Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

If I am understanding you correctly, you're not looking for "customers" in that case-- you're looking for prospects.

This site is aimed at people who have developed a solution, and want to get early adopters.

If you're still looking for a problem to solve, your needs (and process) will be different. (Hint: find a domain where you a) already have lots of contacts, and b) already have some understanding of the sales process. If you don't know enough folks in a domain well enough to find out about their unsolved problems, you probably will have significant difficult selling to them.)




Well, yes, the new entry title wouldn't mislead me.

Unfortunately, being a student doesn't allow me to know enough folks in a domain other than 'software'.


Oh, you'd be surprised. For example: what do your parents do for a living? Did you ever have a summer job, or an after-school job? Do you have any (slightly older) friends who have already graduated and taken jobs? Siblings? Aunts or Uncles? Friendly neighbors?

I'm guessing that you know lots of people-- the trick is to a) talk to them about what they do for a living, and b) listen. (That last step is critical.)


My parents basically live on a farm in an isolated village in an economically undeveloped county.

Forgive me if I sound harsh, but the tech world wouldn't believe how needless software still is in the vast majority of Europe.

Not to mention cultural differences -- I admitted I was a web developer in a real estate agent's office, and they wanted me to fix their internet connection.

I honestly appreciate your input and will keep trying. :)


My first startup, which I successfully cashed out of a few years back, developed software for farmers in Europe and South America.

Seriously. There are still many millions to be made there.




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: