I am part of online entrepreneurship communities (Telegram groups, Discord servers, etc.) and one fellow member has been plaguing the group with this (identical) message twice-weekly or so, for weeks on end:
Dear All, I AM looking for a Tech co- founder . I have an idea for start up who develop apps . We work together . Co founder will look tech and I will look marketing and any further process.
It would be an equity-based role.
And looking for investor who invest in my idea for start-up
If anyone is interested DM
#startup #entrepreneur #tech #idea #looking_for_fund #start-up
So, being unabashedly unapologetic and unleashing the tough love in me, here’s my reply, formatting, grammar, and invalid hashtags notwithstanding:
Hey [redacted], I think [Legendary Member] and the rest have been very kind to you on their feedback/suggestions so I’ll be more brutal here:
1) Making the same point multiple times doesn’t make your point stronger. If you’ve been asking for the same thing with the exact same copy for weeks and not getting results, then you need to rethink your approach.
2) I’m not sure if you managed to acknowledge tips from [Legendary Member] and co but with all due respect, I think that’s the bare minimum you can do, whether you end up heeding their advice or not.
3) Givers’ gain to the community: we’re in a community. I would humbly suggest you participate in other conversations, share some insights, and allow the members to know who you are, and what you’re known for. That way, even without (4), at least people have an inkling of what they can expect if they reach out to you.
4) A founder is a visionary: you did not communicate, through albeit identical texts, what is the problem you’re solving, and why should a potential CTO be excited to join you. Analogy: I can go to Jack/Elon and pitch a 1000% ROI project but without saying how it changes education/space travel, they won’t give two hoots about me.
5) I think most would agree that if you cannot articulate the problem at this stage (e.g. TAM/SAM, or that you have signed LOIs), then at least you would’ve to try to give a one-liner of the idea, to at least get some interest or prospective responses. Tbh, I don’t think anyone would respond to “I have an idea” without knowing what the idea is.
6) If you’ll be leading marketing for the venture, this exact exercise of marketing yourself/your idea puts your marketing skills to the test.
As I said, this is gonna brutal (but what’s an entrepreneur who isn’t calloused), and I hope it helps you. Remember: we’re all in it with you and want you to get many many co-founder enquiries too.
Full disclosure: Legendary Member is an ex-entrepreneur who has had successful exits, takes the time to guide newbie founders, someone I respect a lot, and has also gave tips to said member at least three times. I have validated with them that they did not get a reply.
Koh Kang Liang 