DZone

Over the past year, a number of early-stage startups led by IT practitioners-turned-founders have been funded, and countless more are currently seeking capital. Many of those founders are on unfamiliar ground, building a startup for the first time. Making the transition from practitioner to founder is a non-trivial move and it can be difficult to navigate without the right resources and guidance; but there are some universal steps that will set you on the right path.

If you’re still reading this, there’s a good chance you’re an IT practitioner. And chances are you’ve been solving problems for your company while gaining a unique insight into where today’s technology is lacking. You’re probably leading your company’s IT department or managing your cloud infrastructure, but are itching to explore your budding start-up idea. While you have the insight and expertise to make it happen, you’re unsure about how to switch gears and take those first steps towards entrepreneurship. Unlike developers who’ve been checking in code forever, you might not know where to begin – technically. You’ve also probably come across a number of companies that have proven themselves successful by becoming a unicorn, getting acquired for a large sum, or going public; you want to join the club.

Source: DZone