I think that's a good idea for a type of small email group. If anyone ever wants to talk ideas to a small group, you can send me or mahmud an email. Also, Mahmud, you can pitch directly to Hacker News. Just make a link to your executive summary or slide deck or whatever you have. Multiple companies have raised money this way, though it may be a little harder with the world economy collapsing around us.
rms, HN is all great for public stuff; but I am talking about arrangements like "here is an idea, and here is your first customer; I will get you a domain name, phone, fax and a dedicated box. I will also do the DB for you. Now run with it!" type of stuff.
My ideas usually come with a "first customer". People ask me for a solution for an specialized case and I see an opportunity to solve the general case.
Anyway, it's probably something left to the existing network of friends instead of trying to acquire others anew.
