[garethsprice]

With a tech startup, code is core functionality.

Building an MVP and iterating requires building to a (changing) vision. Contractors have an incentive to stick rigidly to a narrow, fixed specification. If you can build that spec and task it out then you may get good results, but just telling a contract developer your vision and sending them off to build it has a strong chance of ending in (expensive) tears.

I am a contract developer. I work with clients to elicit their requirements and have seen this first-hand - the projects that turn out best are the ones where I'm working with someone in-house who has development knowledge, even if it's just to manage and review.