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I am looking for people's ideas on how to gather  together a development team and create a product from conception and design requirements all the way though product launch. 

Let me start by saying that I am not a programmer or developer.  I do have an idea that I would like to see brought out, so this is a discussion about how to get a team together that has the know-how and how to set and reach a development goal. 

The idea is an internet application for OSX; the next step would be to port the application to the iPhone platform.  The application is something that's already on the market, in greater number and better versions in the PC world.  The few existing Mac products have their shortcomings, and I would like to see a "best of breed" product developed.

I would really like to hear your opinions and personal experiences with the following:

- Where do you find the talent pool to write a new program?

- What are industry models for funding software development?
   --> Contract payment (money I may not have up front)? 
   --> Promise of interest in future sales?
   --> Other?

- What's the dollar range for a software development team under these models?

- What are the most important qualities for the visionary/team leader to have (that's the guy with the idea but who does not know how to code)?

- What are the chief liabilities in a visionary/leader that would screw up the project?

- What are the most important qualities that you want the seek in your development team?  Qualities that you want to avoid?

Thanks in advance,

Dale