The true answer is “not yet” not no. Keep reading to learn why Chief Technical Officers don’t like working with startups and why startups don’t need a CTO…yet.
CTOs are often the backbone of a company’s software development, so why would we suggest not hiring one? Let’s be clear, CTOs are a vital and necessary part of many businesses… but only at the right stage of a company’s life. With that being said, the reasons we think most early-stage startups shouldn’t hire a CTO come down to three factors, which ENO8 founder Jeff Francis shares in this episode of ENO8 Answers.
Founders, we get it. You think you need a CTO because you’re in over your head or you need to delegate. Especially for non-technical founders, a CTO seems like the right first choice. But this highly expensive hire can derail early-stage startup funds without really delivering what your startup needs at that point. Watch this video to learn when a Chief Technical Officer is a right fit for your young company.
“When you’re an early stage software startup, you don’t need a coach. You need experienced players.” -Jeff Francis
Watch this ENO8 Answers video to find out the three factors that help you determine when it’s right to hire a CTO…and who to hire first instead. (Not a video fan? Read about it in an article instead.) Understanding this distinction will help you spend money on the right resources to get your product built and launched successfully. Jeff Francis and ENO8 have worked with over 100 software startups and enterprise product teams.
