Building Software Startups for Non-Technical Entrepreneurs

Thanks for your interest in our comprehensive guide designed to empower non-technical entrepreneurs in the world of software startups.

This course, led by Ian Bentley, CTO and co-founder of Common Sense Software, will equip you with the essential knowledge and tools to transform your innovative ideas into successful tech ventures.

Chapter 1: Getting Started in the Tech World

Welcome! This chapter provides a foundational understanding of the tech world, helping you take the first steps in your entrepreneurial journey.

Chapter 2: Effective Communication with Your Technical Team

This chapter delves into effective strategies for collaborating with technical teams, ensuring alignment and productive communication.

Chapter 3: Conducting Viability Analysis for Your Software Startup

In this chapter, we’ll explore four key elements of viability analysis that every non-technical entrepreneur should consider.

Chapter 4: Defining Your Minimum Viable Product (MVP)

Welcome! This chapter provides a foundational understanding of the tech world, helping you take the first steps in your entrepreneurial journey.

Chapter 5: Creating a Simple Design Plan for Your MVP

In this stage of MVP development, we focus on creating a basic visual representation of your product. This step is essential for effectively communicating your vision to developers and ensuring the final product aligns with your intentions.

Chapter 6: Evaluating Technical Partners for Your Startup

In this critical phase of building your software startup, we focus on the challenging task of evaluating and selecting a technical partner or co-founder. This step is crucial for non-technical entrepreneurs to ensure they have the right technical expertise to bring their vision to life.

Chapter 7: Balancing Project Planning and Execution

Focusing on the delicate balance between project planning and execution, this chapter explores the shift from traditional waterfall methodologies to more agile approaches: emphasizing the importance of adaptability in software development.

Chapter 8: Understanding Technical Debt

What is technical debt? How does it accumulate, and how do you “make payments” toward it so you don’t go into technical bankruptcy? Technical debt is a reality of software development; here’s how to manage it.

Chapter 9: Project Roadmapping

In this chapter, we go deep into project roadmapping, taking into account the larger goals of the company. Now that you have a plan for your MVP and understand the finer points of planning, it’s time to build your long-term scope.

Chapter 10: Should You Use AI Tools?

Should Non-technical entrepreneurs be using AI tools to contribute to your app development? YES! Here’s how to approach it; helping your team gain velocity and not causing more work for them. With a careful approach, you can learn about the development process without being a coding expert.

Chapter 11: Version Control Fundamentals

Version Control is the beating heart of your software development process. Here’s how to understand version control, allowing you to build upon your app’s functionality iteratively without compromising your existing build and features.

Chapter 12: TBD

There’s more coming! Want to be notified about future chapters? Send us a message with the contact form, and we’ll let you know when they’re live.