How to Outsource Development Work

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Drew GorhamFounder, App Factory Author of forthcoming book “No Coding Necessary: How you can develop your app without learning to code and without a technical co-founder.”

How to outsource app development

How to Outsource App Development

Drew Gorham drew@appfactorysf.com

First Principles

Ideas are a Multiplier of Execution

Before you launch, all you have are opinions.

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How to Build a Product as a Non-Technical Founder…

Learn to Code Find a Technical Co-Founder

Hire an Agency Hire a Freelancer

How to Build a Product as a Non-Technical Founder…

Learn to Code Find a Technical Co-Founder

Hire an Agency Hire a Freelancer

How to Build a Product as a Non-Technical Founder…

Learn to Code Find a Technical Co-Founder

Hire an Agency Hire a Freelancer

How to Build a Product as a Non-Technical Founder…

Learn to Code Find a Technical Co-Founder

Hire an Agency Hire a Freelancer

How to Build a Product as a Non-Technical Founder…

Learn to Code Find a Technical Co-Founder

Hire an Agency Hire a Freelancer

Learn to Code

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⌛6 months - 1 year

Find a Technical Co-founder

Hire an Agency

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$6k-20k/week

Hire a Freelancer

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$1k-2k/week

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Advantages of a Freelancer

•Affordable

•Abundant

•Pay as you go

•Hire immediately

•Experienced in solving your problem

Bay Area8.6M Population

Globe7.4B Population

How to Win at Outsourcing

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2.

How to Win at Outsourcing

1. Have a plan

How to Win at Outsourcing

1. Have a plan

2. Hire a rockstar

How to Win at Outsourcing

1. Have a plan

2. Hire a rockstar

Why Have a Plan?

• Save tens of thousands of dollars

• Entice good developers

• Maximize speed

• Clarify your vision

Start with Why

• (2 hours) Value Proposition Canvas

• (5 days) GV Design Sprint

• (2 weeks) Udacity - Product Design

Start with Why

Elevator Pitch

Elevator Pitch

• Pitch to 3 people

• Ask them to pitch back to you

Sketch It Out

• Start with a User Story

• Sketch wireframes with pen and paper

• iPhone Stencils: popapp.in/sketchpad/

• Balsamiq Wireframes

Get Inspired

Get Inspired

Product Spec• Elevator Pitch

• The purpose of the MVP

• Which platforms (iOS, Android, web)

• Any notifications?

• Explain each screen

• Hide an Easter Egg

How to Win at Outsourcing

1. Have a plan

2. Hire a rockstar

Hiring a Rockstar Developer

• No Newbies!

• Low hourly rate ≠ Cheaper

• Find someone who’s built similar apps

• Experience trumps Geography

Where To HireVettedNot Vetted

• Vetted Top 3% of Developers

• 2-week Risk-free Trial

• Simple Pricing (weekly, daily, hourly)

• Free Sales Engineer

So You Hired a Freelancer, What’s Next?

• Break project into 1-2 day milestones

• Track milestones in Trello

• Daily Standup Meetings (~5mins/day)

• Demo day 2x/week (Tuesday + Friday)

• Your job is to remove blockers

Summary• Have a Plan

• Understand The Why

• Elevator Pitch

• Sketch It Out

• Product Spec

• Hire a rockstar through Toptal

• Build Anything

Drew Gorham drew@appfactorysf.com