Finding a Technical Co-Founder | Hacker News Reader

Finding a Technical Co-Founder

metamorphblog.com

23 pointsMediaSquirrel10 comments

All good points one I would add though is pitch a tech co-founder just as you would a VC. You want them to invest their time and you need to show them why your venture is better than their own ideas. If you are not telling them who you are, what you bring to the table, what you want them to invest in, and how you will make it successful you are going about it all wrong.

By far the worst mistake you can make is: you the non-technical person dictating the platform in your ad for a tech co-founder. If you are non-technical you have no business deciding the pro's or con's of a particular platform doing so shows what constraints you are going to put the technical co-founder under and says to them we are not equal, I just can't do it, but I am going to dictate how we do it.

As a non-tech founder, I have a few thoughts as well.

- Respect the tech side. Learn the difference between a language and a framework. Leverage the internet and the power of a library card to educate yourself on at least a few general points.

- Respect the relationship. You don't understand till you're in it; but a partnership is truly a marriage of sorts. You likely would not choose a spouse based on a few brief meetings over the net and an awkward face-to-face. Develop a relationship, see how your work with one another and be genuine.

- Respect the team. Don't force a partnership because you found someone to code in RoR and you heard that was the "right" way to go. Find someone you can truly be a partner with. You may be surprised at the great ideas you can come up with together as oppose to the initial idea.

All that being said; every situation is different, as is every founder. Your mileage can - and will - vary.

I had an idea and believed in it, took my own money; hired some Ruby Developers offshore, hired a designer locally and built a MVP. Currently working with test clients but need someone on board to be responsible for the tech and own it. I have learnt a lot and I really respect and appreciate the capabilities of a good hacker. Rather then spend time learning to code (which I still am) I worked with the developers to really understand the basics and run the company on my own. I can push and pull with Git, do little bit of DB management, Heroku is AMAZING! and I love EC2. But to grow more I need a guy who can own the code and really believe in the product.

This is my approach for hiring a good Technical CO-Founder!

That's a good way, IMO. I think a lot of non-tech co-founders should look more at outsourcing the development. When even Jrs at good computer schools already have jobs with the big guys, either a tech co-founder really gets your vision and is totally in synch with you (rare) or they have a lot of their own ideas. Let's face it the track record of companies founded without a tech co-founder is dismal and I think that's because the non-tech co-founder has no appreciation for the tech side.

I happen to be a non-tech with a CS degree (old) but at least I know what's involved having come from development. We need to educate ourselves so at least we can have a cogent conversation with techs. One way to do that is to build something with our own resources.

I think also having a prototype that you can at least test customers with and even maybe make a sale or two will go a long way towards swaying a tech co-founder candidate.

just had a good laugh. thanks for posting!

I think point #3 is most important for non-tech guys to understand. If I'm building the product, you better have more than just an idea. Do you have experience in this industry, funding, strategic advisors, distribution, etc? Why should I work with you when there are a million other business guys with equally crazy ideas out there?

Yeah, I love when someone pitches me to help them build a web app for their "great idea" and then think thats it. Just because you have an MBA and an idea does not entice me.

All good but as someone else mentioned: #3 is the biggest one. And what's even scarier is if your tech guy doesn't realize #3 is the biggest one, you should find a new tech guy!!

That said, man I see a lot of these posts...where are all these non-tech people? I'm a tech guy and I can't find a good non-tech guy! Maybe I stink...

I totally agree. As a non-tech co-founder it is up to me to sell value to the prospective tech co-founder, investor and eventually to the customer. If I can't do that then why work with me. That's my main function.

All that being said, I think there is a call for humility on the tech side of things too (I know I might get flamed for this) but most good BD people I know may not be able to code but they do know the business and what is possible. Any great product will go no where without good sales and marketing and that's a fact. Both sides have to have respect for each other's visions.

I'm going to post the same comment every time I see "How to find a technical co-founder?" or similar post, sorry: it's easier than you think: contact me and you might have just found one.

Hi Francesco,

How do I contact you?

Reply on news.ycombinator.com