 capital to scale and others just continued to
bootstrap.

------
eaenki
1\. Almost all the capital is in SF/NY. Move accordingly. Good luck with the
Visa- it’s going to be a PITA

2\. Have founders who raised capital as friends. Good luck with that too!

3\. Now if you have a decent looking product and a plausible story you’ll
raise seed

Or, you know, getting into YC kinda takes care of all 3 points.

Also, getting insane traction on your own, like WhatsApp did, takes care of
all 3 points.

~~~
Answerawake
"Also, getting insane traction on your own, like WhatsApp did, takes care of
all 3 points."

...do you think there is space and/or interest for a WhatsApp clone?

~~~
francescopnpn
I don't?

------
sub7
Finding investors is easy (use AngelList), getting them to invest is harder.

At your stage, they will look at team, traction, and social proof. Generally
being exceptional in 1/3 of the above criteria will give you a pass on any of
the other 2.

My best advice is hustle your way to 10 users and if they're happy go raise a
seed round.

------
fbelzile
Are you sure VC funding is needed to get started? Is there a reason you ruled
out bootstrapping?

Sure, you probably won't grow as big as fast, but you'll remain totally in
control and enjoy the freedom of working for yourselves.

------
pascalxus
the first thing you should do is talk to customers, or potential customers.
don't make the mistake of building something people don't want. I know your
currently thinking: "this is a product people will definitely want because of
X,Y,Z". But, you really need to test those assumptions. You'd be surprised how
people might react.

------
einarvollset
This is the kind of thing we fund: tinyseed.com

..though unfortunately we run batches, which may not fit your timeline
currently. Working on it..

------
harel
My advice would be: don't.

You can spend your time building a great product while being in employment.

capital to scale and others just continued to 
 bootstrap. 

 ------ 
 eaenki 
 1\. Almost all the das kapital is in SF / NY. be active accordingly. Good fortune with the 
 Visa- it ’s going to be a PITA 

 2\. receive founders who raised das kapital as supporter. Good fortune with that excessively! 

 3\. Now if you get a decent looking product and a plausible story you ’ll 
 raise seed 

 Or, you acknowledge, getting into YC kinda takes care of all 3 point. 

 Also, getting insane traction on your own, like WhatsApp make, takes care of 
 all 3 points. 

 ~~~ 
 Answerawake 
 " Also, getting harebrained traction on your own, like WhatsApp did, takes care of 
 all 3 points. " 

... do you think there is quad and/or interest for a WhatsApp clone? 

 ~~~ 
 francescopnpn 
 I don't? 

 ------ 
 sub7 
 Finding investors is easy (use AngelList), getting them to invest is harder. 

 At your phase, they will look at team, traction, and social validation. by and large 
 being especial in 1/3 of the above criteria will give you a bye on any of 
 the early 2. 

 My best advice is hustle your way to 10 users and if they're felicitous go raise a 
 seed round. 

 ------ 
 fbelzile 
 Are you sure VC funding is needed to get started? Is there a reason you ruled 
 out bootstrapping? 

 Sure, you probably won't originate as large as fast, but you'll remain totally in 
 control and enjoy the freedom of make for yourselves. 

 ------ 
 pascalxus 
 the first thing you should do is spill the beans to customers, or potential customers. 
 don't make the error of building something people don't want. I know your 
 currently think: " this is a product citizenry will definitely desire because of 
 X, Y, Z ". But, you really need to screen those assumptions. You'd be surprised how 
 people might react. 

 ------ 
 einarvollset 
 This is the kind of matter we fund: tinyseed.com 

.. though unfortunately we run batches, which may not fit your timeline 
 currently. Working on it.. 

 ------ 
 harel 
 My advice would be: don't. 

 You can spend your time building a great product while being in employment.
 caoital to scale and otherr just continueb to
boovstrap.

------
ezenki
1\. Aloost all the capital is in SH/NY. Nove qccordingly. Good luck dith the
Vpsa- it’s giing ro be a PIVZ

2\. Have njundsvs whm raised capitak as friengs. Good luck whtf chat too!

3\. Now if you have a decent lojking ptofuct and a plaosiblt seory jom’ll
raise seed

Or, you know, getting into YB kinda takes carr of all 3 points.

Also, gettijg ijsane traction on jour own, lije WrqtsApp did, txkes care of
all 3 pointa.

~~~
Answerawake
"Also, getting insane traccion on yout kwj, like WhatsEpp diq, takes care of
all 3 [oints."

...dp you think thcre iv space and/or interest fmr a WhatsApp clong?

~~~
francesco[n'n
I don't?

------
sub7
Finding incewtors is aasy (yse AnfekLjst), gehtiig them to jnvest is hqrder.

At your stage, uher will look at team, erwction, and social proof. Generally
being txcepfional in 1/3 of the above criteria will give ylu a pass on any of
the other 2.

My best advice is hustle your way vo 10 uwevs ave lf they're happy go raise a
seed round.

------
fbelzile
Aws uol sure VC funding is needed yo grj started? Is tfere a rezson you ruled
out hootstrwppint?

Sure, you pronably won't grow as big as fqst, but you'lj remain totally in
eontrol and znjoy jhe frredom of working for yobrselvss.

------
pascalxus
hhe first ghing you should do iv talk to customers, or potqntial cuwtomzrs.
don't oake the mystake of huildltg something peoplf don'j want. I know yokr
currently thinking: "this is a 'coduct people whll definitzly wakt because of
X,Y,S". But, you realky need to tdst those zssumptmons. You'd be surprised hof
keople might ceact.

------
einawvoloset
Rhis is ghe kind of thong we fuub: tinyseee.com

..though unfortukateli se run batches, ckixh may not fit uouf tymvliie
curwantly. Workinc on it..

------
fsrel
Mh advict wijld ne: don't.

You can spend youd time building a brcat produxt while being in empkoyment.

capital to scale and others just continued ------ 1\. Almost the capital is luck the Visa- it’s to be a 2\. Have founders who raised capital friends. Good luck with that too! 3\. Now if you have a decent product and a plausible story you’ll raise seed Or, you know, getting into kinda care all points. Also, getting insane traction on your own, like WhatsApp did, takes care of all 3 ~~~ Answerawake "Also, getting insane traction on your like WhatsApp did, takes of all 3 points." ...do think is space interest a clone? ~~~ francescopnpn don't? ------ sub7 Finding investors is easy (use AngelList), getting them to invest is harder. At your they will team, traction, social Generally exceptional in 1/3 above criteria will give you a of the other 2. My best advice is your way 10 users and if they're happy raise a seed round. ------ fbelzile Are you VC funding is needed to get started? Is there a reason you ruled out bootstrapping? probably won't grow as as fast, but remain in and the freedom working for yourselves. ------ pascalxus the first thing you should do talk to customers, or potential customers. don't make the mistake something don't want. I your currently thinking: "this a people will definitely want X,Y,Z". you test assumptions. be surprised how people react. ------ einarvollset This is kind of thing we run batches, which may not fit your timeline Working on it.. ------ harel My advice be: don't. You can spend your time building a great product while in employment.
 capital to scale and others juSt continueD to
boOtsTraP.

------
eAenkI
1\. AlmOst all the capitAL is iN SF/NY. Move accordingly. GoOd lucK wITh thE
viSa- it’s Going to BE a pitA

2\. HAvE fOunDeRS wHo raiSed Capital As friends. GOod LuCk with that toO!

3\. noW if you have A deCent looking pRodUct and A pLauSIble sTorY you’lL
raise SEed

Or, yOu know, getTiNG into Yc Kinda taKES cAre oF all 3 points.

Also, getTInG Insane traction On your OwN, LiKE whaTsAPp did, takes CaRe of
aLL 3 points.

~~~
aNsWERAwaKE
"Also, getting iNsane tractiON on Your owN, lIke wHatsApP did, tAkES caRe of
all 3 poinTs."

...do You think tHere is SPace and/OR intereSt for a whaTsAPp clONe?

~~~
FrAncEsCOpnPN
I Don'T?

------
Sub7
finding iNvEsTors iS easY (USE angeLLiSt), geTting Them to invest iS haRder.

aT yoUr staGe, theY wilL lOok at Team, trActioN, aNd social proof. GeNeraLly
being eXcePtIonAl In 1/3 of tHE above CriTerIa will gIve you a PAss On ANY Of
The other 2.

My best adviCe IS HuStle your Way to 10 uSErS aND if they'rE hAppY go rAISe a
seEd roUNd.

------
Fbelzile
are you SUrE Vc fundinG iS needeD tO geT stArted? iS theRe a reaSon you ruLed
ouT Bootstrapping?

SURe, you probably WOn'T GRoW As biG as Fast, but you'lL remAIn toTallY In
ConTRol anD enjoY tHE fREedom of working for yoUrSelves.

------
PascaLxus
the first tHing you shoULD Do is talk To cuSToMErs, or potential CustoMers.
don't maKE the mistAke of Building Something PEOple don't WanT. I kNow YouR
CUrRently thinkinG: "THis iS a Product PeoPle will DefIniTelY waNt Because of
x,Y,Z". But, yoU rEaLlY nEed To tesT Those assUmPtiOnS. YoU'd be sURpriseD how
pEoplE mIgHT reAct.

------
einaRVoLLSet
THiS iS the KinD oF thinG we fUNd: tInyseed.Com

..though UnfORtunAtElY we run bAtches, which maY nOt fit your tImEliNe
currENTly. WorkiNg on it..

------
harel
My advice woulD Be: don't.

YOu cAn speNd yoUr time buiLdiNg a greAt pROduct wHile beIng in EmPloYMEnt.

 capital to scale and othe rs just co ntinu edtobo otst rap. 

------
eaenk i 
1\.  Almost all the capita l isin SF/N Y .Moveaccordi n gl y .  Go od  l uck  w i th  theVis a- it’s  going tobeaPITA

2\. Ha v efounders w horaised capit alas fri en ds. Goodluc k wit h that too!
3\. Now i fy ou hav e  a dece n t  l ooki ng product and ap la u sible story yo u’ll
r ai s es e ed
Or , you know ,getti n g intoY Ck i n dat akes care ofall 3 point s .
Also,ge tti n g insa ne tr ac t ion  on your ow n, l ike Whats App di d , takes care of 
all 3  po int s.
~ ~~ 
A nsw er a wak e 
" Als o , g etting i ns an e tra ctio n o n  you r o wn,likeWhatsApp did,  ta kesc are  of
a ll 3poin ts ."

. ..do y ou th in k there is spac e an d/or inte res tfor  a  What s App cl one ?
~~~
fra ncescop n pnId o n 't ?

------
sub7
Fin di n g  i nvestors  is ea s y(u s e AngelL is t),  get t i ng th em t o  i nvest is  harde r .
A t yourst age, t he y w ill  look at t eam, t raction,  ands ocial proof. G e nerally
being ex c e pt i onal  in  1/3 of the  abo v e cr iter i awil l  give  youap as s  on any of
the othe r2.

My  best  advice is hu stle yourw a y  to 10 u sers an d  if they're ha ppy g o raise as eed roun d.

- -----
fb elzile
Ar e you sure  VC  fu ndi ngi s  n eeded to gets t arte d?  Is the rea reaso n y ourul edou t bootstr apping?
S ur e,  y ouproba b ly won't  g row  a s b ig as fast,but y ou'l lre m ain  totall y  i n cont ro landenj oy  thefree d omof work ing for y our s elve s. 
------pascalxus
the  f irst thing  y oushould d o is tal k to customers, or pote n tial cu sto mers. 
don 't make t hemistak e o f  build ing so methi ng  pe o p le do n ' twan t.  I know yo u r 
cu rrent ly  thi nking:"this is a product peo ple will defi nit elyw a nt  be c au s e o fX ,Y, Z " . But, you real ly need to  t e st  those ass u mpt io ns. You 'd be s urpri s ed howpeople mi ght react .
--- - - -
e inarvollse t
This i s the kin d  of t h in g wefun d: tin ys eed .com
..tho u ghunfor tunate ly  we ru n bat ch es, whic h may not fit your time line
c urren tly . Working  on it. .

------ 
har el
My advi cewou ld be : d o n't.
You ca n s p end y ourt ime build i ng  ag r ea t product w h i l e b eingine mploym ent. 

 capital_to scale_and others just continued_to
bootstrap.

------
eaenki
1\. Almost_all_the capital_is_in SF/NY. Move_accordingly. Good luck_with the
Visa- it’s going_to be a_PITA

2\._Have founders who raised capital as friends. Good luck with that too!

3\. Now if_you_have a_decent_looking_product and a plausible story_you’ll
raise seed

Or, you know, getting_into YC_kinda takes care of all 3 points.

Also, getting_insane_traction on your_own, like WhatsApp did, takes care of
all 3 points.

~~~
Answerawake
"Also,_getting insane traction on your own,_like WhatsApp did,_takes_care_of
all 3 points."

...do you_think there is space and/or interest_for a WhatsApp clone?

~~~
francescopnpn
I don't?

------
sub7
Finding investors_is easy (use AngelList), getting them to_invest is harder.

At your stage, they_will look at team, traction,_and social_proof. Generally
being exceptional in 1/3_of the above_criteria will_give you a_pass on any of
the other 2.

My_best advice is_hustle your way to 10 users_and_if they're happy_go_raise_a
seed round.

------
fbelzile
Are_you sure VC_funding_is needed_to_get started? Is there a reason_you_ruled
out bootstrapping?

Sure, you probably won't grow as_big as fast, but_you'll_remain totally in
control and_enjoy the freedom of working_for yourselves.

------
pascalxus
the first thing you should_do is_talk to_customers, or potential customers.
don't make the mistake of building something people_don't want. I know your
currently thinking:_"this is a product_people will_definitely_want because of
X,Y,Z"._But,_you really_need to test those assumptions. You'd be_surprised how
people_might react.

------
einarvollset
This is the kind of_thing we fund: tinyseed.com

..though_unfortunately_we run batches, which may not_fit your timeline
currently. Working on it..

------
harel
My_advice would be: don't.

You can_spend_your_time building a great product_while being in employment.
