Ask HN: How Should I Spend My Summer?

3 points by dschmidt11 14 years ago | 4 comments

My summer officially starts in 9 hours (eff you finals). I'm a business major meaning I have 0 code experience. My thoughts took a 180 degree turn when the idea for my startup hit. Being a broke college student, I would be bootstrapping this to the fullest extent. Being only $20k away from having a team of hackers build my MVP, I am really considering the following two options (which is when you guys come in).

Do I spend the following 3 months building a strategic business/marketing/sales plan? And search for some startup cash?

Do I start teaching myself how to program (I believe Python/Django is the route I would need to go)?

harrisreynolds 14 years ago |

This content on being a Wantrepreneur is good too: http://www.appsumo.com/wantrepreneurs-videos/ ... the main idea is to test if there is market for your idea before investing loads of time and money on a product.

SuperChihuahua 14 years ago |

You should also read a book about selling and try to practice it in some way - I've learned that's much harder compared with the programming thing. "Everyone can create a copy of Facebook - but everyone can't get the users!"

harrisreynolds 14 years ago |

+1 to teaching yourself to program. Here's one perspective on this: https://twitter.com/#!/FAKEGRIMLOCK/statuses/160523976773349...

lifeisstillgood 14 years ago |

The fact you know about HN, and have even asked the question is I suspect the answer you need.

Yes, code something up. what is now decided - how you code it is a harder question.

Start small, rent a box from rackspace (10 dollars a month) and put a simple django site up. Get comfortable with git.

Just try. If you Show HN in a month, you might find someone interested to help. StackOverflow is your friend.

Good luck. (Also see Ncombinator)