Product StrategyEmerging Pattern

Partner 50/50 with co-makers who handle coding while you handle operations

Instead of hiring developers, find co-makers (essentially co-founders) and split ownership 50/50. You handle operations, legal, accounting, and the co-maker handles coding and support. This is more attractive than employment for talented developers because they get ownership, and it scales better than solo development. Build relationships with makers over months/years, then when you have a validated idea with presales done, pitch them to join.

When to use

When you have a validated product idea with presales completed and need development talent to build the MVP, especially for portfolio strategies where you want to scale product launches

Don't do this

Trying to hire developers as employees when you're pre-revenue, or trying to solo-build everything which limits how many products you can launch

2 Founders Who Did This

1
Portfolio of 26 startupsby John Rush

Uses 50/50 co-maker partnerships where he handles operations/legal/accounting and co-maker handles coding/support. Builds relationships with makers over time, then pitches validated ideas (past presales stage) when looking for co-makers

Result:Can launch multiple products (26 total) by recruiting different co-makers for each, spending 2-3 months building each MVP together
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2
Portfolio of 26+ startupsby John Rush

Uses 50/50 co-maker partnerships where he handles operations/legal/accounting and co-maker handles coding/support. Builds relationships with makers over time, then pitches validated ideas at presales stage

Result:Can launch multiple products (26 total) by recruiting different co-makers for each, spending 2-3 months building each MVP