Build-A-Tech-Company Starter Pack

So you’re thinking about starting a tech company - AWESOME!!!!

Where the heck do you begin?

Spoiler alert — it’s not “find a CTO.”

Yes, you need engineers for a tech company!

But there are many steps to take before a single line of code is written.

Find a market. Validate the idea. Get customers to sign up.

Here are the top 5 resources and ideas I share with ambitious entrepreneurs who want to start a tech company!

1. Read The Mom Test 📖

Learn how to do simple, accurate customer discovery
Find real pain. Avoid leading questions!

2. Pick a BIG MARKET 🚀

It’s hard to build a company no matter what, so might as well go big!
Consider B2B Saas
Thought-provoking posts on big markets: here, here, here, and here

3. Look for Authentic Demand

Where are you being pulled?
What problems will people pay you (right now) to solve?

4. Implement a Minimum Viable Testing Process 🧪

Figure out what must be true for your idea to work
Test the smallest, most specific part of that idea

5. Explore Language Market Fit

Another no-cost way to figure out what resonates with future customers
Skip the branding agency; DIY with a slide deck over Zoom or coffee

When do I build tech???

It feels slow to do thorough discovery and testing.

Especially when you are driven and love to go FAST (aka every entrepreneur).

Similar to endurance sports, a strong base is key for speed in the long run.

Go slow to go fast. Start small to build big. First-to-market (or first off the start line) isn’t necessary to win.

-----------------

What does it actually look like to test ideas?

Next week, I’ll share specific strategies used at Atlanta Ventures to launch businesses without building tech!