5 Common Mistakes Non-Tech FoundersNumerous major technology companies worldwide were started by individuals
who didn’t have technical expertise themselves. Instead, they identified
talented individuals and outsourced the development work to bring their
groundbreaking products to life.To set up a technology startup that can truly disrupt the market, you
don’t necessarily have to be a tech whiz. What matters most is your unwavering
commitment to solving a problem. In this article, we’ll discuss the common
challenges that can crop up and provide guidance on how to tackle them.
6 November 2023
6 min read
1. Hiring the lowest-cost developersAs a startup founder, the initial phase can be tough, and it’s natural
to want to save on development costs. However, opting for cheap solutions,
such as hiring developers from freelance platforms, can be a gamble that
you can’t afford to lose.The quality of your product is directly proportional to the expertise
of your developer, and a substandard product will not only discourage users
but also fail to sell in the market. Therefore, it’s crucial to invest
wisely in your development team to ensure the success of your startup.SolutionTo get a good sense of a candidate’s past work experience, you should
delve into their previous projects by asking the right questions. Explore
how these projects were built, the technology choices, why they picked
those technologies, the major challenges they faced, and how long it took
to complete these projects.
2. Change tactics regularlyIn software development, constantly changing priorities can spell disaster.
While it’s crucial to be adaptable and responsive to market feedback, frequently
instructing your development team to drop their current tasks and switch
to something else without allowing them sufficient time creates a situation
where you end up with a lot of code, but no actual product to show for
it.SolutionIt is critical to adhere to a planned strategy in which weekly priorities
are viewed as sacred. Defer major plan adjustments until the next week
begins, with the ability to make exceptions when required but avoiding
frequent changes.Even if you’re anticipating a strategy shift shortly, make sure your team
completes their existing work. Avoid dramatic changes when an approach
becomes less important; instead, improve it by deleting non-essential components.
3. Adopt the “hire-and-forget” strategyBringing developers on board without providing them with clear guidance
leads to a disaster. If you aim to create a successful product, your ongoing
involvement is crucial, especially when starting a new project. While you
may have a brilliant idea, it’s essential to recognize that user needs
evolve rapidly.Without your consistent input and support, your project’s costs can spiral
out of control, and your development team can become demotivated. Blaming
others or unfairly assigning fault worsens the situation. Consequently,
this inflexible approach lacks adaptability, hindering your ability to
realign project priorities in response to market feedback.SolutionIn the realm of project management, the wisdom of “hire-and-forget” is
a perilous path. Instead, the prudent approach involves an unwavering commitment
to engagement since adaptability is the cornerstone of success.The key lies in the willingness to reorient project priorities, attuned
to the feedback. This path offers a better prospect of success and preservation
of financial integrity.
4. Launching when the product is perfectThe traditional way of launching a new product with all its features ready
from the start is no longer the most common approach. These days, many
products follow a leaner path, where they release an early version and
then make improvements based on feedback.Putting off your product launch can lead to a few issues. First, someone
else might beat you to the market with a similar product and steal your
thunder. Second, without any initial users, you won’t have the data you
need to guide your updates and add new features. Finally, by rolling out
an early version, you can start making money, which increases your chances
of success.SolutionDon’t hold out for the perfect product; instead, embrace the lean startup
method. Get an initial version out there with the basics and tweak it based
on what users say. The sooner you launch, the better. It not only carves
your spot in the market but also keeps competitors at bay.Furthermore, early launches fetch valuable user data to fine-tune and
add new features, therefore vital for product improvement. Plus, you start
making money sooner, which keeps your startup afloat and ups your long-term
success odds.
5. Set unrealistic deadlinesSometimes, you might find yourself in a tight spot. For instance, you
might have a golden opportunity to meet a potential investor or client
who wants to see a specific feature, and you are planning to showcase it
next week.In this case, you might turn to your developers for help, and they’ll
likely be willing to assist. However, this leads to the creation of subpar
code, often referred to as “technical debt.” It’s not their fault – it’s
just that you can’t expect lightning-fast results and top-notch code quality
simultaneously.SolutionWhen confronted with unrealistic deadlines, striking a balance between
seizing opportunities and upholding code quality is vital. To do this,
work closely with your developers to define achievable milestones that
align with your goals. With this, you can not only meet essential deadlines
but also maintain the overall quality of your product.
