[ldjkfkdsjnv]

Surprised to see such a cynical and negative comment from such a well known account. CTO at early stage startup is often the most important person in the company, technical delivery/execution, hiring, early decisions on which frameworks, integrations, helping with sales, etc.

[tptacek]

I could not disagree more strongly about the importance of a "CTO" in an early-stage startup. With few exceptions, you're talking about functions of engineering management. CTOs of established companies are almost as a rule not engineering managers.

[senorrib]

The obvious cynicism aside, what you said doesn’t really contradict point #1. All those responsibilities can be taken by any IC in pre-seed/seed startups (except the wrongly stated “most important person on the company”).

[ldjkfkdsjnv]

Sure, but then that IC, if executing correctly should just leave and found their own startup. And true, sales/building the right thing is often #1.

[tptacek]

This is like saying that every successful product manager should go found their own startup, which, come to think of it, fair enough.

[senorrib]

Agreed.