There are many great reasons to learn to code, but even more as a founder or CEO of Startup. There was a time when learning how to code was for the studious intellectuals. That’s not exactly the case today. You don’t even need to shell out a ton of money or put yourself in debt to learn how to code, either.

Learning code used to require access to expensive books and classes, but no longer. There are the numerous number of online platforms available which offer coding courses for free & a certificate of completion. Some of them are listed below:

Coursera

Udemy

Codeacademy

Khan Academy

edX

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Learning how to code will make you, and your startup, stronger and more productive. Some reasons are

● You can build your own MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

Once you’ve invested a few months in learning the basics, you’ll probably be able to start building V1 of your product. You’ll be able to actually start validating your idea, test features, and maybe even get your first customer!

Better visualize the product you’re building and the steps needed to grow

Decrease communication barriers with engineers (because it’s you :))

You can begin to garner feedback on your product and adjust accordingly

You’ll understand how engineering teams operate

● Your startup will save time and money

Instead of paying, and waiting, for a programmer to fix a bug on your website, change the font in your email body or even do some major troubleshooting on your product, you can do those tasks on your own. Being able to fix your own issues could help you better understand your product instead of having someone else explain it to you & you can save your startup some expenses.

● Better informed decisions & realistic timelines

Armed with some level of coding knowledge, you’ll be able to better analyze risk, to creatively solve problems and communicate them effectively.

Often times, when engineering gives push-back on a timeline non-technical founders, might accept long deadlines without properly assess risk.

If you are familiar with programming then you’ll be able to work with engineering to fabricate the best solution. Remember, time is money.

● You’ll train your brain to solve problems

Learning to code will sharpen your problem solving abilities, and not just for technical matters.

“Learning to write programs stretches your mind, and helps you think better, creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.” Bill Gates



● You’ll be more attractive to investors & top talent

Two reasons why programming matters to investors. First, you can handle a problem on your own if need be. Second, founders who don’t know coding have a tougher time hiring the best tech talent.

The truth is coders gravitate towards other coders. As Ben Parr, a former editor at Mashable, stated on CNET, “You have to code, not because you need to be good at it, but because technical employees are far more likely to follow a founder with technical experience.”

● Helps you understand what’s possible

Every single day there are new frameworks being released, new technologies to be discovered, and new solutions being hacked together. Understanding these, and more importantly how they can grow your business will give you a competitive edge and may lead to something great. In this rapidly changing world, never underestimate how fast the adoption of a new technology can propel you to the top.

Credits: John Rampton, Mark Price