CTOfor

Start-Up

About Author

Konstantin Polakov

Master in Computer Science,

IPMA Project Manager & ITIL Expert

(Co) Founder

Unitary.de, Polit-X.de, Donate-to-band.com

Previous experiences

Deutsche Bank, Daimler, Onvista

Start-Up Life-Cycle

Idea / Prototype(2-3 founders)

MVP / Product(up to 10 people)

Middle size(50+ people)

CTO Life-Cycle

Developer(2-3 founders)

Team Lead(up to 10 people)

Manager(50+ people)

• IT Strategy

• Product development

• Managing / Leading / HR

CTO Responsibilities

• Technology EvaluationArchitecture, infrastructure, programming language, …

• Outsourcing vs. Insourcing

• IT Processes Software development processes - Agile is a standard

Test / Quality management

Release management …

CTO Responsibilities: 1. Strategy

I need a coder! Why strategy?

6 12 18 24 30 36 42

Costs

of cha

ng

e

Operating months

Change Costs in Life-Time

Right strategy

.. not a good one

• Product developmentBusiness – IT – Business, requirement engineering

communication management

• Projects sprints scoping “9 women can't make a baby in 1 month“

• IT as a business enabler Cutting corners with IT solutions

CTO Responsibilities – 2. Product Dev.

• “No assholes” rule

• “Be the best on daily basis” rule

• “Listen, share, collaborate”

CTO Responsibilities –

3. Managing People

• Be transparent

• Over communicate

• Under promise, over deliver

CTO Responsibilities –

3. Managing Board

• Know yourself

• Find your place

• Grow or leave

C-XX Responsibility: Grow or Leave

Thanks!