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Non-technical people can make excellent business people, though there is some truth to the vapid MBA stereotype. However, if you're an MBA lacking the experienc

Non-technical people can make excellent business people, though there is some truth to the vapid MBA stereotype. However, if you're an MBA lacking the experience and wiring of a Jeff Bezos, then the "convince other people to paint my fence approach" is highly probable to result in failure. I would agree with one point from this post, which is that non-technical first-time founders should select ideas that they can learn to prototype working alone. This has numerous advantages, including: 1) learn the real-world problems of your idea through trial and error 2) if the idea does not become a profitable business, you reduce the risk that you will disappoint others and lose a lot of money that doesn't belong to you 3) develop technical skills that will be useful no matter the business outcome

gtpasqual 11y ago
Wouldn't call Bezos non-technical. From wikipedia: >After graduating from Princeton in 1986, Bezos worked on Wall Street in the computer science field.[20] Then he worked on building a network for international trade for a company known as Fitel.[21] He next worked at Bankers Trust.[22] Later on he also worked on Internet-enabled business opportunities at D. E. Shaw & Co.[23]
- zekevermillion 11y ago
  I could be wrong, but my understanding is he was working in a business role and not programming computers in those jobs.
- jsprogrammer 11y ago
  You also left out the BS degrees in EE and CS.
louisswiss 11y ago
OP here - thanks for bringing your perspective. I agree that non-technical people can make excellent business people. What I was saying is that, in my experience, non-technical people who have studied at a business school tend to make the same mistakes when approaching their first startup. This puts them at a disadvantage compared to others who haven't had the 'fortune' of attending a business school. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule.

gtpasqual 11y ago

Wouldn't call Bezos non-technical. From wikipedia: >After graduating from Princeton in 1986, Bezos worked on Wall Street in the computer science field.[20] Then he worked on building a network for international trade for a company known as Fitel.[21] He next worked at Bankers Trust.[22] Later on he also worked on Internet-enabled business opportunities at D. E. Shaw & Co.[23]

zekevermillion 11y ago
I could be wrong, but my understanding is he was working in a business role and not programming computers in those jobs.
jsprogrammer 11y ago
You also left out the BS degrees in EE and CS.

louisswiss 11y ago

OP here - thanks for bringing your perspective. I agree that non-technical people can make excellent business people. What I was saying is that, in my experience, non-technical people who have studied at a business school tend to make the same mistakes when approaching their first startup. This puts them at a disadvantage compared to others who haven't had the 'fortune' of attending a business school. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule.