Many people have ideas that they do not have the technical knowledge to implement and launch a startup. These people are called non-technical founders.
Due to the programming role in all business areas, today, most startups are related to software in different ways. In other words, the knowledge and skills of software development have become increasingly important as a core skill in an innovative startup business.
However, the good news for people who want to implement their ideas but do not have the technical skills is that they do not have to worry. Lack of coding skills does not prevent you from moving towards implementing your ideas.
The Initial Steps to Launch a Startup
Step1:
First of all, you need to find out if the market needs your idea. In other words, a good idea for a startup is the one that can solve a problem or responds to a need. To do this, go among the people. Listen to their issues in taxis and other public transportation and share your idea with them. You can start with your loved ones and then ask other people. You do not need to use questionnaires, statistical methods, and complex tasks to gather others’ opinions. It is enough to talk to them and present your idea and ask for their opinion.
However, if you are one of those people who like to do this research in an orderly manner, based on effective global structures and frameworks, you can use the “Jobs to be Done” framework, or JTBD for short.
Step2:
The next step is to check the conformity of your solution to the problem. Otherwise, it may be your illusions that you have found the right answer.
There are several ways to do this review and verification, including building a minimum viable product (MVP) in non-technical ways, such as using email, face-to-face simulation, paper, etc.
How to launch your startup?
After going through the above two steps, now is the time to produce the first versions of your desired startup. This is where your need for programming comes into play.
At this stage, non-technical founders usually take one of these two options:
- Outsourcing software, site, mobile application, etc. to software companies or individuals (freelancers)
- To attract the right technical co-founder
Although the former can be useful if done correctly, the latter is usually better. Some non-technical founders choose the first one but do not do it in the right way. As a result, they may face problems and challenges that affect their entire idea and motivation to run a startup.
Possible Challenges in Improper Outsourcing:
1. Rising cost and production time:
If you do not outsource correctly, there will be changes in the software development path’s details, which will waste your time and the company or person you have entrusted with the startup. As a result, after a while, continuing to work on your project for that company or person loses its economic justification.
2. Improper software production
If you can not communicate effectively with your executor, you can not convey your startup details as you have in mind. As a result, you say something, and he notices something else, and in the end, the software will not be what you ordered.
3. Product abuse:
Another risk is abusing your startup and offering it under another name. A third party that makes your software may be tempted to provide the same app under a different name but the same code.
Although one way to prevent this is to write a robust legal contract and commit the third party to not reusing the software, he can still use your idea by making changes to the software.
Solutions to solve the above challenges
As mentioned, the best solution is to find a technical co-founder who believes in the startup idea as much as you do and takes over the technical part in exchange for the stock.
Given that finding such a person is not easy, consider the following if you decide to outsource the technical part.
- Get enough knowledge of the person or company:
To do this, talk to their previous clients, review their portfolios, and gauge their thinking.
- Offer shares:
One of the most useful things you can do to get to know a person or company is to offer shares instead of a paycheck portion. This way, you can gauge his or her confidence in your idea. If he agrees, he will do his best to produce a successful startup. Also, your costs will be lower.
- Do not outsource the project completely:
In order to protect your software and prevent potential abuse, it is best not to outsource the entire startup to one person or one company. To do this, you should try to make your prod
