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Startup CTO or Developer

TechEmpower SaaS

What does it mean to be a CTO for a startup? Should a startup CTO spend their time programming? The role of a CTO varies as the company matures. Here’s a graphic from Socal CTO that illustrates the roles as they change over time: In its earliest days, a startup’s top need is often to produce a product.

CTO Hire 390
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Dear SaaStr: What Makes a Bad CTO?

SaaStr

Dear SaaStr: What Makes a Bad CTO? While there is no legal definition for CTO or bright line between CTO and VPE, I’d suggest a start-up CTO really only has to do a few things — which are very hard: Assemble a small team (3–9) of very good engineers. A “bad” CTO doesn’t care about growing very, very quickly.

CTO Hire 285
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The Top 10 Things to Know Before Starting a SaaS Company

SaaStr

You really need a great CTO, not just a good business team. A mediocre tech team, a part-time CTO, or even just a decent CTO just doesn’t get you there. Wait until you find a great partner here. If you can’t do the time, don’t do the startup. It’s just too competitive today.

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Bet On Up-and-Comers. But Add One Veteran For Each $10m ARR.

SaaStr

The first type is the kind of management team hired by second+ time founders. They often staff up their teams with folks they already know and have been successful with at their last startup. Often folks they convince to once again be a VP of Eng or VP of Sales. The director that wants a shot at VP.

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What were 5 distinct milestones that you encountered on the road to becoming a CEO?

SaaStr

For me, it took a while to build up the experiences and confidence to get there: First, I worked with enough startups and CEOs to “get it”. I had a chance as a startup lawyer working in “Silicon Valley” to work with 20+ startups. Second, I joined the best startup that would have me, as a Director and then Senior Director.

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Stop Following These 10 Terrible Pieces of SaaS Advice with SaaStr Founder Jason Lemkin (SaaStr Podcast 682)

SaaStr

To some extent, if you have the hottest startup in the world, the full package, you can play some games with investors. 99% of startups aren’t that. No one has time to have coffee with all of those folks. For 99% of startups, when you want money, tell VCs you want money. 2 “Give the VP of Sales more time.”

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Intercom’s Rich Archbold on how to run less software

Intercom, Inc.

It means reducing choices amongst engineering teams and standardizing technology, so our team can spend as much time as possible delivering value to customers. Rich Archbold , Senior Director of Engineering, has been at the forefront of codifying and scaling this philosophy over the past few years.