I'm looking for at least two PHP developers and an HTML developer to help build a free website service. My project is to help match people who houseshare with their ideal housemate match. It is different to current paid for sites out there because it looks at peoples personalities and lifestyles, rather than having the main focus being around the room you'd rent. That's important too, but not as important as if you could actually get on with someone, and make the place feel like home. The site aims to help you in this search. And I've worked out a pretty revolutionary way to do this.
A bit about me and the start of the project: My name is Tanya and I am an account manager at glue London, a digital advertising agency. I've worked as an account manager/project manager for the past 6 years. glue were going to help me build the site as a 'glue project' as they truly believed I'd come up with something great, but they've been honest with me and said a) they don't have the time and b) web build is not our strong point. what they have said is that they will gladly help me with the advertising once the site is built. Which is nice, as at least you know if you help me - we'd have the best chance of getting the site out there and people on it and using it
Why a houseshare site? well, I've shared houses in London and Leeds (when I was at uni) for the past 14 years and I've worked out that I've moved at least once a year, so in total 18 times, and I'm looking again! (This is cause my housemate is pregnant) Cities can be competitive, cold places, especially when it comes to looking for a house or flat share. If you can't afford to rent on your own, or if you're struggling to make your mortgage repayments, often your only choice is to cohabit with others. Usually these people are strangers, and having to open your home to a stranger, or move in with strangers can be incredibly daunting. Not to mention the whole process of selecting somewhere or someone. The process is very competitive, and is almost a full time job to be the early bird. Often you feel as if you are being interrogated not just interviewed, and it is quite crushing not to be chosen for the room or person you've finally managed to find that you like. You start to question if there will ever be someone or somewhere out there that will be right for you and match all your needs/personality. Once the choice is made (sometimes due to desperation/time pressures), how do you know if the person you've chosen is a good choice, and they're not going to be awkward to live with a few months down the line? There just had to be a better way of searching, and through my houseshare experiences and digital/social networking knowledge I've come up with a way it could be made sooooo much easier.
I've tried raising capital to pay for the project, but the banks and venture capitalists won't lend me any money because the service is free (and I'd like it to stay that way). I can't say if the site will make any money - that's not the reason I'm doing it. but I can see how it could do in the future by selling advertising space for example - and if it ever did I will gladly pay you for your time plus interest
I have a designer and copy writer volunteering already, and I've done the rest of the content planning and information architecture.
If your interested please let me know.
Thanks
Tanya