How should a non-technical founder hire their first developer or founding engineer?

Begin by drafting a straightforward one-page overview in plain language: who your users are, what issue you address, and what they should be able to achieve within three to six months. Seek developers who have already delivered similar products end-to-end, not merely those who list the right buzzwords. In initial conversations, ask them to describe how they would approach your product without relying on jargon. If you cannot follow their reasoning or they cannot explain trade-offs, that’s a warning sign. Start with a small paid project that involves real production code, and evaluate them on communication, ownership, and clarity as much as on the final outcome.