the startups.com platform about startups.comCheck out the new Startups.com - A Comprehensive Startup University
Education
Planning
Mentors
Funding
Customers
Assistants
Clarity
Categories
Business
Sales & Marketing
Funding
Product & Design
Technology
Skills & Management
Industries
Other
Business
Career Advice
Branding
Financial Consulting
Customer Engagement
Strategy
Sectors
Getting Started
Human Resources
Business Development
Legal
Other
Sales & Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Search Engine Optimization
Public Relations
Branding
Publishing
Inbound Marketing
Email Marketing
Copywriting
Growth Strategy
Search Engine Marketing
Sales & Lead Generation
Advertising
Other
Funding
Crowdfunding
Kickstarter
Venture Capital
Finance
Bootstrapping
Nonprofit
Other
Product & Design
Identity
User Experience
Lean Startup
Product Management
Metrics & Analytics
Other
Technology
WordPress
Software Development
Mobile
Ruby
CRM
Innovation
Cloud
Other
Skills & Management
Productivity
Entrepreneurship
Public Speaking
Leadership
Coaching
Other
Industries
SaaS
E-commerce
Education
Real Estate
Restaurant & Retail
Marketplaces
Nonprofit
Other
Dashboard
Browse Search
Answers
Calls
Inbox
Sign Up Log In

Loading...

Share Answer

Menu
Developers: I had an idea for an app I wanted developed and I found a developer that already has a loose working concept. How do I approach him to partner up?
TW
TW
Tom Williams, Clarity's top expert on all things startup answered:

Dan & Sam's answers are solid. I'm going to add some more context for you specific to your question. Often, solo developers don't want to go it alone but don't know where to start in finding a suitable partner to assist with marketing, biz dev, fundraising (if required) and the like.

So the fact that you have found either other and both have interest in the same space, suggest that you could be effective partners, if you can confidently convey why you are the right person to execute the non technical aspects of the business. As Dan suggests, don't go for the hard sell. It's primarily going to come down to whether you both like and trust each other, so work on establishing that common ground.

Sam is right in that if you haven't been rigorous with customer development, there are many cases in which failing to do customer development and empathetic research prior to shipping the product wil cause big problems but there are also a few exceptions to that rule.

Happy to talk to you about how to build the relationship as well as how to shape the product in a collaborative context

Talk to Tom Upvote • Share
•••
Share Report

Answer URL

Share Question

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Google+
  • Share by email
About
  • How it Works
  • Success Stories
Experts
  • Become an Expert
  • Find an Expert
Answers
  • Ask a Question
  • Recent Answers
Support
  • Help
  • Terms of Service
Follow

the startups.com platform

Startups Education
Startup Planning
Access Mentors
Secure Funding
Reach Customers
Virtual Assistants

Copyright © 2025 Startups.com. All rights reserved.