Hacker or Hustler? I propose a 3rd Character Class.
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Hacklers - the best of both worlds.
That's the most viable solo model--a hacker with the inclination to hustle.
As hackers we like to think that, but aren't there also successes by hustlers willing to hack?
The hacker/hustler conversion also depends on what type of business you're building.
If you're making a web app with a well-defined market (a 'better mousetrap'), the Hackers rule. Many B2C plays are like this.
If your business requires big deals and more B2B-type stuff, it gets trickier.. you ideally need a Hustler/Prophet. And at least one of them should have grey hair.
If you're making a web app with a well-defined market (a 'better mousetrap'), the Hackers rule. Many B2C plays are like this.
If your business requires big deals and more B2B-type stuff, it gets trickier.. you ideally need a Hustler/Prophet. And at least one of them should have grey hair.
Not to sound cheesy, but our best prophets are our customers.
This happens only because they are quite informed, intelligent, conceptual in identifying needs and have a sharp edge when either the hacker of hustler gets the best of us. They bellweather any bumps and give us "that entrepreneurial shiver" when they're totally floored by something we've built to exceed...
This happens only because they are quite informed, intelligent, conceptual in identifying needs and have a sharp edge when either the hacker of hustler gets the best of us. They bellweather any bumps and give us "that entrepreneurial shiver" when they're totally floored by something we've built to exceed...
You can arguably get by or contract out any of these three roles, but your startup will have a weak leg.
Related HN Post: http://spencerfry.com/startup-vs-company
Related HN Post: http://spencerfry.com/startup-vs-company
The Customer
Hustlers: You sell shit. If you're good, you close some deals.
Can Hackers be successful Hustlers? Yes, sometimes. That accounts for the supply and demand preference for Hackers on HN. Unless you are an exceptional hustler, you can be made redundant by a decent extrovert hacker who has a head start on understanding the technical benefits of your business.
Can Hustlers become Hackers? Not often. The exception where a Hustler believed so much in his/her project that the Hustler learned to code at least enough to get good specs is a theme I've seen before.
Building and selling--forgive the simplification--is enough to make a product and earn revenue. We see this transactional business model with many webapps. But is this enough to grow a startup to reach all of its commercial goals? Perhaps there is something missing.
Prophet: A third founder category.
A prophet has deep subject matter expertise. A prophet foresees the need for a solution in the industry and knows enough about the tools available to create a solution proposal. A prophet/hustler is more than a hustler because a prophet’s focus is visionary and long term over short term and transactional. A prophet/hacker is more than a hacker because the prophet dives deeper into market need and development future of the project.
A prophet can be a standalone member than neither hacks nor hustles. One of my favorite contract management startups has a PhD in Linguistics that provides the technical expertise, but she doesn’t live in either of hacker/hustler roles.
The prophet is often the initial founder, because the prophet is master of the conceptual. But not always, as a prophet can take the form of an early advisor or investor who shapes the technical skills of the founders and finds a market for their work product.
Who's the prophet on your team?