Marketing as a Key Entrepreneurial Skill

For a startup entrepreneur, technical skills alone are not enough. The ability to market a product is a critical factor in its success. While many developers can build software, only a small fraction can both build it and convince people to buy it.

A developer who understands marketing is a powerful combination. This is because the most common reason for startup failure is building a product that no one wants. A "Marketing First, Product Last" approach helps to mitigate this risk.

This doesn't mean the product can be of poor quality. A good product is essential for long-term success. However, before building the product, it's crucial to first find the market and validate that there is a demand for what you're building. This ensures that you're not just building a project for fun, but a product that has a real chance of commercial success.