Starting a tech company without a tech background — the terms you actually need
You don't need to be a developer to start a tech company. But you do need to understand enough to make good decisions. Here are the 7 terms that matter most.
Embarking on the journey of starting a company demands a diverse skill set, with basic tech skills being a crucial component. While coding your own website isn't mandatory, a foundational understanding of navigating and utilizing software systems is essential.
Many successful tech founders have proven that a tech background is not a prerequisite. Here are the fundamental terminologies you need to know.
The Importance of Basic Tech Skills
When I started my first venture during my construction engineering studies, it demanded a whole new skill set — from building a Shopify website to managing social media and handling bookkeeping. You can pay others to do all of this, but in the beginning it may not be possible.
The critical distinction: starting a creative company is very different from a tech-focused venture. When technology is your core product, you need enough technical understanding to make informed decisions.
7 Tech terms you need to know
1. Tech Stack
Simply put: the toolkit behind your digital service. It includes languages, tools, and systems used to build it — from how it looks to how it functions.
Example of a basic tech stack:
- Frontend: Angular or React
- Backend: Node.js
- Database: Firebase
2. Tech Specifications
A document outlining your service's purpose and delivery requirements — long-term goals and short-term milestones like your MVP. Invaluable when talking to developers about cost and timeline.
3. Frontend
The visible part of your software — what your customers directly interact with. Will they use it on mobile, desktop, or both? That determines your choice.
My preferred frameworks:
- Angular / React — web applications
- Flutter — cross-platform (iOS, Android, web) from a single codebase
- NoCode tools — Bubble, FlutterFlow
- WordPress / Shopify — basic websites and webshops
4. Backend
The intermediary between your frontend and your database. The frontend asks: "Give me the 10 latest posts." The backend fetches them and sends them back.
My favorites:
- Firebase Functions — works well with Firebase database, supports TypeScript and Python
- Node.js — pairs well with MongoDB for robust backend development
5. Database
Where all your data lives. Firestore (part of Firebase) is my recommended starting point — low learning curve, visual interface, easy to understand even for non-technical founders.
6. Framework
A structure built by other developers so you don't have to set up the basics (routing, imports, etc.) from scratch. Angular and React are frameworks for web. Flutter is a framework for cross-platform apps.
7. Full-Stack Developer
A developer who can build both frontend and backend. Important: being "full stack" doesn't automatically mean they know your specific tech stack. When hiring, focus on experience with the languages and frameworks your product actually uses.
The bottom line
You don't need to code. But you need to understand enough to ask the right questions, evaluate your options, and avoid hiring the wrong people for the wrong reasons.
That understanding starts with these 7 terms.