Remove CTO Remove Early Stage Remove Hiring Remove Management
article thumbnail

Technical Advisors: Every Startup Needs One

TechEmpower

The Strategic Technical Advisor looks at the business and determines what makes sense from a technology perspective in the short-term and longer-terms. CTO Founder – Do they really still need a technical advisor? Early-on then, it’s important to bring on people who can produce volume. Is this person a CTO or a developer?

article thumbnail

Equity for Early Employees in Early Stage Startups

SoCal CTO

I was asked by a reader how much equity he should give out to early employees and to service providers in a very early stage startup. Founders vs. Early Employees To help with this discussion, let me start with a definition of "early employee." I'll get to service providers in a later post.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

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. Of course, I have an advantage because I organize the LA CTO Forum.

CTO 225
article thumbnail

4 Ways Early Stage CTOs Can Learn to Roll With the Punches

ReadWriteStart

There’s always a tinge of “TBD” that accompanies the role of an early stage startup CTO. Early stage companies can’t immediately hire someone with the tech and executive know-how needed to handle the job. There’s a reason the position comes with that “up in the air” feeling.

article thumbnail

Technical Advisors: Every Web/Mobile Startup Must Have One

SoCal CTO

It was like having a bunch of mini- Free Startup CTO Consulting Sessions all in one room. This is exactly the kind of thing I'm doing as a Part-Time CTO or Technical Advisor for startups. And it made me come to a new realization: Every early-stage web/mobile/online startup should have at least one technical advisor, probably two.

article thumbnail

People Management: Startup Teams Should Dip but not Skip

Both Sides of the Table

A good early-stage CEO needs to be accessible, to be accountable for producing results and should be establishing the cultural norms of the company through direct leadership at all levels. You’ll get sales information from your VP of Sales, marketing information from your VP Marketing, tech information from your CTO and so on.

CTO Hire 308
article thumbnail

Startup Founder Developer Gap

SoCal CTO

And I always recommend it to people involved in early stage startups. I received a follow-up question from an early-stage startup about the Founder Developer Gap that I’ve described before and that was part of the interview with Frank. This is somewhat the heart of what a CTO does. It was a lot of fun for me.

CTO Hire 170