Building a startup is hard, especially if you are from a non-technical background. You will have a mountain of technical jargon to understand at every step of your journey, and without proper direction, it might all seem too much to handle!
Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve encountered countless hurdles, faced skeptics, and embraced the steep learning curve of understanding the intricacies of the tech realm. From finding the right technical co-founder to building a high-performing development team and leveraging emerging technologies, I’ve navigated the challenges that non-technical founders often face. And now, armed with the wisdom gained from my experiences, I’m eager to guide you on this transformative adventure.
This blog will delve into various topics designed specifically to empower non-technical founders like yourself. We’ll explore practical strategies for validating your startup idea, demystifying technical jargon, and uncovering the secrets to successful product development. Together, we’ll discover how to forge strong partnerships with technical experts, effectively communicate your vision, and build a robust tech startup that has the potential to disrupt industries and leave an indelible mark on the world.
Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur looking to plunge into the tech space or a first-time founder with a brilliant concept, this blog is tailored to meet your needs. I’ll share practical advice, actionable tips, and real-world examples to inspire and equip you with the knowledge and confidence to transform your vision into reality.
Remember, your non-technical background is not a limitation; it’s a unique advantage that fuels innovation and brings fresh perspectives. So, let’s embark on this transformative journey together and unlock the secrets to building incredible tech startups as non-technical founders.
However, mountains are there to be conquered, and with the right idea and a great plan, nothing can come in the way of your entrepreneurial success. Remember, innovation is what drives startups, not code.
For example, Brian Chesky, co-founder of Airbnb, has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Industrial Design and hasn’t written a single line of code in his life. He is now worth $12.6 billion and is one of the shining examples of successful startup founders from non-technical backgrounds.Â
Similarly, Evan Sharp- co-founder of Pinterest; Sean Rad- Founder and Chairman of Tinder; and Walker Williams- Founder and CEO of Teespring, are all founders who do not know how to code but have found success providing innovative solutions.
How did they do it? While technology remains essential to growing a company, but how you wield it has changed drastically.Â
Here are seven ways you, as a non-technical founder, can build an incredible startup:
Table of Contents
Good Ol’ Way – Learn to code
Learning to code is something that I recommend to anyone in any age group. It helps you look at the digital world in a new light and find innovative solutions.
You can learn to code from the comfort of your home using online courses and tutorials. Some of the simpler programming languages that I recommend for beginners are:
- Python
- Java
- Ruby
- Javascript
- C
- HTML
As a startup founder, you might not have the time to learn all these. However, a basic understanding of code will help you manage your project effectively. This might be while talking to your tech team, allocating resources, quality control, or bringing a tech partner on board.
No Code / Low Code platforms
Depending on your expertise and the type of project you are building, No-Code and Low-Code are viable options that you can try. These platforms use pre-existing code to represent a modifiable user interface visually.
Drag and Drop website builders are a great example of NoCode, where you can create fantastic web pages simply by moving visual blocks instead of programming them. WordPress (In its recent iterations) and Wix are famous examples of such types of No-Code / Low-Code platforms.
Other use cases include making Visual datasheets (Airtable), building mobile apps (Adalo), and application clustering (Zapier).
No-code platforms, however, do lack high customization potential. If you have a unique architecture in mind for your product, getting a template or design for it will be difficult. Similarly, integrating multiple different features might prove challenging as well.
Hire a strong tech team
Building a solid tech team can help compensate for your lack of technical expertise.
Start by hiring an experienced full-stack developer and work with him to understand manpower and resource requirements. You can even hire one or two junior developers to assist him in building your startup.
Remember that hiring developers is costly and entails providing them with all the perks and benefits of an employee. If you are running bootstrapped, try bringing people on board in return for equity or a mix of cash and equity.Â
Additionally, collaborative innovation is necessary to build a strong tech team, wherein employees from different backgrounds work together to develop new products or process ideas. That’s when hiring the right people comes into play right from the start to establish an effective collaborative innovation process in your organization.Â
Having the right tools is also crucial to building a strong tech team. Ensuring access to the latest software, development frameworks, collaboration platforms, and project management tools can streamline workflows, enhance productivity, and facilitate seamless communication among team members. Additionally, investing in training and professional development opportunities can empower team members to stay updated with emerging technologies and best practices, further strengthening the capabilities of the tech team.
Join a Startup Incubator
A startup incubator is a collaborative space that helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses, especially in its early stages. They can be for-profit, not-for-profit, and even institutional (run by Universities or Governments)
Incubators provide founders a space to set up their business as well as a variety of other resources, including:
- High-speed internet
- Business and marketing training
- Documentation help
- Financial assistance
- Access to investors
- Networking and mentorship
Joining a Startup incubator won’t get you coding or technical help per se. Still, it allows you to network with many seasoned developers, entrepreneurs, and tech founders. Some of these people might even collaborate with you on your startup if you are convincing enough.
Startup incubators usually prefer startup teams with tech founders who can develop the product.
Outsource Tech
If you have a clear vision of what you want to build, outsourcing your technical requirements is a sure-shot way to get a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) in the prescribed amount of time. Outsourcing is usually faster and less expensive than hiring a similar-sized tech team, and you will be working with people with multiple years of experience in the field.
While outsourcing, you should have a clear idea of your final product. Learn the art of visualization and convey your needs with utmost clarity. This will help the developers understand your product clearly and limit any back-and-forth during the final stages of product development.
Outsourcing begins with defining project requirements clearly, including objectives, scope, budget, and timeline, while identifying necessary technical expertise. Research and evaluate potential outsourcing partners based on their track record, portfolio, expertise, communication skills, and cultural fit. Establish clear communication channels, negotiate terms, and document agreements in a contract.
Provide detailed project briefings upfront, including specifications and expectations. Monitor progress, provide feedback promptly, and prioritize quality assurance and testing throughout development. Launch the MVP, gather user feedback, and iterate based on insights. Maintain ongoing relationships with outsourcing partners, considering them as part of the team for future projects.
Tech Co-Founder
Have you noticed that almost all unicorn startups (valued over $1 billion) globally have more than one founder? Cofounders bring a fresh perspective to your company and prevent any tunnel vision from forming due to the lack of external feedback. They should ideally have skills that complement and accentuate yours.
In your case, bringing in a technical cofounder will free you from trying to make sense of the unknown. You can utilize the extra time to focus on the things you do best- business, product, or marketing. Pitching to a potential investor will also be easier if you have someone with a technical background alongside you.
When choosing a cofounder, be extremely picky and look for people who align with your company vision. Try to find someone you know who has a drive for entrepreneurship. You don’t want a partner who will take advantage of your lack of knowledge or run away at the first sign of trouble.
Partner with a Technical Startup Studio
If you want the expertise of a technical co-founder but with the flexibility of outsourcing, partnering with a technology startup studio can be the right way to go.
Technical startup studios are ‘parallel entrepreneurship’ platforms that help founders build and grow their projects in return for equity. They usually work with multiple startups in succession with various levels of involvement. These include:
- Web and mobile app development
- Customer acquisition and marketing
- Post-product support
- Fully-fledged tech team
As payment is made partly through equity in the startups, these studios essentially act as the first investors of your startup and have greater accountability.
Aji Abraham, Co-Founder of Chicago-based startup studio CodeVentures, says, “Many non-technical founders find it hard to convert their ideas into a minimum viable product(MVP) without external help. The technical challenges only increase as they try to scale up and bring the product into the market.”
He adds, “Finding the right technical partner is pivotal for any startup’s success. This should be done on priority- as early as possible in the product development. An ideal tech partner helps the startup build the product and scopes out a definitive path to success.”Â
Understanding these challenges, Startup studios like Codeventures have taken up additional roles as incubators. They want their equity partners to have a solid product and succeed in the market. This is done through timely discovery workshops, mentorship, and even providing a part-time CTO.