3 ms·

BizDev people do have a function at hackathons

9 points by dirkdk 14y ago

mlttm 14y ago
being a non-engineer, I could not agree more about your analysis. Coders don't really need us. Or at least they think they don't - to be honest I think a lot of developers out there don't really value bizdev work and don't see why they should have someone who can code on the team. Now the question is how do you get started on coding when you're a non-engineer? Which language? Where do you begin?
taoyan 14y ago
Right on, as a startup founder I had to deal with bizdev co-founder with no clue about programming at all. In my experience it makes it really difficult to work with someone who has not a slight understanding on how things work under the hood. At some point it also became dangerous to see him sell things thinking "it's probably very easy to implement this feature". Would love to hear how others manage the bizdev/engineer founders duo!
- dontdong 14y ago
  I am an engineer and my co-founder has a 'bizdev' profile. One requirement I had for him to join me in this venture was to have him learn some fundamentals about programming. Not how to be a full-blown coder, but at least to have a good idea about how things work. It proved to be very interesting for him, and also opened his mind to contribute new ideas with a vision on how those ideas could be implemented inside our product.
woah 14y ago
I think a telling part of this post is where she almost expresses surprise that people were staying up all night to hack. I think that explains a big part of why biz-dev people are sometimes seen as 2nd rate citizens. I have some good friends on the sales side of things and they invariably leave the office at 6 and do fun activities, go to the bar etc. They seem quite puzzled that I would turn down invitations to go out in favor of learning new skills and building cool stuff. In a business that's all about building and shipping products no matter what it takes, and at an event that is about shipping products in a very short time, it is not surprising that a biz dev person would be seen as somewhat superfluous. I'm sure the engineers at the hackathon were quite happy to have her make a powerpoint and get some beers though.
- dirkdk 14y ago
  yeah. I was one of the persons that rested (no real sleep) for 4 hours instead of going home. I still think it is crazy, but seeing half the people do it makes it competitive and therefore you want to stay up too. Apart from students I don't know any professional group that is crazy enough to do that, you?
- sunsiren 14y ago
  Point taken, although I think a telling part of this comment is where you think I'd be getting beers for engineers. I shouldn't have to tell you how that makes you look.

9 points by dirkdk 14y ago

mlttm 14y ago

being a non-engineer, I could not agree more about your analysis. Coders don't really need us. Or at least they think they don't - to be honest I think a lot of developers out there don't really value bizdev work and don't see why they should have someone who can code on the team. Now the question is how do you get started on coding when you're a non-engineer? Which language? Where do you begin?

taoyan 14y ago

Right on, as a startup founder I had to deal with bizdev co-founder with no clue about programming at all. In my experience it makes it really difficult to work with someone who has not a slight understanding on how things work under the hood. At some point it also became dangerous to see him sell things thinking "it's probably very easy to implement this feature". Would love to hear how others manage the bizdev/engineer founders duo!

dontdong 14y ago
I am an engineer and my co-founder has a 'bizdev' profile. One requirement I had for him to join me in this venture was to have him learn some fundamentals about programming. Not how to be a full-blown coder, but at least to have a good idea about how things work. It proved to be very interesting for him, and also opened his mind to contribute new ideas with a vision on how those ideas could be implemented inside our product.

woah 14y ago

I think a telling part of this post is where she almost expresses surprise that people were staying up all night to hack. I think that explains a big part of why biz-dev people are sometimes seen as 2nd rate citizens. I have some good friends on the sales side of things and they invariably leave the office at 6 and do fun activities, go to the bar etc. They seem quite puzzled that I would turn down invitations to go out in favor of learning new skills and building cool stuff. In a business that's all about building and shipping products no matter what it takes, and at an event that is about shipping products in a very short time, it is not surprising that a biz dev person would be seen as somewhat superfluous. I'm sure the engineers at the hackathon were quite happy to have her make a powerpoint and get some beers though.

dirkdk 14y ago
yeah. I was one of the persons that rested (no real sleep) for 4 hours instead of going home. I still think it is crazy, but seeing half the people do it makes it competitive and therefore you want to stay up too. Apart from students I don't know any professional group that is crazy enough to do that, you?
sunsiren 14y ago
Point taken, although I think a telling part of this comment is where you think I'd be getting beers for engineers. I shouldn't have to tell you how that makes you look.