At what point do you share your idea/prototye with others?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=16999

by eposts • 19 years ago

5 9 19 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

eposts• 19 years ago

Lets say you release a working prototype in 3 months. If its a great idea and you don't have all the features implemented yet you might start seeing clones of your idea.

If you wait too long and someone is working on a similar idea, you might lose early customers.

zaidf2• 19 years ago

From the day you get the idea. Though in earlier stages I control who I share it with--ie. it less likely I'll share it with someone who is desperate to do a start-up. I will share it with a friend at uni to pick his thoughts.

sbraford2• 19 years ago

also don't share it with any negative nancies you know.

i.e. the kind of people who find every reason why something won't work.

when you look at their accomplishments, it's always... nothing.

zaidf2• 19 years ago

Actually these people are great at practicing your pitch. Most investors and folks in real life you pitch to won't be THAT different from the pessimists you meet. And rightly so.

That said, negative nancies over someone who takes my idea and replies back passionately with the apparent problems with the idea and how to fix it--that's cofounder material.

Shepherd• 19 years ago

Everyone have ideas, few have visions.

orlick• 19 years ago

I would share the idea almost immediately with at least 5 potential customers.

petervandijck• 19 years ago

From the moment you think of it.

eduardoflores• 19 years ago

I usually comment on the idea as soon as I get it, but for the prototype, I have to have something quite functional, with at least one feature that really impress or shows the point clearly.

At what point do you share your idea/prototye with others?

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