How to build technical skills for your startup

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If you’re a new founder with a big idea, you’re probably excited but also wondering, “How do I actually build this thing?” For many, the biggest worry is the tech—especially if you don’t know how to code. Even if you do, new challenges pop up as you grow.

If you’re not a developer, creating a product might feel like standing in front of a locked door with no idea how to open it. You don’t have to be a locksmith. But it does help to understand how locks work, what tools to use, and when to call for help.

This is what we call development capability. It’s not about coding (although that can be part of it), it’s knowing enough to navigate the technical world and build your product. It’s a skill every founder should have.

Whether it’s an app, a website, or another tech product, this can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not technical. But don’t worry—there’s a clear path to learn the steps and skills you need to turn your idea into reality.

Why you need to build skills as a founder

Startups are experiments, and experiments fail if you can’t bring your ideas to life.

If your startup involves technology, your success depends on understanding how to build it— and that’s not always by coding yourself. I can also be by knowing how to lead, hire the right people, and avoid costly mistakes.

Without these skills, you’ll rely too much on others. You might struggle to explain your vision, check if the work is done well, or decide what’s worth building.

Even worse, you could spend years creating something no one actually wants—just because you didn’t fully understand the process.

If you’re a founder without a technical background, it’s normal to feel out of your depth. Many founders experience imposter syndrome, especially when dealing with things they don’t fully understand.

But here’s the truth: nobody knows everything. The key is to surround yourself with people who do, keep asking questions, and trust that you’ll learn and figure it out along the way.

Building development capability is about making smart decisions, communicating your ideas clearly, and working effectively with technical experts. These skills help you turn your vision into reality with confidence.

Basic technical skills you should know

You don’t need to be a tech expert to lead a startup, but understanding the fundamentals makes a huge difference.

Some of the areas worth learning about include:

  • Frontend vs. backend development: The frontend is what users see and interact with (like the “face” of your product), while the backend is what makes everything run behind the scenes.
  • APIs (Application Programming Interfaces): Think of these as bridges that help different systems talk to each other.
  • Databases: This is where your product’s data is stored—the memory centre of your product.

There are lots of free resources like Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, and YouTube tutorials to help you get started.

You don’t need to master coding, but trying a little can help you understand the process.

It’s like learning to read music if you’re leading an orchestra—you don’t need to play the violin, but you should know when it sounds off.

Decide on your development approach

Once you have a clear idea of your product and a basic understanding of how it might work, the next step is deciding how to build it. Usually, you’ll have four main options:

1. No-code and low-code tools

Technology has come a long way, and now you can build products without writing code.

No-code and low-code platforms are perfect to create your MVP (Minimum Viable Products) quickly and affordably. These include:

  • No-code platforms: Tools like Bubble, Webflow, and Glide let you create apps, websites, or databases with simple drag-and-drop features.
  • Low-code platforms: Tools like OutSystems and Mendix offer a mix of coding and simplicity for more flexibility.

They might not offer the same level of customisation as coding from scratch.

But they remain an excellent way to test your idea, gather feedback, and make sure it works in the real world. And you can do it all before committing to more expensive development.

2. Hire a developer or development team

If you’re not building the tech yourself, you’ll need someone who can. This could be a developer, a technical co-founder, or a development agency.

The secret is to find someone who understands your vision and communicates well.

Not all developers are the same. A great developer can save you time, money, and headaches by making smart decisions. A bad developer can waste your budget and leave you with a mess.

Here are your options:

  • Freelancers: Sites like Upwork can connect you with experienced developers for short-term projects.
  • Agencies: These provide a team to build your product from start to finish.
  • In-house: If you’re growing fast, hiring a full-time developer might make sense.

When hiring, look for these qualities:

  • Can they suggest solutions to challenges?
  • Do they explain technical ideas clearly?
  • Have they built something similar before?
  • Do they care about your vision and users?

If you’re unsure how to evaluate developers, get help. A technical friend or advisor can review their work or join the interview process.

Finding the right people isn’t just to avoid mistakes, it’s to make your startup stronger.

3. Find a technical co-founder

If you’re not technical, finding a technical co-founder can make a big difference. They don’t just bring coding skills—they also help with strategy, take ownership of the product, and can make improvements quickly.

How do you find one? Start with people you know or ask for referrals. You can also join startup and developer meetups, where other founders and tech professionals gather. And of course, there’s online resources like CoFoundersLab who can connect you with potential co-founders.

Be ready to offer equity (a share of the company) in return. They’re committing to your vision and becoming your partner, so they deserve a piece of profit.

2. Learn to code yourself

If you enjoy hands-on learning and have the time, learning to code can be a great option. Here’s what to think about:

  • Languages for web apps: Start with JavaScript (frontend) and Python (backend).
  • Languages or mobile apps: Try Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android).

It will take several months to a year to learn enough to build a simple, working version of your product. But you’ll have full control over your product and won’t need to rely on developers.

This path isn’t for everyone, but if you’re a determined solo founder, it can be a rewarding and empowering journey.

How to work with a development team to launch your product

Developers bring the skills and expertise to turn your idea into reality, but they rely on you to provide clear direction and a strong vision.

Your role is to connect your vision with the technical work, guiding the process and ensuring everything stays on track.

Lets walk through the key steps to working with a development team, from defining your idea to launching and scaling your product successfully.

1. Communicate your problem to your development team

Even the best developers can’t create something they don’t fully understand, which is why it’s so important to start by clearly defining the problem you’re solving.

If your idea is too vague, it leaves too much room for guesswork, and the final product might not match your vision.

Instead of saying, “I want an app to help people save money,” say, “I want to help young professionals save at least 10% of their income with an app that tracks spending and categorises expenses.”

By describing exactly what you want the app to do and who it’s for, you give your development team a clear goal to work toward.

But words alone aren’t always enough. Visuals can make a huge difference in helping everyone understand your idea.

Sketch out how the user would interact with the product—these are called user flows. You could also draw simple wireframes, which are like rough drafts of the app’s layout, showing where buttons, menus, and features would go.

If you’re comfortable with digital tools, you can use platforms like Figma to create more detailed mockups.

These visuals act as a shared reference point for you and your developers. They reduce misunderstandings and make it easier to explain your ideas.

2. Plan your MVP build process

Once you’ve defined your idea, the next step is to prioritise the features your product needs to solve the problem.

Focus on what’s called the Minimum Viable Product (MVP)—this is the simplest version of your product that still delivers value to your users.

It’s tempting to want to build everything at once, adding all the bells and whistles right from the start. But this often leads to delays, higher costs, and unnecessary complications.

Instead, think about the core features that are essential to solving the problem.

Since tech development can be expensive, creating a realistic budget is crucial. Here’s what to consider:

  • MVP costs: Building an MVP can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on complexity and who you hire.
  • Ongoing maintenance: Tech products require updates, bug fixes, and server costs. Factor these into your budget.
  • Hidden costs: Don’t forget about design, testing, and marketing.

If funding is tight, there are ways to raise the money you need. You can explore grants, enter pitch competitions, or approach early-stage investors. Many startups start small and scale up once they’ve proven their product can succeed, so don’t let the initial costs discourage you.

3. Building your MVP

Once development begins, your role changes. You’re no longer just defining the vision—you’re now the guide ensuring the product stays on track.

This means closely monitoring progress, providing feedback, and making sure the final result matches what you had in mind.

Start by working with your developers to set clear milestones. These are checkpoints in the project, such as completing specific features, testing the MVP, or preparing the product for launch. Milestones give everyone a shared sense of direction and help you measure progress.

Regular check-ins with your developers are essential. These meetings ensure everyone is on the same page and give you the chance to catch any potential issues early.

For example, if a feature isn’t working as planned or if the design doesn’t feel right, you can address it before it becomes a bigger problem.

Even if you’re not coding, your involvement is still vital. Review the work as it’s completed, ask questions to understand the choices being made, and share your feedback. If the app’s layout doesn’t feel user-friendly or if a feature isn’t working as you expected, let the team know so they can adjust.

Your active participation shows your developers that you’re invested in the project and helps ensure that the final product aligns with your vision.

4. Testing your MVP

When your MVP is ready, the next step is to test it with real users and gather their feedback. This is an exciting stage because it’s your chance to see how people interact with your product and learn what they like—and what needs improvement.

Focus on three key areas during testing.

  • Usability. Is the product easy to navigate? Do users intuitively understand how to use it?
  • Performance. Does the app or website load quickly and run smoothly, or are there delays and glitches?
  • User feedback. What features do people love, and what do they feel is missing?

Use this feedback to make your product better. The goal is to create something that users genuinely enjoy and find valuable.

When reviewing the work with your developers, focus on the results rather than getting bogged down in technical details.

Instead of asking which programming tools were used, ask whether the feature works as expected and meets user needs.

At the same time, trust your team’s expertise. They’re the technical experts, but if you’re ever unsure about a decision, don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Open communication and a willingness to learn will help you work together better and create a product that truly stands out.

5. Launch and scale

Your development team plays a critical role in successfully launching and scaling your product.

Once your MVP has been tested and refined, developers ensure the product is stable, secure, and ready for real-world use. They work behind the scenes to prepare the tech infrastructure for a smooth launch.

During a soft launch, your team monitors performance metrics like load times, server stability, and error rates to address any issues that arise. They also help implement user feedback by making quick adjustments or bug fixes, ensuring the product meets expectations.

As you move to a larger launch, the development team may need to scale the infrastructure to handle more users. This could mean optimising databases, setting up cloud resources, or adding security measures.

Post-launch, the dev team stays involved in analysing user behaviour and improving the product based on data. They might work on rolling out new features, fixing bugs, and maintaining the system’s performance as your user base grows.

In the scaling phase, their role becomes even more important.

Scaling requires optimising code, upgrading servers, and ensuring the product can handle high demand without crashes or delays. Their expertise ensures your product remains reliable and continues to deliver a great user experience as you expand.

Final thoughts

Acquiring development capability isn’t something you do once and forget. It’s an ongoing process of learning, trying new things, and adapting as your startup grows.

Over time, you’ll figure out what works, what doesn’t, and how to tackle the challenges of building a product.

The best non-technical founders don’t try to become developers. Instead, they focus on working well with developers, making smart decisions, and always keeping the user in mind.

Your goal isn’t to write code—it’s to create something people want. And with the right understanding and approach, you can achieve that, no matter your technical background.