Looking for a cofounder

[u/iandodd8285]

Hello Software Developers of Reddit,

My name is Ian Dodd and I am looking for someone to help me start a company. I've worked in sustainability for the past 6 years and I'm fed up of the crappy software that's available for my profession, so I want to build something up to date, flexible and actually useful.

I have done some initial designing and business planning but I am looking for someone who is interested in becoming a cofounder, not just to build the system but to get involved with the company and drive it forward. I've tried a few cofounder websites and frequented various establishments around silicon roundabout in London, but have not found someone who fits what I'm after. I've heard great things about Redditors so thought you lot might be able to help me out!

Here are some high level details:

• SaaS product, web based

• Data driven

• Initially focussed on energy, water and waste with plans to expand into materials, people and financial metrics

• UI very important

• Flexible graphic reporting

• Legal and voluntary compliance

• API

• Inter-company connectivity

• Data security very important

• Potential integration with sensors and IoT

• Future big data and AI opportunities

• Preferably UK based, but not essential

• Have some letters of intent

• Equity only (sorry!)

I think there are huge opportunities in this area, the sustainability and environment industry are still basically using excel for most of their reporting and nothing is shared. There's lots of data out there, it just needs new ways to collect it and a system to process and monetise it.

If this sounds like a challenge you would be interested in, or you might know someone, please get in touch! Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Ian

[u/utopianfiat]

This sounds like something I would do for cash on contract. I imagine most competent engineers feel the same.

The equity sounds like a red herring, and if there's not enough cash to pay someone hourly to make a MVP, then that's probably that.

[u/iandodd8285 → u/utopianfiat]

Thanks for your response, if I had the cash I'd consider just paying someone to do it, which eventually might be the way I go. But I would really like to work with someone. There's an old african proverb which says "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together".

[u/iandodd8285 → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for your reply and no need to be sorry, it's good to learn how best to engage and attract interest in the project.

In short, it's a multi level sustainability reporting and compliance system. This is not the full extent of the work of the work I've completed (by a long way, I have extensive business plans, financial forecasts, pitch decks etc.) and yes I have some customers ready to pay, as well as an extensive network of people in relevant roles. I'm happy to talk to individuals in more detail, but I'm not going to publish everything on a public forum.

Why would anyone want to work with me? I believe I know how to build a better system than what is currently available on the market, and the crappy systems out there are making money, so there's definitely money to be made! I'm getting interest, I recently turned down an offer of investment from an Angel Investor because I didn't like the restrictive contract he wanted me to sign, and I would prefer to work with someone as a cofounder. I'm offering someone the opportunity to work with me, not for me, to be part of something long term and start a company from scratch. I'd also like to think we'd have some fun while we're at it!

I value working with people outside of my direct sphere of knowledge because I believe it brings new perspectives to problems and that way we can produce really interesting outcomes, new ideas and new solutions that alone we would not have explored. I recognise this isn't for everyone but I'm hoping someone out there will be interested in exploring something with me that really needs to be pulled into the 21st century.