Do you need to be an expert in coding to build a successful startup??

Originally Posted by Ankesh

Thanks Duane for starting an interesting discussion. My thoughts are of course biased - as I'm a non-technical founder of a tech startup.

Hi Ankesh,

Thanks

- Surprised...more like SHOCKED that you consider yourself "non-technical" considering your blog/business projects over the years. And BIASED opinion is exactly the perspective i.e REAL WORLD that I was looking to "hear"

What good developers want is not a technical founder. What they want is a good working environment. Challenging work. Reasonable pay.

Now, to create a good working environment - the developers do require that other awesome developers sit next to them.

- Interesting insight about "good working environment"...How would one create such an environment virtually? Have you done anything with virtual developers? or are all yours local.

And a non-technical person really has no clue on how to go about hiring awesome developers. There in lies the problem. Most non technical founders end up hiring mediocre folks who seem awesome. (And I've been guilty of this too in the past.) Which creates a boring work environment.

So a non-technical founder has to figure out a way to get past this. And hire awesome folks. Maybe ask awesome developer friends to conduct the interviews. Maybe sponsor hacker events and hire folks who win a challenge. But find a way to hire people that are awesome. If he can do that, he can succeed without learning to code himself. If he can't do that, it'll be a struggle to execute the ideas and achieve success.

Thanks for sharing some ideas on getting Awesome Talent.

Hmm so the bottom line is be sure to GET the Awesomeness in your business. If that is not you then at least get somebody who has enough knowledge to hire the awesomeness for you.

THANK YOU for sharing your perspective and field experience Ankesh