Tech for Non-Techies

Learning notes from this episode:   The no code movement is the idea that you can build a digital product using existing tools, which you assemble together without writing any of your own code. It includes everything from website and app builders like Bubble, to tools that automate e-commerce processes and marketing, like Mailchimp.   Building a simple solution using tools that are already out there, means that you can get it into users’ hands, get feedback and see if there is a business case.   No code solutions will only get you to a certain point because their functionality is limited. If your initial tests show that there is a market need for your tech enabled solution, you will have to develop your own technology.   There are four spaces on the April Sprint: Idea to Action. The first two people to sign up will get the April Sprint at 50% off.    To go deeper, join the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

Learning notes: The tech CEO's job is to work with other people who have different skills to reach a clear business aim. It is not to supervise everything or do everything themselves.  You can use technology and data to answer all sorts of business questions, such as: Where shall we drill for oil? Should we make more lipstick?  How should we price our product?  Who are our most profitable customers?  In all of these questions, the aim is to make the business better, not to build tech tools for the sake of it. In a tech business or a tech product you do not need to have a clear plan for exactly which features to build or what tools to use. This will become clear as you take steps to reach your aim and get user feedback.   If you're loving what you're learning on the podcast, then come  join us in the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

Learning notes from this episode: Beri’s first hire was a designer, not a developer. He found her through via a recommendation. This is the best way to hire product talent. Beri has never had a technical co-founder, like most of the successful non-technical founders we’ve had on TFNT. Many people get put off starting work on their venture because they do not have a technical co-founder. We keep seeing that this does not have to get in your way. Beri has worked with various outsourced developers: again, another pattern we see from our other guests. Fundraising should not be an aim. It can help to build a business, but it is not the only way to do so. Beri suggests asking yourself "How can I get 10 customers with the minimum amount of investment?" Learn more about IVY here.   To join our live sessions, get join the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

Learning notes from this episode: The server is like a brain: it is a processing organ. But, just as a brain needs sensory organs to give and receive information in the form of a mouth, eyes and ears, so does a server. The server's sensory organs are the APIs. APIs are snippets of code that let you borrow another app's functionality or data, like Google Maps within Uber. APIs can help companies grow their user base, make more money and collect more data about user behaviour. Deciding what APIs you product should have open is therefore both a business and a technical decision. To join Sophia's FREE masterclass on mid March 2021 on Break Into Tech: Masterclass for Non-Technical Founders, register here. Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

Learning notes from this episode: A product is a solution to a people problem. Before even contacting a product team, take time to investigate the people and the problem. Marketers and designers go through a very similar process to validate the user problem at the start. This is because both are very user focussed. User research is done in two ways: quantitative and qualitative. For qualitative research be careful not to use steering questions to feed answers to the research participants. Ronan recommends reading The Mom Test to learn how to survey users. Check out Digital Trawler here.  To join Sophia's FREE masterclass on mid March 2021 on Break Into Tech: Masterclass for Non-Technical Founders, register here. To watch the full session on video and access learning notes, join the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

Learning notes from this episode:   While there are more apps on the Google Play store, Apple apps account for 70% of all revenue generated on Apple and Google combined. Apple users are wealthier than Android users. The median iPhone app user earns $85,000 per year, which is 40% more than the median Android phone user. Most apps on Apple monetize via subscriptions and in-app purchases, while Android apps make money via advertising.   To join Sophia's free masterclass on mid March 2021 on Break Into Tech: Masterclass for Non-Technical Founders, register here.   To join our weekly expert masterclasses, access learning notes and our unique professional community, join the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

Learning notes from this episode: An algorithm is just a set of instructions that you put into a computer. JS created a prototype of his algorithm using a spreadsheet. The aim of his algorithm was to give out loans to customers. He bought lending data from the Lending Club and tested it against a control group. This means one set of loan applications was assessed by the algorithm and the other was done manually. By doing this, JS proved that his algorithm was making correct decisions. JS Kung does not have a co-founder. This is contrary to what a lot of prominent VCs say they want, but is in line with several successful founders who have spoken to us: Robyn Exton at HER, Asaf Navot at Home Made, and David Segura who sold Giant Media and is now one of NYC’s top angel investors.   If you want to go from idea to action and work with Sophia one on one, here's the February Idea To Action offer.    To join our weekly expert masterclasses, access learning notes and our unique professional community, join the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

Learning notes from this episode:   A product is a solution to a people problem Companies that are successful over a long period of time understand the problem and make new solutions for it A company is also a product, which can be a solution experienced by people at a company. This is important to remember for investing and mergers and acquisitions.   To join our weekly expert masterclasses, access learning notes and our unique professional community, join the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

Key learning notes from this episode: Developers write computer code to make the design come alive. The vast majority of apps will need to have a front end and a back end. Front end developers create computers that interact with humans. If you can see it, touch it or speak to it, it is a front end.  Back end developers create computers that interact with other computers. When you are working with a product team, the work cycle will go as follows: Designers create your prototype Back end developers build the back end Front end developers build the front end If you want to go deeper, then check out the What Non-Technical Founders Really Need to Know about Tech course, where I teach you the process of how to go from idea to a live product and how to work effectively with developers, designers and other people involved in the process. For advice on how to hire product teams, here's Sophia's e-book on How To Hire Your Product Team and Go From Idea To App To join our weekly expert masterclasses, access learning notes and our unique professional community, join the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter. 

Learning notes from this episode:   Venture capitalists are investors in startups, but they also have to raise money from investors. Investors that invest into VC funds are called Limited Partners, or LPs. VCs have to spend time growing their brand and network because the competition to invest in good startups is fierce. Getting operational experience in a start-up is invaluable if you want to become a good venture investor, so either work in a start-up or advise several before getting into VC.   Say hi to Nilesh here.   To join our weekly expert masterclasses, access learning notes and our unique professional community, join the Tech for Non-Techies membership community. As a community member, you'll get: Weekly live masterclasses with global experts Mini-course on how to go from idea to live app Supportive Online Community Library of masterclasses Monthly live coaching with Sophia Matveeva, tech entrepreneur & Chicago Booth MBA Exclusive Resources & Perks Learn more and sign up at https://www.techfornontechies.co/membership   Say hi to Sophia on Twitter. Following us on Facebook and Instagram will make you smarter.