not exactly sure how far you need to get to just build an MVP but there are some good apps/websites out there than can help build apps. websites like softr can build you a landing page or a website in like an hour or two connecting other apps as well can help expand the capabilities look up no code apps on youtube I’m trying to learn myself.

If there’s a university near by visit the CS section, talk to some professors, ask them if any recently graduated students or current ones would be interested to build this for you, against little to no pay, but 1-2% equity in the business. You could also leave a post on one of the community boards, ask around if anyone’s friends/family is becoming or is a programmer. Lastly, build a pitch deck & just like you raise for funds, you showcase it to get your first developer onboard.

1. What compels immigrants to use a niche social platform rather than a general one?

2. Same question for travelers.

3. Who are your top 3 closest competitors?

Have you looked at NoCode platforms at least for a working demo or MVP?

DM me more details if you’re interested to have tech co-founder

Hello friends! I find myself in a very similar position. I’m developing a B2B SaaS without any programming knowledge. I can share my experience and what I’ve learned so far. I hope it helps.

I had an idea in my head but knew absolutely nothing about programming. A friend introduced me to a programmer, I shared my idea, he provided a budget, I accepted, and we started working as a team. We had meetings every 2 or 3 days, constantly adjusting everything because I had a clear idea in my head. After months of work, I encountered a huge problem. The implementation was very complex and impractical, hindering the sales process. This happened because the programming language used was very outdated, Visual FoxPro for those familiar with it. Since I knew nothing, I didn’t consider the language used to program the software, relying on the programmer.

Now, I’m starting to assemble a small team to redo the software as a web application.

What did I learn?:

Seek PROFESSIONAL advice before starting.

If you have resources, you can look for a technology consulting firm to help with this. If not, you can post here or in programming groups on Facebook, Reddit, or discussion forums. Post in various places and consider multiple options. There are many people willing to help, and believe me, thorough research will save you time, money, and headaches. You can also hire a programmer through freelancing platforms like Upwork for a one-hour video call to clarify all your doubts; this costs no more than $35.

Once you have a clearer vision, you have different options:

Assemble a team of freelancers to develop the project and pay for their work.

Find a co-founder and give them a share of your project. Often, it’s a 50-50 split.

Hire an employee with a minimum salary and a small percentage of the company.

This is what I’ve learned on my small journey, and I hope it’s very useful to you.

Best of luck!

I suggest following u/nikitabier on Twitter/X, he’s the boss at all things social. In terms of further testing the concepts, I agree with many that further validation is wise before building anything. Maybe start a WhatsApp, Facebook, or Discord group for immigrants in one city first and see if you can grow a base of users.

Thank you for the tip. I’ll definitely look into that!

AI is your best friend:)

I didn’t see anyone putting the whole series of steps together, so here it is:

1. Demonstrate your potential. You can find potential customers using vaporware. You may also be able to use no-code solutions for a limited version of your app. But it should be some proof of market validation.
2. Find a technical cofounder. This will be much, much easier if you’ve finished step #1. You’ll probably split the equity.
3. Build an MVP with the cofounder and see if customer use it. Iterate until you do get users.
4. Apply for VC funding after you have a few customers to get better terms.

At least, that’s what I’ve always heard as the standard! Each startup is different, and mine followed a slightly different approach. Folks, lemme know if I hit the mark.

1. Using my experience as an immigrant, my app focuses on; a) one being able to meet other immigrants, especially from your country and/or city (using the swipe method). b) Attending events hosted by different immigrant/traveler groups. c) Joining different immigrant groups e.g international students in a city.

2. The same applies to travelers especially ones who are doing it for the first time. Most people feel “at home” or secure if they meet and interact with other travelers from their origin country/city.

3. Direct competitors; InterNations, Meetup, CouchSurfing. Indirect competitors are; FB, Instagram and X