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

by Neal Tovsen | at MinneBar 12 | 2:00 – 2:50 in Proverb-Edison | View Schedule

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.

Beginner

Neal Tovsen

Tech nerd specializing in product development and software engineering. Cofounder of two tech startups, and years of helping build teams, build software, and launch (or reinvent) products.