How to select your technology partner?

Do you know what the next steps are? Sometimes an entrepreneur can take a wrong step (one of many) when they start over. This even when you already have the initial financing and a business plan in place.
Because again, what is the next step to follow to implement your idea?
People often talk about MVPs (minimum viable product) and it seems very obvious that we must implement it. But how do we do it?

The underlying problem is that your business is not the software. And you don't have to understand the software processes, or the complications it can bring. Then it is not so obvious how to move forward in a profitable and safe way, building versions that validate or invalidate your initial idea.

Entrepreneurs often choose to build a development team themselves and lead it towards their goals.
The problem, in this case, is when the entrepreneur does not really know about software because he is entering a new world. It really is like setting yourself up to build the office you are going to work in instead of hiring a construction company. Nobody would do that unless they are from the construction industry.
In this case, if the entrepreneur is not able to understand the code or does not have much time leading development teams, we are in trouble.
This happens because it is very easy for the development and the team to become disoriented or consume more time and money than planned and that the results are not seen when expected. This is simply because the software development life cycle must be respected, and that is not trivial at all.

Managing the software development process requires very specific skills, which can complicate even experts in the field. Although we have extensive knowledge and years of experience, in the chaos of a startup everything gets complicated: obtaining talented people, human resources, internal company management, visas, training, etc. The problem of hiring experts directly, with all these problems, turns into a false economy.

This is where technology partners come in. Having a company dedicated to that business and that can understand where yours is pointing is more profitable and healthy than hiring people directly. And I highlight especially the healthy because they can alleviate more than one headache in the humane treatment, the management, and the direction of your goals.

I suggest you think of that option as the best you have to implement your product.
In that case, how should you find a partner? what characteristics should it have?

Responsible

Look for a company with experience, previous work, and different execution modalities that ensure that it is capable of carrying out your project. Make sure it has references, read reviews, search its customers and get in touch with them.

Agile

Startups have an agile mindset by nature. If you are looking for a technological partner, you must make sure that it is compatible with this modality, because a waterfall is not an option for your business.

Experience

Don't be left alone with the image. Make sure that the partner you are looking for has real experience, that they can show you previous projects, applications, and platforms that have reached production, and that your clients are relevant and satisfied with their work.

What technologies?

You have to make sure you find a partner with real experience in what you need. It is not the same mobile as web or client/server as a desktop program. Whatever your need, the technological partner you are looking for has to be able to adapt to each reality and have the knowledge that guarantees a good future for your project

Communication

Good communication is the basis of any relationship. And this is not indifferent to a business relationship. If you want to see your product come to fruition without going crazy, it is recommended that you maintain good communication with your technology partner. In this sense, it is useful to hold regular meetings to understand the current state of the system, problems, progress, review demos, etc. Do not wait to close a stage, do not wait to see everything resolved. The sooner you learn about the reality of your project, the sooner you can make smart decisions. And for that, it is necessary to maintain good communication.

Undoubtedly, thinking about nearshore is thinking about the best option for your business. On the one hand, it offers you highly qualified people for the business, which is very difficult to get, manage and maintain in the software world. And on the other, you can work with a team with the same rules, your same language, your same time zone, and culture. None of these points is weak if you are thinking about the future of your startup