Building a lean launch team
Focus on the few roles needed to create and sell the initial product: typically product/tech, design or user experience, and sales/marketing. Each person should be versatile and willing to wear multiple hats.
Core early roles:
- Product/technical lead to build or coordinate development
- A designer or product-focused person for user flows and messaging
- A growth/sales lead for customer acquisition and partnerships
- Optional: operations or finance part-time for basic bookkeeping
Hiring approaches:
- Use contractors or freelancers for short-term needs (design, development).
- Hire generalists who can cover multiple areas rather than specialists.
- Consider co-founders or equity-based arrangements for key roles if cash is limited.
Practical tips:
- Start with prioritized milestones and hire to clear bottlenecks.
- Use short trial projects or freelance gigs to evaluate fit.
- Set clear, measurable goals for the first 3–6 months.
Team culture and alignment
Establish simple communication rhythms (weekly check-ins, shared roadmap). Define ownership for core features and customer feedback loops. Early alignment on mission and working style reduces friction as the team scales.