CAHLAN SHARP

• FROM NEVADA
• SOFTWARE ENGINEER (10 yrs)
• 5 (OR SO) FAILED STARTUPS
• MARRIED W/ 4 KIDS
• ​A PASSION FOR TECHNOLOGY & EDUCATION

3.5 YEARS RUNNING

BOOTSTRAPPED

OVER 1000 GRADUATES

TOP CODING SCHOOL IN USA

ACQUIRED IN MAY 2016 FOR $20M

5 code considerations

for your startup

HOW MUCH WILL YOU INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY?

COMMODITIZATION / UTILITY

BLOG VS. AI

LEAN

DECISIONS HAVE

LONG TERM EFFECTs

POOR FOUNDATIONS

LANGUAGES

HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT SOFTWARE?

SOFTWARE HAS A SHELF LIFE

DURABILITY / FLEXIBILITY

SUPPLY AND DEMAND

BLEEDING EDGE VS. ANCIENT

ATTRACTING TALENT

KNOW YOUR PRODUCT

THE BEST PROTOTYPE IS AN MVP

DON'T UNDERSTAND CODE

=

DON'T UNDERSTAND CONSTRAINTS

SOME TIPS

1. Understand technical debt

how/why

laser focused on what is critical, cut corners elsewhere

2. WHAT YOU DON't KNOW CAN KILL YOU

CTO is a partner, not a vendor

developers and busses

3. understand when you need a cadillac and when you need a vespa

solving the right problems at the right time

4. trust your talent

second guessing

long-term partner (costs of switching)

ANY QUESTIONS?