Startup Team
Arguably THE most important aspect of any startup. μ
The answer is easy, though admittedly, the implementation is a bit more difficult:
- Design: both graphic designers (Photoshop experts) and developers (experts in HTML, the code that runs the website, and CSS, which identifies the look and feel such as colors, placement, font, etc). These folks should also be experienced in UX and UI (user experience and user interface). This team member's value is extremely important, yet also the most easily critiqued (cut your designers some slack!). Compare the Google homepage to Yahoo's and you'll recognize the value.
- Engineering: these folks engineer the algorithm/code and develop it into a workable application. If your idea is technology-based (e.g., mobile apps, web apps, software), then this will be the most critical team member in the beginning.
- Business: obvious. Someone with the expertise to manage cash flow (i.e., the number 1 reason new businesses fail), establish pricing strategy, sales/marketing/advertising, legal issues, and most importantly, customer development (i.e., establishing market fit).
