[mmahemoff]

A capable non-tech founder can learn, in a few months, enough about coding to: * Build a prototype, which could be used to fund experience developers * Talk sensibly with developers and get some insight into their skills and ability * Build certain classes of application for real-world use, e.g. a content website, a basic mobile app

All of these are useful skills for a non-tech founder and in most cases, it would be worth their time investment (and unlike learning most other professions, it really is just a time commitment, for the most part).

I think the comparison to a physician is a fair one when it comes to full-blown development work. At the same time, an early developer is much more useful than an early physician, ie someone with the equivalent several months of medical training. Mostly because the developer has more leverage, ie if their early work succeeds, they can gain more resources to build on it.