I often hear this request in my community from non-technical women founders.
“I am looking for a technical co-founder. Do you know anyone?”
If you’re wrestling with this question, consider these points first:
- Why do you need one?
- Can you do without at this stage?
Let’s examine 3 common reasons non-technical founders give for wanting a tech co-founder
1. VCs won’t invest without a technical co-founder
2. I don’t know how to build a tech product
3. I need to get the best product to market quickly
In most cases, the need stems from concerns about capital, product, or time. This mindset often traps us, making it seem like finding a technical co-founder is the only way forward.
Does any of this sound familiar?
→ Years spent searching for the "perfect" tech co-founder
→ Settling for someone in a rush to get started
→ Burning out, only to find the person wasn’t the right fit
→ Ending up with lost time and money on a product that doesn’t fit the market
I have been in this place and so have many of you. In hindsight, I see how much I could have achieved by trusting myself more.
❝ Your time and capital are finite. How you invest them will shape your startup’s early success. ❞
Many successful tech startups were founded by non-technical women who challenged convention. Here are three you may know:
- Vida Health: Health tech startup founded by Stephanie Tilenius who studied Economics and International Finance
- Vayable: Travel tech startup founded by Jamie Wong, a filmmaker with a background in communication and advocacy
- Bumble: Dating app founded by Whitney Wolfe Herd, also co-founder of Tinder, with a background in marketing
This raises the question: what about the status quo is holding us back? Why not challenge convention as these founders did?
In the next newsletter, I’ll unpack common assumptions around needing a tech co-founder and share a fresh perspective.
For now, I’ll leave you with this great insight:
❝ Embrace what you don't know, especially in the beginning, because what you don't know can become your greatest asset. ❞
Sara Blakely, Founder of Spanx