This also jives with my experience as a technical founder.
I have built systems from the ground up used by big corps. I've worked for a YC startup. I've built systems from the ground up at other VC-backed startups. I've built my own systems from the ground up. I'm building two right now (https://turas.app is one).
Except for the rare cases where you have something that's an instant hit, doing anything that's B2B SaaS is incredibly difficult without warm intros. Even getting calls to talk to potential customers in some spaces is difficult without the right network or know how to get connected to that network.
Having done this a few times now, it is more clear to me what I want from a non-technical co-founder:
- Be a domain subject matter expert. Most interesting problems require understanding some process or flow of information, documents, money, etc.
- Already identified and quantified the price for removing some friction or cost from that process/flow.
- Have high level industry connections (C-level, VPs, IT decision makers). If you're building B2B SaaS, being connected to the people that will actually make the decisions will make your life a lot easier.
- OR have proven track record of marketing. Consumer and e-commerce are really, really hard spaces. You really need to know what you're doing with marketing and social media. Managing those is a full-time job and as a founding/sole engineer, it's a poor use of time.
- Already have letter of intent to buy or other commitment to pay for a product that solves some problem if B2B. One startup I joined, the co-founder had sold the product as a set of requirements. The enterprise customer was so excited for the solution, they paid for a pilot based solely on the requirements.
None of these things require technical background or hamfisting a no-code solution.
I have built systems from the ground up used by big corps. I've worked for a YC startup. I've built systems from the ground up at other VC-backed startups. I've built my own systems from the ground up. I'm building two right now (https://turas.app is one).
Except for the rare cases where you have something that's an instant hit, doing anything that's B2B SaaS is incredibly difficult without warm intros. Even getting calls to talk to potential customers in some spaces is difficult without the right network or know how to get connected to that network.
Having done this a few times now, it is more clear to me what I want from a non-technical co-founder:
None of these things require technical background or hamfisting a no-code solution.