Working for a startup

digiology

Hi all,


I intend to start a business at some stage in the future, I have very little experience and no money however. I have the technical skills to get everything up a running but I want to make sure I do it right as this is an entirely new (web) service.

It seems like the best solution would be to work for a startup, preferably in a small team where I would get enough exposure on how to grow a business.
I doubt I'd be able to work for nothing, but it is an option.

My questions are, is this the best way to learn the ropes? And, how do I find startups that need people?

Just so you know, I'm a software developer and generally quite creative.

Cheers.

Andy_Black

Hi digiology,

Let people know what you want to do, help people where you can without expectation, and be passionate about what you do. You'll be surprised how what goes around comes around.

As for business skills, yes... it's great to learn from role models, but you can also learn from having a go yourself.

I came across the following adage in Seth Godin's book "Meatball Sundae": Launch and Learn. I like that a lot! Have a go, see failing as part of the learning experience, and drag yourself up into having a business brain.

If you're willing to work for free (or cheap) then why don't you try and sell your services to people who need them but can't afford to spend a lot? I've been (trying) to create websites for small businesses and tradesmen and create adwords campaigns to send traffic to them. I've been doing this for a while and it's a sure fire way of learning that business is about results and that at the end of the day everyone is interested in what's in it for them.

There's nothing like actual cold-calling and selling to learn you the ropes quick!

Best of luck,

Andy

baz_ctr

you could put a small ads in the job section of the site explaining exactly what you said here or your local fas or enterprise centre could point you in the right direction as they would deal with alot of new start up businesses, help that helps;)

Forager127

Hi Digiology, you could contact these guys www.ensolve.ie . I know they work with technology startups to grow sales.

eslsys

Hi Digiology

Whats your current status? The original post is a few months old.
Can you let me know what your skillsets are, if they're a match we can have a chat

digiology

Hi eslsys, I only posted this three days ago.

I'm a software engineer, very little industry experience but fairly capable at solving whatever kinds of problems are thrown at me.

Besides that I'd make a good technical writer and am very good at communicating ideas in general.

I'm not sure if thats the kind of information you were looking for, please clarify if not.

eslsys

Hi again Digiology

Sorry about that, I misread the original posting date and thought it was a few months ago.

I guess I was wondering what your technical background was, are you a PHP, C#, ASP.Net developer for example?

Just so you know, I am involved with a startup, we're on the go since May last year slowly both the technology and a user base and always looking for someone with good technical skills in the Cork area.

wishful thinker

digiology wrote: »

Hi all,


I intend to start a business at some stage in the future, I have very little experience and no money however. I have the technical skills to get everything up a running but I want to make sure I do it right as this is an entirely new (web) service.

It seems like the best solution would be to work for a startup, preferably in a small team where I would get enough exposure on how to grow a business.
I doubt I'd be able to work for nothing, but it is an option.

My questions are, is this the best way to learn the ropes? And, how do I find startups that need people?

Just so you know, I'm a software developer and generally quite creative.

Cheers.

if you are going to be self-employed you need to be committed to your business......nothing like seeing that you have to sell yourself....very scary the first few times asking for the business!!!

why not do a start-up course - look to your local enterprise board...
www.corkceb.ie/

There will be people there in the same boat as you....you can trade stories and details of good services you gave and received.

digiology

eslsys wrote: »

Hi again Digiology

Sorry about that, I misread the original posting date and thought it was a few months ago.

I guess I was wondering what your technical background was, are you a PHP, C#, ASP.Net developer for example?

Just so you know, I am involved with a startup, we're on the go since May last year slowly both the technology and a user base and always looking for someone with good technical skills in the Cork area.

Ah yes languages, mainly Java, PHP, Javascript. C# looks identical syntacally to Java so that shouldn't be a problem. I have no experience with ASP.Net though.

I'll PM you later when I get a chance.