In this compelling episode, join Matt Watson as he sits down with Stefan Schmidt, a seasoned CTO coach and author of the acclaimed book "Amazing CTO." Together, they discuss the pivotal role of a Chief Technology Officer (CTO), exploring crucial insights on when to bring one on board and the critical errors to avoid in the selection process.

Stefan underscores the importance of idea validation before engaging a CTO or developer and suggests starting with a PowerPoint slide deck to gather feedback. Moreover, he advocates for aligning with a co-founder who not only shares the product vision but also has industry expertise.

As the conversation unfolds, Stefan navigates the intricacies of company expansion, underscoring the pivotal role of delegating tasks and strategically appointing team leaders. He underscores the critical need for CTOs to shift towards strategic direction, avoiding the trap of being consumed by routine coding tasks.

Leveraging his wealth of experience, Stefan's book serves as a treasure trove of wisdom, providing CTOs with 140 actionable rules meticulously tailored to their needs. From mastering delegation techniques to nurturing employee growth and circumventing common challenges, his insights offer indispensable guidance for navigating the ever-evolving realm of technology leadership.

Takeaways

• Validate your idea before hiring a CTO or developer
• Find a co-founder who shares the product vision and has experience in the industry
• Delegate tasks and hire team leads as the company grows
• Focus on strategy and vision as a CTO, rather than getting caught up in day-to-day coding

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:

https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:

https://fullscale.io

Visit the Amazing CTO website:

https://www.amazingcto.com

Learn more about Stephan Schmidt:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanjschmidt

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:

https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz

Highlighted Discussion Points

• Validating startup ideas before hiring developers. 0:51
• Finding a technical co-founder for a startup. 5:22
• Hiring a CTO for early-stage startups, with insights on product vision, ownership, and team leadership. 10:13
• Challenges faced by CTOs in scaling their teams, including delegation, team leads, and maintaining technical expertise. 17:30
• CTOs prototyping and delegating tasks to bring joy to the job. 26:37
• CTO coaching, delegation, and leadership challenges. 30:47

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson interviews Robby Yates, co-founder and Chief Everything Officer of FollowApp, a networking software company. They discuss Robbie's journey from being a salesperson to becoming an IT guy and starting his own company. They also talk about the importance of networking, the challenges of being a non-technical founder, and the benefits of white labeling. Robby shares tips for effective networking and emphasizes building a strong team and listening to others. He also highlights the importance of perseverance and believing in oneself as an entrepreneur.

Important Takeaways

• Networking is a valuable tool for entrepreneurs and should be approached with intention and a focus on helping others.
• Building a strong team and listening to advisors are crucial for success as a non-technical founder.
• White labeling can be a game changer for a business, allowing for easier promotion and increased revenue.
• Effective networking requires being yourself, not wearing a mask, and following up with contacts.
• Raising funds can be challenging, but networking events can lead to unexpected opportunities.
• It's important to embrace rejection and keep going, believing in oneself and the value of the product or service being offered.

Don't miss this insightful conversation about becoming a non-tech founder in the tech world.

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:

https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:

https://fullscale.io

Visit the Follow App website:

https://thefollowapp.co

Learn more about Robby Yates:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-yates-130105

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:

https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz

Highlighted Discussion Points

• Creating a software company, challenges and lessons learned. 0:31
• Entrepreneurship, trust, and business growth. 6:03
• Pricing sensitivity and value-based pricing, with a focus on B2B vs. B2C. 10:53
• White labeling software, networking, and app deployment. 12:43
• Networking strategies for introverts and extroverts. 17:49
• Using software to manage networking at events. 22:33
• Entrepreneurship, networking, and fundraising challenges. 25:41
• Building a tech company, overcoming challenges, and staying motivated. 30:44

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us as Chase Harmer, a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years in the fintech industry, dives deep into the challenges and innovations of building a fintech company with heart. In this episode, we explore the intersection of financial technology and charitable giving through Chase's latest venture, Wishes—a platform designed to transform how we support causes we care about.

Episode Highlights:

• The Genesis of Wishes: From overcoming compliance hurdles to raising $30 million, Chase shares the behind-the-scenes of starting and scaling a fintech venture focused on solving real-world problems, such as hotel booking issues and incentivizing charitable donations with cashback rewards.
• A New Era for Charities: Discover how Wishes is redefining charitable giving by ensuring transparency, reducing administrative costs, and enhancing donor engagement through innovative features like virtual cards and a rewards system.
• Blockchain Meets Charity: Learn about the role of blockchain in fintech and how Wishes utilizes this technology alongside traditional systems to create a hybrid model that promotes transparency and efficiency in charitable transactions.
• The Cost of Innovation: Chase breaks down the financial realities of building a fintech company—from the initial $2 million launch cost to ongoing platform and compliance expenses.
• Strategic Nonprofit Partnerships: Hear how Wishes is not just a tech platform but a community builder, fostering strong connections between nonprofits and donors, and addressing challenges like homelessness through financial technology.
• Looking Ahead: Chase discusses the future of fintech in the nonprofit sector and his vision for scaling Wishes to ensure a positive impact on the charity landscape.

Don't miss this insightful conversation about the fusion of technology and philanthropy, where passion meets purpose in the fintech space.

Find Startup Hustle Everywhere:

https://gigb.co/l/YEh5

This episode is sponsored by Full Scale:

https://fullscale.io

Visit the Wishes Inc. website:

https://www.wishes.inc

Learn more about Chase Harmer:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-harmer-657a5b5

Sign up for the Startup Hustle newsletter:

https://newsletter.startuphustle.xyz

Highlighted Discussion Points

• Entrepreneurship, FinTech, and building a charity-related FinTech company. 0:32
• Building a tech company in FinTech, compliance challenges, and scaling. 3:42
• Charity platform Wishbone, its features, and how it solves problems in the charity space. 9:48
• Charity work and nonprofit alignment in FinTech industry. 15:31
• Blockchain technology and its potential in the financial industry, with a focus on transparency and revenue generation for non-profit organizations. 18:07
• The high costs of building and maintaining a FinTech company, including compliance, platform fees, and ongoing expenses. 23:45
• Startup challenges and nonprofit fundraising strategies. 29:08
• Nonprofit fundraising and payment processing. 31:38
• Disrupting the nonprofit charitable giving industry with innovative technology. 37:01

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.