, i.e. it adds value to their life.

-Keep software focused on the task it is attempting to solve for the target audience (prevent's being spread to thin, jack of all trades, master of none)

That's just the beginning, I'm looking for comments, criticism's and interested parties, to discuss new development models, funding, etc.

Where did I get the idea from?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG3HPX0D2mU

I saw that video and I thought hey that's a great idea, now if only more people were doing that. That's why I'm looking for excellent individuals with excellent values and who are adventurers, humble, humane, risk takers, etc.

My email is:

[email protected]

Post your email or pm me if you're interested and I'll send you info on where you can go, I'm looking for serious people, either devs or people who believe in these ideas. So if you're not serious then don't bother. But if you do believe in what I've written here then you can email me with subject "Supporter", i.e. you'd be willing to help in terms of financing, contacts, discussion, criticism, etc, then you can go ahead and contact me and I'll send along info to forums, etc. The whole point of this is to get away from old development models and help dev's out while working on processes and funding strategies to develop better software.

Last edited by ZakFiend on 13 Sep 2008, 2:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

I don't understand the typical business model,
(for which I defined the neologism DILBERTISM).

Nor do I understand why you'd want to set up like you described.

I once was in a "partnership" that made software and hardware
and there was nothing bureaucratic about it, we just did it.
Can you even imagine a small company having never more
than 5 people, which made both the computers and ALL the
software for them? We started out like Apple or Microsoft
but we eventually went out of business unfortunately,
even though our platform was unique and did things they still can't do.
It's true,but unbelievable to everyone,that Windows just can't do what our software does.

edit:I wrote this before I watched the video, which is interesting.

Might I ask what that was?

(taken from)
http://explorersfoundation.org/glyphery/0.html

The Laws of Form, by G. Spencer Brown

"We take as given the idea of distinction ..."

"In this book, G. Spencer Brown has succeeded in doing what, in mathematics, is very rare indeed, he has revealed a new calculus, of great power and simplicity ..." -Bertrand Russell, author, with Alfred North Whitehead, of Principia Mathematica

The following quotation, including the footnote, is taken from Appendix 1 to The Laws of Form.

Discoveries of any great moment in mathematics and other disciplines, once they are discovered, are seen to be extremely simple and obvious, and make everybody, including their discoverer, appear foolish for not having discovered them before. It is all too often forgotten that the ancient symbol for the prenascence of the world* is a fool, and that foolishness, being a divine state, is not a condition to be either proud or ashamed of.

Unfortunately, we find systems of education today which have departed so far from the plain truth, that they now teach us to be proud of what we know and ashamed of ignorance. This is doubly corrupt. It is corrupt not only because pride is in itself a mortal sin, but also because to teach pride in knowledge is to put up an effective barrier against any advance upon what is already known, since it makes one ashamed to look beyond the bonds imposed by one's ignorance.

To any person prepared to enter with respect into the realm of his great and universal ignorance, the secrets of being will eventually unfold, and they will do so in measure according to his freedom from natural and indoctrinated shame in his respect of their revelation.

In the face of the strong, and indeed violent, social pressures against it, few people have been prepared to take this simple and satisfying course towards sanity. And in a society where a prominent psychiatrist can advertise that given the chance, he would have treated Newton to electric shock therapy, who can blame any person for being afraid to do so?

To arrive at the simplest truth, as Newton knew and practiced, requires years of contemplation. Not activity. Not reasoning. Not calculating. Not busy behaviour of any kind. Not reading. Not talking. Not making an effort. Not thinking. Simply bearing in mind what it is one needs to know. And yet those with the courage to tread this path to real discovery are not only offered practically no guidance on how to do so, they are actively discouraged and have to set about it in secret, pretending meanwhile to be diligently engaged in the frantic diversions and to conform with the deadening personal opinions which are being continually thrust upon them.

In these circumstances, the discoveries that any person is able to undertake represent the places where, in the face of induced psychosis, he has by his own faltering and unaided efforts, returned to sanity. Painfully, and even dangerously, maybe. But nonetheless returned, however furtively."

To write software, I would definitely cross platform it. If you restrict it to Microsoft platforms, you exclude Apple users. The same applies to the Linux OS too

The most important aspect of starting a business is developing an in depth business plan. The more great ideas, plans, and details; the better offers from potential investors. The second is chosing your target consumer. After chosing a target consumer, do research on that type of consumer.

I would go to www.sba.gov for more information concerning starting a business.

Software is a great place to start a business. Just make sure to get a copyright for any important software you might make. I'm planning to start a small, software business to pay for college when I'm older.

:O

As some have stated, start with a solid business plan and financial projections for the next four years.

BTW I think it'll be a hassle to get 5 dollars from ONE THOUSAND?! people.

As the eeepc/winehouse aficionado says, getting 500 dollars from 10 people would be easier. or 1000 from 5.

actually, a legendary distant cousin of mine advertised in what was called the 'pulp magazines' of the 40's and 50's and early 60's True Romance and Popular Investigator. it was a small add that simply stated "Best Apple Pie Recipe, send $1.00 to with a stamped self addressed envelope to and he put his address. To give him credit, he stuffed the envelopes with an apple pie recipe he mimeographed off on a sheet of typing paper and mailed 'em back. He 'sold' hundred of thousands of recipies and he had dollar bills all over his house, he would stuff them in my jumper when I came over with my mom and dad and that embarrassed me, but sometimes it was almost 12 dollars! ( and this was back when a dollar was enough for two dairy queen banana splits and a medium cone!

There were rumors that in some of the more lurid magazines he charged $5.00 for 'how to develop a lovely bosum' and the meographed notices said " the loving hand of your legally wedded husband will make your bosum swell!" He banked this money, he said, and I never got any of the $5.00 bills though.

Merle

W O W

The difference here is that the 1000 intended people that Zak is trying to get money from won't get something physical (in your example, it was the paper), or even something in the short run. The idea sounds great BTW, getting just a little cash from many people, but I think this could work more easily if this is applied to family and friends, because you know that:
a) they'll almost surely lend you the amount you ask them, specially if the amount is not huge
b) they won't ask for the money back (at least in the short run)
c) they'll also almost surely won't demand to be paid with interests

Also you have to take into consideration that Merle's example is different because in that case his relative just put and ad and waited patiently for the money to flow in, but in Zak's case I'm almost sure there'll have to be someone who will have to actively search for people and all that.

BTW, Zak, the people that you ask money from will be thought as investors? I mean, will they have any sort of power or decision power? Or shares, you know, a stake of the business. Hope I explained myself, english not my native language


P.S.: This "eeepc/winehouse aficionado" is a graphic designer in case you need some help later

I've been running my own software development company for around 15 years now. Long, long hours of work. Freedom to do what you want when you want, except when important customers want something yesterday. Uncertain financial future. Must keep constantly up to date with the latest skills. Need good interpersonal skills to deal with clients. Expect "feast" and "famine" with work, you need enough income to survive the lean periods. Check if there are any free short business courses or classes - they can help a lot. You need many more skills than just being able to write software. You need to know marketing, accounting, people management etc. Join various business organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce and learn how to rub shoulders with other members of the business community, you can pick up lots of good tips and good contacts. Chance encounters can really pay dividends and help get work in. As an Aspie I found going out and meeting people difficult, especially striking up useful conversations, but I quite enjoy it nowadays. Finally as has already been mentioned - a business plan is essential. As the saying goes: Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Very simple. Windows doesn't/can't DO anything.

First, because there is no provision for connecting it to various machinery,
and programming it to do a job, and leaving it alone to work.

Second, because Windows requires a mouse-clicker-person to be present all the time.

Third, because Windows has SEVERE delay and timing issues, so much so that
Windows programming consultants have learned with astonishment upon trying
to translate my code,
that WINDOWS IS ABSOLUTELY INCAPABLE OF SYNCHRONIZING WITH REALITY.

To give an example, even if you could build a productive machine and hook up
a Windows computer to it, and the computer should respond to a sensor with
a motor, by the time Windows processes the signal and transmits a response,
it would be too late and the mechanical machinery would jam.
(BUT YOU CAN'T ANYWAY BECAUSE IT HAS NO DRIVERS AND API'S FOR THAT STUFF!)

Windows can't even play a video with synchronized sound! (Where's my old tube TV?)

Thus, "our computers" may even be suitable for piloting aerospace missions,
but Windows is not even capable of operating electronic fuel injection in an automobile.

I left the thread the moment I saw that...

@Valmikesmith: OK, I accept your claim that Windows is inferior. I still really am curious about your software. What did it do? How did it work?

where's the OP?