By Fernando Berrocal

Startup developers can build groundbreaking products and services. With so many startups entering every field, it might be tough for a programmer to differentiate their idea without the assistance of a sales and marketing co-founder. Many of these small businesses are considered as side projects or never turn into commercially successful businesses because they lack good leadership skills. 

Although it's a typical stereotype for startups to have a non-technical entrepreneur seeking a developer to help them realize their vision, the opposite is more prevalent than you may expect.

What does a Sales and Marketing Co-Founder do? 

They are mainly complementarity and versatility employees. Non-technical co-founders play a multifaceted function that is designed to supplement the skills you lack. While controlling and streamlining business operations is important, their ability to connect with people both inside and outside the startup makes them useful. To establish and grow your startup, you'll need a business-minded co-founder who focuses on sales and marketing. They should be treated as equals to you; they are in charge of business growth, while you are in charge of software development. 

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They usually own a significant portion of the business and are invested in its long-term success. This indicates they're investing in both you and the thing you're pitching; their shared enthusiasm should be what motivates them to take a chance. Depending on how much work you undertake yourself and how much responsibility you wish to give them, this role can be defined by several different names. Your cofounder's role might range from Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to Sales Lead, depending on the size of the business. Although the following sections outline common elements of the non-technical cofounder position, it is best described as a complement to the skillsets you already have.

Versatility: Although the non-technical cofounder's position is mostly business-related, their primary responsibility is to manage anything that isn't related to development. It varies greatly from day to day, depending on the activities that must be done. The non-technical co-founder of a small business team must wear several hats, including sales, marketing, financing, communications, customer support, and more. For the startup to expand efficiently, they must be well-versed in all of these areas.

As the business grows and the team expands, the non-technical cofounder might become more of a manager and decision-maker, delegating operational responsibilities to specialist workers. Overall, the role of the non-technical cofounder should be more focused on figure stuff out. They must be able to respond rapidly to problems, identify methods to improve business operations and do it at the lowest possible cost.

Leadership and communication: One of the most important reasons for bringing in a non-technical co-founder is their ability to communicate both within the company and with external stakeholders; they also serve as the primary link between the two. Non-technical co-founders are frequently in charge of arranging a substantial amount of consumer research, sales, and validation by actually talking to clients and analyzing their pain points, even if they don't play a large role in developing your software. This data is then shared with you and the development team to assist you to make decisions about future roadmaps and features. Non-technical entrepreneurs must enable the market to determine what the problem is and what solution they desire.

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You and your non-technical co-founder collaborate closely to develop the organizational values and goals. This covers standards for development, business practices, team dynamics, and more. The vision is then presented to your respective teams, ensuring that both business and development personnel are on the same page; they should understand why you are so enthusiastic about the problem at hand. The non-technical cofounder must be able to lead a team of people with varying levels of knowledge while being efficient and cost-effective. Their extensive business knowledge and expertise should enable them to discuss and monitor all business activities. This event also allows you to make valuable relationships with other industry members, prospective financing sources, and future consumers. A non-technical cofounder builds these relationships over time using their interpersonal skills.

In conclusion, a sales and marketing co-founder is someone that starts your business alongside you and oversees its growth and operations, and shares your enthusiasm for the issue at hand. It has to do a multifaceted function that includes more than just business and boils down to "figuring everything out." It must serve as a mediator between customers and developers; establishes and maintains new customer connections to generate revenue. Finally, it assists you in developing the business vision and culture and it has a comprehensive understanding of business, allowing them to hire and manage specialist workers.

Are you ready to bring your startup to the next level? Apply to MassLight’s next batch. MassLight supplies capital and a dedicated tech team. We take equity in return. Have questions? Refer to our FAQ page.

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