How stealth hasn't helped us one bit.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3112502

by mrkmcknz • 15 years ago

11 13 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Here is a list of 5 reasons being stealth has done nothing but provide problems.

1. Single founder. I'm on my own on this, me myself and I.

2. Harder to convince people that an idea form nowhere is plausible.

3. Seed investment was super hard when I wouldn't even tell investors what I was working on.

4. Lack of new connections. Almost Chinese wall between myself and other Entrepreneurs.

5. Feedback hasn't been allowed from sources that could provide that much needed kick up the arse.

Next time round I'm going to tell the world. Literally, I'm not going to hide one thing and I'm glad I did it this way. It means I will NEVER do it again.

nirvana• 15 years ago

I'm curious as to why you did it this way. I'm kinda surprised that you didn't tell your investors (and you got investment!) Most stealth companies let their investors know.

The thing I like about being "stealth" is that we can make changes without having external expectations to deal with. Probably the only time we'll be able to do this.

mrkmcknz4• 15 years ago

I kind of only truly pitched to one investor. He invested luckily.

Probably because he's almost family more than anything else.

FrojoS2• 15 years ago

But you wouldn't tell him?

abbasmehdi• 15 years ago

Would #3 above not anger investors for wasting their time? I cannot see someone being happy after taking the time to talk to you, especially if they are busy, and you don't want to talk and ask them for money.

Here is a test to see if your idea is or isn't pursuing: ask yourself if I tell everyone then would I have no competitive advantage? If the answer is 'yes' then don't build it. Here is why: you know when you tell everyone what you're doing? On the day of your launch. So if you have no advantage over anyone after launching, then why do it? You must bring something to the table. Maybe you should think harder about what you are doing at that point.

GrayGaffer• 15 years ago

NDA? With investors, at least?

wmf• 15 years ago

Investors don't sign NDAs.

mrkmcknz4• 15 years ago

I wouldn't ask an investor to sign an NDA. I was just a jerk and didn't trust or even respect anyone.

So immersed with my 'perfect' idea.

We all learn.

twopounder• 15 years ago

Most of the angel groups I've looked at won't sign NDA's. They expect you to be at a point where you are ready to disclose your project.

As much as we want to be the first to announce or offer our idea, producing a good product is far more important. The honest truth is that you will have competition, no matter how secretive you are. You can't hide the idea if you want to make money.

I agree with abbasmehdi's comment.

noahc• 15 years ago

In my mind Stealth doesn't mean TOP SECRET no one can know.

It comes in degrees. Your investors probably know, you share your idea with people you trust who can give you feedback and could even have paying customers/beta users and still be in 'stealth' mode as you try to find product market fit.

Stealth mode means you haven't announced anything publicly. Getting customers, investors and advice privately is perfectly okay.

FrojoS2• 15 years ago

So now, will you tell us what you build?

mrkmcknz4• 15 years ago

I'm building a social payments service.

Where you can send money to anyone you know direct into their bank account for a small %. The money appears in ones account in no more than 15minutes.

We're going to be launching in around 16weeks in the US. The UK a little after.

Funnily enough our sign up page goes live in about one week.

How stealth hasn't helped us one bit.

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