[byoung2]

It depends on the type of startup. If your startup isn't completely tech-oriented, e.g. soemthing like Airbnb where the value is in the service provided, renting a coder would probably work, since the technology isn't your core competency. If it is something more like Dropbox, where the value is the technology, you will have difficulty outsourcing that.

An analogy is that you don't have to learn everything about cars if you are just driving to your day job. Let a mechanic take care of that, and you can focus on what you do best. If you want to be a NASCAR driver, you should know everything your pit crew knows.

[ms4720]

Disagree with the nascar bit, you do not need to know how to change a tire in in X sec because when this happens you will always be sitting in the race car. What the driver cares about is that everything that needs to happen does and is done as quickly as possible consistently, in a word metrics. Now the pit crew chief needs to know the pit crews jobs to ensure things get done properly.

[byoung2]

Obviously you don't have to be the best pit crew member, but you do have to know how every part of the car works to be an effective driver. Find me a successful NASCAR driver who didn't know his/her car inside out and I'll eat my words. The reason for this is that as you are starting out, you have to do your own mechanic work, because you won't have the budget to hire a crew. And drivers who know their cars drive better, and they can communicate better with the pit crew.