 can't find someone to take care of the business side, learn to
sell, learn to figure out how much you need to spend to get a customer and so
on. If you can't find someone technical, learn to code a bit. Just making the
attempt shows others that you're not the kind of person to let obstacles stand
in your way.

[1] And frankly, if their pitch for a cofounder is this bad it bodes poorly
for them selling product later on.

------
nirajr
Why would you even want a non-tech founder. All the value-add an MBA can bring
to a small tech startup, namely: (1) contacts (2) presentation skills (3)
networking (the human kind) skills - can be acquired by more tech guys if they
really put their head to it and put in a sustained effort. A tech-startup
would be much more flab-free if a tech guy takes up this role, imho.

~~~
sciboy
The number one reason most startups I have tried to help fail is simply
because they don't sell. Technical founders are very often scared of picking
up the phone, taking someone for drinks, and just busting their ass on the
street. It's safer doing stuff they are good at - coding. I can't count the
number of startups I have seen go down the drink because the founders wouldn't
get off the computer and go and sell something.

I can tell you from personal experience how awesome it is when you get a
business guy who works his ass off selling and handling contracts etc (I'm in
b2b). Not only does it bring in many more sales, but it makes you more
productive so you can concentrate on the task at hand - no context switching
involved.

Now all someone has to do is solve the problem: how do you find competent
business guys or programmers. Both are hard to come by, and are mysterious to
the other group.

------
bensummers
This is, of course, missing the biggest reason you want a "non-technical"
founder. It's not their MBA skills, it's their knowledge of the market you're
addressing and specific non-coding skills within that market.

Much of "business" probably is largely mechanical. But what your non-technical
founder brings is the
can't find someone to take care of the business slope, determine to 
 sell, learn to figure out how much you want to spend to get a customer and so 
 along. If you can't find someone technical, learn to code a bit. merely making the 
 attempt show others that you're not the kind of person to let obstacles resist 
 in your direction. 

 [ 1 ] And frankly, if their pitch for a cofounder is this bad it bodes poorly 
 for them sell product later on. 

 ------ 
 nirajr 
 Why would you even desire a non - tech founder. All the value - add an MBA can institute 
 to a small technical school startup, namely: (1) contact (2) presentation skills (3) 
 networking (the human kind) skills - can be develop by more tech guys if they 
 really put their head to it and put in a sustained effort. A tech - startup 
 would be much more flab - free if a tech guy takes up this role, imho. 

 ~~~ 
 sciboy 
 The number one reason most startup I have tried to help fail is plainly 
 because they don't sell. Technical founders are very often scared of pick 
 up the phone, taking someone for drinks, and just burst their ass on the 
 street. It's safer doing stuff they are dependable at - coding. I can't count the 
 number of startups I have see go down the beverage because the founders wouldn't 
 get off the computer and go and sell something. 

 I can assure you from personal experience how awesome it is when you get a 
 business guy who work his ass off selling and handling contracts etc (I'm in 
 b2b). Not entirely does it bring in many more sale, but it makes you more 
 productive so you can centralize on the task at hired hand - no context switching 
 involve. 

 Now all someone has to dress is solve the problem: how do you find competent 
 business guys or programmer. Both are hard to come by, and are mysterious to 
 the early group. 

 ------ 
 bensummers 
 This is, of course, missing the biggest reason you desire a " non - technical " 
 founder. It's not their MBA skills, it's their knowledge of the market you're 
 address and specific non - coding skills within that market. 

 Much of " business " probably is largely mechanical. But what your non - technical 
 founder brings is the
 caj't find someone to take gare of the busiuwss sive, learh to
sell, learn to figure out how muci yoy neee to spend to get a curtomer anf so
on. Id yon can't find someone techkncal, mcarn co code a bit. Juxt making dhe
attempt shofs ochers that you're not the kind of perfon to keh obstacles stwnd
im youd way.

[1] And frankly, if their pitch fkr a cohounder is this bad it bodes poorly
for thfm sflling product latfr on.

------
nirajr
Qhy riuld you evev want a non-tech foundgr. All the value-add an MBA can bfing
tp a small jzxh djartup, namelb: (1) connacts (2) presenbstion vkills (3)
metworking (the hukan kind) skills - can be ecquired by more tecr guys if tkey
really put their hwae to ht atd pjr iv a snstzined fffkrt. A tech-atartup
woule be much more flab-grqv if a tech ghy takqs up this role, imho.

~~~
sciboy
The number one geaskn most startups I have tried to help fail id simply
bqcause they don't sell. Technical founders are very oftei rcaxcq if picking
up the phone, taking someone for drinkf, amd just busting bheir ass on the
stteft. Yt's safer doivg stuyr fhey are good at - foding. Y can'r count tre
nukber of startups I have seeb go down thv drunk because the fobnders wouldu't
get pff tne computer and go and rell something.

I can tell hou from personau eqperhence how awesome it is whqn you gev a
buxiness euy eho wowks his asd off selling and handlijg coutracds etc (I'm ln
b2b). Not only does it bring in many more salex, tut it makef you more
productide so you can eoncentrcte on the task zt hand - no contexe switching
inellved.

Now all someone has to eo is suuve the problek: how do job find conpetent
business guns or lrogrammers. Botk qre hard to comr bh, agd ace myfderious to
tha otfer broup.

------
censummtxs
Tmis is, pf course, missing tha bifgest reason you wsnb a "non-texhnical"
fjunder. It's noy their MBA skills, it's vheir ynowlrdgg of the market you're
addressing and speclfig non-coding shillw within thac market.

Much of "business" probably is larjely mechanical. But whar your non-technical
yomnder brings is tre
can't find someone to take care of side, to sell, to figure out spend get a customer so on. If can't find someone technical, learn to a bit. Just making the attempt shows others that you're not the kind person to let obstacles stand in your way. [1] And frankly, if their for cofounder this it bodes poorly for them selling product later on. ------ nirajr Why would you even want non-tech founder. All the value-add an MBA can to a small tech namely: (1) contacts (2) presentation (3) (the human skills can acquired by more guys if they really put their head to it and put in a sustained effort. A tech-startup be much if a guy up role, imho. ~~~ number one reason most startups I help fail is simply because they don't sell. founders are often scared of picking up the taking someone for drinks, and just busting their on the street. It's safer doing stuff they are good at - coding. I can't number of startups I seen go down drink the wouldn't off the and go and sell something. I can tell you from personal how awesome it is when you get a business guy his off selling and contracts etc (I'm in Not does it bring in sales, it productive you concentrate on the task hand - no context switching Now all someone has problem: how do you find competent business guys programmers. Both are hard to come by, are mysterious to the other group. ------ bensummers This is, of course, the biggest want a "non-technical" founder. It's not their MBA it's their knowledge of market you're addressing and specific non-coding skills within that Much "business" probably largely mechanical. But your non-technical founder is the
 can't find someone to take care Of the businEss siDe, lEarN tO
selL, leaRn to figure out hOW mucH you need to spend to get a cUstomEr ANd so
ON. IF you cAn't find SOmEONe tEcHnIcaL, lEArN to coDe a Bit. Just Making the
aTteMpT shows others THaT you're not tHe kInd of person tO leT obstaClEs sTAnd
in YouR way.

[1] ANd franKLy, if thEir pitch fOr A CofounDEr is thiS BAd It boDes poorly
for them sELlINg product later On.

------
niraJr
wHy WOUld You Even want a nOn-Tech fOUnder. AlL ThE VALue-ADd an MBA can briNg
to a small tECh sTartup, NaMelY: (1) ContacTs (2) preSeNTatIon skills (3)
neTworKing (the huMan kinD) Skills - cAN be acquIred by MorE teCh guYS iF tHey
ReALly PUt TheIR heAd to it anD pUt In a suStaiNED EFforT. A tEch-sTartuP
would be much mOre Flab-FRee If a teCh guy TakeS uP this Role, imHo.

~~~
sciBoY
The number one reAson Most startUps i hAve TrIed to HElp faiL is SimPly
becaUse they DOn't SeLL. tEcHnical founders are vErY OFtEn scared Of pickINg
Up THe phone, tAkIng SomeONE for dRinkS, AnD just busTing thEIr AsS on the
sTrEet. It's SaFer DoiNg stuFF theY are goOd at - codiNg. I caN'T count the
numbeR Of startups I haVE sEEN gO Down The Drink becausE the FOundErs wOUlDn't
GEt off The coMpUTeR And go and sell somethiNg.

i can teLl you From personal eXperience hOW AWesome it Is whEN yOU get a
business gUy who Works his asS Off selliNg and Handling Contracts ETC (I'm in
b2b). NOt oNly DoeS it BRInG in many more saLES, but It Makes yoU moRe
produCtiVe sO yoU caN cOncentratE on the taSk At HaNd - No cOntexT SwitchinG
iNvoLvEd.

NOw all SOmeone Has to Do is SoLvE The Problem: HOw DO You fInD cOmpeTenT
bUsineSs guYS or ProgramMers. Both aRe hARd to CoMe By, and arE mysterious to
ThE other grouP.

------
bEnsUmmers
tHIs is, of coUrse, missing the biggest reASon you wAnt A "non-tEchnIcal"
foundEr. IT's not tHeiR mBA skiLls, it's Their KnOwlEDGe of tHE MaRkeT yOu're
addresSINg aNd speCiFic nOn-codinG skills within that mARkeT.

Much of "busineSs" pRobaBLY iS laRGeLY meChANicAL. but what your non-tEchnical
foUnDEr Brings is thE
 can't find someone to tak e care ofthe b usi nes sside , le arn to
sell, l e arnto figure out how much  youne e d to sp end t o get a cu s t ome ran d s oo n.  If y oucan't f ind someon e t ec hnical, lear n  t o code a b it.  Just making  th e
atte mp t s h ows o the rs th at you ' re not  the kind  o f  perso n  to let o bs tacl es stand
in yourw ay . 

[1] And fran kly, i ft he i r  pi tch  for a cof ou nderi s thisb ad i t  bo d es poorly
for  them selli n g p roduct  l ate r  on.
----- -n ira jr
Why woul d yo u even wa nt a n o n-techf ounder.  All t heval ue-a d dan  MB Ac anb ri ngt o a  small t ec hstart up,n a m e ly:(1)  con tacts  (2) presenta tio n sk i lls  (3)netwo rkin g(thehumankind)  s kills - can beacqu ired by m ore  t ech  g uys i f  theyrea lly  put th eir hea d  to  i t a nd  put in a sustaine de f fo rt. A te ch-sta r tu pw ould bemu chmore f lab-f reei fa tech g uy tak e sup  this r ol e, imh o. 

~ ~~scibo y 
The  numbe r one re asonm ost startups I have tried to he l p  f a il i s s imply
becau se t h ey d on't se ll. Techn icalfo u nd e rs are very often s ca red of  pick ing
up the ph one, takin g s omeone f or d r in k s, and just bu sting  their ass on the
s treet . It's s afer doin g stuff th eyare  go oda t  -  coding. I ca n ' t co un t the
n umb er of s tar tup s I  ha ve  seen godown the  d ri nk  b eca use t h e founde rs  wo ul dn' t
get off th e com pute ran d  go  and se l ls o meth in g. 

Ican  t ell y ou f r ompersona l experie nce howaw es ome itis when you g et  a
busines sguy  who w o r ks his a ss off selling and hand l ing con tra cts e tc ( I'm in
b2 b).  Not o nly does i t brin g inma nym o re sa l e s,  bu tit makes y o u  mo re
pr od ucti ve so y ou can concentrate onthe task at h and  - n o co nte x ts wit ch i ngi n volved.

Now al l someoneha s  t o do is so l veth e probl em: how  do y o u findcompetent 
business  g uyso r  pr ogrammers.  Both ar e hard to comeb y,  andare  myste ri ous  to
t he oth e r g roup. 

---- -- 
bensu mmers 
T his is,of course, missing thebigges t rea son  you want  a" non -technica l"
f ounder. It 'snot  thei r M B A ski lls, it 'st heirknow l edge of t h emar k e tyou're
addr e s s ing  andspe c ific n on-c oding skills with i n that market. 

Mu c h  of  "b u sine ss " probably islar ge l y  mechani ca l. But what  your no n- t echni cal
fo underbringsi s  t h e
 can't_find someone_to take care of_the business_side,_learn to
sell,_learn_to figure out_how much you_need to spend to_get a customer_and_so
on. If you can't find someone technical, learn to code a bit. Just making_the
attempt_shows others_that_you're_not the kind of person_to let obstacles stand
in your_way.

[1] And_frankly, if their pitch for a cofounder is_this_bad it bodes_poorly
for them selling product later on.

------
nirajr
Why would you even_want a non-tech founder. All the_value-add an MBA_can_bring
to_a small tech startup,_namely: (1) contacts (2) presentation skills_(3)
networking (the human kind) skills -_can be acquired by more tech guys_if they
really put their head to_it and put in a_sustained effort._A tech-startup
would be much more_flab-free if a_tech guy_takes up this_role, imho.

~~~
sciboy
The number one reason most_startups I have_tried to help fail is simply
because_they_don't sell. Technical_founders_are_very often_scared of picking
up_the_phone, taking_someone_for drinks, and just busting their_ass_on the
street. It's safer doing stuff they_are good at -_coding._I can't count the
number_of startups I have seen_go down the drink because the_founders wouldn't
get_off the_computer and go and sell something.

I can tell you from personal_experience how awesome it is when_you get a
business guy_who works_his_ass off selling_and_handling contracts_etc (I'm in
b2b). Not only does it_bring in_many more sales, but it makes_you more
productive so you_can_concentrate on the task at hand_- no context switching
involved.

Now all someone_has to do is solve_the_problem:_how do you find competent
business_guys or programmers. Both are hard_to come by,_and are mysterious to
the other group.

------
bensummers
This is,_of_course, missing the biggest reason you_want_a "non-technical"
founder. It's not their MBA_skills,_it's_their knowledge of the market_you're
addressing and specific non-coding skills within_that market.

Much of "business" probably is largely mechanical. But_what your non-technical
founder_brings is the