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Lead Developer to CTO at a Startup

SoCal CTO

I seem to encounter a lot of people who want to attach a CTO label to me as I'm the only programmer on the founding team of three. While I do fill that role at the moment, I'm a little hesitant to refer to myself as a CTO as we still haven't launched a product, acquired a single user, or turned or a penny in profit.

CTO Coach 231
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Startup CTO or Developer

SoCal CTO

I’ve been having discussions with several people recently about the role of the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) in very early stage companies. In December 2007, I described how I commonly take on an Acting CTO Role in a Start-up. I used an image from Roger Smith that describes the varying roles of a CTO as the company matures.

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Building Your MVP as a Non-Technical Founder

SoCal CTO

Investors my tell you that, but what they can look at your product on paper and tell what it does and they will understand if it can be built. Investors my tell you that, but what they can look at your product on paper and tell what it does and they will understand if it can be built. To prove/disprove a hypothesis.

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Technology Roles in Startups

SoCal CTO

Background This post partly really came about as a result of a great conversation yesterday with David Croslin a former CTO at HP who recently conducted an interesting experiment. I am looking for one or two startups that I can work with on their road to success as a virtual C-level officer, board member, advisor or other relationship.

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Making Sure You Are Ready to Begin Building Your MVP

SoCal CTO

I'm going to be looking at aspects like: Things to consider before building your MVP Features often overlooked when documenting an MVP for developers Understanding important metrics you want to measure Risks and challenges in developing an MVP. Do you have a Technical Advisors: Every Web/Mobile Startup Must Have One ?

CTO Coach 219
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Interview with Michael Wong, MergeLocal

socalTECH

Are users willing to check into local businesses with another, mobile check-in product? Michael Wong: I was previously CTO of an agency called Breakthrough Ads. My cofounder, Steven Elliott, was CTO of a company doing artificial intelligence and automated chat technology. The feedback, mentors, and connections are amazing.

CTO Coach 223
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Working with Developers

SoCal CTO

they need a developer more than they need a CTO. Ideally, you would have had a technical advisor, had better up-front definition, had more iteration, then you would not be in this situation. As a founder, you do need to be telling the developers what the business and product goals are. I just want the cost, timeline and impact.

Develop 280