Shopping for Nerds: I need to build something. Um...now what?

Launching a new startup or building any innovative tech product is seriously hard work. There is a ton of information out there on how to achieve product-market fit, find investors, and market your product.

If you're a non-techie and you're still left wondering how you actually go about building something, this session is for you.

• Do I need a technical co-founder? Should I hunt for a freelance rockstar? How about a local agency? What about offshore?
• How do I know we've made good implementation decisions, like programming language, platform, etc?
• How do I reduce the risk of being taken hostage by a co-founder/contractor/outsourcer?
• What kinds of missteps will require me to throw it all away and start over, and how do I avoid them?

Having the wrong kind of technical talent on your team will result in wasted time, money, effort, and customer/investor goodwill. It can also result in complete disaster.

Spoiler alert: There are more ways to cook an omelet than than there are eggs to break while trying them all. I'll share some of the guidelines I use when I've been asked for advice, and I hope you'll share some of your war stories and hard-learned lessons, too.

• Startups
• Other