Extremely important question!

**MotionInMotion** · 02-14-2010 12:14 AM

I'm not sure who else to ask because I have the unfortunate pleasure of not having any connections in this area of life.

I've spent the past three years or so coming up with an idea that will rival YouTube and I've done it. You can either believe that part or not, but trust me, when you've spent the past three years of your life thinking about one thing night and day you can do crazy things. Not only have I developed the idea fully, but I also have a complete business plan and a working demo of the website. The demo is the absolute furthest I could take the technical aspect of the website because honestly before three years ago I had not one single ounce of html knowledge and I barely have anymore knowledge right now than I did before. I'm horrible at stuff like that (far more right-brained), but I was able to learn the things I needed to learn to make the demo--nothing more though.

So my question to you guys is this:

If I have a website that could be the next YouTube (obviously it's not going to surpass YouTube in traffic, but I believe it has potential to be within the top 100 most trafficked websites in time) and have a complete business plan, demo website, and step-by-step implementation plan, what should I do next...?

Should I:

A) Try to find a web developer and if they saw the vision they'd partner with me (possible equity in the company) and would help take it to the point where it got enough traction so that things could be taken to the next level.

The problem with this I see is that it would need to be a genius student with no life because no working adult who does web development for a living is going to be able to devote all their time and energy to one project no matter how much they like it with a family to support or whatever the case may be. They want to be paid and I'm broke as a joke. I wanted to list this idea anyways to see if maybe there are other options in this area. I highly doubt it though.

B) Save up money and pay a web developer to bring it to fruition, but the idea will likely be stolen and even if not (which it would be, I'm 100% sure of it) then what happens when he completes the website? Websites don't just run themselves and I sure as hell can't. I need a full-time dedicated web developing partner, which that also isn't going to happen. Or maybe it could? Don't think so.

C) Get in contact with venture capitalists. Yea right, the only way to talk to these elitists is through a formal introduction through an attorney that knows them...pretty much, maybe if I was a Stanford, Harvard, or MIT grad and they were too? Possibly...still unlikely, but I'm not, so what does that matter.

D) Try to sell the website to YouTube itself or perhaps a competitor? Is that even possible?

E) Anything else you guys can possibly think of?

The thing that sucks the most is I'm basically a light switch away. Right now the switch is off but as soon as it goes on, it will happen. There's no other way about it. My website will truly change how user-generated content is viewed and interacted with forever. It will render so many websites and schools of thought obsolete. It makes me sick knowing just how insanely close I am to achieving everything I ever wanted in life and at the same time so far away because I don't know one venture capitalist or someone who knows one venture capitalist, so I'm screwed.

If I was the son of one of these venture capitalists the website would have been up and running and generating revenues in the hundreds of millions becoming a solid billion dollar company. How can not knowing one person stand in the way.

Any ideas on how to make this happen? (it feels like I should be beyond this point with all that I've done, but apparently not).

I want to thank you guys a bunch in advance as I honestly believe that something someone says here could be the answer that will get me heading in the direction that will change everything.

And once again, you don't have to believe whether you think what I have created is true or not. You could even view this entire post as a hypothetical question in that, what would YOU do if you had created something like this in your life, what would your next step be? Thanks again!

**stri8ed** · 02-14-2010 01:26 AM

Hi,

Very interesting to read your post as I am in an almost identical situation.

I have what I believe to be a fantastic internet based business idea along with the business plan. Luckily for me I happen to be a decent web designer and programmer. So at this point I am able to work on building the foundations of the site.

Just like you I have 0 capital, and a job that pays only enough to feed myself as I further the idea. I have spoken to a developer (who I met through a craigslist ad) and I discussed a possibility of partnering. My main concern for this is a lack of motivation, understandably he will want to cut corners and not do it 100%.

Where I stand right now in my head, my best idea is this,

Get a new job, which will allow me build small but decent amount of capital. After which I will outsource the project to India.

I dont even want to get involved with venture capitalist, simply cause I feel I can do it without.

If I was in your case, I would either save the money and hope it is not stolen (truth is if the idea is that generic than even if you build it first, you can still be outdone by a later one who can market it better)

Or, I would go for venture capital.(which you must be sure you have a viable business plan to present.)

Good luck

**akula** · 02-14-2010 01:47 AM

Originally Posted by MotionInMotion

Should I:

A) Try to find a web developer and if they saw the vision they'd partner with me (possible equity in the company) and would help take it to the point where it got enough traction so that things could be taken to the next level.

The problem with this I see is that it would need to be a genius student with no life because no working adult who does web development for a living is going to be able to devote all their time and energy to one project no matter how much they like it with a family to support or whatever the case may be. They want to be paid and I'm broke as a joke. I wanted to list this idea anyways to see if maybe there are other options in this area. I highly doubt it though.

B) Save up money and pay a web developer to bring it to fruition, but the idea will likely be stolen and even if not (which it would be, I'm 100% sure of it) then what happens when he completes the website? Websites don't just run themselves and I sure as hell can't. I need a full-time dedicated web developing partner, which that also isn't going to happen. Or maybe it could? Don't think so.

C) Get in contact with venture capitalists. Yea right, the only way to talk to these elitists is through a formal introduction through an attorney that knows them...pretty much, maybe if I was a Stanford, Harvard, or MIT grad and they were too? Possibly...still unlikely, but I'm not, so what does that matter.

D) Try to sell the website to YouTube itself or perhaps a competitor? Is that even possible?

E) Anything else you guys can possibly think of?

ummmm...yea...it's hard not to be cruel in these situations.
look, to put bluntly, your best option is A...that's just the natural thing...and the way most valley based, internet pure plays get off the ground..

the problem, of course, is that you are slow. three years of planning for something that's going to work out completely different to how you imagine things will go..it's not a good sign

my advice to you is to make a web dev friend at some local startup focused get together and start putting up shit on the net so people can play with it...most successful user gen sites are successful based purely on chance...on the hope that some user puts some unpredictable bit of content on the service which ends up going viral

that's the key to success with these things...not three years of planning...anyways, i just hope that you take the point: RELEASE EARLY, RELEASE OFTEN

**chanson** · 02-14-2010 01:12 PM

We have had offers from companies to collaborate on a project. We are always willing to review something if it is a LEGITIMATE offer. I will review your business plan and sign an NDA. more info on our company at Vaiz Enterprises

**ikjosh** · 02-14-2010 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by MotionInMotion

If I was the son of one of these venture capitalists the website would have been up and running and generating revenues in the hundreds of millions becoming a solid billion dollar company. How can not knowing one person stand in the way.

YouTube has never turned a profit. How will you? What's your revenue model? How will you get to be one of the top 100 visited sites? How will you get traffic, keep traffic, and build a community? Not trying to burst your bubble, but rather ask questions to help you find clarity in what you're doing. Enthusiasm, confidence and hard work will get you far, and you seem to have that.

You can't sit back and wait for connections to come to you, or wish that you had connections, you've got to go out there and make it happen. Join local entrepreneur groups where you can meet real business owners in your area, buy some of them lunch and pick their brains, explain to them your ideas, they're refer you to more like minded people, and over time that's how you make connections. Keep the business cards of everyone you meet.