As the tech industry continues to boom, we should see more coders transitioning from building products to leading the charge as startup founders. However, in Bahrain, we see this move happening less, perhaps because some coders believe their strengths lie solely in technical skills rather than entrepreneurial skills.
This mindset, however, shouldn’t hold them back. Coders possess a unique skill set that lends incredibly well to entrepreneurship. Recent examples of this shift in Bahrain are Code Crafter and Sellou. The founders are Software Engineering graduates from General Assembly who started their own business a couple of months ago — and it is already booming.
If you’re a coder considering taking the leap into startup life, here are some reasons why coders thrive in this role:
- Avoiding “Overbuilding” the First Product
As the leader, this perspective is crucial. If you greenlight a complicated product roadmap, your team will be pumped at first. But they’ll soon feel overwhelmed. When you, the founder, know how to code, you’ll better understand the time and effort required to develop a functional site or app. Armed with this knowledge, you can make the tough calls to ensure your team isn’t taking on an excessive challenge.
- Leveraging Passion for Innovation
Coding attracts people fascinated by technology and driven to create new things. This inherent passion for innovation is a major asset for startup founders pioneering disruptive solutions. Your natural curiosity and excitement for the latest trends will inspire your team and customers.
- Refining Problem-Solving Skills
At its core, fixing bugs and writing code is all about problem-solving. If you’re a coder, these skills will be honed and sharpened every single day — and that hands-on experience will translate incredibly well to the various challenges you’ll face as a startup founder.
- Streamlining Your Hiring Process
As a coder-turned-founder, you’ll have a deep understanding of the technical requirements your startup needs. This insider’s perspective will allow you to identify and hire the right tech talent much more efficiently than a non-technical founder. With this crucial piece in place, you’ll have more time to focus on finding the ideal co-founders and diversifying your team’s skill sets.
So if you’re a coder considering the startup path, know that you have a major advantage. Your technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and innovative mindset are exactly what today’s startups need to succeed.
Of course, making the transition from coder to founder isn’t always easy. That’s why it’s important to seek out resources that can help you develop the additional business and leadership skills required. And if you are a founder with no coding skills, that doesn’t mean you can’t learn how to code. Academies like General Assembly not only offer comprehensive coding programs but also provide guidance on the soft skills needed to be a successful startup founder. They can also help connect you with the right ecosystem partners and introduce you to the broader startup community.
The tech industry is hungry for more talented coders to bring their visionary ideas to life. If you’re ready to put your technical chops to the test as a founder, the startup world is waiting. Take the leap — the future startup you could build is limitless.
