Missed Opportunities

If you’re an experienced software developer, engineering manager, or CTO, you have the skills that many early-stage founders are desperately looking for. And it’s not just your ability to write code.

It’s your ability to plan, hire, and manage the project that will turn their idea into reality.

You’ve probably heard it before:

“I have this great idea - can you build it for me?”

For small projects, you can probably build it yourself in exchange for cash, but for larger projects (the ones that actually stand to benefit you the most) it’s not so easy. You already have a full-time job, and juggling a complex build on the side isn’t realistic.

So, what can you do?

Politely decline. (Most common.)

Refer them to someone else. (But who?)

Let them figure it out themselves. (They probably won’t.)

Try to build it yourself. (Make sure you have enough red bull...)

Hire your own team to build the project. (High risk, difficult, time consuming)

Most of us don’t consider these inbound requests missed opportunities, but the cost of passing up projects might be bigger than you think, you could be giving up:

• Extra income
• Credibility and experience
• Networking opportunities

Deliver More

The real issue isn’t that you can’t build these projects, it’s that you don’t have the time or resources to do so effectively.

This doesn’t mean you can’t still be part of these projects.

Why? Because in most early-stage or scale-up projects, the hardest part isn’t the execution - it’s the planning, hiring, and management. This is where many non-technical founders and idea creators struggle, and where your expertise is invaluable.

You’re not rejecting projects because you’re not capable - you’re rejecting them because you haven’t fully recognised the value you can provide.

What they really need from you isn’t just a developer to write code - they need technical guidance, structure, and someone who can turn their idea into a working product. Most people who come to you with ideas don’t care much about the code.

The solution is simple - you help them plan their project, connect them with the right developers to execute on that project, help out where and when you are needed, and get paid for the value you deliver.

This sounds a lot like freelancing?

At this point, you might be thinking, “Isn’t this just freelancing with extra steps?”

Not quite.

Traditional freelancing means:

• You’re selling your time, billing by the hour, and stuck in a constant cycle of finding the next gig.
• You’re competing on price against solo developers on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.
• You’re doing all the work yourself—no leverage, no scalability.

This model flips that dynamic:

• You’re not just another contractor. Instead of grinding out code for a paycheck, you’re leveraging your expertise to guide projects and build teams.
• You’re not by yourself. You get access to pre-vetted developers from top agencies worldwide. Instead of finding talent from scratch, you can quickly assemble a team to execute your plan.
• You don’t just get paid for your time. In addition to earning for your direct contributions, you earn a percentage of the total build cost—meaning your income scales with project success, not just hours worked.

So, is this freelancing? No. It’s closer to running your own on-demand dev shop, without the headaches of business admin, payroll, or contracts.

Does a Platform Help?

You might be thinking, “I could do this myself—why use a platform?”

If you already have a network of devs, a system for managing projects, and a steady pipeline of inbound leads, you might not need this. But a platform could potentially help by:

Providing a pipeline of quality projects – No hunting for leads.

Connecting you with pre-vetted dev teams – No wasting time finding the right people.

Handling escrow & payment protection – No chasing clients for money.

Handling legal & contract infrastructure – No admin headaches.

Offering structured processes – Everything from pricing benchmarks to project roadmaps.

Instead of spending weeks sourcing talent, negotiating contracts, and setting up workflows, you just plug into a system that already works.

No matter your role, you get paid, build your network, and grow your reputation - all while helping bring great ideas to life.