Maybe AI has changed things, but I think it takes more than one year to gain sufficient domain expertise. But your argument still has validity even if it takes

Maybe AI has changed things, but I think it takes more than one year to gain sufficient domain expertise. But your argument still has validity even if it takes 2-3 years to gain the knowledge, so let me address that. My response is: if I wanted to be an expert in <startup domain> to the point I didn't need a co-founder CEO, I would take the time, the years I mention above. But that has costs (opportunity costs if nothing else). Instead, I prefer to be an expert in software development. This gives me less control in each given startup as you point out, but more optionality across startups (and other companies)[0]. This choice also means that I give input on the hard decisions that company leadership has to make, but I don't have to make the final call. Frankly, that's more weight than I care to bear. That's a personal choice. I've watched friends be CEOs of successful startups and it's not always (nor usually, even) fun or easy. 0: I wrote more about that optionality here: https://www.mooreds.com/wordpress/archives/3445 https://www.mooreds.com/wordpress/archives/3445