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the problem is how to identify capable non-technical founders. I suspect the ratio of capable non-technical and technical founders is nearer 0.1-0.5:1 any tho

the problem is how to identify capable non-technical founders. I suspect the ratio of capable non-technical and technical founders is nearer 0.1-0.5:1 any thoughts on how to identify the unicorns?

meowtastic 4y ago
I'd say 0.1:1 from personal experience. Often you see founders who want to build facebook-but-better type of stuff from day 1. My advice is to avoid first-time tech founders, it's very hard to coach them into adopting the lean startup mindset until they feel the pain.
Brajeshwar 4y ago
This can be a blog post, hell, may be even a book on its own. For quick starters, look for someone who tinkered, cobbled, hacked, juggard[1] his/her way through an MVP with no-code, low-code, dump-code, Figma-ed, etc. Better yet, s/he had tried selling that idea, napkin-diagrams, to customers. Avoid anyone that smooth talks with nothing to show for (MVP/Customers/Prospects). While talking (do this for as long as you are comfortable moving ahead), watch out if s/he can articulate and build an idea maze[2] of what his/her current thoughts are. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jugaad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jugaad 2. https://cdixon.org/2013/08/04/the-idea-maze https://cdixon.org/2013/08/04/the-idea-maze
- hackerfromthefu 4y ago
  Watch out though because those people are often busy selling 'you' and you have to also find one with integrity and properly values your input.
grepLeigh 4y ago
Look for people who have revenue and traction, not just an idea. Some of the best non-technical Founders I've worked with: - Built a business trip packing / iterinerary recommendation system, using just Google Sheets plugins - Built a video transcription + recutting service in Bubble. Each of these made five-six figures of revenue with the MVP. The Founders couldn't code, but they used every tool at their disposal to get enough $$$ to find someone who can code. True grit!
- fakedang 4y ago
  >- Built a business trip packing / iterinerary recommendation system, using just Google Sheets plugins Hey, can you point me to this tool? I would love to use this tool.

the problem is how to identify capable non-technical founders. I suspect the ratio of capable non-technical and technical founders is nearer 0.1-0.5:1 any thoughts on how to identify the unicorns?

meowtastic 4y ago

I'd say 0.1:1 from personal experience. Often you see founders who want to build facebook-but-better type of stuff from day 1. My advice is to avoid first-time tech founders, it's very hard to coach them into adopting the lean startup mindset until they feel the pain.

Brajeshwar 4y ago

This can be a blog post, hell, may be even a book on its own. For quick starters, look for someone who tinkered, cobbled, hacked, juggard[1] his/her way through an MVP with no-code, low-code, dump-code, Figma-ed, etc. Better yet, s/he had tried selling that idea, napkin-diagrams, to customers. Avoid anyone that smooth talks with nothing to show for (MVP/Customers/Prospects). While talking (do this for as long as you are comfortable moving ahead), watch out if s/he can articulate and build an idea maze[2] of what his/her current thoughts are. 1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jugaad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jugaad 2. https://cdixon.org/2013/08/04/the-idea-maze https://cdixon.org/2013/08/04/the-idea-maze

hackerfromthefu 4y ago
Watch out though because those people are often busy selling 'you' and you have to also find one with integrity and properly values your input.

grepLeigh 4y ago

Look for people who have revenue and traction, not just an idea. Some of the best non-technical Founders I've worked with: - Built a business trip packing / iterinerary recommendation system, using just Google Sheets plugins - Built a video transcription + recutting service in Bubble. Each of these made five-six figures of revenue with the MVP. The Founders couldn't code, but they used every tool at their disposal to get enough $$$ to find someone who can code. True grit!

fakedang 4y ago
>- Built a business trip packing / iterinerary recommendation system, using just Google Sheets plugins Hey, can you point me to this tool? I would love to use this tool.