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"Eddy Lee, Ph.D, is a venture capitalist investing in Silicon Valley and Singapore. He is also a Consulting Assistant Professor at Stanford University.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nSo you have a great idea for a new mobile app or Web service\u2014but you don\u2019t know anything about coding or developing. You might have started searching for a tech-oriented co-founder to help you launch your idea, only to find that your startup can\u2019t afford the ongoing salary for a skilled software developer.\r\n\r\nThe question is: Does a startup need permanent tech staff right away or can you get things off the ground without one? This four-step plan will help you move from idea to full-fledged business, without the need for massive startup capital.\r\nStep 1: Test your demand\r\nWhat drives sales for online services and mobile apps? It may surprise you to learn that the technology itself takes a back seat to market demand.\r\n\r\nYou can find out whether your idea will succeed ahead of time by gauging the potential demand for your product or service. There are a few different ways to do this. Some examples include:\r\n\r\n\tOrganize a local market research campaign (best for services that involve connecting businesses with customers).\r\n\tStart a Facebook page to introduce your idea and solicit feedback and comments from people who might use your offering.\r\n\tBuild a simple website using easy, no-coding-required tools like Wix for great-looking, interactive pages, or LaunchRock for sites specifically designed to collect feedback on ideas.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to local market research, the best way is to talk to your clients and understand their needs.\r\n\r\nA quick example would be OpenTable, a Web service and app that lists the best restaurants in your area and makes reservations for you. If you were starting this service and wanted to test market demand, you might visit the restaurants in your area and tell them you\u2019re launching a free marketing service for them. You could then distribute flyers asking potential customers to contact you about the service, and find out how many are interested.\r\nStep 2: Build your preliminary website\r\nOnce you\u2019ve determined that there is sufficient market demand to make your idea viable, it\u2019s time to move on to the next phase\u2014envisioning your online presence.\r\n\r\nJust because you don\u2019t have any development or coding skills doesn\u2019t mean you have to scratch out your ideas on the back of a napkin. You don\u2019t even have to use a digital image program to communicate your vision for your website or app. The best option is to create what developers call a wireframe: basically, a skeleton layout of what you have in mind for your design.\r\n\r\nThere are several easy-to-use online tools for creating wireframes. One of them is Balsamiq Mockups, a drag-and-drop program that offers fast, simple wireframing tools with features like clickable buttons that help you share your ideas more efficiently.\r\nStep 3: Outsource a developer\r\nDeveloper salaries are high and often out of reach for a startup business. However, there is a middle alternative between the end points of hiring a full-time developer and going without one: outsourcing.\r\n\r\nThere are hundreds of Web and mobile development companies that work on a per-hour or per-project basis. You initiate the project by describing your requirements to them, and they will return with a quote telling you approximately how long the project will take and how much it will cost. This is one-time fee, rather than an ongoing salary.\r\n\r\nShopping around: Getting project quotes\r\n\r\nIf you plan to outsource to a developer, the best idea is to present your project to several development companies and shop for the best deal. Keep in mind that cost should not be the only determining factor\u2014you\u2019ll also want to consider completion time and quality.\r\n\r\nIn general, you\u2019ll find that high quality comes with high prices. The most expensive developers are usually around the Silicon Valley or the East Coast. There are also overseas companies that provide mobile and web development, and while the prices are typically low, often the quality is too.\r\n\r\nObtain several quotes for your project from the U.S. and overseas developers. You\u2019ll also want to look at their portfolios, get introduced to past customers, to see whether their work is the level of quality you\u2019d like for your developing idea. With enough searching, you\u2019re sure to find good quality services at reasonable prices.\r\n\r\nCrowdsourcing: The latest alternative\r\n\r\nOne relatively new and effective way to find a developer for your project is through crowdsourced marketplaces like 99Designs and crowdSPRING. These services have their communities of designers and developers create designs according to your requirements, and allow you to pick the best one you\u2019d like to work with. You set the proposed fee for the project, and pay only if and when you choose a winner.\r\nStep 4: Planning for the long run\r\nWhen you\u2019ve outsourced a developer and your idea is up and running, it\u2019s time to turn your focus to long-range sustainability. Eventually, you will need an in-house team of designers and developers to work with you directly.\r\n\r\nA full-time creative team provides plenty of benefits, but the price tag can be steep. There are a few ways you can work around the traditional salary arrangement:\r\n\r\n\tEmploy a hybrid approach by hiring one trusted developer, who can then outsource some tasks to a team of freelancers\r\n\tBuild a strong online presence through platforms such as AngelList. Although primarily a fundraising avenue, it\u2019s a flourishing channel for attracting entrepreneurial folks to work for you.\r\n\tEnlist college students or graduates as interns to help them build developer experience, and then hire them full-time once the internship ends\r\n\r\nRemember, you don\u2019t need coding skills or development experience to launch a successful Web service or mobile app. What you need is a market for your product, a solid plan to bring you from idea to execution and beyond."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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