Ask HN: What are 3 things you would want from a non-technical co-founder?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4210490

by armenarmen • 14 years ago

4 11 14 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I am a non techie, trying to fix that via udacity and o'reilly, for the mean time I would love to know what 3 qualities/skills you would look for in a non technical co founder.

russtrpkovski• 14 years ago

1. Customer Acquisition 2. Marketing/Copy Writing 3. Start-up Metrics

andrejewski• 14 years ago

1. Care about the project. 2. Care about the users. Know what the user wants and what is in the best interest of the user. 3. Be able to defend yourself and our product in a battle royal (Accepted). 4. [Because there can be more] Help the technical co-founder anyway you can.

NonEUCitizen• 14 years ago

You don't need a non-technical co-founder for these.

falicon• 14 years ago

1. Connections 2. Money 3. Macgyver-like business skills

Toph• 14 years ago

1. Actually understands the full extent of the business side.

You wouldn't partner with a coder who can't code and is learning on the job so why would a technical founder want to partner with a non-technical "business" cofounder who doesn't know anything, worse, think he does?

This includes actual knowledge on things like knowing how to actually acquire customers and said metrics, not just be able to recite shit you read off HN or some blogs. Actual experience...

2. Without knowing how to code, at least be extremely knowledgeable about technical topics. Steve Jobs probably couldn't code squat but he understands enough. That's all I need too.

3. Extremely fast learner and can break habits quick. This one almost every person I've met failed at. Very few actually have been able to do this and they are gems.

randall• 14 years ago

1) can at least prototype something in code. 2) Connections / hustle. 3) You should tell me #3.

j45• 14 years ago

Being as crazy talented as me at everything that's non-technical.

Ideas are worthless without sales, marketing, money (earned or otherwise), and execution.

eragnew• 14 years ago

IMHO:

A -> Always be learning. Always.

B -> Books. Books are good. O'Reilly is great. Other books can be great too.

C -> Competence -> Comprehension -> Confidence

(ok, i'm cheating. this is four things)

4 -> in my opinion, competence is simply a process where you keep trying new things over time. you keep learning as you go. always.

chamza• 14 years ago

1) Connections in the domain the startup is working in

2) Marketing experience in that same domain

3) Someone who is honest and genuine

edbyrne• 14 years ago

It's not what you want, it's what you want them to be responsible for, that they can achieve success in:

- Fund Raising and Financing - Customer Acquisition, Marketing, Content Marketing, PR - Metrics Metrics Metrics

Basically - the Start; the Operations (customer facing, not dev obviously); the Intelligence (where the overlap is and the co-founders work closely together on sharing their perspectives).

jatofire• 14 years ago

1) Want and Care about the project above all else.

2) Keep your eye on the competition and market needs.

3)(And I cant stress this enough) Stay the f@#k away from my code! - Seriously I bring non-tech people in for just that reason. I need eyes from people who don't understand the tech side.

Ask HN: What are 3 things you would want from a non-technical co-founder?

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