| May I ask what a non-technical founder should look for in a technical co-founder? I have two customers for slightly different businesses. The deals are made, I am building MVP's myself and JVing with established tech companies to get products to market. I have a supply chain with a 30% cost advantage with customers. and I have a hardware software system that significantly improves hire businesses that has customers and development partnerships with research organisations and funding applications in progress. Both have customers and large B2B growth potential. I am building the MVP's myself while selling and JVing as necessary but would happily partner equally with a technical expert in Microsoft365 and PostgreSQL and PostGIS. I'm an expert in business design and love technology without being talented or experienced building it. Someone with a business mind and opinions plus the technical skills to build an MVP and hire a technology team would be perfect. I can license my way to market but it will a clunkier more painful start. If I could work with someone who has deep experience with making microsoft365 work smoothly, for small volumes of data and a small number of users initially, then they would add value to both businesses instantly. My question is should I grind through this myself with JV's where needed using architects on contract for the tricky bits and build the technical knowledge to be a really good technical work partner enabling recruitment of a better technical co-founder or should I recruit the best technical-cofounder I can and get on with growing the businesses. I would happily take a smaller salary from cashflow than a technical co-founder initially, recognising their market value remuneration as soon as the business is able - likely early year 2. I would even consider technical guidance/mentoring for some equity if someone was interested. And I know you are supposed to focus on one thing at a time but the software for the two business systems is similar, and I have systems and people to drive the sales and management for both so will offering a technical-co founder 2 bites at 2 potential rapid growth businesses make them think they were increasing or reducing their odds of success? What questions would I ask to make sure the partnership will be enjoyable for the technical co-founder? Are there any books/experts on keeping technical co-founders happy? |
Breadth of expertise, ability to learn quickly, open minded when it comes to technology. Loves to work with clients and solve their problems more than they love the tech.
The B2B and PostGIS part caught my eye. I'm technical, but leading both the business and the technical sides of my spatial analytics company. I would be happy to share at least some of my technical knowledge. From infrastructure, DevOps, through database and data layer, and all the way to the frontend - I've been doing this for years and there could be a thing or two that may be useful to you.
On the other hand, I can always do better when it comes to B2B sales, so I am looking to learn too. Maybe we can have a chat sometimes.
Would like to connect?