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?
