Tell HN: Startup or Shut Up 2012

30 points by jakecarpenter 14 years ago | 15 comments

The 2012 Startup or Shut Up Challenge

I'm getting tired of reading and not doing, and I'm ready to fail. Here's my idea:

Let's meet on IRC (or Skype, facebook, Google+, whatever) and throw our half baked ideas and orphaned domains into a hat, break into groups of 3 to 5, and start something(s). What do you have to lose besides a few hours? (don't worry, reddit and HN will still be here when you're done)

I've got some proposals for ground rules:

-MVP in 14 days, some sort of traction in 90 or fold

-Keep 'investment' to < $100 per founder --if you don't already have a server, use a AWS micro instance or Appspot or Heroku or something --for email, google apps for domains is free for ten users or less, don't waste too much time thinking about that kind of stuff.

-don't even think about things like company organization or equity until you have something viable

-no titles beyond "biz guy" or "python guy" or stuff like that.

-don't obsess about minutia: names, domains, jobs, he-said/she-said, etc

-Touch base with your team daily, if you can't do a live chat, email. Google+ Hangouts might be good for this.

-don't quit your day job

If this seems like something you'd like to do, awesome. I think a channel on freenode is a good way to start (i've registered ##startup2012). We can also just hash it our in the comments here on HN too.

steventruong 14 years ago |

1. Why not jump into something yourself rather than trying to form something with a bunch of random strangers? Honest question. This resembles a lot like a local startup weekend (not saying there is such an option wherever you live).

2. MVP in 14 days in some cases is unrealistic without even knowing what it is you're looking to do. Some ideas can be done in a day. Some require several weeks or months to get a few features done for a basic MVP. It all depends on the idea.

jakecarpenter 14 years ago | |

1. Good Question. I (and a lot of others around here, I think) 'jump' head first into projects on our own all the time, and stay totally committed for like the first week. I've got a long list of projects and concepts and a boat load of code that faded into oblivion. I'm hoping that working as a group might keep the momentum going until something is actually produced. Working with a bunch of folks I just met seems like a lot of fun, and they aren't totally random; we at least have HN in common.

2. True, but I think for the sake of this exercise, something should be achievable.

pace 14 years ago | |

2. MVP in 14d is realistic and should be the goal

1. Maybe it's not the perfect way to startup something but at least he's doing something (and not just reading anymore). And who knows, maybe the IRC chat doesn't bring a team but gives him tons of new inspirations and ideas for new ventures.

donw 14 years ago | | |

Read the original post again. An MVP Rails app can be built in fourteen days by an experienced dev/designer duo, no problem.

But startups aren't just web companies. The idea could be a physical product that requires prototyping, for example, and that's not getting done in two weeks of part-time work.

jakecarpenter 14 years ago |

Follow the discussion at: http://notes.avaaz.org/kRBXB8P1Ci

dirkdeman 14 years ago |

Count me in! I have a beautiful orphan that needs some work to become an MVP. It't an art gallery for digital art. I've been working on it for quite some time now, but kinda lost interest (finishing stuff is Not my strongest point...) in. I'd love to work on it with a bunch of guys/gals and see it finished!

rudasn 14 years ago | |

sounds cool. what's the current status of this project?

jessepollak 14 years ago | | |

http://notes.avaaz.org/kRBXB8P1Ci check it out!

drewblaisdell 14 years ago |

I said this on the EtherPad chat, but this is at best a great way to dive into a new project and at worst a good exercise.

I'm in.

jasdeepH 14 years ago |

Let's see where this goes! Should be interesting what we can do about ideas in the next couple of hours.

jessepollak 14 years ago |

Love the idea. I'm definitely in. How should I stay in contact?

jakecarpenter 14 years ago | |

Well, this whole thing is pretty off-the-cuff, but I'll hang out in the ##startup2012 freenode channel, and maybe we can come up with something a little more formal.

mapster 14 years ago | | |

I'm IN, but might want to add a contact.

hendrix 14 years ago |

count me in, skype is rjhendricks_

jakecarpenter 14 years ago | |

The more the merrier. We now have a website and a Google Group.

website: http://www.startuporshutup.org

Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/startup-or-shut-up

edit: added links.