>And if you really want it, it can probably be contracted, in a way the first two roles never can. HN (rightly) bashes "idea guys", but there is really only on

>And if you really want it, it can probably be contracted, in a way the first two roles never can. HN (rightly) bashes "idea guys", but there is really only one thing in a startup that cannot be contracted: what the startup is trying to do or achieve. Design for a startup can be contracted in the same way software engineering can be contracted. That is to say: you will get reasonably good results if you find a good contractor who is a good fit for the project, but it will not be the same as having an employee fully dedicated to create a great product, analyze the market's reaction to the product as it is developed and marketed and adjust the design/the technology to the market's needs and expectations. If you can contract a designer (and not hire one), you can contract a developer too. Results will be mixed.