Bitcoin Forum

Hi guys, I hope this is not a cyclic topic!

So, I've really a great idea and concept that could work in the real world with the use of cryptocurrencies but I'm a civil engineer and, despite my passion for this world, I don't know how to move forward.
My main concern is about the ownership of my idea, because a moment after telling it's not mine anymore.
Do you have some suggestions?

Based on your description, if you are looking to make this idea a reality, the first thing I think you should do is hire a lawyer. Everything else can move forward from there once you get advice on how to setup the legal structure before going out and making anything remotely public.

dont tell anyone and learn to code

good luck

ehehe yea, but where to begin? I think I need years of studies and this is a really fast world.

It is.  Lots of people have ideas.  All of them are oh so valuable.


Stop worrying about somebody stealing your precious idea.  Your idea is worthless, and it’s not very good.

Hold on.  I am not trying to be nasty.  I will tell you a little story—the much abbreviated version.

In 2006, I had an idea for a cryptography-based digital currency.  (That doesn’t say much.  People have been trying to build those since the 80s, the seminal early work being Chaum’s.  What we now call “cryptocurrency” is the realization of a cypherpunk dream of the 90s.)  I knew that at the time, I lacked the requisite skillset for building it myself.  Thus, I did nothing.  I did suffer the delusion that my idea was valuable.

In 2008–09, Satoshi Nakamoto published the Bitcoin whitepaper and a working prototype.  His idea was so much better than mine, the comparison is laughable; and that’s no coincidence, for he knew how to build his idea.  If you don’t know enough to put an idea to practical effect, then you don’t know enough to have a good idea in the first instance.

Please.  You say you’re a civil engineer.  What would you say if I were to tell you that I have a valuable breakthrough innovation in your domain of expertise, but I don’t know enough civil engineering to build it?  If you’re really a civil engineer, you’d laugh at me.

Ideas from people who have the knowledge are a dime a dozen.  It’s the implemented ones which are valuable.  And ideas dreamt up without adequate knowledge are absolutely worthless.


Oh, that’s more or less exactly what I told myself in 2006!

Either get moving fast, or forget about it.  In the former case, you may have a chance of success if you’re smart and hardworking.  In the latter case, you will save yourself many wistful sighs.

(On the third hand, if you are independently wealthy, you could try to hire other people.  You would need much luck for it to not be a disastrous financial sinkhole.  Think, again:  Could somebody without civil engineering expertise competently select a competent civil engineer?  Many “consultants” more or less deliberately take advantage of this peculiar problem, but that’s another topic.)

There's a common saying in business.. that a thousand ideas are worth a dime. In fact coming up with revolutionary ideas is quite easy - it's the implementation that is the hard part. A lot of enterpreneurs think just because their idea is great that they deserve equity from it without putting in an equal amount of work with their business partners - this is a common fallacy. After writing out your idea and business plan in detail, think about what you can offer in any potential partnership and what you need from your partners. No doubt you'll need programmers if it's related to blockchain. What can you bring to the table? As a civil engineer, if your idea is related to construction you'd probably be able to offer a lot. Map all this out, and whatever you do don't expect extra equity just for the idea unless your work and risk is above and beyond that of your partners/investors.

An idea is useless unless you put work on it. Do what you do best. Realize that idea. Do what it takes to get it out there! Nobody gives a damn about ownership. You need to make something work first then everything will follow. Learn to code and make your idea usable!

The idea, will stay an idea, if you do nothing. I will at least pitch this idea to someone with some sound knowledge to develop that idea and see if I can sign some confidentiality agreement, before I do this. Keep all your original drawings and plans for this idea and record their existence in that time frame.

If the idea is that good, you might approach a Patent Attorney to make things formal. This might be the more expensive route, but it will protect you in future. ^smile^

also try to get money and find a team. The only real solution

yea same problem here. very difficult to find trusted devs or partners

Go for it, you'll figure it out.  Life favors the bold!!

Thats right. ideas are dime a dozen. real thing is realization of that idea... bringing it to life. but that doesnt mean you give up. after conceiving a great idea next thing u need is fuel to achieve your goal and the name of that fuel is "passion". how passionate you are about your idea. your passion will drive you to learn and develop it. it doesn't matter whether you are a civil engineer or a farmer. you passion will drive you to overcome. just read about how other people brought their ideas to life... see what you need to do get it done.... nothing is impossible.

I would recommend starting off by learning programing. Even if you end up working with people who do the actual coding it will help communication if you at least know the basics yourself. Coursera  and edx have a ton of great classes you can audit for free.

I didn't believe you when reading this sentence. But after competing your post I would say you were very fair.

I too had an idea of a UPS when I bought my first rechargeable battery years ago. I got the idea of a hybrid car when I was playing with my first dynamo. As you rightly said, they don't count. Atleast 1000s of others would have had the same idea, well before me as well, andd they implemented it.

On the other hand Google, Facebook, Amazon, why Bitcoin are also not original ideas. They were the best implemention of the existing ideas.

Thanks.  Ah, but you don’t know me!  When I am nasty, the wrath of my pen is unequivocal; and I never make excuses for it.  Why, just the day before yesterday, I insulted a man so badly that he gave me +50 merits (https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=2854290.msg29320411#msg29320411).  I believe that to have been an historic forum first.

Here, I know that I myself fell to the same error as OP apparently does—spent years and decades repeatedly and perpetually living that error.  What I told OP is some version of a much longer, far harsher speech I wish I could go back in time and give myself.  (The version I would give my past self may involve screaming, cursing, and violent shaking by the lapels.)  Had I followed the advice I here stated, my life would now be much different and much better.


That sounds much like me.  Unfortunately.

Such creativity is a rare gift; but all too oft is it wasted.  From a population of many millions of people, yes, there must be some thousands who have within them the sparks of what could become good ideas.  Yet it is only but the few and the rare who have the requisite studiousness, willpower, passion, and focus to capture such a spark, kindle it, stoke it, feed its fire, and grow it to the brilliant flame of a working invention.

I yearn for the boundless energy of youth, combined with the fortitude granted by hard experience—and by the regrets of hindsight.  I could have been—could have done—but I did not, therefore am not.  Perhaps will yet be, someday—but am not, now.

It is through such experience that I encourage people who claim ideas to put their alleged ideas to the only test that counts:  Brush up your skills where needed, work hard, and—well, most of you will find that your precious ideas were actually stupid, and you are not nearly as smart as you thought you were.  Statistically, most of you.  But a few of you may succeed in building something brilliant.


Bitcoin is more original than you give credit for.  From Chaum forward, feasible ideas for digital currencies always required a trusted authority.  (Chaum’s solution had much more privacy than Bitcoin does; but it was designed to be issued by a bank, and that’s actually why it failed!  Most banks did not want to issue digital cash which could be passed privately, without identifying counterparties or revealing transaction details to the bank.)  And the need for a trusted authority always most of all boiled down to the double-spend problem.  Digital bits can be copied, after all.

Satoshi solved a problem nobody else has ever adequately solved, not before and not since:  How to create a decentralized, trustless Byzantine agreement for the ordering of transactions.  Thus was solved double-spend.  His solution to this is what we call “mining”—though Satoshi himself did not use that word; he called it “generating”.

The tools he used for this purpose were not original to him.  He repurposed Adam Back’s Hashcash, which he credited in his original whitepaper (https://bitcoin.org/en/bitcoin-paper).  But the way he put it together was original—and brilliant!

So as for double-spend; so as for the totality.  In the whole of the system, the parts are not original to him; but the whole is more than the sum of the parts.

If you want to better understand the numerous pieces which Satoshi borrowed from others, and the original way he fit them together into a new system, I recommend this article:

Narayanan, A; Clark, J.  “Bitcoin's Academic Pedigree (http://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=3136559)”.  ACM Queue, vol. 15 issue 4 (2017-08-29)

Thanks. I am reading the book by the same author - Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Technologies. The book is very detailed, I would say the article is a TLDR version of the book  :D

How do you know his idea is worthless... or that it is not very good.  
The op never specified what the idea was.

my advice would be work out a plan on how to provide POC of your idea.
or possibly create a detailed plan outlining the idea.  
Work on networking in the community if your project requires coding.

You have lots of options open to you. I guess you should do some research and document your idea would be step 1,

Good luck

WELL if you will just keep that idea as an idea without trying to make it real then  slap your face so you'll stop on dreaming. if you are doing a thing for a business then you might not enjoy it but if your idea is your passion and you would want to make the passion in real situation then you will enjoy it, don't ever blame yourself if you haven't done the first step when realization time comes.  I may be late to add some perspective but at least i try to add.

Just make a concept for your idea. Make an abstract, rich picture, road map business, and something else. I know that you're a civil enginering, so just keep the key of your idea. I mean a genuine part of your idea. I am sure that you know what it is. So, if you have a team from anywhere, they will keep you in a team always. Because they can't play without you. If someday they are gonna leave you, you can work with another team. Basically, no one can work by his self only; they need a team to make everything come true.

First you want to analyze what is your idea then think the advantages and disadvantages then do it if you failed don't give up keep trying until you will be success

The most important thing you can do is just start working on your idea and learn all skills needed while you're doing that.
There's a big chance that you will fail, but you will gain a lot of experience by going for a hands on approach.

Skills that you learn while you're working on this particular project can be used later in life.

Remember that starting is the hardest part.

Idea on their own are worthless.  Almost any idea you have has occurred to someone else as well.  Unless you can execute them, you're not the one who will profit from them.  And that's fair...coming up with a good idea is maybe 2% of launching a successful business.  Whoever does the other 98% of things necessary for success deserves to get the rewards.

For me, the idea is not important if you cannot activate it in real life. So everyone has many ideas, but the problem that there is a fear of failure in many of them. And many are afraid to realize their ideas (even if these ideas are successful and unique). Moreover, If you have only an idea, all you have to do is actually analyze this thought, So you must accept always the truth and deal with it . for example, if you have an idea which is "Making something to social communication ", you must have a vision on what is available in that field. there may be an idea that has been achieved and it is better than what you have (like , Facebook....) so you must always accept the truth. and if your idea is unique and something new , you should try to develop it and do not  rush to achieve it in reality. even if it fails, it is necessary to learn from that failure and to re-develop it and you must   always trying again.

RECRUIT A TEAM and GIVE THEM A PREMINE

This is what I do like to know about the idea that on his mind but well checking out that he don't tend to share it to public and would create on his own. Before All, His a Civil Engineering if he would tend to create or to code on his own then he would really need the skills before he would able to achieve such thing and it would really takes time for sure.If he would tend to find a team then it would really be an another possible option for his idea to be applied on.

Correct.History proves that one who executes the idea turns out to the winner under the hood.However in 2018,if you have an idea,you have all the resources which will convert it into a reality if you manage to raise money from some investors who again will do if your idea is great.

Shark-Tank is a nice example how start-ups can start low or with a blue print model and impress the end customers.

At what points that you can say, this is an good concept. You see your concept as good idea from your view. May be someone else will see this is an dump. So best thing is, discuss with someone who u are trusting and has knowledge about crypto. Wish all da best.

Learn the necessary steps to accomplish that idea. Of course, if you have enough capital, you can also outsource it. Otherwise, I'm pretty sure your idea will be taken with no credits. Great ideas mostly take time. So, take your time and never give up. Good luck!

Nothing better than a hands on approach and, of course, failures are the better way to improve your skills. I also would add to this right advices to do not hurry. If you have a good idea don't try to force project's steps in order to "ride the wave". A good project may require years for conceptualizing and a few months for developing. Just take your time and forget about others.. if it is a good idea you will succeed!
Bye

Hire a team of developers and try to make a simple prototype, than test it on target group (100-500 people) and make conclusion if your idea is really valuable. If it is valuable, you will be able (on that stage) to start ICO or venture partnership... In fact, 99% of ideas is trash.

What to do when you have a great idea and nothing else so Make a plan to talk to people interested on that that time they give you prayer and remember you in their life.

Be creative to make your idea become worth it.If you keep your idea theres nothing happen try to research of what business you will do ,study and learn some skills ,analyzing and knowing the advantages and disadvantages to make a good project and be successful in the future.

A new exchange is about to be online on 5 march 2018 , with demo working right now. It's bitpaction.com .
Maybe you can take a look on their site and program. Looks very promising in my opinion.
All this started from the idea of a special crypto exchange.

Not 100% but you can use snail mail to post a letter via registered post https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_man's_copyright (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poor_man's_copyright) to give your idea some protection/proof. But as others have said ideas are free; execution is key. Goodluck.

First of all I would like to say greetings to you engineer, have a good day always and congratulations.

This is my suggestions keep your mouth shut. Be quiet by your ideas most specially if it is new and realistic that can benefit the world. Be careful by telling people beside you because you don't know who is your enemy. If you have a best friend much better you both must be quiet. After you prepared everything, then let the people know your ideas but don't forget to apply what other said that you need a lawyer. This is part of your security and the future of your project in industry. Good luck and always remind yourself that let the world be feed by the outcome of your idea in the perfect time.

Get friends with the skills you need. :)
For example, I am a dev, but I got absolutely no time and not the energy to build up something like a coin beside my family life.
So many people have good ideas, but not the "environment" to make something out of it.

jes multiple,

but a great idea is not enough nowadays executing them is more important

maybe you shouldnt start a new cryptoproject but just join one that is similar

you are a civil engineer, i am developing an infrastructure token maybe its something similar with i or others build
regards

you have to transform your mind for this, and change the way you think about the world there is no other way

regards

start coding lol. at least gather a team and try to do a demo or something like that! Good luck!

If you don,t tell anyone your ideas in business how do you tend to achieve your goals.It seems your only interested in the fund that is to be made in the business not your ideas in business,i will advice you not to tell anyone hold your ideas until the day you leave this plant earth.

Its all about working with people you trust.
So its the best to find good guys in your direct environment, instead of finding partners over the internet.
At the end you wont be able to handle the whole load of work alone. it is not just a matter of knowledge, but of dedication and (most of it) TIME.

There is a lot of information on the Internet about how to start your project and ICO. You are without problems will find such information.
I think the most important thing in this business is to hire a professional team, including a lawyer who will pat your idea.
Wish you good luck!

Hi,

First, I recommend to write it down in your own words, to test it by yourself if the idea is good enough.
Second, create the balance of requirements, put on it the things you will require for the develop of the idea (money assets, personnel assets, technology assets)
Third, make a budget of it, as you are a civil engineer is like planning a construction.
Fourth, make a real business plan with: marketing research, operations, administrative and financial parts, to get a real ROI (return of investment)
Five, If you want to make it public, you have two options, the first one register the idea (business plan) as a book in a patent office or in a public notary, in this way you declare that you are the first person that came with the idea. If you want to only disclosure the information to a small amount of people make them sign a NDA (Non-disclosure agreements – you can find a lot of them on the internet)
Hope this works for you

An idea is not worth anything if you don't act on it. Act fast!