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An idea isn’t enough

How many times have we heard: “I have a great startup idea!”?
But an idea even a brilliant one is worth almost nothing without execution. What makes a startup successful is the ability to turn a vision into a product, a product into a solution, and a solution into traction.

And for that, you need skills. A lot of skills.
Here is a clear and concrete map of the five major skill sets essential to build a solid, coherent startup that’s ready to grow.

1. The Technical Block: Build a product that really works

Is your product reliable, fast, secure, and ready to scale?
It’s not just about coding an app. The technical block is the invisible engine of any startup.

Fundamental skills:

Frontend development: Building the user interface (React, Vue, Flutter…)

Backend development: Business logic, APIs, server management (Node.js, Django, Laravel…)

Database design and management: Relational and NoSQL models

Cloud & DevOps: Deployment, scalability, automation (AWS, Azure, CI/CD, Docker…)

Security: Data protection, access management, encryption

Quality assurance: Automated testing to ensure product stability

Advanced skills depending on your product type:

Blockchain: Decentralized technologies and tokens

Embedded systems: Physical products, connected devices

Internet of Things (IoT): Sensors, real-time communication

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Operations research: Logistics optimization, forecasting, resource management

The goal: A robust, maintainable product capable of supporting growth.

2. The Product Block: Design what people want… and can actually use

Good code isn’t enough. If the product is poorly designed, too complex, or irrelevant, it won’t survive.
Product management is what connects user needs with your team’s ability to build meaningful solutions.

Key skills:

UX/UI Design: Intuitive and attractive interfaces

User research: Understanding real needs, habits, and pain points

User journey mapping and usage flows

Prioritization: Choosing which features to develop based on impact and complexity

Behavioral analysis: Interpreting usage data to guide decisions

Product roadmap: Strategic planning for short, mid, and long term

Product discovery: Testing ideas before building, validating the value proposition

A good product manager brings together strategy, user insights, and coordination with the tech team.

3. The Marketing Block: Generate attention, trust, and action

Even a great product needs an ecosystem to grow an audience, users, and customers. Marketing builds that momentum.

Key skills:

Acquisition strategy: Testing and identifying the most effective channels

SEO: Search engine optimization

Online advertising: Google Ads, Meta Ads, TikTok, etc.

Email marketing: Newsletters, automated sequences, personalized follow-ups

Scraping and automation: Lead generation and time-saving tools

Influencer marketing & community: Building networks and engagement

ROI analysis: Customer acquisition cost (CAC), lifetime value (LTV)

A great marketer creates a growth engine that is multichannel, iterative, and resilient.

4. The Sales Block: Turn interest into revenue

Marketing attracts, sales convert. For B2B or B2G startups, a sales team is often essential for business development.

Key skills:

Prospecting: Proactively identifying potential customers

Lead qualification: Assessing how ready leads are to buy

Effective demos: Presenting the solution clearly and persuasively

Negotiation & closing: Signing deals in a win-win framework

Sales follow-up: CRM, pipeline management, reminders, client relationship

Soft skills: Active listening, empathy, persuasion, diplomacy

Sales teams must be aligned with marketing to convert leads into real revenue.

5. The Support Block: Structure for sustainability

These are functions that don’t directly grow a startup but ensure its compliance, legality, and peace of mind.

Functions to outsource as much as possible:

Accounting and financial management

Tax and regulatory filings

Legal aspects: Terms & Conditions, contracts, intellectual property

Human resources

Administrative relations

It’s recommended to delegate these to specialized firms so internal resources can focus on the core project.

A complete team or a multi-skilled founder?

All these skills might be found in a single, ultra-versatile founder, divided among two or three co-founders, or gradually brought in through a growing team.

The most important thing is to identify your strengths and what needs to be added.

What really matters:

That each block is seriously and competently handled

That you know what you’re good at and where you need to recruit or train

That you can align strategic vision, operational execution, and user value

Skills not ideas make the difference

Most startups don’t fail due to lack of vision, but due to a lack of operational skills.

What will launch your project isn’t a flashy PowerPoint or a beautiful logo, but your ability to execute quickly, effectively, and to keep learning faster than the market.

Use this map as a compass to assess your team, hiring needs, or training priorities.

A startup is a demanding journey. But with the right preparation, it can change lives.