How To Build A Tech Startup With No Technical Skills

By
09rupeshraj4@gmail.com
-
49
41


Based on the thousands of companies YC has funded over the years, the biggest common element between all successful startups is having technical talent on the founding team. But what do you do if you don’t know how to code? You may think you can get by using no-code tools, part-time consultants, or dev shops to bring your startup idea to life. But that thinking is wrong.

In this episode of Dalton & Michael, we’ll discuss exactly why that is and why recruiting a technical co-founder is the single biggest way to create value as someone trying to start the next big thing.

Apply to Y Combinator:
Work at a Startup:

Chapters (Powered by –
00:00 – Coming Up
00:32 – Technical Founders
01:52 – The Intersection
05:06 – Software Engineers
09:18 – How to Find Them
10:31 – Ask The Best
11:28 – How Not to Pitch
13:26 – The Adventure
14:17 – Great Recruiters

source

49 Comments

  1. Chapters (Powered by ChapterMe) –
    00:00 – Coming Up
    00:17 – Why Business Folks Need Great Technical Co-Founders
    00:32 – Technical Founders
    01:52 – The Intersection: Great Business Founders and Hiring Amazing Technical Co-Founders
    03:32 – Making The Point Explicit
    04:44 – Advice From Personal Experience At Twitch
    05:06 – Great Software Companies Are Built By Great Software Engineers
    06:54 – Equivalent In NBA
    09:18 – Where Do I Find Technical Co-Founders?
    10:31 – Thought Experiment: Ask The Best Person You Know
    11:28 – How Not to Pitch: Come Up with the Idea Together
    12:18 – Being An Amazing Recruiter
    13:26 – Offering An Adventure: Building A Company Together
    14:17 – Pattern: Successful Non-Technical Founders Are Great Recruiters
    14:59 – Outro

  9. The theory of needing a technical cofounder is a myth, at least in my personal experience. I have found many more examples, including in my own businesses, that paying cash upfront is much more appealing. The other issue I’ve seen is when a great entrepreneur is working with a technical cofounder who, while has great talent, is often lazy or tied up with their main job and doesn’t dedicate sufficient time to finishing the project, which can lead to months and years of wasted time, when they could’ve just spent the $15-$20k on an MVP and get funding then hire devs on salary. Also a technical cofounder takes way more equity which “costs” a lot more down the line if the company succeeds.

  13. It's true and tuff. Every month when I watch this, it relates. Being non-technical, and researcher is tuff, even you're good at every non-technical skills. Technical skills and technical co-founder is must at every point.

  15. Specialization is very important. Time is a major constraint in becoming technical. It also depends what is good enough as being “technical”. What’s the aim of being technical when you can master product management and marketing.

  17. My two cents. Sometimes tech folks are very stereotypically. They don’t usually have the best software skills and don’t usually have a top down vision. The ones that do are harder to find. Very hard. I have been in the tech industry for 15+ years and worked with them all. I’m even a tech myself. I would be hesitant to have a tech lead as a cofounder but I would definitely have a highly skilled engineer on my team

  21. I would like to learn about the opposite of this video. I am an average technical person but I think with some effort I can build anything. But problem is I do not know how to sell or how to test market value of the product or how to find customer. And I know I can learn those probably but I don't want to. I want to find a co-founder who will do all of the business part so I can focus on the product part.

  31. Wished to have Dalton and Michael as co-founders in a founding team while offering adventure on the way up but let's be real it's impossible. If I will be able to accomplish good project from my pointless ideas list, after couple funding rounds will be able to join YC as investor and hanging out with them, so i am betting on it. 😃🤍✌🏻

  33. Man, this hit me right on the spot. Felt like you were talking directly to me.

    I watched this video just after starting work on my MVP with a vendor in a consulting arrangement…

    At the same time, I’ve been evaluating many different vendors to find one that truly understands and challenges my idea. They also have a proven history of taking equity in projects they work on and give me the possibility to hire the consultants involved from the beginning. Yes, I would definitely want to find a co-founder, but at the same time, you have to move forward (I know, I’m the stereotype you’re talking about).

    But I believe that taking this risk on my own, until enough incentives are on the table for others to join, will pay off in the end.

    Someone mentioned Tope Awotona in the comments, so I started reading about him.

    Turns out, he didn’t find a co-founder. Instead, he used his own life savings to fund the development, hiring a vendor who believed in his idea and challenged him—even though the vendor profited regardless of the outcome.

    I understand and agree that finding a co-founder would be ideal. But at some point, you have to move forward, and opportunities will come.

    You mentioned that a potential way to find a co-founder could be to take a “side-track” and work with a startup. But honestly, do you think someone who’s fully obsessed with their project is just going to “let go” and join an established company? Come on!

    Great video anyways.
    Cheers

  49. Great advice. I'll add that it is best to focus on the groundwork you can start doing now and keep searching for the cofounder, instead of just sitting and waiting for them to come to you perchance. I believe we will make it so let's go get it!

  57. The irony of this: technology will make this less true over time. I think a non technical founder can make a non VC backed lifestyle business just fine. VC backed is a different story – they're goal is to 1000x. Technology is a big part of the differentiating IP, and certainly a hallmark of 'solving hard problems', then ya, you want the people who actually understand and are proficient with tech & engineering.

  59. i was hoping this video would cover what a non-technical business founder would look like, especially at a YC-backed early-stage startup. as in, what would their day-to-day look like? what would they be doing?

  75. Hey everyone, I wanted to emphasize the importance of NDAs and IP filings before sharing ideas. Recently, I noticed some startup advice suggesting not to require an NDA signed before sharing your pitch, claiming it would deter interest. However, this can be extremely risky! As a struggling single mom of three and an inventor of technology, I had my former 'senior advisor' (who was already a multi-millionaire) sign an NDA when disclosing my idea, thank God. Seven years after my invention/start-up I found out that he was building my business model out with a major bank who bought my invention/business model for almost $100 million! Do NOT give your ideas freely! Your ideas take THOUGHT POWER! A lot of people are too dumb to think, so they look for smart, creative people to do it for them, but the only difference is that they have money and the connections to make YOUR idea/concept happen. These types should be held LEGALLY accountable! Lesson: NDA'S, Copyright, and file IP. Then you have a case;)

  79. How could a boy who is of 23 years old and want to build a tech startup but he don't know how to code he don't have technical background but still he wants to build a thech startup no matter whether in the first phase it is a small startup with less number of team

  85. Interesting, in another video someone said, don’t tell the investors that you just met with your cofounder. Now, I should just meet a total stranger and trust him and give him half of my business? Why can’t I just hire them to do the job?

  87. 00:01 The best business founders recruit amazing technical co-founders
    02:06 Having a technical co-founder is crucial for success in a tech startup.
    03:58 Starting a tech company without a technical co-founder is challenging
    05:42 Building a successful tech startup requires dedicated individuals who are willing to put in the effort.
    07:33 Having a technical co-founder is a tremendous benefit for non-technical founders.
    09:34 Don't disqualify great people and consider getting a job at a startup before starting a company.
    11:31 Finding a tech co-founder is about collaboration and partnership, not just finding an assistant.
    13:25 Adventure and the unknown are key motivators in starting a tech startup.

Leave A Reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here