Hackerbuddy

When you’re starting out in business, getting the right advice can be vital – but when it comes to technology that advice can also be expensive. Hackerbuddy.com is a great social concept that puts together start-up coders and designers so they can help each other out with free advice through email. As well as one-on-one advice and support it’s also a great place to find people willing to beta test your website or service, with a large published community of people willing to do this for you. Don’t be afraid of the word hacker in the web address. They are not always bad guys who want to break into your bank account or bring down a blue chip website. Among computer programmers the word hacker is used to describe anyone who can code useful websites and programmes. They are more like inventors and tinkers – Mark Zuckerburg and the team that made Facebook in a university dorm room are a perfect example of non-malicious hackers. The site is still young but it is already home to a community of more than 5,000. There is no charge for connecting you with another member, and if they accept your plea for help you are given each other’s email addresses so you can progress the project without the site’s involvement.