TSN #1 - Non-Tech Founder's Nightmare, Finding a CTO

#1 question I was getting from my audience in the past weeks: "As a Non Tech founder, how can I start without a CTO?"

Author

Slavo Tuleya
June 02, 2024 • Today's Reading Time: 6 minutes

#1 question I was getting from my audience in the past weeks:

"As a Non Tech founder, how can I start without a CTO?"

I've given this some thought and realized that this question is more complex than it seems. I've broken it down into a few key points that we'll cover in today’s issue:

  • Why is the “CTO” such a problem for non-tech entrepreneurs?

  • Consequences of misunderstood tech needs

  • Does every business require a CTO?

  • What options do I have to solve my “missing CTO” problem?

  • TL;DR Playbook for starting without a CTO

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The “Tinder” problem with finding a CTO

The obvious approach for many is to speak to the few “tech profiles” they know. It might sound like a legitimate strategy at first, but it's a bit more complicated.

Surprisingly, there are more non-STEM-educated founders than STEM-educated ones. Yes, the research is scarce, but you can check the data from New York for yourself.

According to some data I found, Tinder has a 3:1 ratio of male vs. female users. Starting to see the picture? Finding a CTO or a “techie” for your next venture faces an unfavorable supply-demand curve. Demand exceeds supply, meaning you need good arguments on your side to have a solid chance.

The consequences?

It's important to address this problem at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey. Many people in the market are searching for the right “partner/CTO/co-founder,” but all they have to offer is an idea. Those with an idea usually end up with one of the following options:

  • Never-ending search for a CTO leads to not launching ever

  • Wasted time & money with freelancers or agencies

  • Loss of motivation mid-way

  • Not having enough dynamics & proof to find a CTO

What do Tech people care about when being pitched? Is the problem big enough? Does it have a chance to succeed? Is this the right horse to bet on? Help them by providing answers with data.

But, do I actually need a CTO?

Being an entrepreneur does not mean you are building a scalable deep tech startup. You might find yourself in another category:

  1. Tech Startup: Technology is at the core of our service, and its perfect execution is key.

  2. Boring Business Acquisition: The business itself is fairly traditional, and I want to add a tech element to improve it.

  3. Tech-Enabled Service Business: The service can be delivered manually, and I am adding tech to increase efficiency.

  4. Niche SaaS or Similar: I am building a tool for a specific use-case in a niche industry. The solution will probably not be expanded heavily in terms of features later on.

I would argue that all business types, apart from a proper “tech startup,” can be started and some even sustained without a full-time CTO. You can also start a “tech startup” without one, but you will soon find yourself needing one.

It’s a Time or Money thing

Let’s say you have an idea but can’t find a CTO. There are essentially two assets you can use: money or time.

Money: If you have $10,000-$30,000 USD, you are in an ideal spot to either hire an agency focused on MVPs or a bunch of freelancers on UpWork to help you build version 1. This MVP should do only one thing, do it well, and be good enough to attract early revenue as proof of traction.

Time: In the past, you could have studied programming to build an app yourself. Today we have No Code / Low Code tools. You will still need to invest some time, and the learning curve is quite steep, but it is possible today to build a solution more complicated than a website with a form. You can build a full web app. If time is all you have, start here or ask ChatGPT the following prompt:

Hi ChatGPT, I'm a non-technical founder looking to build an MVP using no-code tools. Can you suggest the best no-code platforms to use, considering factors like ease of use, features, scalability, and cost-effectiveness? Also, could you provide a step-by-step guide on how to get started with these tools to create a functional MVP?

To help you provide a better recommendation, here are some details about my project:

1/What are the key features or functionalities you need in your MVP?

2/What is your budget for using no-code tools?

3/Do you have any specific design or user experience requirements?

4/How soon do you need to have the MVP ready?

5/Do you have any prior experience with any no-code tools? If yes, which ones?

6/What is your target audience or market for the MVP?

7/Are there any specific integrations or third-party services you need to include in your MVP?

TL;DR Playbook for starting without a CTO

  1. Identify a significant problem to solve.

  2. Set your tech expectations by selecting the correct type of company you are building (boring business, tech startup, etc.).

  3. Invest time or money into developing your solution.

  4. Generate initial revenue to prove traction.

  5. Decide whether to continue alone, with an agency, or by finding a CTO/fractional CTO.

  6. Use acquired traction and the identified problem to pitch to potential CTOs.

In one of the future issues we will explore how to actually get a CTO on board after you’ve identified them.

That’s all for this week. Good luck building!

See you next Sunday!

- Slavo