How to Build an App as a Non-Technical Entrepreneur?

June 24, 2020

Are you looking out for a non-technical Entrepreneur’s guide to build applications and software? If yes, you have landed on the right page. The app industry is lucrative, and if you have a promising idea in mind, then, the next thing you need to do is, develop an app. But how? You probably don’t have a technical background, nor do you understand the programming jargon! Then? Well, let us first clear you out that not every startup entrepreneur is a developer/programmer. It is not a big deal if you are a novice in the field and still wish to build an app as a non-technical person. In this blog we have discussed step by step on how you can develop an application that gains maximum traction from the target audience even if you do not know how to code.

Steve Jobs did not know how to code, but he well understood the basics of programming languages, clear enough that he could guide his team of developers. This is just an example to motivate you so that you can take the initiative of building your app.

We understand that it can become extremely difficult to put an app idea to life without having any prior knowledge about the technology. But wait, you do not have to feel intimidated. Instead, start gathering knowledge and that’s exactly what the below mentioned non-technical entrepreneurs did.

1. Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba possess a MA degree in English;

2. Jessica Scorpia, the founder of Getaround, holds a Bachelor's degree in political science;

3. Tim Westergren, the founder of Pandora, was an award-winning composer and musician.;

4. Rob Rawson, the founder of Staff.com was a medical doctor.

We hope these names inspire you to start building a mobile app with no tech skills and bring the revolutionary idea into the market. We have crafted out detailed instructions to move ahead in the industry. Keep reading…

How to develop an app as a non-technical person?

Step 1: Learn about technology first:

Do not make this naive mistake of jumping into coding. No! You need to gradually move ahead. Learning how to code may come next in the sequence, but first, understand the various technologies available in the market.

The reason being, you would not be the one who is going to write the long piece of code. But, you are going to hire developers who have enough experience in building apps. Hence, you need to invest your time in knowing various technologies, back-end and front end technologies and the ways in which you can develop an engaging app.

Step 2: Learn to Code:

As mentioned earlier, learning how to code is your next step in the process. The two primary reasons why you should be learning coding are that it is easy to learn and second, you have enough free resources where you can get started.

No doubt, the process of learning a programming language is time-consuming, but it opens up your gate to become a successful entrepreneur. It helps you in solving complex problems and gives you a better understanding of the app functions.

There is no shortcut to becoming a developer, you need to invest your valuable time. There are plenty of sites where you can learn to code. Check them out. Code Academy, Khan Academy, Code School, EdX, Udacity. You can also refer to some coding books available online.

Step 3: Seek advice before you hire a team:

The right developer makes things right. You can not blame the whole team of developers for delivering the project wrongly. Because YOU hired them! Hence, the hiring of developers plays a very crucial role in deciding the quality of your project.

Therefore, you need to look into every single detail of the initial team you hire. You can connect with the right people over platforms and seek assistance/ recommendations from a technical person. Further, once you shortlist them, you can ask them to choose the remaining team while you manage other important tasks. Suggestions from a known person help you better in building a development team.

Step 4: Find a technology development partner: Freelancers, Vs. Software development company:

This is an option for those who do not wish to invest time in building up their own team. The two options available are hiring freelancers or partner up with a software development company.

This would be a costly affair, but make sure that you are investing in the right set of developers. Before partnering, get recommendations, check upon their experience and skillset, ask them their development price, and then seal the deal.

Needless to say, the development partner should help you in building scalable and robust applications. Hence, check on the quality of work delivered by them in the past. If you need some guidance, on Freelancers Vs Software development company, you can refer to this blog.

Do not settle for lower prices at the risk of lower quality. Understand their country, culture and figure out if you can have partner chemistry with them. You need someone who would manage your projects just like you do and fulfill all your project needs stated in the functional Vs. non-functional requirements document.

Step 5: Build a prototype:

Creating an application as a non-technical founder isn’t really an easy job. You have an idea in mind, but it is difficult to explain the idea in detail. Prototyping of the app idea, allows you to bring everyone together on the same page. It becomes a lot easier for you to explain the features and the expectations to the team members, partners.

Prototyping also allows you to check the application concept success chances by pitching it to potential clients. It is a roadmap that guides you with the development process further. You have options like InVision, LucidChart, AdobeXD, Proto, Balsamiq tools that allow you to build a prototype at a cost-effective price.

Step 6: Use an app builder

Drag and Drop look fancy because you do not have to write heavy lines of code. There are many tools out there that can help you in finding the solution for your app idea. However, these tools can only be used for the app idea validation at the MVP stage. For the latter part of development, you will need to hire a development team that can handle the project complexity.

The options you have for development are:

1. Buildfire.com;

2. Bubble.is;

3. Appsheet.com;

4. Foundryplatform.com.

The only drawback of using these app builders is, you can not customize the app features as per your requirements. This ultimately leads to poor UI/UX experience.

Step 7: Use app development tools:

There are literally hundreds of tools available that can really get your headspin. You can connect with founders and technical persons to get tool suggestions to build a tech startup as a non-technical person.

The app development tools that can assist you in the process are Framework 7, Ionic, JQuery Mobile, Mobile Angular AI, Xamarin, Mag+, Xojo, Corona Labs, Unity, WordPress, GameSalad, Appcelerator, Sencha Touch and many more.

Step 8: Don’t micromanage the technical things:

You have shared the app idea, got a team to build it, prototyped it and now let the team do their jobs. As a non-technical person, you might overcompensate the development process.

But, No! You are not a pro in developing an app, but the development team is. Hence, allow them to showcase their expertise in the app development. Never try to micromanage or give instructions on every single step.

Be active, keep the team engaged and active, but let them do their part of work. Focus on the area where you have mastery, maybe running the market analysis or researching valuable insights.concentrate on how you can make your business model more valuable.

Step 9: Network with the right people:s

There is a lot that you can contribute to your business by networking. As a non-technical person, you need to find the right people who would buy your project idea. It can make a huge difference if you channelize a strong marketing strategy.

You have a thorough understanding of your product, and your next job is to suggest the product to the ones in need. There is no skill set required to become a sound entrepreneur. All you need to do is capitalize on every opportunity coming in your way.

Summary:

An idea to build an application is never too small. We hope this blog has helped you in ways that you feel motivated to build a mobile app even as a non-technical person. For any further assistance or need for technical expertise, you can contact us.

Don’t feel challenged by so many players already in the field. There are many ways in which you can outshine them, do everything possible to keep up the team spirit and maintain the strong grounds of foundation.