So you’ve got big ideas and are looking to launch a startup. Or maybe you’re up and running, a fledgling baby startup trying to survive, looking for a co-founder. Co-founders are a wonderful asset to a startup, especially when it’s all hands on deck. Everyone is reaching outside of their areas of expertise and working very hard to help the company grow.
In today’s tech world, where everything is apps, machine learning, software development, algorithms, gadgets, and gizmos, it can feel overwhelming for those who aren’t technically minded. If tech isn’t your ‘thing,’ you might feel inclined to find a co-founder that is strong in that area. With their expertise, you may feel better positioned to build custom software for your startup.
But a technical co-founder isn’t always the best choice for every startup, and it’s certainly not the only option available.
Remember, your co-founder will be around long after your custom software is developed. You want to choose someone because they are a great overall pick for the future of your business, not because they can code. Agencies that offer custom software development for startups can bridge this expertise gap and add the value needed at a fraction of the cost of finding a technical co-founder. You can outsource the technical responsibilities to a reputable software development agency like Modern Launch. This allows you to focus on launching and running your business.
What is a Technical Co-Founder?
A technical co-founder is a business partner with experience in programming, creating software products, working with development cycles, or other general technical accomplishments. They can guide the software development process to build your vision. Usually, the technical co-founder takes control of the development and the development team, leaving you to focus on other core areas of launching a startup. That being said, all founders should play an active role in the vision and overall execution of product development.
Most technical co-founders have worked (with great success!) within the growing tech industry. Previous startup experience is a huge advantage here. They should be well-versed in API integrations, various development frameworks, and other key topics that aren’t in your wheelhouse. They need to be on top of the latest and greatest when it comes to product development from a startup perspective.
Co-Founder Role
When hiring an employee, you fill a specific role with specific responsibilities and expertise requirements. But selecting a co-founder is something else entirely. Your co-founder is going to be your business partner. You’ll work in very close proximity with this individual for the first few years of business. You need to select someone you truly want to be in business with, someone you truly enjoy working with, and someone you trust. Someone that shares the same vision for the future of your startup. This individual will be an equity owner in the company and you need to be comfortable and ready to make this commitment.
You can’t predict how the working relationship will progress if you choose a co-founder you barely know. Rapport and natural chemistry are essential components of a close business relationship.
Feeling the Pressure
You shouldn’t compromise your co-founder relationship by feeling pressured to follow the ‘technical co-founder’ trend. This trend falls under the belief that a founder should use co-founders to compensate for their shortcomings. For example, if the founder has engineering experience but lacks design experience, a co-founder with years of design experience can fill a critical skill gap. But this view fails to recognize the greater nuances at play here. There’s more than just a skill gap to consider.
First and foremost, a co-founder should be a talented leader and entrepreneur. 65% of startups fail due to management issues, from choosing the wrong people to lead. Start your upper management team out strong by choosing a well-rounded co-founder. Regardless of titles, strong business acumen is a must for any co-founder.
Don’t just select someone to cross ‘technical’ expertise off the list. Once your application is launched, and your product development is complete, their technical knowledge will become far less useful than a quick-thinking savvy businessperson.
But Now, Who Builds the Custom Software?
You might think you need a technical co-founder to help you execute your great idea, so they can oversee the custom software development your startup needs to succeed.
But you don’t.
Let the software development professionals handle all things technical. Software development agencies offer end-to-end custom software development for startups, meaning they’ll build an application from the ground up. From planning and design all the way through to deployment and production.
You can build a thriving business without an in-house software development team. Instead, you and your employees can focus on other critical business functions like sales & marketing, fundraising, recruitment, accounting, and building a customer base.
Agencies offering custom software development for startups, like Modern Launch, allow anyone with a strong idea and business vision to create a viable software product. Whether you need a proprietary solution for internal use or a B2B and B2C solution for large-scale distribution, our established process and proven developers can deliver on your startup’s goals.
By choosing an agency, you get the best of both worlds. You don’t get just one technical mind but a host of professionals. This means you also get to choose the co-founder you want, if and when you want them, and you can still build the high-quality professional application of your dreams.
If you’re interested in learning more about Modern Launch, please reach out. We’d love to discuss how we can help you bring your ideas for software to life.
We hope you found this article helpful. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to reach out to us.
Here’s how you can get in touch with us:
Email: contact@modernlaunch.co
Website: https://modernlaunch.co/
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