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General Discussion

Mohamd Bakri
Mohamd Bakri
121 Points

As entrepreneur, What is better for startups founders. learning to code or searching for a co-founder developer?

Currently I have several ideas that transform the industry. I've contacted some ventures for funding and I have one deal right now.

I learned in the past, the fundamental of design, design process, product design and mobile design, however I have no background in coding.

the question is, is it better to search for a co-founder developer and stick to design and foundation or learn to code?

3 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,261 Points

Even if you want a partner to do the bulk of the coding so you can continue to focus on design, it wouldn't hurt to become at least somewhat familiar with the coding process. It would be helpful in future collaboration, plus it might give you some ideas about how to make design choices that can be more successfully and/or swiftly implemented.

It really is dependent on what you want to achieve with your ideas to be honest. Are you building this start-up because you are after the potential profit it can bring? Or are you building this start-up because you’re after actually building something? That matters because it is what dictates how much time you’re actually willing to wait until the product is out there.

So if I were in your situation and I was after just getting this product out there and delivering an MVP, I would definitely find someone to do good work to be able to deliver my ideas and turn it into an actual functioning product - because I would then refuse to spend so much time on trying to learn something that took time for others to learn to do - especially if I want it soon and I have deadlines to meet. And then I will just learn coding somewhere down the line to get to know my product and how the system works so that I can continue to evolve with it.

However if what you want is the feeling of actually creating something from the ground up, then it would definitely be worthwhile to learn it yourself.

Max Senden
Max Senden
23,177 Points

It really comes down how to spend your time is the most efficient manner. Will that be sitting behind a computer, learning to code/program for the next couple of weeks, if not months? Or is it be engaging potential clients/investors and letting an experienced programmer to do all of the coding and build the product that you have envisioned? Perhaps your strengths lie elsewhere (e.g. concept development, design, maintinging business relationships). After all, you're not just building a product. You're building a company as well, even if it's just a one-person company.

There's no right or wrong answer here. Perhaps learning to code/program is the best approach. Just think it through. You can always go to TreeHouse or another platform to learn the basics when you have time.