Outsourcing? You Still Need Tech Savvy People

As a non-technical startup founder, engaging with an agency or engineers to build your MVP can be daunting, especially if you don’t have a mentor to guide you, but there are things you can do to make the process smoother and ensure you have a say in the technical decisions being made.

Firstly, don’t just rely on five-star reviews and case studies when choosing an agency or team. Do your references and speak to someone who has worked with them before. Find out about the budget, timeline, communication, and how they handle changes in scope. As entrepreneur and investor Brad Feld once said, “reference checks are the most valuable thing you can do before selecting a vendor.”

Secondly, create a framework that allows you to have a seat at the table around technical decisions. You can’t afford to simply say, “I don’t understand, so I guess they’re making the best decision for me.” Instead, you need to make sure you’ve built a framework that allows you to understand the concept, do your own research, and have a say in the decision-making process. For example, you can ask questions like “What language will you use?” or “Are you going to build it API first?”

By doing your references and creating a framework that allows you to have a say in technical decisions, you’ll increase your chances of success and avoid costly mistakes. Good luck with your MVP project!