Comments on: Here’s the Deadliest Catch: Hiring an Agency to Build Your Startup http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/ Covering the blossoming startup industry in Portland, Oregon, and the Silicon Forest Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:28:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Here’s the Deadliest Catch: Hiring an Agency to Build Your Startup | Internet Astronauts :: Bootstrap Startup Blog http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-6587 Here’s the Deadliest Catch: Hiring an Agency to Build Your Startup | Internet Astronauts :: Bootstrap Startup Blog Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:01:29 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-6587 [...] this post that I guest authored at Silicon Florist last year because I’ve spent a good amount of time recently looking at large teams working on [...] [...] this post that I guest authored at Silicon Florist last year because I’ve spent a good amount of time recently looking at large teams working on [...]

]]> By: animesh http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-5744 animesh Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:33:53 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-5744 well now-a-days there are specialized websites that cater to only start-ups. they take care of hiring for start-ups and that too free of cost. check out www.sutrajobs.com which is actually developed by the holding company SutraHR. It focusses only on start up hiring. well now-a-days there are specialized websites that cater to only start-ups. they take care of hiring for start-ups and that too free of cost. check out http://www.sutrajobs.com which is actually developed by the holding company SutraHR. It focusses only on start up hiring.

]]> By: Build a Tackle Box Before You Go Fishing: A Starter Kit for Internet Entrepreneurs | Internet Astronauts :: Bootstrap Startup Blog http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-4543 Build a Tackle Box Before You Go Fishing: A Starter Kit for Internet Entrepreneurs | Internet Astronauts :: Bootstrap Startup Blog Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:12:37 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-4543 [...] is a follow up to my post from a couple weeks ago, Here’s the Deadliest Catch: Hiring an Agency to Build Your Startup where I advocated against startup entrepreneurs hiring agencies to help them build their sites. I [...] [...] is a follow up to my post from a couple weeks ago, Here’s the Deadliest Catch: Hiring an Agency to Build Your Startup where I advocated against startup entrepreneurs hiring agencies to help them build their sites. I [...]

]]> By: Pete Grillo http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-3914 Pete Grillo Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:08:35 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-3914 When i first read the title, I assumed the article was on (so-called) Full Service PR Agencies. Then I found out you the article was about Full Service Web Site Agencies. So now I'm really troubled, as I can't decide if the disaster I experienced with a Full Service Web Site Agency eclipsed the disaster I experienced with a Full Service PR Agency. Perhaps you could do a series on this topic? I could see it now ..."Why Full Service equates to Overpriced, Outdated and Inflexible". I'm sure you wouldn't lack for material. I and others might find it therapeutic (and quite humorous...). When i first read the title, I assumed the article was on (so-called) Full Service PR Agencies. Then I found out you the article was about Full Service Web Site Agencies. So now I’m really troubled, as I can’t decide if the disaster I experienced with a Full Service Web Site Agency eclipsed the disaster I experienced with a Full Service PR Agency. Perhaps you could do a series on this topic? I could see it now …”Why Full Service equates to Overpriced, Outdated and Inflexible”. I’m sure you wouldn’t lack for material. I and others might find it therapeutic (and quite humorous…).

]]> By: Outsource the Scaffolding « Rob’s Blog - Technology, Atlanta, Startups and Stuff http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-3903 Outsource the Scaffolding « Rob’s Blog - Technology, Atlanta, Startups and Stuff Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:55:52 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-3903 [...] rails, Startup Just today, I twittered a link to an insightful blog post, “Here’s the Deadliest Catch: Hiring an Agency to Build Your Startup”.  The title is largely self-explanatory, and I may blog my own riff on it at a later date.  Digg [...] [...] rails, Startup Just today, I twittered a link to an insightful blog post, “Here’s the Deadliest Catch: Hiring an Agency to Build Your Startup”.  The title is largely self-explanatory, and I may blog my own riff on it at a later date.  Digg [...]

]]> By: Ben Scofield http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-3901 Ben Scofield Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:49:13 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-3901 @Darius, @Gustav: Brian is one of the founders of (and, in the interest of full disclosure, Clinton and I work for) Viget Labs. I'd like to reinforce one point in particular: if you don't have a technical co-founder, it can be very tricky to hire your own internal developer or development team. Often, it's difficult for non-technical people to judge the quality of a developer's work, and I've personally seen some of the unhappy results that can result. In such a situation, it can make a great deal of sense to follow the model that Brian describe—hire an agency to get you up and running, and lean on them a bit to help you find the right person or people to keep it going once it's no longer financially sensible to keep the agency onboard. Smart companies will realize that the best way to build a good reputation is to develop quality products, and to make it easy for clients to stand on their own. @Darius, @Gustav: Brian is one of the founders of (and, in the interest of full disclosure, Clinton and I work for) Viget Labs.

I’d like to reinforce one point in particular: if you don’t have a technical co-founder, it can be very tricky to hire your own internal developer or development team. Often, it’s difficult for non-technical people to judge the quality of a developer’s work, and I’ve personally seen some of the unhappy results that can result. In such a situation, it can make a great deal of sense to follow the model that Brian describe—hire an agency to get you up and running, and lean on them a bit to help you find the right person or people to keep it going once it’s no longer financially sensible to keep the agency onboard. Smart companies will realize that the best way to build a good reputation is to develop quality products, and to make it easy for clients to stand on their own.

]]> By: Mike Schinkel http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-3900 Mike Schinkel Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:16:13 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-3900 Darius: I think you are spot-on! I work with lots of web startups as organizer of Atlanta Web Entrepreneurs and several years ago I tried to get this one guy to be agile and roll out things little by little so he could get rolling PR. But his vision was to launch it in a big way with everything all at once so he hired a big $$$ local agency (the kind that does projects for Ga Power, Coke, Delta, Home Depot, etc.); very web 1.0. And 3 years later his site still doesn't have any of those things "he had to have" at launch. I don't know how he is doing, but from the outside world it looks like he's gone nowhere. Darius: I think you are spot-on!

I work with lots of web startups as organizer of Atlanta Web Entrepreneurs and several years ago I tried to get this one guy to be agile and roll out things little by little so he could get rolling PR. But his vision was to launch it in a big way with everything all at once so he hired a big $$$ local agency (the kind that does projects for Ga Power, Coke, Delta, Home Depot, etc.); very web 1.0.

And 3 years later his site still doesn’t have any of those things “he had to have” at launch. I don’t know how he is doing, but from the outside world it looks like he’s gone nowhere.

]]> By: Laura F http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-3898 Laura F Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:52:28 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-3898 Agreed with the rest, this is a very dead-on post and I have seen this manifest itself in start-up after start-up (I work as a freelance manager/multimedia consultant). It is no longer true that you merely need an idea and an entrepreneurial spirit to get an idea off the ground -- you need an idea, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a dev guy. That having been said -- a few people have reacted under the assumption that the post above is knocking agencies, when really I think the point is that if you're a startup who is primarily web-based, agency work at agency prices is totally inappropriate for that model. What I don't understand is why this isn't considered in terms of ROI. You're going to get nowhere near as good a return on your investment from an agency as from a freelancer who you build a steady relationship with, or from an in-house guy you hire off Dayak or another online recruitment site. For god's sakes there's even linked in if you won't even take the cut-rates from online recruiters. The point being -- spend the money on your team, not on a site that you farm out and can't modify easily. Agreed with the rest, this is a very dead-on post and I have seen this manifest itself in start-up after start-up (I work as a freelance manager/multimedia consultant). It is no longer true that you merely need an idea and an entrepreneurial spirit to get an idea off the ground — you need an idea, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a dev guy. That having been said — a few people have reacted under the assumption that the post above is knocking agencies, when really I think the point is that if you’re a startup who is primarily web-based, agency work at agency prices is totally inappropriate for that model. What I don’t understand is why this isn’t considered in terms of ROI. You’re going to get nowhere near as good a return on your investment from an agency as from a freelancer who you build a steady relationship with, or from an in-house guy you hire off Dayak or another online recruitment site. For god’s sakes there’s even linked in if you won’t even take the cut-rates from online recruiters. The point being — spend the money on your team, not on a site that you farm out and can’t modify easily.

]]> By: Gustav von Sydow http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-3897 Gustav von Sydow Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:28:12 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-3897 @Brian I'm also interested in what agency you represent! I've been looking for alternatives for Hashrocket and Norbauer, whom I've had recommended to me from here and there. Does anyone else know of any more "agile development agencies" that's co-developed successful sites? @Brian
I’m also interested in what agency you represent! I’ve been looking for alternatives for Hashrocket and Norbauer, whom I’ve had recommended to me from here and there.

Does anyone else know of any more “agile development agencies” that’s co-developed successful sites?

]]> By: Darius Monsef http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/comment-page-1/#comment-3896 Darius Monsef Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:18:38 +0000 http://siliconflorist.com/2008/08/11/heres-the-deadliest-catch-hiring-an-agency-to-build-your-startup/#comment-3896 <strong>I appreciate all the conversation and would love to hear more... even if you think I'm much more wrong than right.</strong> <strong>@Toby</strong> <em>"I would add to the "Red Flags" section that, in addition to launching a tech start-up without a founding developer a risk, equally risky is not engaging someone to help manage the business of planning and addressing the business needs."</em> In my opinion a great team has a developer and an evangelist / business guy. I can't remember who posted the article right now, but it was a great write up of the different roles each play... the basic idea is that the develop has a critical eye on the startup and spends his time picking it apart in order to improve it... wheras the evangelist is managing the business side of things, selling the idea to others and being optimistic about where it is going. Sometimes 1 person can do both roles, but it is very hard. <strong>@Clinton</strong> <em>"I think this analogy only holds if you are working with a traditional agency, and also one who only builds web sites, not web applications."</em> I would agree with your there. If your startup is based around a single application, then you could work with a great agency. Your application could be knocked out and then your time would be mostly focused on building the community around the application and making notes about what things to add, update & improve in your application update releases. You would still need to be agile though in nurturing your community and get either a developer or the agency working almost immediately on the future releases. <strong>@Matt</strong> <em>"But I’ve got to say that hiring a developer too early can kill your startup velocity if you make a bad hire."</em> True, but for some people... without a developer they can't start at all. I'm going to address this more in the follow-up to this post, but just wanted to say... there is a bigger risk in hiring the wrong agency vs. hiring the wrong developer. The added cost of the agency will run out much quicker than the single developer... and if you know enough to pay attention to what the developer is doing, you can cut him off before he's gotten too far. <strong>@Brian</strong> I honestly like the idea of where you're coming from. I'd love to learn more about what you guys do and how you do it. With that being said, it almost sounds like you guys are a combination incubator / agency... and I think that would be a key difference between you and the standard agency that builds websites. I appreciate all the conversation and would love to hear more… even if you think I’m much more wrong than right.

@Toby
“I would add to the “Red Flags” section that, in addition to launching a tech start-up without a founding developer a risk, equally risky is not engaging someone to help manage the business of planning and addressing the business needs.”
In my opinion a great team has a developer and an evangelist / business guy. I can’t remember who posted the article right now, but it was a great write up of the different roles each play… the basic idea is that the develop has a critical eye on the startup and spends his time picking it apart in order to improve it… wheras the evangelist is managing the business side of things, selling the idea to others and being optimistic about where it is going. Sometimes 1 person can do both roles, but it is very hard.

@Clinton
“I think this analogy only holds if you are working with a traditional agency, and also one who only builds web sites, not web applications.”

I would agree with your there. If your startup is based around a single application, then you could work with a great agency. Your application could be knocked out and then your time would be mostly focused on building the community around the application and making notes about what things to add, update & improve in your application update releases. You would still need to be agile though in nurturing your community and get either a developer or the agency working almost immediately on the future releases.

@Matt
“But I’ve got to say that hiring a developer too early can kill your startup velocity if you make a bad hire.”

True, but for some people… without a developer they can’t start at all. I’m going to address this more in the follow-up to this post, but just wanted to say… there is a bigger risk in hiring the wrong agency vs. hiring the wrong developer. The added cost of the agency will run out much quicker than the single developer… and if you know enough to pay attention to what the developer is doing, you can cut him off before he’s gotten too far.

@Brian
I honestly like the idea of where you’re coming from. I’d love to learn more about what you guys do and how you do it. With that being said, it almost sounds like you guys are a combination incubator / agency… and I think that would be a key difference between you and the standard agency that builds websites.

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