So I have this \'great\' idea in my head that I want to start working on and bui

Question

So I have this 'great' idea in my head that I want to start working on and build a company around it. Been working on desktop development for 5+ years and the idea revolves around the web. My exposure to web development is purely academic(a few database driven websites etc).

I know I have the wherewithal to get started and build something that works but am also sure that I don't have the expertise to scale whatever I build to huge numbers.

Looking at how some of the web majors started in dorm rooms etc, I am wondering how most web startups approach this problem (I'd find it difficult to believe that all the major startup founders had something that would scale to millions of users in their first jab).

Do you think its wise to run with whatever I can and then worry about scaling if and when its necessary? Or do you think its a sign that I am trying to bite more than I can chew?

Explanation / Answer

Just worry about getting it to work at all right now. That's hard enough. When it does, and it threatens to become successful, you'll still have plenty of time to worry about scaling; also, by the time you really need to worry about these things, you'll hopefully have more cash rolling in to fund the operation, and you'll have a much better idea about what it actually is you're doing.

In any case, despite huge success stories everywhere, the most likely scenario (statistically speaking) is that it is going to fail or remain a niche product, no matter how glorious you imagine its future. If you optimize for scaling now instead of getting it rolling, you are wasting effort on the wrong thing.

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