Can software start-ups succeed with non-programmer founder(s)?

<i>"... Can software start-ups succeed with non-programmer founder(s)? ..."</i><p>Well lots of startups succeed already with non-dev founders. But they also most likely have hackers on the founder team. Could a software startup be successful with <i>all</i> founders not being programmers, hackers or without the ability to write code? I imagine not many. <p>I can't think of any startups without a single programmer/hacker founder, anyone else?

I don't know of any examples of successful startups who didn't have at least one hacker founder, though I hope that changes in the near future.<p>Neither my partner nor I are programmers--we're both researchers/designers (certainly not managers!). We're both willing to bootstrap an initial prototype--and maybe even up through the first phase. We'd like to take on a tech lead partner, though still wouldn't expect him to do all of the programming--would want someone to contribute financially and serve as a Tech Lead. <p>If there's anything I've learned in all my startup research, it's that if people tell you something can't be done, it probably can.<p>As far as VCs finding other programmers to do your project: VC's are in the investment business, they aren't entrepreneurs themselves. Otherwise, they'd just be taking all the ideas and implementing them themselves: why share ownership with anyone when you can pay programmers to build it for you?<p>Ultimately, I realize that I did not answer your question, but I say go for it. What have you got to lose?

I would say no because the founders would be managers who would have to direct things. The programmers they hire probably will not be 100% behind the project.<p>Non-programmer founders for a software startup can be seen as middlemen. Why should VCs pay a middleman when they can find any old programmer themselves to implement the idea?

Constant Contact and Intuit are examples that come to mind. Intuit is debatable since the programmer was the first hire and was working partly for equity. For both companies, the founder came out of Bain Consulting. MySpace might be another example - I don't think their founders were really technical.

I'm not sure what you mean by a software business, but I am not a programmer and I'm starting an Internet company. We are definitely software based and web 2.0.<p>There is no way that I could start this business without a programmer on board, but if this company was started solely by hackers it would not be nearly as good.<p>