WHO WE ARE:
We’re two individuals with a strong background in strategic consulting and management. We’ve consulted and implemented projects for companies from Fortune 100 firms to small (successful) startups. We have a myriad of connections to local Venture Capital firms, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and many other important individuals. We currently work for a top financial services firm while we focus the majority of our efforts on our start-up.
WHAT WE'RE DOING:
We’re currently setting the groundwork for an innovative educational web application that will eventually fuse with social networking. While our industry is the educational sector, our target market is primarily high school students, undergrad and graduate students. Our application tool will be free and will immediately compete with Peterson’s, Kaplan, Princeton Review, and other smaller players. We are implementing the innovative web 2.0 model of offering a more valuable product at no cost to the user (think Mint.Com). In the longer term we will compete with social networks and online advertising.
WHO YOU ARE:
Above all, you need to be both a programmer and designer. We are a startup and this is essential (and non-negotiable). You need to have an obsessive attention to detail and user experience. Ideally, your technical skills would be the following:
• Design expertise: Professional level skills in Adobe Illustrator, Fireworks, InDesign, and Photoshop, with strong UI/Layout, mockup, branding, and print skills.
• Front End Expertise: XHTML/CSS/JavaScript - Hand code, standards compliant, semantic, cross platform & cross device interfaces, jQuery, MooTools, Ext. JS (for web/internet and mobile devices).
• Application programming Expertise: PHP, ColdFusion, AJAX, Web Services (RSS, REST, SOAP, XML-RPC, etc.). Advocate for the appropriate use of SAAS, design patterns, frameworks, SOA, ORM, and MVC.
• Database Expertise: MSSQL/MySQL – Relational database design and programming, stored procedures, triggers, reporting, and administration.
• Server Expertise: IIS, Apache, URL Rewrites, security, certificates, load balancing, etc.
While these are not absolutes, they should serve as a general basis in what we are looking for. Also, we’re looking for someone passionate about what we’re doing and one who believes in our idea.
OPPORTUNITY & COMPENSATION:
We have done the heavy lifting in terms of the idea, how it will be implemented, and conveying this in a comprehensive and professional business plan. All we need now is someone that can initially build a working prototype. We plan to raise $500,000 in seed funding by January and could do so much sooner depending on how quickly the chosen candidate can work. That being said the following is available to the right candidate:
• 3-5% equity in the company (based on experience)
• $90,000/year salary once we obtain funding (target: January, 2010)
• Ground floor opportunity and voice in shaping the company – you will be the third employee and our link to the technological aspect of the business, your input will be valuable
• Build a team – we have plans to hire at a minimum 2 more engineers once funded with many more to follow and you will be hand selecting your team
Lastly, understand that we are a pair of intense and passionate individuals. We have an idea and model that we have been told is “the best idea I’ve heard in long time” by many people with the power to make it happen. However, until we have a prototype to bring to life what we have on paper, we cannot move forward.
WHAT TO DO & TIME-FRAME:
Email your resume, any links to projects you have done, and any relevant information. We are moving quickly on this and plan to add a competent candidate within two weeks (hopefully sooner). Be sure to let us know what your schedule is like, how much time you have to work on such a project (ideally you’re unemployed and a hungry entrepreneur at heart, but we don’t expect this) and why you are interested. If you don’t include these things we will assume you didn’t bother to digest what we have to offer and are not taking it seriously.
We look forward to your submissions!
- Location: Bay Area
- Compensation: see posting
- Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
- Please, no phone calls about this job!
- Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.