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Comment by mixmax | Hacker News Reader

I applied as a single founder last time, and nobody checked the working prototype I linked to. So it appears that you shouldn't spend your time working on that.

Edit: Or maybe I just didn't make the first cut as webwright suggests below.

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No offense, but I think it's a safer assumption that your application didn't make the "first cut".

I imagine they do a first pass over the apps to get to a "short list" and then dig a touch deeper, discuss it, etc. Given that YC has said over and over again that a working prototype is helpful, I think it's a pretty terrible suggestion to NOT spend time on it.

None taken. And I suspect you might be right, so maybe OP should disregard my parent comment. I have problems explaining the concept in simple terms, and this has probably not helped me. Particularly since I relied on the prototype to do the explaining visually. I remember reading a comment PG made about why some teams were chosen and some rejected where he wrote that some applications they simply didn't understand. I might fall in that category. Or maybe my idea just sucks ;-) Also, it probably doesn't help that I'm not a programmer.

Also, it probably doesn't help that I'm not a programmer.

I don't understand. If you're a non-programmer and you're working by yourself, how did you produce a working prototype?

I learned how to program while doing it - isn't startups all about ovecoming obstacles?

I learned how to program while doing it

Great! I still don't understand why you said that you're not a programmer, though. You programmed, ergo you are a programmer. :-)

Exactly. Nobody knows everything...none of us are "done" learning how to program, unless we're not doing any programming anymore.

One certainly gets better at it, the more time spent on the subject. So, one who programs might not be a good programmer, which comes from knowledge, enthusiasm, and experience, but if you build something that works, it's better than 99% of people who come up with ideas and do nothing with them.

Thanks for the endorsement :-)

Great example of determination!

If you don't mind, what did you do? Did you go after other sources of funding? What are you doing with your prototype now?

I don't mind at all. I simply continued working on it - the good thing about creating software is that it doesn't cost money, it just takes time - especially when you have to earn a living on the side. It has taken me a bit longer than it would for a seasoned programmer, since I had to learn to code first. Particularly since I use quite a bit of javascript and CSS, which I find to be tricky to get right in all major browsers. I currently have all functionality nailed down, and spending time going through the UI (which I think is the most important part of development for most web-based startups) and checking up on security issues.

Probably ready to launch in two or three months time.

What's the deal with this 'funding' talk? Why can't you let your customers 'fund' your product?

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