u/Outside_Structure_84

(not a hiring post)

I am a founder trying to escape the classic startup deadlock:

Need investment to build the app. Need the app to get users. Need users to raise investment. Need developers to build the app. Need money to hire developers.

I am building a commerce startup and I have a decent general understanding across product, design, sales, tech, and growth. That has helped me lead the company so far.

Over the last year, we have worked with 15+ interns. Most of them joined unpaid because they believed in the vision, and I have been very clear with everyone that I do not want to sell fake dreams of guaranteed salary or equity.

The biggest problem has been development.

Design, sales, content, and operations talent is comparatively easier to find early. But good developers rarely work unpaid, and honestly, I understand why. Anyone who understands scalable architecture, Docker, Linux, VPS, tracing, observability, Kubernetes, AWS, Node, Spring Boot, system design, etc. already has better paid opportunities.

What I actually need is not “multiple developers”.

I need one strong technical person who can help us architect the base properly, use AI workflows seriously, set up the right engineering foundation, and guide development in a scalable way.

A CTO-type person.

They could still be in college, recently graduated, working somewhere, or freelancing. I do not care about credentials. I care about execution and judgment.

The issue is that almost everyone I have spoken to either asks for ₹1L+ per month or 25% of the company.

I completely understand that good people need to be paid. But we are still early, and I have very limited funds left. Most of what I have is already going into AI workflows, infra, and keeping the startup moving.

To avoid being fully stuck, I am also building a side SaaS product that already has 4 paying clients. That SaaS is directly connected to our main startup because it helps us acquire brands and understand their needs. So yes, we are trying to generate revenue, but it will take time.

The problem is that I need to start development now.

So my question is:

How do early-stage founders escape this situation when they do not have enough money to hire strong developers, but also cannot raise properly without a working product and numbers?

Should I look for a technical co-founder differently? Should I offer smaller equity plus milestone-based vesting? Should I build a very narrow MVP with AI and contractors? Should I pause the full app and push the SaaS until it funds development?

Would really appreciate practical advice from founders, CTOs, or anyone who has been through this.

(not a hiring post)

I am a founder trying to escape the classic startup deadlock:

Need investment to build the app. Need the app to get users. Need users to raise investment. Need developers to build the app. Need money to hire developers.

I am building a commerce startup and I have a decent general understanding across product, design, sales, tech, and growth. That has helped me lead the company so far.

Over the last year, we have worked with 15+ interns. Most of them joined unpaid because they believed in the vision, and I have been very clear with everyone that I do not want to sell fake dreams of guaranteed salary or equity.

The biggest problem has been development.

Design, sales, content, and operations talent is comparatively easier to find early. But good developers rarely work unpaid, and honestly, I understand why. Anyone who understands scalable architecture, Docker, Linux, VPS, tracing, observability, Kubernetes, AWS, Node, Spring Boot, system design, etc. already has better paid opportunities.

What I actually need is not “multiple developers”.

I need one strong technical person who can help us architect the base properly, use AI workflows seriously, set up the right engineering foundation, and guide development in a scalable way.

A CTO-type person.

They could still be in college, recently graduated, working somewhere, or freelancing. I do not care about credentials. I care about execution and judgment.

The issue is that almost everyone I have spoken to either asks for ₹1L+ per month or 25% of the company.

I completely understand that good people need to be paid. But we are still early, and I have very limited funds left. Most of what I have is already going into AI workflows, infra, and keeping the startup moving.

To avoid being fully stuck, I am also building a side SaaS product that already has 4 paying clients. That SaaS is directly connected to our main startup because it helps us acquire brands and understand their needs. So yes, we are trying to generate revenue, but it will take time.

The problem is that I need to start development now.

So my question is:

How do early-stage founders escape this situation when they do not have enough money to hire strong developers, but also cannot raise properly without a working product and numbers?

Should I look for a technical co-founder differently? Should I offer smaller equity plus milestone-based vesting? Should I build a very narrow MVP with AI and contractors? Should I pause the full app and push the SaaS until it funds development?

Would really appreciate practical advice from founders, CTOs, or anyone who has been through this.

(not a hiring post)

I am a founder trying to escape the classic startup deadlock:

Need investment to build the app. Need the app to get users. Need users to raise investment. Need developers to build the app. Need money to hire developers.

I am building a commerce startup and I have a decent general understanding across product, design, sales, tech, and growth. That has helped me lead the company so far.

Over the last year, we have worked with 15+ interns. Most of them joined unpaid because they believed in the vision, and I have been very clear with everyone that I do not want to sell fake dreams of guaranteed salary or equity.

The biggest problem has been development.

Design, sales, content, and operations talent is comparatively easier to find early. But good developers rarely work unpaid, and honestly, I understand why. Anyone who understands scalable architecture, Docker, Linux, VPS, tracing, observability, Kubernetes, AWS, Node, Spring Boot, system design, etc. already has better paid opportunities.

What I actually need is not “multiple developers”.

I need one strong technical person who can help us architect the base properly, use AI workflows seriously, set up the right engineering foundation, and guide development in a scalable way.

A CTO-type person.

They could still be in college, recently graduated, working somewhere, or freelancing. I do not care about credentials. I care about execution and judgment.

The issue is that almost everyone I have spoken to either asks for ₹1L+ per month or 25% of the company.

I completely understand that good people need to be paid. But we are still early, and I have very limited funds left. Most of what I have is already going into AI workflows, infra, and keeping the startup moving.

To avoid being fully stuck, I am also building a side SaaS product that already has 4 paying clients. That SaaS is directly connected to our main startup because it helps us acquire brands and understand their needs. So yes, we are trying to generate revenue, but it will take time.

The problem is that I need to start development now.

So my question is:

How do early-stage founders escape this situation when they do not have enough money to hire strong developers, but also cannot raise properly without a working product and numbers?

Should I look for a technical co-founder differently? Should I offer smaller equity plus milestone-based vesting? Should I build a very narrow MVP with AI and contractors? Should I pause the full app and push the SaaS until it funds development?

Would really appreciate practical advice from founders, CTOs, or anyone who has been through this.

(not a hiring post)

I am a founder trying to escape the classic startup deadlock:

Need investment to build the app. Need the app to get users. Need users to raise investment. Need developers to build the app. Need money to hire developers.

I am building a commerce startup and I have a decent general understanding across product, design, sales, tech, and growth. That has helped me lead the company so far.

Over the last year, we have worked with 15+ interns. Most of them joined unpaid because they believed in the vision, and I have been very clear with everyone that I do not want to sell fake dreams of guaranteed salary or equity.

The biggest problem has been development.

Design, sales, content, and operations talent is comparatively easier to find early. But good developers rarely work unpaid, and honestly, I understand why. Anyone who understands scalable architecture, Docker, Linux, VPS, tracing, observability, Kubernetes, AWS, Node, Spring Boot, system design, etc. already has better paid opportunities.

What I actually need is not “multiple developers”.

I need one strong technical person who can help us architect the base properly, use AI workflows seriously, set up the right engineering foundation, and guide development in a scalable way.

A CTO-type person.

They could still be in college, recently graduated, working somewhere, or freelancing. I do not care about credentials. I care about execution and judgment.

The issue is that almost everyone I have spoken to either asks for ₹1L+ per month or 25% of the company.

I completely understand that good people need to be paid. But we are still early, and I have very limited funds left. Most of what I have is already going into AI workflows, infra, and keeping the startup moving.

To avoid being fully stuck, I am also building a side SaaS product that already has 4 paying clients. That SaaS is directly connected to our main startup because it helps us acquire brands and understand their needs. So yes, we are trying to generate revenue, but it will take time.

The problem is that I need to start development now.

So my question is:

How do early-stage founders escape this situation when they do not have enough money to hire strong developers, but also cannot raise properly without a working product and numbers?

Should I look for a technical co-founder differently? Should I offer smaller equity plus milestone-based vesting? Should I build a very narrow MVP with AI and contractors? Should I pause the full app and push the SaaS until it funds development?

Would really appreciate practical advice from founders, CTOs, or anyone who has been through this.