I recently chatted with a startup. The two cofounders are in a space I'm interested in (food). We had engaged briefly a while ago, but this time I was just providing a sanity check for their development process. Neither founder is technical, though one is a project manager.
They are dismayed with their current development team. This is an overseas team, hired through a site like oDesk (not sure which one). This is the second team they've worked with, having parted ways with the first one. The founders were wondering about ways to keep the current team engaged and productive. When this team was first hired, they were very productive (in terms of stories completed, etc), but now the pace seems to have slowed down.
I've worked with overseas teams occasionally, but usually with technical talent on both sides. I suggested a few things to help keep everyone aligned, but was curious what HNers thought.
I'd also be curious if anyone has found engagement to be more difficult because of time zone and/or culture differences.
They are dismayed with their current development team. This is an overseas team, hired through a site like oDesk (not sure which one). This is the second team they've worked with, having parted ways with the first one. The founders were wondering about ways to keep the current team engaged and productive. When this team was first hired, they were very productive (in terms of stories completed, etc), but now the pace seems to have slowed down.
I've worked with overseas teams occasionally, but usually with technical talent on both sides. I suggested a few things to help keep everyone aligned, but was curious what HNers thought.
I'd also be curious if anyone has found engagement to be more difficult because of time zone and/or culture differences.