Startup or how to find a programmer if you are a teapot?

Question

User interface

Good day to all.
My name is Konstantin and I need your advice.
The situation is the following. I am not a programmer. I am a chef. Due to the specifics of my work, I have identified weaknesses in the interaction between restaurants and suppliers. A lot of processes are still conducted offline and the time to complete the simplest tasks is delayed for a long time and depends on a bunch of factors that can be eliminated by transferring communication between customers and suppliers online. Well, the idea for a startup has ripened, in fact, which has developed in my head to a quite attractive scale in the field of its functionality. And there was a partner for its implementation.
In short, we need to create an electronic platform where suppliers and restaurants will interact, with the ability to register an account for each of the parties, create their own product range and maintain analytics for each account in each of the accounts.
The main function of the service is the ability to quickly send a request for the necessary products from the customer to the supplier, and the latter to be comfortable in processing it.
Well, the interface. It should be made in the style of a convenient functional crm system for both parties. (I emphasize that I do not need another crm-system. It's just about the interface)
We will also need to develop a mobile application.
That's all I can say about a startup in order to keep it safe. Of course, there are plans to monetize the project. Idea, for the sake of the idea of ​​investment, I would not attract.
So, my question, or rather a few questions.
1) Who do I contact to develop an MVP? Freelance programmers or a web portal development company? (I want to clarify something right away, we have dismissed the idea of ​​attracting a programmer for a percentage of equity capital, we plan to pay real money for development. We need an interested specialist who understands what he works for)
2) If we are considering the search for a freelance programmer, do we need an analyst to write technical specifications for this freelancer or turn him off from the chain?
3) Now, as I understand it, there are few programmers who are engaged in backend and frontend development. Where to start first, front or back? Or does it make sense to look for two specialists who will work synchronously?
4) What does a programmer need to write an MVP, in addition to the technical specification?
5) And, the main question, how to write a technical specification for a programmer, to conduct a selection, if we do not understand the technical side of the issue and cannot correctly assess the qualifications of a specialist? Do we need a technical director for this?
I hope for your help. I will be grateful for constructive answers.

Answer 1

1. I would look for a private specialist on the upwork, because in fact, you need a person on staff, it seems to me that outsourcing the main piece of the idea is not the best idea.
2. I don't think it's needed. I would break the development into weekly iterations, and independently decide on the spot what and how to do with specialists.
3. There are such specialists, they are called full stack. I would recommend looking at 'JavaScript full stack'. And build everything in JavaScript, for example:
- backend : nodejs, express, postgresql, sequelize. do rest api, document api itself in swagger
- frontend: angular2, sass, jade
- mobile: NativeScript / Appcelerator Titanium
Build development in sprints (see Agile), i.e. call on skype once a week, they show you a demo of what has been done during the week, you discuss the situation on the project, agree on a work plan for the next week.
On upwork, just once a week, money is withdrawn from the card.
I would recommend hiring two specialists, one does the backend, the other frontend. Then there is less chance that one will lead you by the nose, plus competition for coolness in the team :).
You can take on 20-30 hours a week, productivity will decrease less than the costs :)
It is advisable to find more experienced what the backend does, because backend is more important to design correctly.
Freelancer prices for upwork are roughly 15-40 $/h, say 1 for $30 for 20 hours per week (backend), another for $25 for 30 hours per week, $5400 per month. Suppose 2 months on MVP, then 4 more to finish it, total $5400 * 6 months =
32k everyone knows :).
4. Possibly mock screens / design
5. You can hire an expensive specialist who will interview your candidates for money

Answer 2

1) Who do I contact to develop an MVP? Freelance programmers or a web portal development company?

companies charge more, often at times. See finance.
The risk of falling for a company that shuts up the project is the same as falling for an irresponsible developer
Modern frameworks give good development speed - at the beginning of the project, one good developer can cut down the lion's part of the functionality

2) If we are considering the search for a freelance programmer, is an analyst needed to write the TOR for this freelancer or turn him off the chain?

an analyst is needed if you do not understand what you want or cannot create a process

3) Now, as I understand it, there are few programmers who are engaged in backend and frontend development. Where to start first, front or back? Or does it make sense to look for two specialists who will work synchronously?

KISS - keep it simple stupid.
Move iteratively, in small steps, from one version to the next _always_ profiting from the application

4) What does a programmer need to write an MVP, in addition to the technical specification?

nothing

5) And, the main question, how to write a technical specification for a programmer, to conduct a selection, if we do not understand the technical side of the issue and cannot correctly assess the qualifications of a specialist? Do we need a technical director for this?

If there is money for a technical director, then he will deal with everything.
You need to evaluate by portfolio and op on exchanges.
In any case, you will need to figure it out on your own - in order to avoid deception

Answer 3

If you are going to develop a website + mobile application, it makes sense to write a REST API on the backend to use for two platforms. Accordingly, the front will have to be written in React.js, Angular.js or Vue.js. If you write in React.js, then you can use React Native for the application.
The very first step is to find a designer who can listen to you, look at the technical specifications, take into account all the wishes and make the first design layouts. You can create the TOR yourself, just write in there what you want to see in the MVP and no more. Usually, at this stage, the main concept + functionality for the MVP is laid.
Also, if you are planning to do MVP - in terms of time, it will take about 3 months. At the same time, we do not forget that we are making the most stripped-down version with minimal functionality + maximum dumping on costs. Then you will see if it makes sense to develop the product.
A designer will design an MPV for 50k.
An average backend developer can write a REST API backend for you for 50k a month.
A frontend developer will write a React.js frontend for 50k a month as well.
Regarding your competitors - it is clear that the site is maintained / developed very slowly or it is abandoned. There are broken links in the header on the main page (franchise), in the footer the year has not been changed. Although, of course, these are all indirect factors. But competitors were, and always will be, there is no particular reason to be afraid of them. Haters gonna hate.
If we talk about promotion, a person works as a chef, so he probably has some connections in the restaurant business. Most likely, he will simply tell / suggest to familiar restaurant owners to implement their system. And there things will go / not go.
If this idea touches you, you know how to do it better, or you just want to do it - don't listen to anyone, just do it.
Total:
50k for design + 150k for backend (3 months MVP) + 150k for front (3 months MVP) + 100k stock = 450k

Answer 4

Here for writing TK here and on freelance issues - also read there.
Search for people - it is better to start after drawing up the architecture of the project.
The answer to other questions - after drawing up the architecture.

Answer 5

1) Read the answers to a similar question, Trust a team or create a team? 2) An analyst is not required, but finding a good programmer who is also good at writing technical
specifications is twice as difficult
turn out to be weak, but there will be no one to tell about it, it will have to be redone.
4) Design layouts
5) Needed

Answer 6

1) Who do I contact to develop an MVP? Freelance programmers or a web portal development company? (I want to clarify something right away, we dismissed the idea of ​​attracting a programmer for a percentage of equity capital, we plan to pay real money for development. We need an interested specialist who understands what he works for)

As for the shallows from equity participation, this is the right decision.
If there is money for development, then this is much more guaranteed to get results.
Private is cheaper.
The company is more expensive.
It doesn't matter who does it. MVP is quite within the power of one.
No. For an MVP, all analytics is you + the programmer. Extra people are not needed here.
Find one. Plan with him how it will be. Decide if you need a second one.
Money.
And answers to many questions along the way.
Write in simple Russian. Briefly the main principles.
It is better to draw up technical specifications already in tandem with the selected programmer.
And how will a technical director differ from a programmer in terms of assessing the qualifications of a technical director?
This is actually a big problem.
You need someone qualified and trusted (interested) to advise you.
That's just for this, a programmer would be needed in the share, not for programming itself, but for evaluating colleagues.
It's no different about finding a good car mechanic, a good home remodeler, or any other good referral specialist. No recommendations - according to the announcement at random.
Contacting a company is much more expensive.
But there is little hope that the firm values ​​its reputation. Freelancers throw often.
On the other hand, except for the director in the company, everyone else is much less interested.
And the executive employee works worse than the freelancer.

Answer 7

But I stupidly saw a ticket manager in the description - after all, this is the main function of this service. And in my opinion, it makes sense to concentrate on this one function as the main one and make it as good as possible, and develop / add everything else as needed. You will get the biggest headache with price lists - because everyone does them as they want, in their format, programs, habits, "I like it so much" and other Excel / 1C and so on. And you will have to support a bunch of formats and all sorts of other unpleasant things.
Statistics - first, just save the main / necessary / important parameters / variables in the database, and only then, as needed, build beautiful graphs from this data.
So to begin with, draw the simplest possible scheme of interaction between the two parties in this system and try to set up (or order the setting from someone), for example, redmine or its equivalent (there are a lot of ticket processing systems), to process the process and go through the processes several dozen times to feel it all with your own hands and understand what exactly is needed and how to achieve it. Yes, it will take a few days at least, maybe a week - but it's worth it. Because redmine is here, it already exists, it is flexible, you can use it, expand it, modify it, make plugins for it, and it also has a lot of mobile applications. That is, this is a ready-made solution and is quite suitable for basic testing of ideas or prototyping, and according to the results it will already be clear whether it makes sense to develop your solution from scratch or take something ready-made and finish it a little.
In terms of cost: if you order from us (meaning in Russia), then development from scratch will cost approximately the same, as Artyom Innokentiev said - half a million, give or take. If you order on an upwork or some other international exchange, then the cost will of course be somewhat higher - a lot depends on the available budget and how much you are willing to wait. It is necessary to calculate approximately from $15-20k. Plus, our developers will need to be involved in any case - translation, technical support, and so on.
According to TK: yes, you need a good analyst who will understand your "kitchen" and convert your Wishlist into a specific TK. Well, or find someone with extensive experience and who knows how to do both analytics and technical specifications, and implements everything - but this is already somewhere closer to small companies.
If there is a desire, we can talk privately on this topic - if there is a budget, time does not burn, but I am generally interested in the project (freelancer, full stack).

Answer 8

Techies are techies. Immediately they begin to throw in technical details, front-end, back-end. One even immediately counted the money, 3 months)) That's how he came up with a figure, multiplied it by a rate, also invented, and received some amount. Fine! Now everything is clear.
In fact, you need to start with design. A lot of questions and a lot of moments that you didn’t even think about will come out on the design. After creating a prototype design, preferably more interactive, you can write a description of the product, in your own words. It is this product description that will be the basis for the techies. After that, the techies themselves write technical specifications and say that it will take 10 days for this feature, about 5 for this one, etc. And after that you have some time limits.
That is, everything is not so simple here, and therefore it is better to contact a development company where there is already a similar algorithm of actions, there is a product manager, there is a designer, there is a team. It will be more expensive, but the chance of making a working product is higher.
If there is no money for the team, then look for a designer, preferably with UI / UX interface development skills. You will work out the idea with him, describe it, throw out everything unnecessary. With these layouts, you can already either go to the techies or look for the manager + techies team.

Answer 9

Hire for money.
As an ordinary employee - on labor exchanges
As an ordinary freelancer - on freelance exchanges.
Well, or by acquaintance - by recommendation.
Well, how to interact with them is a separate art.
Cones and rakes will help. There are no other methods.

Answer 10

Thank you all for your constructive and prompt replies!
We've learned more in the last hour than in the whole of the last week.
Special thanks to Artyom for giving a link to a similar startup completed by competitors. Now it will be easier to evaluate its effectiveness and the feasibility of investments ... as soon as we recover from such a disappointment.

Answer 11

1) MVP can be done in the company, and the improvements can be given to freelance. It will work out cheaper, under a number of conditions.
2) It is desirable that the analyst still be. It is advisable to start with a sane TK.
3) I think that first you need to write a technical specification, then draw a concept, lay it out on your knee, and from there it will be clear what needs to be done with the backend.
4) the prototype as you see it for yourself
5) you need to start with a brief. further break the tasks into steps, and give for implementation step by step. For example, create a brief, create a technical specification, draw prototypes, draw a primary design, make up, etc.
At each stage, instruct a third-party specialist to conduct an audit. You can generally hire a QA, with whom you can discuss the audit of each step.

Answer 12

Save money and hire a team with a manager.

Answer 13

I wrote a long article here on how to look for a developer in your project, it may be useful to those who stumble upon this question https://vc.ru/life/300488-kak-nayti-tech-kofaunder...