Ask HN: How can a non-technical founder prove they're more than an "idea guy"?

2•timsein•1h ago

I know the trope:

"Ideas are cheap. Execution is everything - and a non-technical founder recruiting a senior engineer for equity is a red flag."

Totally fair.

Why I ask:

I’m 23 and non-technical. For ~3 years I’ve been studying distributed systems, developer tooling, AI codegen, and an infra concept around intent-based architecture.

I’ve attempted three startups in the past 18 months. All failed at execution because the system I’m trying to build is deeply technical, and I know enough to know I can’t “vibe code” my way into it.

That creates a catch-22:

- Building a shallow version invalidates the thesis. - Building it correctly requires engineers far stronger than me. - Engineers strong enough to build it are rightly skeptical of someone like me.

So here’s my question - the thing I feel most self-imprisoned in:

How do I, as a young non-technical founder, pitch this to deep-tech, systems-level engineers without sounding like a naive "idea guy"? What should I be doing right now to make myself undeniably useful to a technical co-founder of this caliber?

I truly appreciate any insight and am entrusted with any feedback you give.

Thank you much -Tim

Comments

eschneider•1h ago

Non-technical founder? Can you line up investors or customers based on your pitch? That's pretty much the acid test.

codingdave•1h ago

Pay your tech people. It is truly that simple. If you can keep enough money flowing to pay people and keep the lights on, you proved your value. If you cannot, maybe you actually are just the idea guy.

You need to be asking yourself how you can make that happen. Sales is one way. Delivering investors is another. If you have your own money, spend it on the team. Because at the end of the day, you either deliver product or you deliver cash. If all you deliver is the idea, then expecting engineers to build it for free is unreasonable.

timsein•34m ago

Thanks Dave for spending the time to write this.

I don’t disagree with the premise. I think you're spot on actually.

Maybe the practical answer is what you’re implying: go work at a serious tech startup, build credibility, stack capital, earn trust, and come back stronger.

Thanks again.

Nextgrid•1h ago

You need to bring something to the table that would make it worthwhile for an engineer to work for you instead of doing it themselves.

That something can be money, or connections, or prospective customers.

MattGaiser•1h ago

Sales or money. Bring in customers or investors.

timsein•41m ago

If the product I’m trying to build doesn’t exist yet (and can’t meaningfully exist without deep technical execution), is the move to prove distribution somewhere adjacent first? Should I be finding a sales position within a tech-startup?

PaulHoule•37m ago

(1) Proving your ability in sales would help your credibility

(2) There is still "finding investment"

bigyabai•56m ago

> For ~3 years I’ve been studying distributed systems, developer tooling, AI codegen, and an infra concept around intent-based architecture.

Just say you've been talking to AI, if that's what you've done. It feels highly unlikely that you've studied developer tooling for 3 years and struggle to implement your own tools.

timsein•44m ago

When I say “studying,” I don't mean I’ve been secretly building distributed systems for 3 years.

I mean I’ve been reading whitepapers and architecture docs, trying to understand how these systems actually fit together and why they’re designed the way they are.

For me it was more of a "top of the iceberg" approach so that when I talk to a true engineer, I’m not speaking in vague product language.

You're spot on though about using AI to help this learning curve.

Thanks for the comment.

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