The Non-Technical Founder: How a 16-Year Old Built a Six Figure Software Company Without Writing Any Code

By Josh MacDonald

Everyone has an idea that they think is the next big thing. The problem is, it’s probably an app or software idea and most people probably don’t know how to code and their record for managing programmers is little to none. Even if they do know how to code, they’re not quite sure how to get their first one thousand customers. The Non-Technical Founder walks readers through the stages of validating whether their next big thing is good, bringing the idea to life, and getting those first customers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Apr 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781683507604

Josh MacDonald

Josh MacDonald is a playwright, screenwriter, actor, and teacher. His three plays published by Talonbooks, Halo, Whereverville, and The Mystery Play are curriculum titles at Canadian high schools and universities. Halo has been produced around North America and has been adapted into the feature film Faith, Fraud & Minimum Wage (eOne Entertainment), for which Josh wrote the screenplay. Josh is also the writer of the horror feature The Corridor (IFC Films; D Films), which played around the world and won the “Next Wave” Award for Best Screenplay at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. He is the writer-director of the short film Game, which has over a million views online. Josh has written for CBC Television and Radio, the National Film Board, the Smithsonian Channel, Reelz, Blue Ant, and others. He has taught creative writing at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) and the Fountain School of Performing Arts at Dalhousie University. Josh is married to actor Francine Deschepper.

Book preview

PART 1

The Ideation Stage

I would say the biggest misunderstanding [that non-technical people have about starting a software company] is probably that it’s easier than people think. The biggest hurdle I see from non-technical founders is the feeling of inferiority. You know, I don’t understand this stuff, therefore, I can’t get it done. And yet we see this every day. Lots of people come to Upwork and have great ideas but they don’t know how to get it done and are looking for people that will help them get it done. This happens millions of times per year and you know the success rate is extremely high. Probably the biggest thing is debunking the myth that you need to have a PhD in computer science to build a mobile app or launch a website or any of that. What you really need is to have a good idea, understand what the market needs and be able to find great people to find great people to help you execute the