Why Non-Technical Founders Must Learn Technical Skills

When you set up your business, you do so because you have a great idea that will be a hit in the market. But as a non-technical startup founder, with no development skills, making your dream a reality can be a difficult path.

By learning a small number of technical skills, you, as a non-technical founder, can support your company in significant ways. Four founders explain how and why:

How can a non-technical founder learn technical skills?

Meet digital marketing experts

Shradha Sud, the founder of Mama couture, says that in her experience — during the early months of starting, the technical skills in respect to the idea or product should be understood or else the product is bound to suffer. “The only way to learn is to meet as many people in the area and ask questions, and read up as much as you can. If however, the technical part is not your forte, then hire the best you can, who understand your vision,” Shradha stated.

Meanwhile, Pooja talks about her business being online since its inception; thus, technical skills have helped her in various aspects like finding skilled artisans and craftsmen to make their products.

“Learning technical skills appropriate to one's work or business is a basic necessity these days. Our generation is fortunate to have lots of options for off-line academies and online courses which impart technical know-how as required,” says Pooja Doshi, the owner and founder of Miraya Arts. Talking from personal experience, she advises taking guidance from genuine digital marketing experts in learning how to create and maintain one's business's website and social media pages. “Then with practice and trial and error, while maintaining and promoting the online business I improved on my technical knowledge in various aspects apart from marketing, like payment gateways, online banking and more.” she adds.

Search the internet

Charu Dhyani, the founder of Wudbox, talks about the immense knowledge present online. She suggests non-technical founders learn the basics and gradually grow their learning based on their interest as there is no end to how much can be discovered online. “It is a good idea to keep up with not just blogs and videos, but also magazines and articles which can be a great source of technical information,” she further adds.

Talk to your team

“I think non-technical founders, first of all, must have the great level of management skill as well as communication skill because these are the two most important tools for a non-technical founder to learn technical skills. Based on a survey, it has been studied that founders spend their 75-80% time in conversation with their team members,” says Abhishree Bharti, the founder of Digital Pushp.

She further adds that if a non-technical founder is good at management skills as well as at communication skills, then she will sit with the technical part of the firm and discuss the technical terms. “This is the best way to become friendly with the technological world and to understand the basics of the technical side of their business. If they discuss with their technical teams on a priority basis & brainstorm new ideas with them, they will surely explore their knowledge & can involve themselves as a motivational speaker of their team.”

“It is a good idea to keep up with not just blogs and videos, but also magazines and articles which can be a great source of technical information”

Also Read: Why India Must Promote Women in Technology and Sciences

Experiences of how tech skills improved their work

Better preparation

“I was a corporate lawyer, when I decided to start this fashion venture. In the new role, I now needed to know all about merchandising, manufacturing, inventory management, etc. After our first big order with our manufacturer, I learnt a lot of techniques like the requirement of pre-planning, creating a season look book to get better value, inventory planning, etc. Hence, next time we were better prepared,” shares Shradha.

Better efficiency

Meanwhile, Pooja talks about her business being online since its inception; thus, technical skills have helped her in various aspects like finding skilled artisans and craftsmen to make their products. Along with, networking with like-minded entrepreneurs, online banking, tapping a broader online global market, promoting her venture, tying up with logistics partners and increasing her venture's visibility on various business, wedding and other relevant portals. “The technical know-how helped me to be more efficient in my work and achieve better results.” she states.

“Learning technical skills appropriate to one's work or business is a basic necessity these days. Our generation is fortunate to have lots of options for off-line academies and online courses which impart technical know-how as required”

“Being from a non-IT background, it was a big leap starting my website,” says Charu. She talks about how along the line, she learnt about uploading products, servers, hosting, how a website works and different platforms for an e-commerce website. Moreover using tech software for content, CRM and social marketing have also been significant enablers in making her business more efficient. Learning about search engine marketing, social marketing, what works, what doesn't work, which is also a vital part of any business, has helped and continue to help her in her work.

Smooth functioning

“Throughout my working experience, technical skills have given me a suitable platform to flourish in my professional career. Two years back, my corporate office was at Noida, but I was tackling my work from Patna. Since, I was not friendly with technical skills, I faced many problems, for instance, I continuously travelled from Patna to Delhi, but when I came in touch with technical skills, a drastic change came at my work. Later, in 2018, I started tackling my corporate office online & the result is things are moving very smoothly. So, as a non-technical founder, I advise that technical skills play a vital role for all the founders and a firm,” shares Abhishree.

Also Read: Aditi Prasad and Deepti Rao: Sisters inspiring women to take up coding, tech and robotics

Saumya Rastogi is an intern with SheThePeople.TV