Startup Team Key Roles

'Where do I fit in?’ ‘What position should I take?’ even for startups that are working in an one-man team, they should clearly know the different hats they’re wearing. There would be some they’re definitely more comfortable with and those that should be shared among the team. Below are some description of the typical roles a startup ought to have.

Generally, there are 5 main roles a startup should have:

1. Product

   Basically a very clear vision and details of what you are building

2. Engineering

   Build the product together with the tech needed behind that

3. Marketing & Sales

   Get more customers to know and buy your product which gives you the revenues and profits you need!

4. Governance

   Make sure your team is doing everything legally, make all the agreements and tax filing valid etc. Team culture is also part of your job!

5. Design

   Not just the overall visual design of the product, the user experience off the role is an important factor that the designer needs to take care of.

Of course, you might not have 5 members in the very beginning when you’re building your startup or you might be even going solo! Wearing multiple hats are definitely a norm. Here are some advices you can take on while choosing multiple roles:

• Engineering + Product

  Leverage your insight in product and technology skills to accelerate the prototype development

• Design + Product

  For design-led teams

• Product + Marketing & Sales

  For business-oriented teams

• Marketing & Sales + Governance

Here is a diagram of a detailed anatomy of a Tech Startup Team which you might be interested