so you've got a great idea - add2014
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Funky Android Ltd. - http://www.funkyandroid.com/
So you’ve got a great idea…Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd.
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Is it a great idea?
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Don’t jump at the first idea you have.
• Don’t spend months switching ideas.
• Bounce the idea off a few people.
• See if people would buy it.
• Don’t be sentimental about an idea, there are plenty more out there.
Is it a great idea?
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Hardware is Hard
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Hardware is Hard … really Hard!
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Start with a reference design
• Parts get changed to cut costs or offer new features
• Parts get changed due to supply issues
• Enclosure has to use the right glue, screws, etc., etc.
• Enclosure can affect the performance.
• Everything needs testing
Hardware is Hard
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Pay for components 30+ days in advance
• Shipping can take several weeks
• Paid by retailers 30+ days after delivery
• Delivery estimates can be out by 50% or more
• That means you can have several months between when you pay and when you get paid.
Hardware is Hard
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Does your idea rely on a “Network Effect”?
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Each new user makes the service more useful for everyone else
• Problem: How to get people to initially use it?
• Solutions: Have a unique service, spend lots of money, use existing networks.
Network Effects
Picture from Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Network_effect.png
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Existing networks; Google Facebook Twitter Any existing site with an API and users
• Use a network you trust, but one that is relevant.
• Look at the APIs, they have to do what you want.
Network Effects
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Existing networks; Google Facebook Twitter (?) Any existing site with an API and users
• Use a network you trust, but one that is relevant.
• Look at the APIs, they have to do what you want.
Network Effects
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Crowd Funding
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Most crowd funding sites are actually pre-order mechanism.
• People who crowd fund you tend to want to be more involved in your company
• Although you get their money, you still have to produce their product and you still have to send it to them.
Crowd Funding
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Build a team
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• You can’t do everything all of the time (Illness, personal situations, etc., etc., etc.)
• If you can get others to join you it validates your idea; They believe in what you believe.
• Choose people who you know are better than you at things you need (sales, etc.).
• Always be comfortable with who joins. There will be stressful times ahead.
Build a team
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Very, Very, Very few single person products succeed for 5, 10, 15, or more years.
• Common thinking: If one person can do it, then a team can copy that idea in less time, and probably cost less
• Supporting your users can be a headache. You’ll need someone to sanity check you’re not being unreasonable.
Build a team
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Avoid deadlock: You should always have a way of making sure that a decision can be made.
• Avoid being unable to make a decision because of the way decisions are made (e.g. 50/50 vote split).
• Even the most junior member of your team may be a way to avoid deadlock (49%, 49%, 2% voting split).
Build a team
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• If you can’t build a team, something needs to be re-thought.
Build a team
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Stealth Mode
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Stealth Mode
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• The biggest problem most start-ups have is getting know, not having their idea copied.
• If your idea is good, others are likely to be working on a similar idea already.
• If your idea isn’t good you should avoid creating a small bubble around it that doesn’t represent the wider opinion.
Stealth Mode
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Others will copy your idea if it’s successful. There’s very little you can do about it.
• Someone, somewhere will let details slip out; Even if they’re not accurate.
• Creating something big and complex and then releasing it usually creates a problems for new users who need to learn your system.
Stealth Mode
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• The smallest feature set to make your product useful.
• Doesn’t have to be profit generating, but there should be route to generating profit.
• You may not be proud of the implementation, but it’s the best way to get your product out there.
MVP
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• The more you spend on your MVP, the more you’re risking.
• A small, feature focused MVP is the best way to get feedback about where you’re heading.
• You may not be proud of the code in the MVP, but it’s the best way to get your product out there.
MVP
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Optimise and Pivot
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Optimise : Small changes to current product
!
• Pivot : Big change to go in a new direction
Optimise and Pivot
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• Optimise : When things are going well.
!
• Pivot : When things aren’t.
Optimise and Pivot
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Contracts
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
• If you’re working with another party, always have a contract in place.
• If you don’t have a contract it’s far harder to resolve disagreements
• Contracts don’t need to be huge, just well thought out. Some contracts are less than one page.
Contracts
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
If it’s so difficult - Why?
www.funkyandroid.com
“So you’ve got a great idea…” - Al Sutton, Funky Android Ltd. at Android Developer Days 2014
Because you may end up spending most of your life doing something you love.
Funky Android Ltd. - http://www.funkyandroid.com/
Funky Android Ltd. http://www.funkyandroid.com/
Questions?
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