Let’s assume the following:

Technical expertise is your biggest barrier to launching a startup. You’re not a coder. You don’t know where to start.

If this is true, you might be tempted by meetups and conferences to find a technical cofounder. While this sounds good in theory, what’s in it for the tech person? How are you going to persuade a stranger to join your project?

Our opinion?

You’ll likely waste your time and money going to these events (if finding a technical cofounder is your sole reason for going). 

There’s an easier way.

Before we dive into how we can help you find a technical cofounder, here’s something else to consider…

Do you even NEED to find a technical cofounder?

If you’re building a new app or website, your first version doesn’t have to be technical. 

Think of how you can patch together your minimum viable product (MVP) with existing tools. Then, launch your product and get users. 

It’s much easier to convince a technical person to join your team once you’ve got traction.

Netflix used this strategy. 

The tech giant initially operated as a mail-order service, mailing DVDs to customers. Each order included a prepaid return envelope for customers to mail back their DVDs. 

Six months after launching, Netflix finally started building its website.

Okay, let’s assume you still want/need to find a technical cofounder…

We can help.

At Gun, we’ve helped hundreds of startups find a technical cofounder in 13 days or less, and 70% of our currently engaged developers have 10+ years of software experience.

What’s more, developers on our platform go through a rigorous screening process. This screening includes an algorithmic screening, a background check, and a live technical interview with one of our senior engineers. As a result, approximately 100 developers get to work with Gun.io clients each month out of 1,000 who apply.

You can trust us with finding a technical cofounder for your startup.

Finding a technical cofounder for your startup

1. Build your ideal candidate

Tell us the skills you require and chat with our talent team.

2. Receive your candidates

In 3-5 business days, you’ll be sent a shortlist of the best startup developers for hire. There are no job posts or stacks of resumes to review—just a shortlist of great matches ready to work. 

You can then decide which candidates you’d like to chat with, and we’ll arrange the intro calls. One of our team will also sit in to help answer any questions.

3. Get started

Once contracts are in place and you’re ready to work with a technical cofounder, we’ll connect you. You can then work together as you see fit. We also support both parties as needed and handle hours tracking, billing, and payments.

At Gun.io, we want you to be 100% satisfied, so we’ll help you find a technical cofounder again if you have any problems.

How to find a technical cofounder

What is a technical cofounder?

Cofounders build startups together and are equally invested in their startup’s success (usually through an equity split). They share responsibilities and split the workload.

Generally, there are two types of cofounders: technical and non-technical. 

Technical cofounders have programming and product development skills. They often take on the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO), and look after building a dev team and the product. 

Non-technical cofounders often take on the role of Chief Executive Officer. Typically, they’ll look after business strategy, fundraising, and the day-to-day running of the startup. 

Cofounders don’t have to have strictly technical and non-technical roles. All the founders may be technical and build their products together. However, the most technical person usually takes the lead in product development.

When do you need a technical cofounder?

A technical cofounder is not necessary, as many non-technical cofounders have found ways to make their startups successful.

So you may not need a technical cofounder ever.

However, technical cofounders are incredibly valuable when building a software product, especially if you don’t possess technical skills. They’re also valuable when you don’t have experience in the industry you hope to enter. They can help you make the right business decisions and avoid pitfalls.

Something else to consider when thinking about finding a technical cofounder is what your long-term startup goals are. 

The need for a technical cofounder is most obvious when you’re looking to scale. A technical cofounder can maintain code quality and the company vision whilst building your product.

FAQs

How is Gun.io different from other developer hiring platforms?

We make the hiring process feel effortless, whether for full-time or part-time roles. That’s because we streamline the hiring process, from sourcing and vetting candidates to matching you with startup developers.

Our clients appreciate our quick and easy hiring experience, with an average time-to-hire of 13 days. In addition, we’ve implemented a strict vetting process. We’ve also built a network of top developers. As a result, our developers have an average of 10+ years of experience.

Here’s a percentage breakdown for approved devs in our network:

• < 7 years: 11%
• 7-9 years: 26%
• 10-19 years: 47%
• 20+ years: 16%

Can I hire developers part-time?

Yes, you can! At Gun.io, you can hire developers on a full-time, part-time, or contract-to-hire basis. 

Of the three, contract-to-hire is a favorite among our clients and developers. This is because contract-to-hire lets you roll the developer onto your project to see if they’re a good fit before hiring full-time.

Does Gun.io only provide hiring services, or can I get project management support for my project too?

Yes, you can (again!) Gun.io can help you hire developers on a full-time, part-time, or contract-to-hire basis, and provide project management support. 

We facilitate intro calls and support both parties as needed throughout the engagement. We also handle hours tracking, billing, and payments.

Meet available, vetted talent today

So are you ready to find a technical cofounder for your startup? If so, we’ve got you covered. Click the button below so we can help you on your talent hunt today!