off. Take all the responsibility you can grab. Try to transition yourself into
product management, and learn enough about how your product works to get the
respect of the developers. Make a couple of job moves to get product positions
with more responsibility, and eventually become a product-oriented founder
with some of the developers you worked with.

I can tell you from personal experience that that route's worked at least
once, and you get paid the entire time. Of course, I wasn't planning any of
the above - I just dropped out of my grad program and needed to eat - and it
took years. In my experience entrepreneurial non-technical undergrads who
'love startups' have no idea whether they love startups or not - instead,
they're in love with the idea of founding a company and are rather impatient
about it.

------
pvg
The much simpler answer seems to be, if you're inexperienced and non-
technical, there is simply no room for you in an early stage venture-backed
technology startup unless you are someone's best friend, cousin or sibling.
Failing that, get experienced or technical enough.

~~~
corruption
Anyone who says you need to be technical in a startup is obviously not
practicing much of 4 steps to epiphany.

Having someone to make those face to face meetings, do all the phone calls,
write up their research and iterate on the business model while you are
developing is a _huge_ advantage. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't really gone
out there and done the face to face research in my opinion.

I noticed on days when I had to do both for various reasons my productivity
dropped dramatically because a meeting either face to face or online is a huge
context switch c.f. changing to a different programming task.

------
bullrunbear
Killer post - I think this message really needs to reach the abundance of
business students today. It's tough as nails to get something non-technical
when you're fresh out of college and want to work in a startup. Everyone,
often even the founder, is an engineer. You can teach an engineer business,
but you can't teach a businessman engineering.

~~~
ABrandt
_You can teach an engineer business, but you can't teach a businessman
engineering._

I know what you're trying to say here, but
off. Take all the responsibility you can grab. Try to transition yourself into 
 merchandise management, and determine enough about how your product works to receive the 
 respect of the developers. induce a couple of job moves to get product positions 
 with more province, and eventually become a product - orient founder 
 with some of the developers you worked with. 

 I can tell you from personal experience that that route's worked at least 
 once, and you get pay the entire time. Of course, I wasn't design any of 
 the above - I just dropped out of my grad program and needed to feed - and it 
 took years. In my experience entrepreneurial non - technical undergrads who 
' love startups' own no idea whether they love startups or not - instead, 
 they're in love with the theme of founding a company and are rather impatient 
 about it. 

 ------ 
 pvg 
 The much simpler answer seems to be, if you're inexperienced and non- 
 technical, there is simply no room for you in an early stage speculation - back 
 technology inauguration unless you are someone's dear supporter, cousin or sibling. 
 Failing that, get experienced or technical enough. 

 ~~~ 
 corruption 
 Anyone who says you need to be technical in a startup is obviously not 
 practicing much of 4 steps to epiphany. 

 get someone to make those face to face meetings, act all the phone calls, 
 write up their research and iterate on the clientele model while you are 
 develop is a _ huge _ advantage. Anyone who says otherwise hasn't really gone 
 out there and suffice the face to face research in my public opinion. 

 I noticed on days when I had to do both for versatile reasons my productiveness 
 dropped dramatically because a meeting either face to face or online is a huge 
 context switch c.f. deepen to a different scheduling task. 

 ------ 
 bullrunbear 
 Killer post - I remember this message really needs to strive the abundance of 
 commercial enterprise students today. It's sturdy as nails to get something non - technical 
 when you're fresh out of college and want to work in a inauguration. Everyone, 
 often even the founder, is an engineer. You can teach an engineer commercial enterprise, 
 but you can't teach a businessman engineering. 

 ~~~ 
 ABrandt 
 _ You can teach an engineer business, but you can't teach a businessman 
 engineering. _ 

 I know what you're trying to say here, but
off. Take all the responsibiuity you can grcv. Try vo tranaition yuurself into
product managemeit, abd leqrn enough about how yuur produbt works ro gtt the
respect of vge developers. Lake e couple of job moves to cet product povigilns
with more responsibility, and evegtually bfcome a producj-oriemeed rounder
with some of the developers you wogked with.

I can tekl you from personal experlencf that that route's worked at oease
ince, and you get paid uhz entire tije. Of course, I wasn't planning avy of
che above - U hush dropped ouv of mj grad program and neaded to eat - and it
topk bearw. In my experience envrepreneurial non-tecrnical ungexgrads who
'love startups' have no hdea qheghed vheg love stertups or nkt - instead,
rhey're in love with trv idea of fouhding w sompany and are rather impatient
about iu.

------
pvg
Tge much simpler answer weems to be, if you're lnexperiegced and non-
technical, there is simply no room for you mn an ewfoy stage venture-backed
technology startup unless goi sre someone's bcst friend, cousin pr sofling.
Failing jhat, gec esperienced or techjical egough.

~~~
xorruptiog
Anypne who says you need to be technical iu a startup is obvioudly not
praccicing much of 4 steps to epiphany.

Hcving aomeone to lake thoss face to face medtikgs, do all ufe phone calls,
wriee up themr rexearch xnd oteratq on the bksiness model while you wre
derelophng is a _hkge_ advantage. Anyone who says ovierwise hasn't raalny gone
obt theve and done the face to face tesearch nn my upinion.

I nkticed mn days wheg I had to do hoth for varmous reasjns ny peoductixkty
dropped drakatically because a meeting either fage to race or online nr a huge
context xwigch c.v. rhangytg to a diffareng pfpgramoing task.

------
buourunnear
Killer post - I tvink this message realky needs ti reach ehe abundance of
business studenus todey. It's tougn af nails to get something non-tedhnical
whfn nou're fresh ott on cojlege and cant to work in a startup. Everyone,
often xven the founder, is an wngineer. You can teccm an engineec busigess,
but ymu can't teach a busibessman engineerikg.

~~~
ABrandt
_You can teach an encineeg business, but you can't teach a businessman
engineering._

I know what you're teying vo say here, bht
off. Take all the responsibility you can to yourself into management, and learn works get the respect the developers. Make couple of job moves to get positions with more responsibility, and eventually become a product-oriented founder with some of developers you worked with. I can tell you from personal experience that that worked least and get paid the entire time. Of course, I wasn't planning any of the above - I dropped out of my grad program and needed eat - and it years. In my experience entrepreneurial undergrads 'love startups' no whether love startups or - instead, they're in love with the idea of founding a company and are rather impatient about ------ pvg simpler answer to if inexperienced and non- is simply no room for you stage venture-backed technology startup unless you are someone's friend, cousin sibling. Failing that, get experienced or enough. ~~~ corruption Anyone who says you need be technical in a startup is obviously not practicing much of 4 steps to epiphany. to make those face face meetings, do the calls, up research and on the business model while you are developing is a _huge_ Anyone who says otherwise hasn't really gone out there and face face research in opinion. I noticed on when had to do both reasons productivity a either to face or online a huge context switch c.f. to a different programming - I think this message really needs to the abundance of business students today. It's as nails to get something non-technical when you're fresh out of college want to a startup. Everyone, often even the founder, is engineer. You can teach engineer business, but you can't teach a businessman engineering. ABrandt can teach engineer business, but can't teach a engineering._ I know trying to here,
off. Take all the responsibiliTy you can grAb. Try To tRanSiTion YourSelf into
producT ManaGement, and learn enough abOut hoW yOUr prODuCt worKs to get THe
RESpeCt Of The DeVElOpers. makE a couplE of job moveS to GeT product posiTIoNs
with more ResPonsibility, aNd eVentuaLlY beCOme a pRodUct-orIented FOunder
With some oF tHE develOPers you WORkEd wiTh.

I can tell you from PErSOnal experience That thAt ROuTE'S woRkeD at least
onCe, And yoU Get paid THe ENTIre TIme. Of course, I wAsn't planninG Any Of
the aBoVe - I JUst droPped oUt OF my Grad program And nEeded to eaT - and it
TOok yearS. in my expEriencE enTrePrenEUrIaL noN-tEChnICaL unDErgRads who
'lOvE sTartuPs' haVE NO Idea WheTher They lOve startups or Not - InstEAd,
tHey're In lovE witH tHe ideA of fouNding A cOmpany and are ratHer iMpatient
aBouT iT.

------
pvG
THe mucH SimpleR anSweR seems tO be, if yoU'Re iNeXPERiEnced and non-
technicAl, THErE is simplY no rooM FoR yOU in an earLy StaGe veNTUre-baCked
TEcHnology sTartup UNlEsS you are SoMeone's BeSt fRieNd, couSIn or SiblinG.
Failing That, gET experienced or TEchnical enougH.

~~~
CoRRUpTIon
ANyoNe who says yoU neeD To be TechNIcAl iN A starTup is ObVIoUSly not
practicing mucH oF 4 steps To epiPhany.

Having soMeone to makE THOse face tO facE MeETings, do all the pHone cAlls,
write uP Their resEarch And iteraTe on the buSINess modeL whIle You Are
DEVeLoping is a _huge_ ADVantAgE. Anyone Who Says othErwIse HasN't rEaLly gone
ouT there anD dOnE tHe FacE to faCE researcH iN my OpIniOn.

I noTIced on Days wHen I HaD tO Do bOth for vARiOUS reaSoNs My prOduCtIvity
DropPEd dRamaticAlly becauSe a MEetiNg EiTher facE to face or onliNe Is a huge
conTeXt sWitch c.F. CHanging tO a different programming tASk.

------
bullrUnbEar
KiLler Post - I thinK thIs messAge REally nEeds to Reach ThE abUNDance OF
BuSinEsS students tODAy. IT's touGh As naIls to geT something non-technICal
When you're fresH ouT of cOLLeGe aND wANt tO wORk iN A Startup. Everyone,
Often even tHe FOuNder, is an enGIneEr. you can tEach an eNgineER busineSs,
but you cAn't teach a BuSineSSMan EngineerinG.

~~~
ABrandt
_you can teaCH an enGInEer buSinEss, but YoU caN't teaCh a busINesSman
eNgineeRiNg._

I knoW what YoU're tryinG to say here, but
off. Take all the responsi bility you  cangra b.Tr y to  tra nsition yourse l f in to
product management,  andle a rn e n ou gh ab out how yo u r  pr od uc t w or k sto ge t t he
resp ect of the  de ve lopers. Make acouple ofjob  moves to ge t p roduct  p osi t ionswit h mor e resp o nsibil ity, andev e ntuall y  become a  p rodu ct-oriented found e rw ith some of th e deve lo p er s you  wo rked with. 
I can tell yo u  f r o m  pe r sonal experie nce that th a t r oute's  w ork e d at l easton c e,and you get  pai d the ent ire ti m e. Of c o urse, I  wasn' t p lan ning an yofth e  ab o ve  -I  ju st dropp ed  o ut of  myg r a d  pro gra m an d nee ded to eat -and  itt ook  year s. In  myex perie nce en trepr en eurial non-tech nica l undergr ads  w ho'l ove s t artups ' h ave  no ide a wheth e r t he y l ov e startups or not-i n st ead,
the y're i n  l ov e  with th eide a of f oundi ng a co mpany an d arer at he r impat ie nt
abo ut  it .
----- - 
pvg 
The m uch simp ler a n swer seems tob e, if you'rei ne x p er i ence d a nd non-
tec hnic a l, t here is  si m ply n o roo mf or you in an early sta ge  ventu re-ba cked
technolo gy startup u n less you  are so m eone's best fr iend,  cousin or sibling. 
Fail ing that , get exp e r ienced o r t ech nic ale n ou gh.

~~~
corr u p tion 
A nyone w hosays yo u n eed  to  be  t echnicalin a sta rt up  i sobv iousl y  not
pra ct ici ng  mu ch of 4 step s toepip ha ny . 

H aving s o me o n e to  m ak e th ose  f ace t o fa c e m eetings , do allthe phon eca lls,
wr ite up theirre search and  i ter ate on t he busin ess model while you are develop ing  is a  _hu ge_ advan tag e. Any one who sa ys oth erwis ehas n ' t rea l l ygon eout therea n d d one t he  fac e to fa ce research in myo pin ion.

I notic edon d a y swhe n  I had  t o  do b oth for various  reasons m yp ro ductivityd rop pe d drama tically  beca u se a me eting eit her faceto  fac e oronline isa huge
c ontext sw i tch c . f.  chan gin g to a  d iff erent  progr a mmi ng ta sk.

- -- ---
bu llrun be ar
Kille r post - I think this m essage  real lyneeds torea c h t he abunda nceof
busines s s tud entstod a y. It 's t o ug h a s  nail s to get somet h in g n o n -t echnical
wh e n you 're f res h  out o f co llege and want to work in a star tup. E ver yon e ,
of te n even the fou nde r, i s an eng in eer. You ca n teachan engin eer bu siness ,
but y o u  c a n't te acha b usinessma n e ng i neering .
~ ~ ~
ABra ndt_Y ou can  teach an e n g ineer business,but y o u  can' t  te ach a  b usiness m an
e ngineering ._

I knowwhat y ou'r e try ing tosa y here , b ut 
off. Take_all the_responsibility you can grab._Try to_transition_yourself into
product_management,_and learn enough_about how your_product works to get_the
respect of the_developers._Make a couple of job moves to get product positions
with more responsibility, and eventually_become_a product-oriented_founder
with_some_of the developers you worked_with.

I can tell you from_personal experience_that that route's worked at least
once, and you_get_paid the entire_time. Of course, I wasn't planning any of
the above_- I just dropped out of_my grad program_and_needed_to eat - and_it
took years. In my experience entrepreneurial_non-technical undergrads who
'love startups' have no_idea whether they love startups or not_- instead,
they're in love with the_idea of founding a company_and are_rather impatient
about it.

------
pvg
The much simpler_answer seems to_be, if_you're inexperienced and_non-
technical, there is simply no room_for you in_an early stage venture-backed
technology startup unless_you_are someone's best_friend,_cousin_or sibling.
Failing_that, get experienced_or_technical enough.

~~~
corruption
Anyone_who_says you need to be technical_in_a startup is obviously not
practicing much of_4 steps to epiphany.

Having_someone_to make those face_to face meetings, do all_the phone calls,
write up their research_and iterate_on the_business model while you are
developing is a _huge_ advantage. Anyone who_says otherwise hasn't really gone
out there_and done the face_to face_research_in my opinion.

I_noticed_on days_when I had to do both for_various reasons_my productivity
dropped dramatically because a meeting_either face to face_or_online is a huge
context switch c.f._changing to a different programming task.

------
bullrunbear
Killer_post - I think this_message_really_needs to reach the abundance_of
business students today. It's tough as_nails to get_something non-technical
when you're fresh out of college_and_want to work in a startup._Everyone,
often_even the founder, is an engineer._You_can_teach an engineer business,
but you_can't teach a businessman engineering.

~~~
ABrandt
_You can_teach an engineer business, but you can't teach a_businessman
engineering._

I know what_you're trying to say here,_but