iOS Developer/non-developer relationship success

[cplav]

Has anyone created an app based on a non-developers idea? I always see lots of people who don't know how to program posting that they have an idea. Has anyone had any success with this kind of relationship? How did it work from a legal & financial point of view?

I have some ideas and would be interested in working with a developer but am cautious and don't want to get taken.I know the developers do most of the work but some of my ideas would require work for me as well. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Dfndr90]

Has anyone created an app based on a non-developers idea? I always see lots of people who don't know how to program posting that they have an idea. Has anyone had any success with this kind of relationship? How did it work from a legal & financial point of view?

I have some ideas and would be interested in working with a developer but am cautious and don't want to get taken.I know the developers do most of the work but some of my ideas would require work for me as well. Any help is appreciated.

I have formed a small iPhone development company based on your very problem. We work in a very organic fashion and use revenue sharing as the basis for all payments. If some one approaches us with and idea, we have the sign Non Disclosure Agreements to protect all parties. That way they feel free to share their idea without fear that we will steal it from them. If their idea blows we tell them up front and we all walk away.

If we are interested in their idea, we work out a contract that is very detailed in ownership of the program and how the percentages work out. If you are doing 40% of the graphics work and the program is is doing 60 percent of the work, that is how we pay out after expenses.

Hit my up with a PM if you want more info. I may be willing to share the NDA and contract templates we have worked out.

BTW, so far this is working out very well for all parties involved and we have several apps in the store right now and several in the pipeline.

Matt...

 

[mccannmarc]

Its brilliant to have a non-coder on your team. Programmers tend to think within the bounds of what they think is possible and how hard things are to implement. This obviously affects the ideas they have and they will tend to lean towards what they are most comfortable creating rather than what is REALLY going to make them the most revenue. My business partner and myself are both programmers and we have found that while brainstorming its very easy to dismiss ideas based on knowing it will be a b*tch to code, fortunately we both have other individual skills besides the programming and the formula works nicely.

Obviously you need the other person to bring enough cards to the table to be worth paying half of the profits (e.g can draw graphics, produce the music whilst, publicize whilst you are doing the coding). My advice is give it a shot