Sorry, You Need the "Tech" in Your Tech Startups
Written on
Chapter 1: The Importance of Technical Skills
In the realm of successful technology entrepreneurs, a common thread connects figures like Zuckerberg, Gates, and Bezos: a strong technical background. These individuals not only conceptualized innovative ideas but also had the ability to bring them to life through technical expertise. It’s no surprise that most solo founders in the tech space possess technical skills.
While some non-technical founders, such as Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn), Peter Thiel (PayPal), and Brian Chesky (Airbnb), have also achieved remarkable success, research suggests that having a technical foundation remains advantageous. As highlighted in the Harvard Business Review, companies benefit significantly when founders possess technical knowledge in tandem with business acumen.
This insight fuels my determination to succeed, despite the challenges I may face. Many of my non-technical peers often seek advice on launching their startups. Here's how my journey unfolded as a non-technical founder before my technical co-founder came on board.
Section 1.1: Embrace Your Strengths
A frequent complaint from non-technical founders is, "I can't do X because I lack a technical co-founder." However, I believe that you can make considerable progress on your own before needing a full-time technical partner.
Reflecting on my own experience, I initiated my company, developed a product prototype, and secured my pre-seed funding long before my technical co-founder joined. The notion that your journey hinges solely on finding the perfect technical partner is often misguided.
Take ownership of your role as a founder, which includes attracting talented individuals to your team. Here are some key aspects to excel in as a non-technical founder:
Subsection 1.1.1: Determine Your Product
The startup landscape emphasizes that achieving product-market fit is paramount for early-stage companies. This involves addressing three critical questions:
- What to build — Product
- How to build — Engineering
- How to sell — Sales
Everything else is secondary. While roles may vary, your primary focus as a non-technical founder will be on product development and sales, with some exceptions requiring specific expertise. As the person responsible for defining what to build, you risk becoming a bottleneck for your technical team, even if they are eager to start.
First-time founders often struggle with this process. Learning how to ask insightful questions to potential users is a skill that typically develops over time, often beginning with frameworks like the "Mom Test."
Understanding what to build is a complex topic, but at its core, it involves:
- Identifying target users, their problems, and potential solutions to formulate a hypothesis: "User X faces issue Y that can be resolved with solution Z."
- Designing tests to gather insights while balancing time and cost constraints.
- Transforming that idea into features, then a product, and ultimately a business.
- Continuously iterating to achieve the elusive product-market fit.
Much of your time will be dedicated to identifying potential users, reaching out, scheduling interviews, and learning from their feedback, behaviors, and online presence.
Running small tests—like surveys or trials that require minimal user investment—can help validate or challenge your hypotheses.
Section 1.2: Validate Your Ideas Through Action
Your actions can serve as a true reflection of your conviction in your startup ideas. It's easy to be overly optimistic, but your efforts will reveal your genuine belief in your vision.
- Are you actively working to develop the product?
Once you’ve established your hypothesis through user interviews, are you willing to dedicate time to designing experiments and creating mock-ups for user feedback?
In 2023, various no-code tools—such as Carrd.co, Figma, proto.io, and Bubble—enable you to create prototypes without technical skills.
By actively engaging in the development process, you not only validate your concepts but also reap additional benefits:
- Streamlined feature sets: Engaging hands-on prevents you from adding unnecessary features.
- Cultivating good habits: When you eventually bring on a technical co-founder, you’ll be able to justify your decisions regarding feature priorities.
During my journey, I conducted over 50 customer interviews to establish my initial hypothesis. I may not have excelled at creating mock-ups, but I successfully launched a landing page.
Additionally, since my product relied on financing and distribution, I engaged with numerous industry players, ultimately securing a Letter of Intent (LOI) from a distribution partner willing to pilot our product.
The first video titled "The Little Tech Agenda: Why We Support Trump" explores the intersection of technology and political support, discussing how tech leaders navigate their political affiliations and the implications for their businesses.
Section 1.3: Invest in Your Vision
- Are you prepared to invest your own resources?
In the early stages of my startup, establishing a domain and website was essential for gaining credibility with potential users and partners. While my LinkedIn profile helped, it wasn't always sufficient.
To formalize legal agreements, including LOIs, you need a legitimate entity to ensure contracts are binding. This was particularly important for me during the pre-seed fundraising period.
Sitting in my dorm room at Oxford, I recalled how it takes less than $1,000 to incorporate as a Delaware Corporation through services like Clerky, Inc. or StripeAtlas.
If you hesitate to invest even $1,000, it may reflect your conviction regarding the idea or a desire to mitigate risks in other areas of your career before pursuing entrepreneurship.
While $3,000 might seem minor in the grand scheme, if you’re unwilling or unable to commit that amount, it indicates potential challenges in managing a business.
Beyond incorporation, you’ll need to open a bank account, register in various states, set up payroll and bookkeeping, and ensure compliance with tax authorities. You may also require certifications, patents, or insurance, depending on your field.
- Are you ready to risk your reputation?
If your startup needs venture capital, it's crucial not to bootstrap for too long. Securing funding is essential for survival, which often entails exploring competitions, grants, accelerators, and more.
Admitting to others that you’re launching a startup can be daunting, especially given that 95% of startups fail. However, I staked my reputation during my pre-seed round by engaging with potential investors, refining my pitch, and scheduling numerous meetings.
Ultimately, I secured funding and even applied to several accelerators, including Y Combinator, which we successfully joined.
The second video titled "Do You Have a GENIUS Startup Idea?" offers insights into what constitutes a viable startup idea, guiding aspiring entrepreneurs through the validation process.
Chapter 2: The Path Forward
Do you truly need to undertake all these steps? Yes, while you might not need to complete every task before bringing a technical co-founder on board, these actions are necessary in the long run.
Not only do these experiences test your conviction, but they also prepare you for when you can hit the ground running with your new partner.
Approaching a technical co-founder with a clear plan and validated ideas is far more compelling than simply stating, "I have a hunch."
Consider their perspective—would you take the plunge?
Why is this critical?
It’s important to acknowledge that the tone of this discussion may seem harsh. I know founders who have done everything I’ve suggested, yet still face hurdles due to technical limitations.
I was fortunate to find a top-tier co-founder. When I pitched him, I had no idea he would join, given his impressive alternatives.
However, I write this as a reminder to my past self, who often felt constrained by a lack of technical skills.
We can recognize the difficulties without deeming them impossible. While the journey may be tougher for non-technical founders, we can achieve a great deal and even succeed against the odds.
What's your best advice for non-technical founders?
Support my coffee habit and fuel my writing.