How to pair an Idea with a Developer?

[butch81385]

Hey guys. I have an App idea (who doesn't). I'm trying to figure out ways to pair that idea with a developer on a limited budget. When I say limited, I mean very limited.

I have a fully thought-out idea for this app, including the primary API required and the theoretical "how" to relate the api to a database, etc. I am working on putting together a graphic "story board" of the app pages showing required functionality.

What are my options for getting this app off of the ground?

What I have looked into:

Designing it myself: I lack the programming skill to produce this app. This app is too complicated to simply learn on the go.

Hiring a developer: I do not have the capital to hire a developer outright. From my understanding, few are willing to work for profit sharing alone.

Using Kickstarter to fund a developer: I have done research on Kickstarter and have found that mobile apps are typically underfunded, presumably because they require much capital and the "investors" get little in return (a free download? a t-shirt?).

Submitting to a company such as App Incubator: While some of these companies allow you to submit for free, they control payments, etc. While I am not necessarily opposed to this idea, I feel that the fact that my project would require a database of images with tags would cause it to be immediately deemed "too costly to produce"


Thoughts on any of those?

Below is a general outline of functionality so you can understand what I consider to be complex coding:

User opens app. User can select option 1 or 2.
Option 1: user take picture. 
User interacts with existing API. 
An output from existing API is added as an attribute to the picture. 
Picture with attribute is stored in a web database.
Option 2: Using GPS or Cell Tower location, or typed address, a list of previously uploaded content, relevant to the location, appears. 
One item is selected by the  user. 
The user then interacts with the API and the software determines if the API output matches the attribute stored with the picture.  
Correct matches increase score. 

Possible additions: Scoreboard to show leaders, have contests, etc. 
Rating system to rate uploads. 
Giving score to the uploader based on average rating

In the off chance that someone that reads this is an app developer and would like to work out a revenue sharing deal to produce this app, contact me! Likewise if you are rich (hint, hint a certain member here with web developing experience ) and would like to finance this while receiving a revenue share (with invested money being returned before all profits), also let me know!

More specific details can be given regarding the app itself after an NDA is agreed upon.


Thanks for any help or suggestions!

[RobRich]

A quick tip from the business and legal aspects. Be sure the existing API you are referencing can be utilized or at least licensed for commercial use, and if so, that it is compatible with your intended licensing and distribution models.

[butch81385]

A quick tip from the business and legal aspects. Be sure the existing API you are referencing can be utilized or at least licensed for commercial use, and if so, that it is compatible with your intended licensing and distribution models.

The API is available for free. There is a free license for up to a certain number of users, with a cost after that. Based on preliminary number crunching, it appears that by the time the app would cross over the threshold it would be making enough money to more than cover the cost of the license.

I think the general numbers were about 25,000 API loads per day for free. If you exceed that for more than 3 months (averaged), then you are charged $0.50/1000 until you negotiate directly with them to reduce that to $0.25 or so. Many generic ads can generate $0.35-$1.00/1000, with targeted ads potentially being as high as $2.00.