Hey Everyone, I currently have an idea for a start up that I have been working on for about a year. I have done a lot of market research, validation, and I have a launch page setup that people have gone to and signed up for my mailing list. I am currently in high school so I am on summer break right now and would really like to get something going on my time off. I do have money saved up to hire freelance web developers if i have to.
What would you recommend I do next? Learn to code myself, hire a freelancer web developer, work on finding a tech co founder, or any other suggestions.
Thanks!
Hello,
If you have time, I suggest that you learn coding yourself. That saves you money but takes a great amount of time to do.
And if your interested, I'm a coder myself. You can give me a call and we'll discuss the details of your idea.
Alex from Groove talks about this in one of his posts on being a non-technical founder: http://groovehq.com/blog/non-technical-founder
I would say first off, make sure that you can drive the start-up without being able to code. ie: are you great at sales, product vision, user-experience, writing, marketing etc.?
Next, hire a freelance developer to make you a prototype cheaply. It won't be a real product yet, but just an MVP to get feedback from your target audience. Make sure the design is great, but it can be duct tape and bubble gum in the code. This will show investors that you can validate the market need, people are interested in what you've made.
Combine that with a great pitch deck and you may be able to raise $250K-1M from angels to hire a great full stack developer as your CTO and start building a team.
I've been there myself and currently run a funded SaaS startup. If you want to chat more book a call.
PS: It's really easy for other people to tell you to learn to code yourself. But not everyone is great at math logic, and asking someone to "just learn" is like asking someone to "just learn to play guitar". If you're not wired that way, it's impossible to expect you can just wish yourself to be able to do it. Besides, a couple months of Treehouse or Linda.com courses aren't going to give you the ability to code a web product that users are willing to pay for. Real engineers take years of training, practice and constant reading/learning to keep their skills sharp.
Congrats on submerging yourself and beginning the entrepreneur journey. There are really four ways that you could proceed;
1. Hire freelance web developers
2. Offshore the work
3. Hire someone for sweat equity (in my opinion, the best equity)
4. Learn to code yourself
In my opinion, you seem like a young, passionate, entrepreneur, and even though you may have a great idea right now, you will continue to have great ideas. Take advantage of your age and learn to code. There are hundreds of websites out there where you can learn from, but my favorites are codeacademy, code.org, and Khan Academy. If the matter is truly urgent, then sweat equity would be the next best option. Good luck, and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Find a technical cofounder. Although it's possible to find good contractors, it takes a lot of experience to select the right ones and manage the process, something a first time entrepreneur almost always doesn't do well.
Learning to code yourself will keep you busy all summer and the remainder of the year and "learning to code" and making good technical decisions and doing everything required to maintain a techical operation are vastly different.
Find someone else who is young and passionate like yourself who has technical expertise and pair up with him or her.
Happy to answer other questions you have
What are you best at ?
Focus on that and outsource the rest .
Are you a Math Whiz Kid?
Learn to program. Hire a few marketeers.
Are you are brilliant marketeer?
Then hire a firm and Run the marketing side of the business.
Are you a finance mastermind?
The leave the marketing and development to a proffeisonal.
In the end your product quality matters and you can't be the best at everything. Focus on one field . Hire amazing talent for the rest.
I run http://ELGroupInternational.com and have worked with various entrepreneurs in the Valley and from around the world.
I am happy to say evey single startup we built has been funded.
Feel free to email me if you wish at Evan@EvanLuthra.com .
You don't need to learn to code. Just go to Fiverr.com and hire a coder.
Hello there,
Congratulations on taking significant steps towards your startup idea! It's fantastic that you've conducted thorough research and have a mailing list set up. Now, considering you're in high school and keen to move forward, there are a few options you can explore:
Learn to Code Yourself: Learning to code can be a valuable skill, especially if you're passionate about it. However, considering your summer break and the urgency to get started, it might be a bit time-consuming.
Hire a Freelance Web Developer: Since you have funds saved up, hiring a freelance web developer could be a quick and efficient way to get your project off the ground. It allows you to focus on other aspects of your startup while an expert handles the technical side.
Find a Tech Co-founder: Collaborating with a tech-savvy co-founder is an excellent idea if you're open to sharing the journey. This person can complement your skills and bring technical expertise to the table.
Given your situation, I recommend exploring the option of hiring a freelance web developer. It's a fast and effective way to turn your idea into a reality. You can find skilled developers on various platforms.
If you decide to go this route, I suggest checking out Cleveroad's article: https://www.cleveroad.com/blog/hire-app-developers/. It provides insights into the hiring process and what to consider when bringing developers on board.
Best of luck with your startup journey!
- Talk to Board members, CEOs to validate the idea and market need. Gather as much feedback as possible.
- Create a PoC, on your own. You will build know-how, learn a new skill and will acquire a new talent.
- After the PoC creation, create a simple web-site and promote the idea.
- Utilize linkedin heavily for promotion. It is free professional promotion platform, with you owning all the bragging rights. Use it wisely. If you have a good market fit, people will come to you.
Here are some recommendations for next steps based on your current situation:
Continue market validation and building an audience. During your summer break, focus heavily on talking to potential customers, conducting surveys, building your email list, etc. Validation is extremely important before building anything.
Learn basic coding skills yourself. Spend time going through free online courses to learn HTML, CSS, and basic web development principles. This will help you communicate better with developers and catch mistakes.
Outline full product specs and wireframes. Map out in detail what features and pages your MVP product will need and how it will function. Developers will need clear guidance.
Hire a freelance front-end developer on a contract basis. With your product outline and wireframes, hire someone part-time to build out the initial launch-ready MVP for you over the summer.
Consider a tech co-founder. As a non-technical founder, look for someone who can be your technical partner long-term. They would ideally come on board part-time now.
Apply to accelerators. Use your MVP and traction so far to apply to startup accelerators and incubators. If accepted, the funding could help you hire developers full-time.
Test frequently with users. As features are built, test them out with your audience for feedback to refine your product. Iteration is key.
Focusing on validation, specs, finding a technical co-founder, or hiring a freelancer part-time seems like the best next steps given your current stage and resources. Keep leveraging your summer break productively.
If you have an idea for a startup but lack coding skills, your next steps could include:
1. Validate Your Idea: Before investing time and resources, ensure there's a demand for your product or service. Conduct market research, gather feedback from potential customers, and validate your idea's feasibility.
2. Find a Technical Co-founder or Hire Developers: Look for a technical co-founder who shares your vision and can handle the coding aspect. Alternatively, you can hire developers or outsource the development work to a software development agency.
3. Build a Prototype or MVP: Work with your technical partner or hired developers to build a minimum viable product (MVP) or prototype. This allows you to test your idea in the market with minimal resources and gather valuable feedback for iteration.
4. Learn Basic Coding Skills: While not necessary, learning basic coding skills can help you better communicate with your technical team and understand the development process. There are numerous online resources and coding bootcamps available for beginners.
5. Focus on Other Aspects of the Business: While development is crucial, there are other aspects of the startup that require attention, such as market strategy, branding, customer acquisition, and fundraising (if needed). Use this time to work on these aspects while the development is in progress.
6. Networking and Community Involvement: Engage with startup communities, attend networking events, and seek mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. You may find valuable connections who can provide guidance, resources, or even potential partnerships.
Remember, building a startup is a collaborative effort, and while coding is essential, it's just one piece of the puzzle. Focus on leveraging your strengths, whether it's in business development, marketing, or product strategy, and surround yourself with a team that complements your skills.
If you have an idea for a startup but don't know how to code, there are still plenty of ways to move forward and bring your idea to life. Here are some steps you can take:
1. Partner with a technical co-founder: Consider finding a co-founder who has technical expertise and can help bring your idea to life. Look for someone who shares your vision and is passionate about the project.
2. Hire a development team: If finding a co-founder is not an option, you can hire a development team or outsource the coding work to professionals or agencies. Be sure to thoroughly vet any potential developers and clearly communicate your vision for the project.
3. Learn to code: While this option may take more time and effort, learning at least the basics of coding can be beneficial in understanding the technical aspects of your startup. There are many online resources and coding bootcamps available to help you get started.
4. Use no-code or low-code tools: There are a variety of no-code and low-code platforms that allow you to build software and applications without having to write code. These tools can be a great option for quickly prototyping your idea or building an initial version of your product.
5. Validate your idea: Before investing time and resources into building your startup, it's important to validate your idea. Conduct market research, gather feedback from potential users, and test your concept to ensure there is a demand for your product or service.
Remember, not knowing how to code should not hold you back from pursuing your startup idea. There are many ways to overcome this challenge and bring your vision to life.
Give me a call to further discuss.
Basically you don't necessarily need to code to get your startup off the ground. You can do further steps like :
1.Talk to potential customers: This is crucial. Use tools like social media to connect with people who might be interested in your product or service. Ask them questions about their problems and what solutions they'd like to see. This will help you refine your idea and make sure there's a real need for it
2.Find a co-founder with technical skills: If your idea requires a technical product, look for a co-founder who can code or develop your vision. You can find potential co-founders through online communities, meetup groups, or co-working spaces.
3.Hire freelancers or an agency: If you don't find a co-founder, you can hire freelance developers or an agency to build your product. This can be a good option if you have a clear idea of what you need but don't have the budget to hire a full-time developer.
