Finding a tech cofounder can play a decisive role in the success of your business. Besides providing the technical expertise, this is a person who shares the burden of business strategy and product development.
This blog post explains who a technical cofounder is and how to find one for your project.
Who is a Technical Cofounder?
A technical cofounder is your business partner who helps you build a product from scratch. This is a fully dedicated individual who takes the same responsibility and efforts for the result as you to create a product that users will love.
According to the First Round research, the chances your startup hits the market are much higher with a cofounder. This is especially true for startup owners with no technical background. Partners with tech knowledge and programming skills can help build a product with a spectrum of competitive features.
Here’s the list of tasks a technical co-founder can do:
- Managing and expanding the engineering team;
- Building the product strategy;
- Managing the of the product’s MVP production;
- Drawing up the project’s tech stack;
3 Signs You Need a Technical Cofounder
Hiring a tech cofounder is always helpful. But how to spot the moment and realize that you need him/her. Here are three cases signifying that you need a cofounder.
You Lack Tech Expertise
Technical cofounders can literally help you put your idea into reality. Let’s suppose you have a breakthrough idea that is likely to hit the tech world. However, without an in-depth understanding of the technical implementation, your idea is doomed to stay on paper.
A tech-savvy and enthusiastic co-founder or a software company are the ones to help you on this path. So once you feel the inspiration to build something fantastic, this is where you will probably need a technical co-founder.
You Need a Long-Term Partner
If you already have a plan in mind and you need a team for long-term implementation, dedicated team cooperation is your way to go. This collaboration model allows you to work with a team of competent people, fully involved solely in your project. Almost like an in-house team, but with no employment, HR, and social benefits hustle.
You Need to Validate Your Idea
It all starts with an idea, that’s for sure. However, investing time in money in a bare concept is too risky for your business. The truth is even the most relevant concepts need to be tested and validated.
Which Role Can a Technical Cofounder Play?
Whatever tasks a co-founder is charged with, he/she should form a strong alliance with no drawbacks and pitfalls. Here are the options of partners you can choose for this alliance:
- Chief Technical Officer (CTO) – a paid employee;
- Outsource development company – a technical contractor for a long-term partnership.
Chief Tech Officer: Your Partner In Crime
If you choose to find a technical founder for your startup development, it means you are hiring an employee charged with tech and R&D issues on the project. In other words, a tech officer is your guide into the world of technological trends. This is the person who is fully aware of the latest tech trends and professionally consults you in product strategy and development.
A testament example of complementary partnership is the alliance of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. Wozniak was responsible for technological invention and development in their cooperation, while Jobs did marketing and business management.
This professional partnership has given birth to historical products like Apple I and II computers, which revolutionized what a personal computer can be.
Software Development Company: Your Faithful Cofounder
Such a company is your outsource partner in developing and implementing the tasks of your business. Unlike technical founders or tech partners, software companies are more about implementing given tasks, such as building a website or a mobile app according to the given requirements.
Product Studio: Your Tech-Savvy Friend
Studios can also cooperate as tech founders helping in determining the tech stack, figuring out the engineering structure and product development.
Uptech has numerous product delivery services to our clients. In such cooperation, our company works as a partner, responsible for product development. Thanks to our clients' domain expertise and our broad tech experience, unique products have been born, like real estate platforms and e-learning apps.
How To Find a Technical Co-Founder?
Some business owners think that finding a technical co-founder is simple. However, finding the individual who will be fully involved in the project is a tricky thing. You should take into account many factors, build a network of connections to find a perfect match. Here are some options for you to consider while searching for a technical cofounder:
Startup Incubators and Accelerators
This option is a perfect place to find the same thinkers, investors or tech co-founders for your thriving startup. Though such commitments require much effort and time (that entrepreneurs do not always have), this is an excellent opportunity to raise your business and grow yourself. Such events as Y Combinator and 500 Startups are great platforms for that.
Networking
This is an old-fashioned but useful instrument for finding co-founders for your business. There can never be too much networking. Moreover, it is simple. It would help if you used social media networks like LinkedIn or Facebook. Indeed, a post on Twitter asking for some advice or help can do wonders, connecting you with people who will positively affect your product.
Hackathons and Thematic Conferences
Personal meetings are a weather-beaten but effective way of networking with people sharing the same interests with you. Moreover, this is also an opportunity to meet new people and get to know them better personally, an essential point of cooperation with a technical cofounder.
Why Should You Choose Uptech as Your Technical Founder?
Ideas are valuable. However, building a successful product takes much more than just a sketch. You need a dedicated team of product managers, UX designers, and developers to validate your idea and put it in life.
Having five years of expertise developing complex products, we help clients choose the right tech stack, determine the list of features and manage the product development.
Uptech is the product laboratory where your domain expertise meets our tech experience to develop great products. We have been creating new products for five years, but we are always open to new opportunities. So if you have a cool idea on your mind, please contact our sales team.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, finding a technical co-founder is like finding the perfect dance partner for your startup journey. You need someone who's as passionate about your idea as you are and who can groove with your vision.
Start by hitting the tech scene like a pro. Attend hackathons, meetups, and online forums to connect with potential co-founders. Show them your enthusiasm and be clear about your project's awesomeness. Transparency and trust are key!
If you need some extra hands to get your software solution off the ground, we've got your back! Don't hesitate to reach out to us at Uptech. We're all about turning ideas into successful products, and we'd be stoked to help you out.