A CEO contacted me

Sven11 said:

I'm a developer in my free time and I recently received an email to my developer address. Apparently a CEO of some company that provides an application with a similar functionality to the one I developed is interested in talking to me. I googled everything he said in order to make sure that this isn't a scam and it seems be legit. His email address also indicates that this isn't fake.

Should I reply? What does he want from me?

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Should you reply? Of course not. Nothing good can come from that. I also recommend you add his address to your junk filter - stat!

On a similar note, Ariana Grande keeps calling my cell and emailing me. Should I reply?

Really not enough information to say.

Can you share any more?

Get a phone number and call him.
Seems pretty fishy though.

Gutwrench said:

On a similar note, Ariana Grande keeps calling my cell and emailing me. Should I reply?

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Hell yeah you should. She needs to get your credit card info again, since you conveniently forgot to include the CVC number last time.

Oh, and what's the limit on that Visa?

I’ve been in the industry for some time, kickstarted a number of startups (that got my name into “the channel”), been solicited by companies/investors/VCs to buy/discuss products, IP, to simply to come on board, etc. You never know where a good opportunity might originate.

However, there is also a significant amount of contact by companies that want to provide dev services (code, QA, design), marketing and whatnot. The legit versions of these always identify the services they want to offer, so it’s not a “scam”, just noise, and I usually ignore, but in a few cases I’ll respond with a reasonably cordial “not interested” email.

I would continue to cautiously move forward, do as much due diligence a you can around him and his company, and if everything is cool, just have a _very_ high level conversation. I wouldn’t disclose anything about your product outside of what’s publicly available without an NDA in place.

DT

Renzatic said:

Hell yeah you should. She needs to get your credit card info again, since you conveniently forgot to include the CVC number last time.

Oh, and what's the limit on that Visa?

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Thanks for tip. Looks like I'm going to the Oscars with her, once I open another VISA account! Funny thing, on the phone she didn't sound anything like I expected. She had a deep throaty laugh, kinda like the sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

OP - for goodness sake make contact. You're smart enough to develop your own app that has generated some interest, right? If your spidy senses trip then back off. Why is this so hard?

Why not simply reply to his email and ask him what he wants to talk about ?

Sven11 said:

Well, his message was very short. He just said that he is interested in talking to me about my application and how the rest of the market is going.

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Nothing bad can come from talking. Just don't mention any future plans or give anything without a contract

Sven11 said:

I'm a developer in my free time and I recently received an email to my developer address. Apparently a CEO of some company that provides an application with a similar functionality to the one I developed is interested in talking to me. I googled everything he said in order to make sure that this isn't a scam and it seems be legit. His email address also indicates that this isn't fake.

Should I reply? What does he want from me?

Click to expand...

Ask him for his phone number. Give him a call and see what opertunities are on offer. Don't give him any information that you wouldn't trust to a spamer though.

See if he has Snapchat and tell him you'll only communicate through facial expressions and numbers on a calculator.

Gutwrench said:

Should you reply? Of course not. Nothing good can come from that. I also recommend you add his address to your junk filter - stat!

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Gutwrench said:

OP - for goodness sake make contact. You're smart enough to develop your own app that has generated some interest, right? If your spidy senses trip then back off. Why is this so hard?

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Your communication skills need spiffing up.

By that, I mean they're perfect, nothing needs to be done. Or maybe everything. Who can say?


OP: D.T.s advice mirrors mine. If they're in the same market as your app, I doubt they're trying to sell services, but it's a possibility.

smithrh said:

Your communication skills need spiffing up.

By that, I mean they're perfect, nothing needs to be done. Or maybe everything. Who can say?

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Fair comment. The sarcasm in my first post was lacking.

Congratz!!!! what apps do you make

I'd say talk to him, but listen rather than offer information.

Who knows, he might want to acquire your app ...or you.

sjinsjca said:

I'd say talk to him, but listen rather than offer information.

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Good advice.

OP should be on guard, but realize this could also be an opportunity, of unknown form.

If it's a "real" CEO of a real company, it won't be a long conversation - they typically don't have time to chat, they'll give you a quick idea of why they wanted to talk to you. I'd be a bit wary if it looks to be a long-winded call, then I'd think you're being pumped for information of some sort.

Tell him I am your agent and that he should contact me.

smithrh said:

Good advice.

OP should be on guard, but realize this could also be an opportunity, of unknown form.

If it's a "real" CEO of a real company, it won't be a long conversation - they typically don't have time to chat, they'll give you a quick idea of why they wanted to talk to you. I'd be a bit wary if it looks to be a long-winded call, then I'd think you're being pumped for information of some sort.

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One other piece of advice: Regardless of the how the conversation goes, take notes during or immediately following the call and sign and date them. If there is ever a dispute about what was said (it happens often during negotiations and legal proceedings), contemporaneous notes will carry more weight than your recollection at some point in the future. Also, avoid making statements that could be used against you down the line, such as where and when you got the concept for your app, ideas for other apps, marketing plans, and so on. Be cordial without being threatening or offering up anything substantial. And, if the call looks like it's going south, don't be afraid to end it.

Sven11 said:

I'm a developer in my free time and I recently received an email to my developer address. Apparently a CEO of some company that provides an application with a similar functionality to the one I developed is interested in talking to me. I googled everything he said in order to make sure that this isn't a scam and it seems be legit. His email address also indicates that this isn't fake.

Should I reply? What does he want from me?

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Are you kidding? Verify who he is and what company he heads. If that can be accomplished, I think you'd be a fool not to talk to him. Yes it could be a scam. Be wary.

I would call and inquire. emails are too easy to ignore

Gutwrench said:

Should you reply? Of course not. Nothing good can come from that. I also recommend you add his address to your junk filter - stat!

On a similar note, Ariana Grande keeps calling my cell and emailing me. Should I reply?

Click to expand...

Stop singing in the shower