HACKER Q&A
📣 atkc

How to get industry insiders to talk to me?


I am brainstorming ideas for enterprise software in a particular industry. I want to talk to some industry insiders to validate my ideas. Other than my own personal contacts, what are some ways I can get industry insiders to talk to me and give me feedback? Thanks.


  👤 Jugurtha Accepted Answer ✓
>I am brainstorming ideas for enterprise software in a particular industry. I want to talk to some industry insiders to validate my ideas.

You can send your hypotheses in your email. Bottom line up front, getting to the point as fast as possible avoiding the caricatural grandiose startup diatribe of how your company will change the world, or what has lead you to start it to fulfill a childhood dream.. It is much easier to receive a reply to an email containing something to disagree with, than it is to an email asking to set a meeting.

If you have a prototype, you can open an account for them, send credentials, tell them what it does, and ask them what they think. You can also send a screencast.

In my experience, being candid, jealous of and careful with people's time made them more generous with their time.


👤 maxk42
Simply send them an email or LinkedIn request and ask. If you're respectful of their time and your ask is simple, most people are glad to help!

👤 obviyus
Most HNers have their emails listed on their profiles and encourage sending a message. That could be a good starting point!