A Personal Journey: From Developer to Entrepreneur
For years, I believed that technical execution was the hardest part of building a successful product. Writing clean code, choosing the right frameworks, and architecting scalable systems seemed like the ultimate challenges. But as I ventured into my own project I realized that IT itself is not the real problem anymore. The true challenge is business.
This realization came through an experience I had while trying to bring a partner into my project. What started as a simple collaboration attempt revealed a fundamental truth about what truly matters when building something new.
The Illusion of Technical Complexity
Software development has matured. We have powerful frameworks, open-source tools, cloud services, and AI-assisted coding. Almost any technical problem has a well-documented solution if you look hard enough. This means that today, building software is no longer the bottleneck.
Yet, many developers (including my past self) still believe that a project succeeds or fails based on the quality of the code. It doesn’t. The best code in the world won’t matter if you don’t have users, distribution, and a product-market fit.
The Business Challenge: A Case Study in Misalignment
When I invited a programmer I respected to join me in my project, I expected a deep exchange of ideas, a discussion about market needs, and an exploration of the business model. Instead, something unexpected happened:
- He immediately started building a prototype on his own, without discussing the broader vision.
- He focused on simplifying the technical aspects but never asked who the users would be or how we would acquire them.
- He viewed our collaboration as purely a technical problem-solving exercise, while I saw it as a strategic business endeavor.
At first, I felt frustrated. I wanted to convince him of my perspective, to make him understand that the hardest part of a startup isn’t the code, but everything around it: understanding customer pain points, distribution, partnerships, legal compliance, and scaling strategies.
Then I realized something: this wasn’t a battle to win. It was a test.
Evaluating a Partnership: Code vs. Business Thinking
I stopped trying to persuade him and instead decided to observe. I asked myself:
- Is he thinking beyond just coding?
- Does he acknowledge the importance of product-market fit?
- Does he see the challenge of distribution and adoption?
- Can we collaborate on decision-making, or will he always act independently?
These questions changed my mindset from convincing to evaluating. Instead of forcing alignment, I let the process reveal whether we were naturally aligned.
The Key Realization: IT is the Easy Part
Most IT projects fail not because of bad code, but because they never find a viable market. If you want to build something that lasts, you need to shift your thinking from:
- “How do I build this?” → to “Who will use this and why?”
- “What is the best tech stack?” → to “How do we reach customers efficiently?”
- “How do I make the code perfect?” → to “How do I test if this idea is worth coding at all?”
Lessons for Developers Who Want to Build Something Bigger
If you are a developer thinking about launching your own product, here’s what I’ve learned:
- Find a partner who thinks beyond code. If your co-founder doesn’t discuss customers and business models, you’ll struggle later.
- Don’t over-engineer — validate early. A simple prototype tested with real users is better than a perfect system nobody needs.
- Your network is your real asset. Business relationships, not technical prowess, will determine your success.
- If someone isn’t aligned with your vision, don’t force it. Evaluate partnerships rather than persuading people to change.
- IT is easy; distribution is hard. Focus on how your product reaches and retains users, not just how it’s built.
Conclusion: The Future of IT Entrepreneurship
Technology is a solved problem in many ways. The future belongs to those who can combine technical skills with business strategy. The best founders are not the best coders; they are the ones who understand the real problem is not the code — it’s making a product that thrives in the market.
If you’re a developer thinking about launching a product, ask yourself: Am I solving a technical problem or a business problem? The answer will define your success.