You should look at a case study like WooThemes.

They worked remotely (and still do) and have found success.

The only problem with your idea and the rest of the bootstrapped remote successful companies is that they were addressing a real customer need/problem and you are simply trying to address your situation of hating your 9-5.

Come up with a great idea, open your world to devs from everywhere, work your ass off initially and then build the company in a way in which that 9-5 doesn't feel like work anymore and can be done at 10-6 or 8-12 + 2-6.

Check out the open projects on DoerHub.com . You can see if you like one you want to join, or post this as a project others can join. It works like a Github for non-hackers, so you can find subject matter experts who have solid material for a passive income project (a doctor with algorithms for a medical iPhone app for example, though that exact one found a teammate already) and are looking for someone with your skill-set to split the project with.

I am working on something similar. The project management tool is based on Bugzilla, and I have built real time chat software for Android, iOS, and Web app. I organize everything around a "project" and each group has strong focus to get the product to market. If you are looking for general socializing place, HN works well in that regard.

I am involved with a couple of active projects. They are games targeting Asia Pacific market. You can take a look, http://121.199.0.53/bz/about.cgi

It is not much a way to escape 9-5, more of a place where like-minded people get together and build something interesting. If it pays off financially, it is even better.

"9-5'ers looking to escape" is an odd demographic to target, since if your group launched a product, you'd be working much longer than 9-5.

To be clear, the goal is not for the group to launch a product, it's to discuss mutually beneficial topics having to do with launching your own project.

I've owned a business, and Ive worked 9-5s, it's not an odd demographic at all, unless you buy into the macho bullshit about sleeping at your desk etc, by 20 year olds, who have never made a dollar themselves.

You're assuming that what we're escaping from is the time dedicated to work. I'm more looking for control of my own destiny, even if it involves a lot more hours.

Great idea. You might want people to include their timezone so that you can segment groups in to when people are available

http://jfdi.bz/ - $20/month. I'm giving it a try.

What has your experience been thus far?

I have a 9-5 and am bootstrapping a startup. Unfortunately my startup may compete with yours :)