Shows
Tech for Non-Techies277: Why You Shouldn't Use AI to Build Your ProductEvery founder is looking for ways to save time and money. And right now, AI promises both. But here's the catch: while AI can write code, it can't think through your product's logic, security, or scalability. The result? A shiny prototype that collapses under real-world use. In this episode of Tech for Non-Techies, Sophia Matveeva interviews Natalie Kaminski, CEO of JetRockets, with a knack for bridging the gap between non-tech founders and the digital world. With experience spanning multiple countries and roles she brings a hands-on approach to turning ideas into real, successful...
2025-11-0534 min
Tech for Non-Techies258. Why you need a brand before you need an appMost founders dive straight into building — features, user flows, no-code tools — before they've nailed the strategy that actually drives traction: brand. In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares why brand must come before product, especially for non-technical founders building tech-enabled businesses. You'll learn the four brand foundations every founder needs — whether you're launching a new venture or scaling an existing one: Clarity — Who you serve and why you exist Story — What problem you solve and what's at stake Trust Signals — How to build credibility before or beyond your user base Voice — Ho...
2025-06-1118 minTech for Non-Techies233. How AI changed tech entrepreneurship and investing in 2024 and what's to comeThink AI is just about adding chatbots to your business? Think again. In 2024, AI has completely transformed who can build tech companies and how they're funded - but there's also dangerous hype that's already landing companies in legal trouble. We're in what economists call 'The Middle Times of AI' - a messy period where massive opportunity meets massive hype. Some founders are building million-dollar businesses with lean teams, while others are getting fined by the SEC for false AI claims. Listen to this episode to learn: Why prototypes...
2024-12-1824 minTech for Non-Techies232. Why Governments Are Tech's Most Powerful (and Overlooked) InnovatorsThink Silicon Valley was built by brilliant founders and venture capital? Think again. Governments have been the secret force behind every major tech breakthrough - and understanding this could be crucial for your success, whether you are an innovator or an investor. Economist Mariana Mazzucato 's groundbreaking book "The Entrepreneurial State" shows an often ignored truth: from the iPhone to GPS, the biggest innovations in tech came from government funding, because early stage innovation is too risky for venture capital. Listen to this episode to learn: Why every technology in your iPhone...
2024-12-1121 minTech for Non-Techies231. Why Hardware is Hard (And When It's Worth It): Lessons from Apple, Tesla & NvidiaEvery time a founder with a hardware idea comes to me for advice, I tell them they're choosing one of the toughest paths in tech. But sometimes, that path leads to trillion-dollar success stories. In this episode you'll learn from three stories of hardware innovation: Apple, Tesla and Nvidia. Apple had to spend $175 million to fix an iPhone problem that couldn't be solved with a software update. Tesla had to rip robots out of its automated factory. Meanwhile, Nvidia turned from a gaming company into a $3.3 trillion AI powerhouse. ...
2024-12-0416 minTech for Non-Techies229. The $50,000 Mistakes These Founders Almost Made (And How They Avoided Them)Listen to learn: How smart innovators test ideas before burning $50,000+ on development. The common tech traps that trip up even experienced leaders. Practical ways to avoid expensive development mistakes. Real stories from innovators who saved thousands by pivoting early. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:11 Avoiding Expensive Mistakes 02:53 Lesson 1: The Build Everything Now Trap 06:11 Lesson 2: Marketing Before Testing 09:02 Lesson 3: Expensive Website Pitfall 11:53 Lesson 4: Wrong Assumptions Cost For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/229-the-50-000-dollar-mistakes-these-founders-almost-made-and-how-they-avoided-them For more career...
2024-11-2014 minTech for Non-Techies228. Why Smart Leaders Prototype First, Strategise LaterIf you think product development comes after business strategy, you're leaving money on the table and falling behind your competitors. Don't do that. In this episode, you'll learn why smart business leaders are using prototypes as a strategic weapon - so you can do it too. You'll learn: - Why your 50-page strategy doc is worth less than a tested napkin sketch - How your "small" idea might actually be a golden goose in disguise - The real reason PowerPoint presentations don't get funding (spoiler: they're boring) ...
2024-11-1312 minTech for Non-Techies227. How to Use AI in Product Development: A Non-Techies GuideIf you have an idea for an app or a tech business, you can now make a test product in just 15 minutes using AI tools. But, you have to know how to use them wisely, so you don't make pretty products that nobody wants. Listen to this episode to learn: - The sweet spot for using AI in product development (from drafting specs to analysing user feedback) - Which AI tools to use for prototyping right now - A step-by-step process to validate your ideas faster using AI
2024-11-0616 minTech for Non-Techies226. Tech Stacks Made Simple: What Non-Technical Innovators Should (and Shouldn't) DoHave you ever wondered about how to work with developers effectively without becoming one yourself? It all starts with five simple, non-technical questions. In this episode, you'll learn what you need to bring to the table for your developers to build a great tech stack. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 03:12 Understanding the Tech Stack 06:05 Bringing Value as a Non-Technical Person 08:50 Key Questions for Developers 10:45 Importance of Innovation in Tech For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/226-tech-stacks-made-simple-what-non-technical-innovators-should-and-shouldn-t-do...
2024-10-3011 minTech for Non-Techies225. How To Get ROI From A Tech ConferenceYou can get your dream job, your dream client or your ideal investor at a tech event. But, going to a tech conference can also be a spectacular waste of money. So how do you get the former and avoid the latter? Listen to this episode to find out. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:00 Why you should go to conference events 02:59 Conferences are a serious investment 04:18 Conference ROI rules 08:15 What to do at the conference 13:18 Conclusion For the transcript, go to...
2024-10-2314 minTech for Non-Techies224. MVPs, Milkshakes & Corporate InnovationHow do you make something completely new? And does the process differ if you're in a tiny start-up or a tech giant like Google? Listen to this episode to find out. You will learn from Maria Fernandez Guajardo, Senior Director of Product Management for Gmail at Google. You'll learn the framework behind what makes a good Minimum Viable Product, the process Big Tech companies use to bring new ideas to life and the differences between start-up and corporate innovation. Maria's book, Sail to Scale: Steer Your Startup Clear of Mistakes from Lau...
2024-10-1631 minTech for Non-Techies223. Product Management: From Start-up To Grown UpIf you want to understand how tech companies work from the inside, you need to know what product managers do. People who master this skillset go on to be successful entrepreneurs, run tech companies and become leading venture capitalists. Microsoft CEO Satay Nadella used to be a product manager, as did Ben Horowitz, the co-founder of A16S, the VC firm behind Facebook, Airbnb and Pinterest. In this episode, you will learn from Andrew Plato, serial entrepreneur and author of The Founder's User Manual: Practical Strategies for the Startup Leader.
2024-10-0936 minTech for Non-Techies222. Product vs Marketing problemsIf you want to make a successful product, or have a great career, what do you need to focus on today? Listen to this episode to find out. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:06 Product vs. Marketing Problems 03:00 Job Interview Example 05:11 Experience v Networking 06:41 Retention Metrics 08:30 Prioritizing Product over Marketing 10:13 Marketing for Success For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/222-product-vs-marketing-problems FREE GUIDE: The Pragmatist's Guide To Innovation (in business & in life)
2024-10-0211 minTech for Non-Techies221. How Paypal innovatesDo you want to know how one of the world's largest fintech companies stays on top? Paypal's innovation strategy is actually simpler and cheaper than you probably think. Listen to this episode to learn how this $78 billion dollar business keeps coming up with new ideas, so you can steal their strategies for yourself. You will learn from Mike Todasco, who led global innovation at Paypal and is now a visiting fellow studying AI at the Sand Diego State University. Timestamps: 00:00 Innovation on a Budget 02:55 Constraints in...
2024-09-2536 minTech for Non-Techies215. 3 ways to learn from innovatorsIf you want to be an innovator in the Digital Age, you must learn from those who came before you. Here are Sophia Matveeva's top 3 recommendations for what to listen to to get the best innovators lessons. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 02:04 Behaviors of Famous Innovators 04:21 Product Management Strategies 06:06 Emphasize Customer Focus 07:04 Final Thoughts For the transcript, go to: https://www.techfornontechies.co/blog/3-ways-to-learn-from-innovators For more career & tech lessons, subscribe to Tech for Non-Techies on: Apple Spotify YouTube Amazon Podcasts Stitcher Pandora Do you want to succeed in the Digital Age? Check...
2024-08-0707 minTech for Non-Techies214. Business Leaders' lessons from the global IT outage10,000 flight cancellations, disruptions in the UK National Health Service, and the banking sector cast into turmoil. The CrowdStrike outage sent the entire world into disarray. In this episode of the Tech For Non-Techies podcast, host Sophia Matveeva imparts crucial knowledge on how to prevent IT crises and emphasizes the importance of understanding tech for business leaders. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:21 Severity of the CrowdStrike outage 00:03:22 Overview of the CrowdStrike Incident 00:04:23 Implications of Software Malfunctions 00:06:30 Importance of IT Risk Management 00:08:34 Software Testing an...
2024-07-3116 minTech for Non-Techies183. Top entertainment picks to help you learn about techIn this episode, you will get four suggestions for shows about Big Tech, AI, billionaire founders and white collar criminals. Sophia Matveeva's top entertainment suggestions that will teach you: How Facebook was created What happens to founding teams when companies get successful How to convince powerful investors to fund you when you have nothing How social media companies work from the inside What happens when a robot develops consciousness Join our January program & get Early Bird pricing: Design for Growth --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digi...
2023-12-2711 minTech for Non-Techies179. Top 4 tech podcasts for Business LeadersHere are Sophia Matveeva's top four podcast picks to help you learn how tech is changing business and the economy. This is a selection of the most jargon-free shows, where the hosts don't assume you've worked at AWS for a decade. --- Join the Tech for Non-Techies membership and succeed in the Digital Age. Tech for Non-Techies clients Reach senior leadership positions in Big Tech firms Lead digital transformation in established businesses Create tech businesses as non-technical founders Pivot into careers in venture capital We love hearing from our readers and listeners...
2023-11-2911 minTech for Non-Techies170. Advisory Boards: why join them & why have themIf you want to run a start-up, get to the top of a corporate, get headhunted for board roles or become a Smart Money investor, joining an advisory board is a smart move. But, for advisors, boards can can also become a time drain and a risk to your reputation. For founders, advisory boards can be a source of deals, funding and support, or a costly distraction. Listen to this episode to learn why joining a start-up advisory board can be one of the smartest career moves you could ever make, and avoid t...
2023-09-2742 minTech for Non-Techies168. 5 tech concepts every Business Leader needs to knowTo succeed in the Digital Age, traditional business skills are no longer enough. Business Leaders need a new skillset: Digital Leadership. This doesn't mean learning to code or taking a Python course. (Thank God!) Instead, it means learning how to collaborate effectively with developers and data scientists, and aligning business goals with tech strategy. In this episode, Sophia Matveeva shares the top 5 tech concepts every Business Leader needs to know to thrive in the Digital Age. Listen to this episode if you are: a leader in a company going through d...
2023-09-1328 minTech for Non-Techies167. Four top tech books for Business LeadersListen to this episode to get Sophia Matveeva's recommendations to hone your digital mindset. In this episode, you'll hear the top lessons from each book and why they matter. The beginners' guide: Swipe to Unlock: The Insider's Guide to Tech and Business Strategy Listen to this TFNT podcast interview with co-author Parth Detroja: 12 Introduction to Product Strategy To learn Design Thinking: Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life Join Design Q4 to Finish Strong! to attend the Design Thinking workshop on Sunday 10 September 2023. Understand AI and how it changes business models: Competing in the Age...
2023-09-0614 minTech for Non-Techies159. Power mistakes by founders, corporate leaders & investorsTechnology has disrupted power dynamics, and led otherwise smart and rational people to suspend disbelief, lose control and destroy value. To have a truly successful career, you need to understand power dynamics: when to hold on to control and when to cede it. In this episode, you will hear: How power dynamics affect equity splits for non-technical founders What happened when a traditional corporate ceded too much control to agile consultants The power balance investors must strike to become Smart Money Come to Sophia Matveeva's next FREE class: Power in the Dig...
2023-07-1217 minTech for Non-Techies158. Office Hours: MBA vs Computer Science, Product Management, Tech Trends & Career TransitionsListen to this Office Hours session with Sophia Matveeva MBA. Questions covered in this episode: Should I do an MBA or a Computer Science degree? What's the difference between Product Management roles in deep tech vs standard businesses? What tech trends are the ones to watch right now? How do you transition into tech after 18 years in the automotive industry? Come to Sophia Matveeva's next FREE class: Power in the Digital Age, 12 July 2023 You will learn How tech changed power dynamics in business What it takes to become & stay powerful in the Digital...
2023-07-0533 minTech for Non-Techies157. Tech trends and rumors from the advertising OscarsTech and advertising are intertwined: ads is where Big Tech makes most of its money. Learn about the biggest trends in tech from the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity. You'll hear about developments and trends at Twitter, Meta and TikTok, as well as see what overhyped tech is behind us and what is yet to come. In this episode you will learn: Where consumer trends start now and how to spot them Which types of AI advertisers, media and brands are most excited about Which tech player is shrinking and which one is growing Why th...
2023-06-2819 minTech for Non-Techies156. Why most digital transformations failAccording to McKinsey, 70% of digital transformations fail to meet their goals. And yet, these multi-million dollar projects remain a priority for every major CEO. In this episode, you'll learn from Matthew Domo about why these projects fail and what to focus on to make them succeed. (Clue: it's not the tech). Matt is one of the founders of Amazon Web Services and a pioneer in the cloud computing space. He has created nine cutting-edge cloud products and seven e-commerce website solutions, generating significant revenue streams for Amazon, Microsoft, and Rackspace. Matt wa...
2023-06-2041 minTech for Non-Techies155. How generative AI is changing business and the economyChatGPT reached 100 million users in just 2 months after launch, and generative AI has already changed how many professionals do their jobs today. But, how has it already changed business and how will it impact the economy? In this episode, you will hear from Professor Avi Goldfarb, co-author of Power and Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence. In this episode, you will learn: which industries have already been completely changed by AI how to think about using AI in your work (and when not to pass it off as your own work) about three wav...
2023-06-1446 minTech for Non-Techies154. How to price your appThere is no template for pricing apps or Software as a Service products, because each product is always a solution to a problem. Some problems are more important than others, and some are harder to solve. But, you can use frameworks to decide what price to launch and how to iterate. In this episode you will learn: What questions to answer to decide the starting price for your product Why your ultimate vision for the company is the first step to deciding your price Why traditional business practices do not apply to tech product pricing...
2023-06-0718 minTech for Non-Techies153. Social graph vs Interest graph: AI lessons from TikTok & InstagramWould you rather listen to a song by an artist you already love? Or an unknown artist and try something new? Most people want a combination of the familiar and the new. In social media terms, this is the social graph vs the interest graph. The social graph refers to content from your friends, and the interest graph refers to content based on your interests. Tech firms based on content consumption, like Meta, Netflix and Spotify have been grappling with this tension for years, and constantly tweaking their algorithms to adjust for familiarity vs dis...
2023-05-3118 minTech for Non-Techies123. To thrive in the Digital Age, change how people see youTo succeed in today's economy, you simply have to speak tech. But, if nobody knows about your new digital skills, you won't become a digital leader. This is why, to go from traditional business manager to digital leader, you need to actively work on changing your professional image. Here are three hacks to help you change perceptions today: 1) Update your LinkedIn profile For senior level opportunities, candidates are not expected to apply – they need to be found. Executive recruiters use LinkedIn to find candidates, so make sure that your pr...
2022-11-0217 minTech for Non-Techies89. How to burn $2 billionDoes having $2 billion in the bank account and celebrity backing guarantee success for a consumer app? Not necessarily. Listen to how one company burned through almost $2 billion and had to shut down their app after just 6 months. Learn what Quibi did wrong, so you can avoid their mistakes. Learning notes from this episode: Success in one field does not necessarily translate into another, especially without training. Quibi's founders used lessons from launching Hollywood blockbusters to launching consumer apps. This did not work. Follow the product development process, no matter how much money you have. Focu...
2022-03-0923 minTech for Non-Techies88. You can't be half pregnantDevelopers don't work in the same ways as non-technical professionals. If you don't know how to work with developers, you can waste thousands of dollars and get very frustrated, as you'll see from the story Sophia shares on this week's episode. Learning notes from this episode: A feature cannot be released when it is not ready. It is either ready to release, or it is not. There is no half way line. A feature can't be half ready, just like you can't be half pregnant. Developers usually work in two-week cycles, when they are focussed on a spe...
2022-03-0217 minTech for Non-Techies86. What is coding? The quick guide for non-codersThe terms coding and programming are ubiquitous, yet many non-technical professionals do not know what they mean in practice. Why are there different coding languages? What do developers actually do? This is what you'll learn in this episode. Learning notes: Data is information that you can use to do something with. For example, your shopping list is information that you use to remember what food to buy when you go to the supermarket. Technology is what you use to create, store or communicate that data. In our shopping list example, it could be pen and pape...
2022-02-1620 minTech for Non-Techies85. "Don't be afraid of the tech," lessons from a non-technical founderNasi Rwigema doesn't have a background in software, but that didn't stop him from building his tech platform: Umwuga, a social network for blue collar workers in South Africa. To his surprise, he found that figuring out what people want is much harder than learning about tech. Nasi is one of Sophia's students from London Business School. He took her course three years ago, and used his knowledge, network and resilience to build his platform. If you have an idea for a tech venture, as a founder or a corporate innovator, or you want to invest in te...
2022-02-091h 08Tech for Non-Techies84. What UX designers do and how to work with them"Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People think it's this veneer — that the designers are told, 'Make it look good!' That's not what design is. It's not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works," - Steve Jobs In this episode, you''ll hear from Sarah Doody, a UX designer who has worked for the likes of Vice Media and Dow Jones. Today Sarah runs Career Strategy Lab, a school for UX designers. Learning notes from this episode: "User experience design is how you intera...
2022-02-0234 minTech for Non-Techies83. How tech companies bring new ideas to lifeIf you have an idea for a new product in a traditional business, you will probably have to work on an extensive plan before you do anything else. This is not how it works in tech companies. When the likes of Airbnb and Slack bring new apps or features to market, they use the Sprint Method. It is a methodology developed by Google Ventures to bring new ideas to life and test them quickly and cheaply. Learn how this works in this podcast. Learning notes from this episode: The aim of a s...
2022-01-2621 minTech for Non-Techies82. Intro to agile for non-techiesAgile is now a ubiquitous management term, but few people understand what it means in practice. For some products, agile is THE BEST system, for others, it is THE WORST. Listen to this week's episode to find out what it is, how it works in practice, when to use it and when to avoid it. You'll hear how WhatsApp used this methodology to release its first product, and learn how to use it yourself. Learning notes from this episode: There are two methodologies to make things: waterfall and agile. Waterfall...
2022-01-1917 minTech for Non-Techies81. Technology is just another business tool. Don't put it on a pedestal.It's easy to put the tech sector on a pedestal, as we're constantly bombarded with its power and profits. But "technology is just a tool to affect business outcomes," says prop tech entrepreneur Sebastian Rivas. Sebastian runs Andes STR, a which uses machine learning algorithms to find property investments for short term rentals. If you want to invest in a property and rent it out on Airbnb, Andes STR will find the investment and manage the rental. Sebastian started his career in finance, and created a smart plan to break into tech. Listen to this...
2022-01-1232 minTech for Non-Techies80. Why 2022 brings even MORE opportunity to non-techies in techThe tech sector is massive and is set to get even bigger in 2022. As it matures, the number of non-technical roles increases. Listen to this episode to prepare for the non-techie jobs boom. Learning notes from this episode: According to research by Glassdoor, 54% of all jobs in tech companies are for non-technical roles. As the tech sector matures, it becomes more open to non-techies. When a tech start-up grows into a business, it needs the human infrastructure of a business: marketing departments, legal expertise, procurement help and so on. Peloton is a great example of...
2022-01-0513 minTech for Non-Techies79. Why human insight will drive success in tech in 2022No code apps and outsourced product studios mean that there is more opportunity than ever for non-technical founders and traditional businesses to get into tech and succeed. But, as more companies enter the market, they'll be competing for a finite resource: our attention. Listen to this episode how to make the most of this opportunity and avoid costly mistakes. Learning notes: The prevalence of No Code apps and outsourced product studios is driving down the cost of building apps, sites and algorithms. As more tech products enter the market, marketing costs will in...
2021-12-2919 minTech for Non-Techies78. How to review your year with UX Designer Sang Valte"Follow effective action with quiet reflection. From the quiet reflection will come even more effective action" - Peter Drucker. As 2021 comes to a close, it's useful to reflect on what worked, what didn't and how your industry evolved. In this episode, you'll hear from Sang Valte, Senior UX Director at international design agency Jellyfish, and Design Standards Board Member at General Assembly, about how he reviews his year and how the UX changed in 2021. Questions to ask yourself for your end of year review: What have you gained in your health & wealth? Where h...
2021-12-2131 minTech for Non-Techies77. Avoid these mistakes if you want to break into techDid you know that 54% of all jobs in tech companies are non-technical, according to research by Glassdoor. This means there is plenty of opportunity for non-techies who want to transition into the world's most lucrative and exciting sector. Avoid these mistakes if you want to transition into a career in tech: Don't sign up to a 6 month coding course, you probably won't need this level of detail. Instead take a shorter course on how software products get made, get the basic tech vocab and understand who does what on a tech team. Don't spend all your t...
2021-12-1512 minTech for Non-Techies76. From offline business owner to tech entrepreneurCreating a successful business is a huge feat, but even founders with profitable exits struggle when they first break into tech. Bryan Clayton co-founded Greenpal, the Airbnb for lawn mowing, after he sold his first business. But, his first business was a landscaping company, which meant that even as an experienced entrepreneur, he was a newbie in tech. Learning notes from this episode: Non-technical founders need to know enough to be dangerous before hiring developers. Understand how your business strategy connects to product aims and know how to estimate your development budget. Even badly made first...
2021-12-0824 minTech for Non-Techies75. Do this before hiring developersMoney isn't enough to hire the best product teams. If you want to hire great people to build your product, you need to convince them that your vision has potential. To do this, techies and non-techies alike need to come prepared. Learning notes: A product is a solution to a problem someone is experiencing. You use Uber to get from A to B, not because you want to use an app. Great outsourced product teams like the Evil Martians will question your assumptions and want to validate your idea. If a product team doesn't ask you an...
2021-12-0113 minTech for Non-Techies74. How I got to the top in techJennifer Byrne studied Psychology at university and went on to become the Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft US. Listen to this episode to learn how this liberal arts graduate transitioned into tech and became one of the most senior people in the industry. Learning notes from this episode: "You have to understand the difference between acquiring digital context versus digital fluency. Context means seeing the bigger picture of how things connect together, but not necessarily understanding the detail," says Jennifer. Jennifer says that it is impossible to know everything about technology, even when you are at the to...
2021-11-2442 minTech for Non-Techies73. How I transitioned into a career in techLots of smart people want to transition into careers in tech, but don't know how to get started. If that sounds like you, then listen to how Alexandra Soroko went from finance to tech leadership. Today, Alexandra is Head of Merchant Sales at Visa in France, and connects fintech companies, banks and Visa's technologies to help some of the world's largest companies process payments. In her role, she combines tech knowledge, marketing and finance skills. She started her career at JP Morgan, but didn't let her lack of tech skills stop her. Learning notes from...
2021-11-1730 minTech for Non-Techies72. Break into tech: three examples of successful career transitionsThe number of technology oriented jobs is predicted to rise to 190 million in 2025, according to Microsoft. But, if you're a non-techie, how do you get in on that? In this episode, you'll hear how three people transitioned into successful careers and tech, and learn how to apply their tactics to your career transformation. Learning notes from this episode: To succeed in tech as a non-techie, you need to learn core technology concepts and understand how they translate to business outcomes and user needs. You do not need to retrain as a coder. There are...
2021-11-1016 minTech for Non-Techies71. Why Uber competes with Tinder and with ChocolateConsumer facing tech businesses like Uber aren't just competing with other firms that provide a similar service. They're competing with everything that vies for your attention. This is why B2C tech businesses tend to be more innovative, better at design thinking and take inspiration from a wider pool than their enterprise tech counterparts. Learning notes: The Attention Economy refers to products which compete for consumers' attention, which widens the competitive landscape exponentially. Uber isn't just competing with Lyft, or your feet. Going out competes with staying in, so sometimes you're choosing between an U...
2021-11-0313 minTech for Non-Techies70. How to solve the right problem95% of new products fail, according to Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen. But, usually this isn't because they are badly made, but because they don't solve the right problem. Before you delve into product development, define the problem you are solving. In this episode, you'll learn from Thomas Wedell-Wedellsborg, author of What's Your Problem and Innovation As Usual, about how to reframe problem solving in business and in life. Learning notes: Non-techies can play an important role on product teams by being focussed on the problem they are solving, because they are less likely to...
2021-10-2724 minTech for Non-Techies69. What do Heads of Innovation do?Working in innovation at a large company can be a great way to join the tech boom for non-techies. But what do you do when you get there? Innovation leaders have a wide range of backgrounds. Some have deep tech expertise, and others are marketing pros. The innovation path a company has chosen determines the background of the person who'll lead it. Learning notes: There are 6 paths to innovation: private, public, incremental, breakthrough, product and process. Breakthrough innovation is when a company asks itself: we need to do something completely different. What is that thing...
2021-10-2014 minTech for Non-Techies68. How smart start-ups and corporates hire product teamsWhat's technology for? Tech products can make our lives better and make businesses a lot of money. But, without a focus on the user and on the business, technology is an academic project at best, or just an expensive hobby. In this episode, you'll hear from Elisabeth Bohlmann, VP of strategy at December Labs, a product and development studio that works with corporates like Google, and start-ups to validate ideas and build products. Learning notes from this episode: If you don't have a technical background, learning from other people who are succeeding in tech but...
2021-10-1325 minTech for Non-Techies67. What Product Managers do and how to become oneSatya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, and Ben Horowitz, the co-founder of VC fund A16Z, both started their careers as Product Managers (PMs). PMs rise to leadership positions in the tech sector, because the job combines user perspectives, business needs and technological capabilities. Whatever you want to do in the tech sector, learning how product managers think will help you succeed. Learning notes: A product is a solution to a problem somebody is experiencing. Good product managers always focus on the user and the problem. Product Managers lead developers, marketers and designers, but rarely k...
2021-10-0617 minTech for Non-Techies66. Why cloud computing isn't just for techiesYou've probably heard the term cloud computing, but like most non-techies, you're not sure what it means. In this episode, you'll learn what it is and how businesses use it to solve problems. You'll learn from DJ Johnson, who works at Microsoft Azure. DJ started his career as an NBA player and transitioned into a career in tech. Learning notes from this episode: Cloud computing allows businesses to rent space to store data. Previously, companies had to store data on their own servers, which was much more expensive. The two biggest players in cloud comp...
2021-09-2923 minTech for Non-Techies65. Fundraising For Non-Technical FoundersMany investors view non-technical founders as more risky. Sometimes this is plain silly, but there are legitimate investor concerns that non-techie founders will make costly mistakes that technical founders will not. The answer is not to learn to build the product with your bare hands, but to know enough about tech to have a product strategy and relate it to business goals. Learning notes from this episode: "You can be the ripest juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches," - Dita von Teese. Some investors don't invest...
2021-09-2213 minTech for Non-Techies64. Product Management at Apple vs AmazonProduct managers combine user perspectives, business needs and technology capabilities in one job. But, what they do day to day varies widely. In this episode, you'll hear how what PMs do differs between Apple and Amazon from Souvik Bhattacharya, who has worked at both. This episode is for product managers, founders, investors and those who want to understand tech companies from the inside. Learning notes from this episode: Founders play the product management role in their start-ups, and venture capital funds often employ former PMs as investors. What Product Managers do day to day d...
2021-09-1523 minTech for Non-Techies63. There are no lone wolves in tech: all products are interconnectedEvery app and site is made up of lots of different tech tools and languages. Like a house, one part is built on top of another and they need each other to function. If one part of the structure breaks, the rest can fall down too. These are called dependencies. To keep a product working, all the dependencies need to work together. This is part of the invisible work that software engineers do. Learning notes from this episode: A tech stack describes all the tools and programming languages used to build an app or a site...
2021-09-0814 minTech for Non-Techies62. How I used accelerators to build a tech businessAndi Govindia has gone through three accelerators on her start-up journey. This helped her build a business model, find co-founders and get her first major clients. Andi leads Riviter, a visual search company that uses AI to predict fashion and beauty trends, and counts L'Oreal amongst its clients. If you're interested in entrepreneurship and how non-technical founders can succeed in tech, this one is for you. Learning notes from this episode: Use Effectual Logic: ask yourself what the simplest and laziest way is for you to solve a problem. The simplest way is...
2021-09-0127 minTech for Non-Techies61. How To Hire Product Teams: Outsourcing vs In-HouseHiring developers and designers to build your tech product is always risky, because as a non-techie, you're hiring people to do things you don't know how to do. Is outsourcing more risky because you're far away from the team? Or is in-house more risky, simply because it usually costs more? Listen to this episode to find out. Learning notes from this episode: Always get employees and contractors working on your products to sign over the Intellectual Property to the company. If a person or a firm is refusing to sign an...
2021-08-2519 minTech for Non-Techies59. What on Earth is growth hacking?Why do some products go viral and others die a quiet death? The answer lies in growth hacking. Growth hacking is a type of marketing that combines working on the product, which is an inside job, and working on promotion, which is an outside job. It is a new discipline born with the tech sector, and growing in popularity today. Learning notes from this episode: The Dropbox growth hacking case study is still seen as the Holy Grail in the sector. The team created a double referral program to grow 3900% in just 15 months. A gr...
2021-08-1113 minTech for Non-Techies58. How to pivot your way to successNeither life nor business are linear. Startups often pivot their business models several times to find product market fit, just as we try out different careers. In this episode, you'll hear from Hannah Feldman, the CEO and co-founder of Kidadl, which helps families do fun and useful things with their kids. Hannah began her career as a corporate lawyer, then worked in banking, and then with Dragon Den's James Kaan before starting on her entrepreneurial journey. Her company, Kidadl also went through pivots before it found product market fit during the Covid shutdowns. Whether you w...
2021-08-0425 minTech for Non-Techies57. How to have a great career in tech, lessons from Reid Hoffman"The business strategies employed by highly successful start-ups and the career strategies employed by highly successful individuals are strikingly similar," says Reid Hoffman in his book The Startup of You. If you want to have a great career in tech as non-techie, but don't know how to get started, this episode is for you. Learning notes from this episode: Hoffman says we all have 3 puzzle pieces in our careers: our assets, our aspirations & values and market realities. Plan your career 2 steps ahead. For example, if you work in finance and your aim is to get...
2021-07-2812 minTech for Non-Techies56. How space tech impacts us allSpace tech developments aren't just a battle between middle aged billionaires. Nor is it a Cold War leftover. The technologies we use every day to watch TV and hail a taxi rely on connections in space. As the cost of space tech falls, and VC investment in the sector rises, the opportunities for business and consumer innovation open up. Listen to this episode with Dr James Lambert, Head of Operations at private space tech company Pulsar Fusion, to get an overview of this fascinating industry. Learning notes: The cost of getting satellites i...
2021-07-2123 minTech for Non-Techies55. What data scientists do and how to work with themBig data and predictive analytics can help you make profits, sell clothes and strike oil. But, unless you know how to ask data scientists the right questions and then use their answers, data are just a collection of meaningless facts. Listen to this episode to learn what data scientists do and how to work with them. Learning notes from this episode: Every senior level professional today has to learn to speak tech: knowing the concepts of how digital products get made is now basic literacy. Working with data scientists can be broken down...
2021-07-1415 minTech for Non-Techies54. How I built a party platformPut on your party pants! In this episode, you'll hear from Julie Novack, the CEO & non-technical co-founder of PartySlate. PartySlate is a platform that connects event professionals to people planning events. During the pandemic, PartySlate had to quickly reinvent its offering, but managed to end 2020 with no revenue loss. This is a great story in about resilience, leadership and giving users what they want. Learning notes from this episode: Julie spent a year researching Houzz, a platform for interior designers, to get inspiration for PartySlate. If a company is doing something similar to you, but...
2021-07-0720 minTech for Non-Techies53. The hidden cost of cat videosStoring stuff costs money, this is why it's good to look in the back of the cupboard and decide whether you really need all those spices you bought 5 years ago. This is the same with data stored by tech companies. Companies have to pay to store data on servers. Google pays to keep all of those cat videos on YouTube. Learning notes from this episode: Storing data costs money and most companies rent server storage space from Amazon AWS or Microsoft Azure. If you're going to store data, you need to know how you're g...
2021-06-3015 minTech for Non-Techies52. Introduction to Venture CapitalA robust venture capital industry is one of the pillars of the today's tech boom, because it provides the funding for new companies to grow. But "venture capital is not a job for everyone," says venture investor Dr Itxaso del Palacio in this week's episode. Itxaso is a leading venture capitalist. She launched Microsoft Ventures in Europe and is Partner at Notion Capital today. She also teaches Entrepreneurial Finance at the MSc Technology Entrepreneurship at University College London. Learning notes from this episode: "Venture capital is mostly transactional. Founders operate the companies, and we can a...
2021-06-2328 minTech for Non-Techies51. The career secret all tech innovators knowMost start-ups fail, but founders and investors can still use this for career success. Learning how tech products get made and how the companies behind them make money, opens so many doors to interesting and lucrative opportunities. Many product managers and venture capitalists have transitioned into their jobs via start-ups. Learning notes from this episode: Almost every company is now a tech company, so knowing how tech products get built and how they make money is THE most useful transferable skill in today's economy If you're thinking of launching a venture, you do need...
2021-06-1616 minTech for Non-Techies50. How to work with developers: advice from a CTO"Come to developers with good research and understand your customer. If you don't understand your customer, how can you expect the developer to build features for that customer?" says developer Ariana Waller, founder of Wally Tech. Ariana works with non-technical founders and helps them bring their visions to life. But, many founders want to hire developers too early or make the wrong hires. Listen to this episode to avoid falling into that common trap. Learning notes: Learn about the users and the problem you are solving before you speak to developers. Use no...
2021-06-0918 minTech for Non-Techies48. How to make a prototype for your product (Part 2)Making a prototype is a key step in your journey in bringing your tech idea to life. Begin with UX research, which we covered in last week's episode. With your research done, it's time to move on to making a "fake product," which you will test with real users to see if there is enough demand to invest in creating the real thing. To do this, Sophia takes you through the Sprint method developed by Google Ventures. Using this method, you can have a tested prototype in just 5 days. Learning notes from thi...
2021-05-2617 minTech for Non-Techies47. How to make a prototype for your product (Part 1)The prototyping process is the first step in the product development journey. To go from idea to live app, site or algorithm, you need to test it with target users. A good prototype can get you funding, but more importantly, it can show you whether the concept is worth pursuing in the first place. One of the biggest mistakes non-technical founders make is hiring developers before they have a tested prototype. Listen to this episode and avoid this costly mistake. Learning notes from this episode: The prototype serves as an i...
2021-05-1918 minTech for Non-Techies46. How technology moves money around the worldLearning notes from this episode: APIs are tiny snippets of code that allow one tech product to be integrated into another tech product. For example, each time you see Login with Facebook in a website or an app, that company is using the Facebook API to allow you to login. Railsbank allows companies to move money around just like a bank would, by giving access to its services via its API To learn more about APIs, listen to episode 37: APIs: Why Uber uses Google Maps Say hi to Justin Xiao on LinkedIn here....
2021-05-1222 minTech for Non-Techies45. Apps have brains too: a quick guide to serversLearning notes from this episode: The bit of an app or site you interact with is called a front end. If you can touch it, swipe it or speak to it, it is a front end. The front end is a computer that speaks to humans. The front end is like your sensory organs: eyes, ears and mouth. The back end (the server side) is the bit of the app that you cannot interact with yourself: it is a computer that only talks to computers. The server is the brain of y...
2021-05-0515 minTech for Non-Techies44. The new fashion for designer CEOsLearning notes from this episode: The new breed of tech successes today value people who have a strong understanding of the user, not only engineering. Many of the technologies underlying the products we use today are not as frontier as they used to be. This means that products compete on their usability, not just on functionality. Learn to think like a designer researching an idea. Study people. Understand what they want. Once you do that, then you can think of products to build and find people to help you build them. Do you have a br...
2021-04-2813 minTech for Non-Techies43. What's technical debt and why should non-techies care?Learning notes from this episode: Technical debt is the mess that gets left over from writing code and should be regularly cleaned up in order for the engineering team to work properly. Alexandre suggests thinking of the tech development process like a restaurant kitchen. Having spillage and potato peels dropping on the floor is a normal part of the cooking process. But if you do not have a regimen to clean up, you will end up with a filthy kitchen that will affect your food (i.e. your product) and your customers will get sick. ...
2021-04-2125 minTech for Non-Techies42. How To Measure Success In Your ProductKey learning notes from this episode: A product is a solution to a problem someone is experiencing. The goal of your product is to solve that problem. Different products focus on different metrics, because they are solving different problems. For example, Airbnb measures the number of nights booked, but Facebook focusses on daily active users. Product goals are not the same as business goals. Business goals relate to money, product goals relate to solving a problem. It is then up to you to figure out how to make money from solving the problem, and thus link product metrics to...
2021-04-1418 min
Tech for Non-Techies41. From tech entrepreneurship to venture capitalLearning notes from this episode: Venture capitalists have three main jobs: sourcing deals and investing, raising capital for their own funds and helping the start-ups in their portfolio. Early stage investing, like early stage start-ups, is risky. In the early stages, companies are still finding structure and product market fit. This makes them the right environment for some people, but completely wrong for others. Knowing yourself and where you thrive is important to get this right. Venture capital and entrepreneurship are both united by delayed gratification. The returns can be high, but it will take years to...
2021-04-0725 min
Tech for Non-Techies40. How to use No Code apps to build your first productLearning 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 onl...
2021-03-3118 minTech for Non-Techies39. What do tech CEOs actually do?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.
2021-03-2415 minTech for Non-Techies38. Founder Stories: How I Built IVY, the Social UniversityLearning 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...
2021-03-171h 03Tech for Non-Techies37. APIs: why Uber uses Google MapsLearning 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...
2021-03-1013 minTech for Non-Techies36. How To Validate Your ProductLearning 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....
2021-03-0321 minTech for Non-Techies35. Apple vs Android: an introduction to the app economyLearning 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...
2021-02-2415 minTech for Non-Techies34. How I Built A Fintech AI Business As A Non-Technical FounderLearning 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...
2021-02-1745 minTech for Non-Techies33. What Is A Product?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 globa...
2021-02-1015 minTech for Non-Techies32. What Developers Do: Front End vs Back EndKey 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 e...
2021-02-0316 minTech for Non-Techies31. How To Transition Into Venture CapitalLearning 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...
2021-01-2723 minTech for Non-Techies30. Listener Q&A Vol 1To get your questions answered, submit them via Direct Message to our Facebook or Instagram. Here are the resources Sophia mentioned her the answers: FREE training: The Non-Technical Founder's Introduction To Tech TFNT Podcast: What Investors Really Need To Know About Tech E-Book: 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...
2021-01-2033 minTech for Non-Techies29. How To Hire Product Teams: A Guide For Non-Technical FoundersLearning notes from this episode: Work with designers first: your first hire should be a user experience designer, not a developer. You don't need a CTO co-founder, but you do need a technical lead or advisor. Work with a product studio, rather than freelance developers or a development shop at the start. If you want to delve deeper, then check out the ebook: How to Hire Your Product Team & Go From Idea To App: Guide For Non-Technical Founders. In the e-book you will get: A list of product studios recommended by...
2020-12-1614 minTech for Non-Techies27. Good Product Manager Vs Bad Product Manager According To Ben HorowitzLearnings notes from this episode: Good product managers Know the market, the product and the competition Take full responsibility for the success of the product Marketing counterparts to the engineering manager Feel good when they figure out WHAT, i.e. what problem they are solving for the user Bad product managers Have lots of excuses Feel good when they figure out HOW, i.e. how to build the product. That's not the PM's job, it's the engineers' Here are the books Sophia mentions in this episode: ...
2020-12-0219 minTech for Non-Techies25. Founder Stories: How I Built Home MadeLearning notes from this episode: Asaf Navot does not have a technical co-founder at Home Made. His first technical hire was a Product Manager, not a CTO. When you are considering investing your time, money or energy into a new project, Asaf recommends approaching like an investor. Ask yourself: are the market fundamentals good? Is my solution better than the competition? Would a bigger company buy a business like this? Use existing technologies to create an MVP if you can and test the market. Asaf's pilot was made up of an online form and a spreadsheet. That...
2020-11-1818 minTech for Non-Techies24. You Don't Need A Technical Co-FounderLearning notes from this episode: There is a difference between technology enabled businesses and deep tech businesses. Technology enabled businesses use tech to deliver a product or service cheaper or at scale, but their business is not selling the technology itself. Those businesses do not require a technical co-founder from the start. Having a technical advisor to help you in the early stages is a much lower barrier to entry than convincing a developer to leave their well-paid job at Google and join your startup. This is contrary to what most VCs say, but most VCs d...
2020-11-1116 minTech for Non-Techies23. What non-techies can learn from Steve JobsLessons from this episode: These lessons are based on Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs. "The reason Apple can create products like the iPad is that we've always tried to be at the intersection of technology and liberal arts" - said Steve Jobs Knowing how to commercialise innovation is as important as inventing something new. At Apple, design came first. This is contrary to most tech companies, where engineering dominates. A company is an invention as much as a product. Steve Jobs said that Apple was his greatest invention. In November the TFNT bo...
2020-11-0425 minTech for Non-Techies22. What Investors Really Need To Know About TechLearning notes from this episode: There is a difference between deep tech investing, such as bio tech, and investing in commercial and UX innovation. For deep tech, you absolutely must have deep tech domain expertise, but this is not the case for commercial or UX innovations, such as Uber. Venture funds often work with technical partners, who help them do due diligence on investments they are interested in. To be a successful angel investor, be systematic in your approach, focus on your area of expertise and find experienced investors to co-invest with. S...
2020-10-2822 minTech for Non-Techies19. How To Transition Into A Career In TechLearning notes from this episode: The time to transition into tech is now, as lockdowns have moved our lives online. You can do this with a job change, or by investing or starting your own tech venture. Learn concepts, not skills. Understand how tech products are made, but don't retrain to be a coder or a data scientist. Get involved with digital initiatives to put your new knowledge to the test. Build your network with people who could help you make the transition. The Tech for Non-Techies community is a great place to start. T...
2020-10-0717 minTech for Non-Techies18. Introduction to Design for TechnologyLearning notes from this episode: The design process begins with questioning whether a product needs to exist in the first place. Start with research and customer interviews before you build a prototype. A good design must be usable, solve a real problem, and buildable within the company's budget. This is why collaboration with developers, product managers and founders is essential for good design. The principles of good design are the same as the Lean Startup methodology: build, measure, learn and iterate. You can say hi to Jane on Twitter here. T...
2020-09-3019 minTech for Non-Techies15. How to Find a Technical Co-FounderLearning notes from this episode: Prepare to pitch to a technical co-founder as you would to an investor: have a plan, understand your market and know your target customer Choices developers make early on about the tech architecture can have a serious impact later on. Non-technical founders should learn some basic tech concepts to ask the right questions from the start. Before you look for a technical co-founder, understand what kind of technology you need to build. Then you will be able to target the right people for your venture Say hi to An...
2020-08-1928 minTech for Non-Techies14. Transition into Product Management from a Non-Technical CareerLearning notes from this episode: Networking is key to making a career transition. Meet people who are doing the job you are interested in and learn from them. To transition into a PM role, start by working on digital initiatives first. This will be your stepping stone to get to PM. Take courses to understand what developers are working with. Amber recommends AWS certification. Say hi to Amber on Twitter To participate in TFNT live events, get all of our sessions on demand and get access to office hours with...
2020-08-1224 minTech for Non-Techies12. Intro to Product StrategyCheck out Parth's book Swipe to Unlock: The Insider's Guide to Tech and Business Strategy. Learning points from this episode: Product strategy sets the vision of the future trends for your business Product management implements that vision with a specific product The three factors that firms use to decide whether to build, borrow or buy new innovation are: team, product and users If you are interested in the Tech for Non-Technical Founders course Sophia mentioned at the start of the show, sign up to the TFNT newsletter and we will...
2020-07-2924 minTech for Non-Techies6. Intro to Product Management with Facebook's Rags VadaliIn this episode Sophia Matveeva talks to Rags Vadali about what product management is, what PMs do and what you need to get a job in PM. Rags Vadali has managed product at Google, Facebook and various start-ups, and like Sophia, has an MBA from Chicago Booth. This interview is an excerpt from a PM masterclass Rags taught on Tech for Non-Techies. Summary points A product manager is like the conductor of an orchestra. Conductors don't play every single instrument and are not the best player, but it is their job t...
2020-06-1716 min
Tech for Non-Techies5. Top Mistakes Non-Technical Founders MakeIn this episode Sophia Matveeva covers the top five mistakes non-technical founders make, most of which she made herself. The main five mistakes to avoid are: Don't make developers your first hires. Your first hire should be a User Experience designer Don't confuse product metrics with business metrics Set your team tangible product aims with metrics and time frames Co-create with your users, rather than being rigid in your thinking At the start focus on product improvement, not on growth If you want to understand the cyclical production process of how apps, sites and algorithms g...
2020-06-1224 minTech for Non-Techies4. What Non-Technical Founders Need to Know About TechDavid Segura is a perfect example of how non-techies can thrive in technology. His first venture, Giant Media, was a native video advertising exchange which David sold for millions to an ad tech company backed by TPG & JMI in 2014. Since then David has invested in almost 50 startups, many of which have technology at their core. I met David in the early Naughties, when we studied together at the University of Chicago College. At the time, it is fair to say we both had little knowledge of or interest in technology. Yet, after studying Political Science, David made a...
2020-06-0421 min