Role of CTO in a startup

By definition, CTO or chief technology officer handles technology or engineering teams, develops, executes strategic business plans and identifies the resources you need in order to build a product.

Whether you need CTO or not depends on the type of product you are developing. If your startup idea is based on a high-tech product, you need one and if your product is more into Saas’ side, you may not.

When should you hire a CTO in a startup?

Ideal time for hiring CTO varies. Like we said, it depends on the product type. Second, as the startup evolves, its challenges and needs change and so does the role and requirement of a CTO.

Hiring CTO in a startup isn’t for the latter part, you have to induct the CTO as early as possible especially if your product type demands. Although depending upon many factors, you think of whether your startup needs a CTO now or not. If you can afford, we advise having him as he will help in making key technical decisions.

CTO responsibilities in a startup

CTO responsibilities are more or less the same except for the fact that difference lies in the role they are playing in the startup.

Operational director/manager – manages processes and resources, build company strategies, face of company, suggests multiple solutions

Technical lead – builds mvps, hires software developers and team, guides team about strategic plans, improves on app architecture.

Product owners – upscale the product on every stage, advise on new engaging features based on market research.

Challenges faced by CTO

To be honest, getting a CTO with all above qualities is hard to find due to exponential demand in the software industry.

However, we can list challenges you could face while looking for your perfect CTO.

• Tracking performance to main productivity of the team
• Lacks innovation, may be good at developing a product but don’t know how to scale a product
• Finding and hiring qualified tech professionals
• Developing technical strategy that will make vision a reality
• Risk analysis
• Investors or sources of capital scrutinize leadership especially CTO

Step by step guide on technology startups business plan

Core skills every CTO must possess

Although we have mentioned the skills required in a CTO, here are some of the important skills.

• Sound understanding of the business functions, challenges it may face and solutions to overcome
• Leadership, he typically works with teams and ensures high productivity by motivating the team.
• A good communicator, able to communicate with all business stakeholders includes business ideas, technical information and solutions.
• Decision making, CTO has to make important decisions like hiring resources, assigning tasks, meeting deadlines.
• Market research, someone with an analytical mind, notices customer behaviors.
• Critical thinking skills, someone who is open minded and can do analysis, interpretation, inference, and has great problem-solving skills.
• Time management – solid and timely product delivery in every phase, responsible for assigning tasks and setting deadlines.

Where to find a technical cofounder or CTO?

Final verdict

Can’t find a capable and reliable CTO? Start with your network and spread the word. We believe not just the skills but trustworthiness is another core thing to consider while hiring CTO for a startup.

Startup is a risky business. With an entrepreneurial mission, around 90% startups fail but often a great leadership leads to success. Role of CTO is vital in any startup since he looks into technical-related issues and makes sure the company’s product is solving the end-user problems. After looking into the CTO roles and responsibilities, you must be thinking ‘it’s huge’, that is the reason why they draw over $140,000 / year in the US (Indeed).

Finding the right CTO may take months, also it’s rare that CTO evolves with the development of the product, consider Phaedra Solutions as your technology partner.