Why Technical Cofounders Are Becoming a Rare Commodity in 2025

A decade ago, if you wanted to start a SaaS company, you needed a technical cofounder. There was no way around it. You needed someone who could build the product, manage infrastructure, and scale the architecture as your startup grew.

But in 2025? Things look very different. Technical cofounders are becoming increasingly rare, and many successful founders are launching software products without them. Why is this happening? Let’s dive in.

1. The Rise of No-Code and Low-Code Platforms

The biggest reason behind this shift? No-code and low-code tools.

Platforms like Webflow, Bubble, Fuzen, and FlutterFlow have made it possible to build full-fledged web and mobile applications without writing a single line of code. Even complex backend logic, user authentication, and database management can now be handled through visual builders and automation tools.

According to Gartner, by 2025, 70% of new business applications will be built using low-code or no-code technologies. This is up from less than 25% in 2020. That means non-technical founders no longer need a cofounder to build their MVP. They can do it themselves.

For example, I’ve seen founders use Fuzen.io to build fully functional SaaS products and internal tools without hiring a developer. The landscape has completely changed.

2. The High Demand (and Cost) of Developers

If you’ve tried hiring a good developer lately, you know it’s not easy. Tech talent is more expensive than ever.

The average salary for a senior software engineer in the U.S. is now $160,000+ per year (Source: Levels.fyi).

Even offshore developers are charging $40-$80 per hour for quality work.

Many developers prefer working for big tech companies rather than taking the risk of joining a startup.

Because of this, technical cofounders have become harder to find. The ones that exist have high expectations—they want equity, competitive salaries, and often work on their own projects instead of joining someone else’s vision.

For non-technical founders, this creates a tough situation. Instead of waiting months (or years) to find the right technical cofounder, many are turning to no-code tools and fractional development teams to build their MVPs and scale from there.

3. The Lean Startup Mindset Has Evolved

The way people launch startups has changed.

10 years ago, you needed a big technical build before you could even think about launching. Now, the playbook is different:

Start with a simple, no-code MVP.

Get early traction.

If the idea proves itself, then invest in proper engineering.

This means founders don’t need a technical cofounder from Day 1. Instead, they focus on validation, sales, and marketing first, and only bring in developers when absolutely necessary.

Many successful SaaS founders today started this way. They built something simple, made their first $10K-$50K MRR, and then hired a dev team to scale. It’s a very different approach from the old “raise money, hire a CTO, and spend a year building” method.

4. AI Is Doing a Lot of the Heavy Lifting

AI tools like GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, and Replit Ghostwriter are making development faster than ever. Even non-technical people can now:

Generate working code snippets just by describing what they want.

Automate repetitive development tasks.

Use AI-assisted debugging to fix problems quickly.

This reduces the need for a dedicated technical cofounder in the early stages. AI can’t replace a good engineer yet, but it can make it much easier for solo founders to get started without one.

5. The Rise of Indie Hackers and Bootstrappers

More people are choosing to bootstrap their businesses instead of chasing VC funding.

Indie hackers and solopreneurs have built profitable SaaS businesses without a single line of code or a technical cofounder. Look at successful examples like:

Carrd.co (simple landing pages, built solo by AJ, now makes $1M+ per year)

Gumroad (launched without a full engineering team, now a massive marketplace)

Pieter Levels (creator of NomadList, RemoteOK, and more—mostly solo-built with automation and no-code tools)

The indie hacker community has proven that you don’t need a technical cofounder to succeed. What you need is a good problem, an audience, and the ability to move fast.

So, Do You Still Need a Technical Cofounder in 2025?
The short answer: Not necessarily.

If you’re building a deep-tech, AI, or highly complex platform, you’ll still need strong engineering talent. But for most SaaS startups, the game has changed.

• You can build your MVP with no-code.

• You can hire fractional developers when needed.

• AI and automation are making technical work easier.

This doesn’t mean developers aren’t important. It just means that technical cofounders are no longer a mandatory requirement for launching a software business.

If you’re a non-technical founder thinking of starting a SaaS, don’t wait for a technical cofounder. Start with what you have, use the tools available, and prove your idea works. The rest will follow.

What Do You Think?
I’d love to hear your thoughts. Are technical cofounders still a must-have, or are we moving into a world where they aren’t as necessary? Drop your opinions below! 👇