In this episode, we interview Bill Boulden, a seasoned developer and CTO who has worked with over 20 startups in the past 5 years. The episode reflects on Bill's diverse experience going from start-up to start-up, offering guidance for founders on everything from vetting CTO candidates to budgeting for software to the ideal mindset for leading a successful company.
These are the key takeaways:
Not All CTOs Work the Same Way
It’s important to understand there are many “flavours” of CTO with varying approaches. Rather than assuming any CTO would fit their needs, founders should carefully define what they require in a CTO to complement their specific business before beginning their search. Open conversations focused on alignment of working styles can ensure a great fit.
Demand Transparency from CTO Candidates
Part of the criteria founders should have for a CTO is that they can explain technical concepts and decisions in terms reasonably grasped by non-technical business leaders. If candidates refuse to “show their work” when asked or discuss details citing complexity, it’s generally a red flag. Founders deserve access and visibility into what their CTO is doing, even without coding expertise themselves.
Have Realistic Budget Expectations
While good engineering talent and well-built software costs money, finding quality CTOs and getting your MVP up and running doesn’t need to break the bank.
Founders should be wary if quoted costs spiral exponentially higher without reasonable justification.
Foster a Culture of Learning
The most successful founders cultivate open, curious, and flexible mindsets within their ventures. They constantly seek out diverse opinions from those with different backgrounds and specialties. And they push themselves aggressively into unfamiliar domains to accelerate their own development.
Know Who Your First 50 Customers Are
No matter how ground breaking a product idea may seem, it holds little ultimate weight without validation from real prospective customers. Before sinking extensive time and money into development, founders need to vet concepts with potential users, building an early base who can provide input.
Embrace Requirements Evolution
The best CTOs view changing specifications and priorities as a natural evolution of a product finding its way, not an obstruction. As start-ups gain traction, new feature requests and shifts should be expected and embraced. Sudden changes represent positive interest from the target market.
Persist Through Setbacks
Launching a successful company that endures doesn’t happen overnight; it takes serious grit. Maintaining passion and determination, not just pragmatism, is vital to power founders through the inevitable rough patches of self-doubt.
Using the above guideposts can help start-up leaders make optimal CTO hiring decisions while also fostering a culture and mindset that sets up their ventures for sustained growth.
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