How in the world can you locate qualified tech people to assist you with your build?
Though I’m sure there are alternatives, for those of you who lack development skills, could you please share how you went about creating your MVP?
As an example, I’m working to develop a highly vertically specific enterprise-grade project management software. Have been attempting to choose who to hire or enlist to assist in its development. Upwork appears to be a lottery, has a small network because of noncompete, and cannot afford to hire a super brain developer to serve as CTO.
Working with non-technical cofounders irks a lot of developers. since that’s how it actually feels. The businessman yells requirements and queries why that hasn’t been resolved yet.
However, other developers are searching for cofounders with excellent sales and marketing backgrounds. Therefore, you might find someone if you have a professional record in them.
If not, construct it yourself or pay freelancers or an agency to execute it, just like a legitimate firm would.
That’s precisely it. I work as a professional developer, and I fuck social media, despise sales, etc. But the last thing I need is an “idea guy”. I’ve got concepts. Therefore, someone who wants to work with me on a project for fifty percent of the total cost has to be really skilled in sales and marketing and have the time to dedicate to the project as much as I do.
I was going to respond as a seasoned developer, but I honestly couldn’t come up with a better description than yours.
OP, having a non-technical cofounder is like having a monkey on your back for a competent developer. is just a hassle and seldom accomplishes anything the developer hasn’t already proposed, thought of, or done. For what purpose does somebody have to forfeit a percentage?
Everything about that makes sense. Given my background in sales, I intend to work in that area. I could argue that a dev would not have the IP I have when it comes to what needs to be produced to be successful in this specific industry, but also I can’t construct it - so at the mercy of someone technical.
My viewpoint is a bit different. This might sound a bit arrogant, but I’ve significantly improved my technical skills by working on numerous projects and often building late into the night, sometimes spending days at my workstation without leaving.
As I developed my abilities, other skilled individuals gravitated towards me, and we formed a team. While we haven’t made any money yet, we’ve created a service with thousands of users in a solid niche, and we plan to add subscription options and focus on both B2B and B2C in the short term.
While building in public, I’ve had many business-minded individuals approach me with their big ideas, and I’ve gladly developed multiple MVPs for them without asking for payment, implying that if they succeeded, I would be willing to take on a role as Technical Cofounder. However, I’ve stopped doing this lately because most of those projects have failed, wasting my time and effort.
Perhaps I just haven’t met the right business-minded person, but here are the reasons I’ve seen for failure:
A. Shifting requirements: While building and brainstorming the MVP, the requirements often change.
B. Lack of understanding: There’s often little grasp of the extensive technical requirements that even seemingly “small” aspects of the MVP entail.
C. No proven market fit.
The upside is that these individuals usually have funds and plan to self-finance. However, I hesitate to accept any money until the MVP shows potential for profitability because I don’t want to feel tied to a “sinking ship.”
I’ve developed the skills, assembled a team, and gathered enough local server hardware to build nearly anything, but I feel compelled to stick to my niche, as I know it well. This is because I’ve yet to meet a business-minded individual with a solid, unchanging, unique idea that is likely to stand out and has a proven market fit. This person also needs to have a clear understanding of the deliverables, project scope, and a concrete plan for bringing the product to market.
Selecting the appropriate technology stack for your project is a good place to start. You should also feel free to utilize code from other projects, including open-source solutions. Consider everything as a set of building blocks to quickly design your MVP. Choose only those technologies you are already familiar with to save time on learning new fundamentals. To help you get started, if you’d like, I can provide a free architecture evaluation and help with preliminary planning.
It can be difficult to find the correct tech skills, particularly if you are not a developer, to build your MVP. Joining together with a technical co-founder who can lower your development costs in return for a stake in the company is a wise move. This guarantees that clients have a stake in the long-term success of the product in addition to saving money. Consider hiring independent contractors or agencies with relevant experience if that isn’t an option.
Having developed SaaS for 14 years, I’ve assisted other non-technical founders in realizing their concepts. Please get in touch if you want to discuss possibilities or have a conversation!
There’s only one answer if you don’t already know your cofounder. Employ them. Nobody is going to work for free for a stranger. Paying someone to execute the work is necessary, and you may then determine if you want them to become the CTO.