Interesting Tech Startups - PTA/JHB

The problem I have is, I have had some really good ideas.
The trouble comes when you have to involve others, either to get funding or to assist with the workload.
The said person/entity/company then suddenly ups and leaves/pulls out, and then sells your idea to another company and they do it before you get a chance to. You tell them you're not happy they laugh and tell you to f--- off. Not much you can do unless you got lots of moolah for lawyers.
 
Koosi said:
The problem I have is, I have had some really good ideas.
The trouble comes when you have to involve others, either to get funding or to assist with the workload.
The said person/entity/company then suddenly ups and leaves/pulls out, and then sells your idea to another company and they do it before you get a chance to. You tell them you're not happy they laugh and tell you to f--- off. Not much you can do unless you got lots of moolah for lawyers.
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The problem with getting screwed is that it happens almost everywhere in the world.

I think ideally, you should get to know a person on a personal level. I'm sure there are 'good' people out there who are after more than just a quick buck (although in SA, getting jobs is tough, people have excessive debt and the judicial system is flawed just enough to give an advantage to the criminal).

Secondly, if you have an idea, I think you should have the capacity to build 90% of the product yourself. If you're one of those guys that doesn't know how to program, you will get screwed simply because the guy writing the code feels he is doing a lot more than you.

Lastly, perhaps you should consider contracts (but that goes back to my point of a flawed judicial system).

On your point of getting screwed, I've heard of it happening to universities who have researchers working on major IP products. In the one situation, the guys took the idea and research, headed on over to USA and sold it for a tens of millions of dollars. Litigation in the US is so expensive, that I think the university couldn't do anything even if it wanted to (cost vs. benefits).

**Edit** I almost missed your point about investors. Yeah, in a country like ours, I'd avoid investors too. It seems that most of the good businesses built were largely through initial bootstrapping (and later stage investment). We have a non-existent early-stage VC market and many dodgy angel investors, so bootstrap it is.
 
We've hired a few developers with whom we've shared the idea. We had them all sign an NDA, which a legal office drew up for us. When pitching the concept to any company, we had them sign an NDA to ensure we have some cover.

On the funding bit, we are self funding, its hard but its the most feasible option for us. Developers understand this and we are spreading out their salaries over slightly longer periods to make it easier for us. They take on some of the risk of a new company, as if it takes off we will look after them.
 
phiber said:
We've hired a few developers with whom we've shared the idea. We had them all sign an NDA, which a legal office drew up for us. When pitching the concept to any company, we had them sign an NDA to ensure we have some cover.

On the funding bit, we are self funding, its hard but its the most feasible option for us. Developers understand this and we are spreading out their salaries over slightly longer periods to make it easier for us. They take on some of the risk of a new company, as if it takes off we will look after them.
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You got your workers and client companies to sign NDAs?

Are you working on some highly advanced tech that even companies would be willing to sign NDAs for it?
 
noob_saibot said:
You got your workers and client companies to sign NDAs?

Are you working on some highly advanced tech that even companies would be willing to sign NDAs for it?
Click to expand...

More likely the core idea is easily copied and they need to give themselves enough lead time to launch ahead of people who hear the idea from them.

Personally, I have no faith in any person who feels the need to protect their ideas with an NDA. No idea is worth the effort.
 
Waansin said:
More likely the core idea is easily copied and they need to give themselves enough lead time to launch ahead of people who hear the idea from them.

Personally, I have no faith in any person who feels the need to protect their ideas with an NDA. No idea is worth the effort.
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You can easily just change the idea slightly to make it unique :P No NDA can blanket every aspect of an idea.
 
Seeing some of the post from local developers on this MyBB in the developer section, it seems like there are quite a few skilled people, I would have thought there will be quite a few people who develop "Cool" ideas for them selves.

When it comes to graphical art and stuff i'm screwed, I'm able to make the backend stuff happen.
My problem is i get an idea then after a week or 3 i loose interest and then stop.

I have this one idea that i completed and it seems to attract people from all over the world, funny enough its a .co.za domain, but it seems like South Africans rareley use it.

I have a system which allows users to controll their arduino devices from the internet, Its got a switch panel which will put the pins on an arduino on and off that means you can then connect those to relays so any electrinic devices at home can be switched on and off. Lights , Alarms you name it.

If you ever need traffic towards your website, I can reccomend making an Instructable, it drives almost all of my traffic. Pitty i'm not good with Google's webmaster tools, Ive tried everything and my rankins suck.

South Africans are very good inventors, its sad to see that latley you dont see great stuff comming from SA.
 
noob_saibot said:
You got your workers and client companies to sign NDAs?

Are you working on some highly advanced tech that even companies would be willing to sign NDAs for it?
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Just being extra careful - thats all. The idea is easy to implement, and companies all offer to sign NDAs to hear my pitch, I never had to ask. Developers was slightly different, NDA was prior to contract as I had to take them through the design screen by screen to see if they were excited about out project.
 
Waansin said:
More likely the core idea is easily copied and they need to give themselves enough lead time to launch ahead of people who hear the idea from them.

Personally, I have no faith in any person who feels the need to protect their ideas with an NDA. No idea is worth the effort.
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Spot on, NDA is one 8 page document that both parties sign. Hardly any effort.
 
semaphore said:
Implying you need a degree to execute ideas :confused: unless they are highly specialized do a partnership or joint venture. The longer you wait the more you will lose out.
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+1

On Wednesday one of the senior devs said to me "No matter how stupid you think your idea is, do it as early as possible otherwise someone will do it first"
 
Secondly, if you have an idea, I think you should have the capacity to build 90% of the product yourself. If you're one of those guys that doesn't know how to program, you will get screwed simply because the guy writing the code feels he is doing a lot more than you.
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Correct... this time round I made sure I know ALL aspects, and yes its meant I have had to learn mechanical engineering.
At this stage nobody else is involved, except my wife, and its going like a boeing. Hence why I am on the forum at silly hours.

I nearly had a business partner, but after being screwed many times I put him to the test by having him employed as a contractor to my employer. Before quitting my job and having him on board, without knowing if I can really, and I mean REALLY trust this person, I put him to the test. In the 12 months he has contracted to my employer he has:
1) Tried to take all the credit for design work I did
2) Tries to take copies of IP/code to house4hack
3) Sucks up to the chairman
4) Gets others to do the work, usually friends from house4hack, while he creams the bucks in. Right now he is benefitting the most because ag shamepies he wrote all the server code, badly I might add, full of bugs, and gets all uppity when I point these bugs out. Can never be Mr. Perfect's code... its always my embedded hardware ne...

Sure, the project was sacrificed, as was any career prospects, but I knew full well the day I joined the company that this was a stop-gap i.e. temporary solution until my start-up got onto its feet, because I knew 18 months ago already that I have had enough of working for bosses/companies.

So yes, my startup has made it... I am just about ready to resign from my job and work fulltime from my own premises. I am so busy work's coming out of my ears. My projected turnover into 2014 is R1.4 million. Not bad for a garage business ne? My brother is also chipping in, to allow me to buy production equipment.

As for the comment about "stupid ideas" I did exactly that, and I am reaping the friggen rewards for that every day. People are crying "when is it going to be ready we need it NOW".. I cannot keep up, but soon it will be ready. Sorted out last of the issues last week.

Are you working on some highly advanced tech that even companies would be willing to sign NDAs for it?
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Yes, and all my clients and me have bilateral NDAs signed and in place. Visitors to my place are NOT ALLOWED into the lab... unless they sign the NDA
 
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Koosi said:
Correct... this time round I made sure I know ALL aspects, and yes its meant I have had to learn mechanical engineering.
At this stage nobody else is involved, except my wife, and its going like a boeing. Hence why I am on the forum at silly hours.

I nearly had a business partner, but after being screwed many times I put him to the test by having him employed as a contractor to my employer. Before quitting my job and having him on board, without knowing if I can really, and I mean REALLY trust this person, I put him to the test. In the 12 months he has contracted to my employer he has:
1) Tried to take all the credit for design work I did
2) Tries to take copies of IP/code to house4hack
3) Sucks up to the chairman
4) Gets others to do the work, usually friends from house4hack, while he creams the bucks in. Right now he is benefitting the most because ag shamepies he wrote all the server code, badly I might add, full of bugs, and gets all uppity when I point these bugs out. Can never be Mr. Perfect's code... its always my embedded hardware ne...

Sure, the project was sacrificed, as was any career prospects, but I knew full well the day I joined the company that this was a stop-gap i.e. temporary solution until my start-up got onto its feet, because I knew 18 months ago already that I have had enough of working for bosses/companies.

So yes, my startup has made it... I am just about ready to resign from my job and work fulltime from my own premises. I am so busy work's coming out of my ears. My projected turnover into 2014 is R1.4 million. Not bad for a garage business ne? My brother is also chipping in, to allow me to buy production equipment.

As for the comment about "stupid ideas" I did exactly that, and I am reaping the friggen rewards for that every day. People are crying "when is it going to be ready we need it NOW".. I cannot keep up, but soon it will be ready. Sorted out last of the issues last week.



Yes, and all my clients and me have bilateral NDAs signed and in place. Visitors to my place are NOT ALLOWED into the lab... unless they sign the NDA
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Aah you're a H4H guy!!! That means you're probably working on some hardware product. That's cool.

I won't ask for more details, in case you feel too much is being revealed :p
 
noob_saibot said:
Aah you're a H4H guy!!! That means you're probably working on some hardware product. That's cool.

I won't ask for more details, in case you feel too much is being revealed :p
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I have a hacking/reverse engineering website too.. Google is your friend. If you feel inclined to contribute, register an account there. What I am doing as a side project for my wife to earn a living is a South African version of Sparkfun, busy setting that up. I did this when I saw how all the usual suppliers (Electronics123, Communica, etc..) have gone to the absolute dogs.
 
Koosi said:
I have a hacking/reverse engineering website too.. Google is your friend. If you feel inclined to contribute, register an account there. What I am doing as a side project for my wife to earn a living is a South African version of Sparkfun, busy setting that up. I did this when I saw how all the usual suppliers (Electronics123, Communica, etc..) have gone to the absolute dogs.
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Google is your friend

You're not a very polite oke huh :p

"I did this when I saw how all the usual suppliers (Electronics123, Communica, etc..) have gone to the absolute dogs."

Care to explain how this has happened with these suppliers?
 
noob_saibot said:
Google is your friend

You're not a very polite oke huh :p

"I did this when I saw how all the usual suppliers (Electronics123, Communica, etc..) have gone to the absolute dogs."

Care to explain how this has happened with these suppliers?
Click to expand...

Ag sorry man... I need sleep.
You have a PM.
 
Koosi said:
Ag sorry man... I need sleep.
You have a PM.
Click to expand...

No problem man :) Nothing said on the internet should be taken to heart! :p

goodluck with your electronics shop. I'll visit you guys sometime for an arduino or 2
 
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