Technical Skills Team Assessment Template

About This Template

This template is a self-evaluation assessment for B2B SaaS founders to evaluate if the founding team and early employees possess the right technical skillset to build the first prototype of a modern SaaS product.

During the prototyping stage, the focus is on validating the product idea and getting early feedback from users, rather than building a fully-featured and scalable solution. Therefore the expectations for the product are limited to basic functionality and limited features and the emphasis should be on quickly building a functional prototype that can gather feedback and drive further iterations. At the same time, first prototypes are designed to be learning experiments, helping you validate assumptions and learn about customer needs. It's common for prototypes and even MVPs to undergo significant changes based on user feedback, which may result in technology choices that differ from those of later stages.

Self-assessment of technical skills for prototyping

Below is a non-exclusive list of key areas and technologies that you should have in your initial team:

1. Programming Languages:

Proficiency in the primary programming language used for prototype development (e.g., JavaScript, Python, Ruby, etc.).

2. Web Development:

Understanding of HTML, CSS, and basic front-end development to create a functional user interface.

3. Back-End Development:

Familiarity with back-end technologies and frameworks that provide basic functionality and are quick to set up (e.g., Node.js, Flask, Django, etc.).

4. Database Knowledge:

Basic knowledge of databases and their integration with the back-end (e.g., MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB).

5. Version Control:

Experience with version control systems like Git, enabling efficient collaboration and tracking changes.

6. API Integration:

Ability to connect with third-party APIs or services to enhance the prototype’s functionality.

7. Basic Security Measures:

Awareness of essential security practices to prevent common vulnerabilities in the prototype.

8. Deployment and Hosting:

Understanding of deploying and hosting web applications on platforms like Heroku, Netlify, or AWS.

9. Testing:

Familiarity with basic testing approaches (e.g., unit testing, integration testing) to ensure prototype functionality.

10. Agile and Lean Methodologies:

Knowledge of agile and lean development methodologies to efficiently manage the prototype development process.

11. Adaptability and Learning:

Willingness to learn new technologies and adapt quickly as the prototype and later the MVP evolves based on customer feedback.

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Important to note: Some prototypes can be built very quickly with no code tools like bubble.io and softr.io or by extensively leveraging automation and workflow platforms like Zapier or make.com.

Let's look at an Example

The goal is to assess our technical skills and abilities to create a B2B SaaS solution.Product Name: "SmartBooks - AI-Powered Accounting Solution”

Product Example

We are looking at the following product example and assess what skills we need for building a first prototype.

• Automated Bookkeeping: SmartBooks automates the bookkeeping process, categorizing transactions, and reconciling accounts in real-time. It eliminates manual data entry, reducing errors and saving time for finance teams.
• Intelligent Expense Tracking: The platform captures and categorizes expenses from receipts and invoices using OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology. It helps businesses efficiently manage expenses and monitor budget compliance.
• Invoice Management: SmartBooks generates and sends professional invoices to clients automatically. It tracks invoice status and sends reminders for timely payments, improving cash flow management.
• Tax Compliance: The solution ensures tax compliance by calculating taxes, generating tax reports, and staying up-to-date with changing tax regulations.
• Financial Reporting: SmartBooks provides customizable financial reports, including balance sheets, profit, and loss statements, and cash flow reports. The platform helps business owners gain a clear understanding of their financial health.
• Secure Data Storage: SmartBooks prioritizes data security and utilizes robust encryption to protect sensitive financial information.

Technical Skills check

1. Programming Languages: Advanced proficiency in Python ✔
2. Web Development: Little experience in frontend web development X
3. Back-End Development (AI and Machine Learning): Several years of experience with Django  ✔
4. Database Knowledge: Several years experience in data analysis and manipulation + experience with SQL ✔
5. Version Control: Proficiency with Git version control system ✔
6. API Integration: Experience in integrating with third-party API and familiarity with RESTful ✔
7. Security and Encryption: Some experience with encryption techniques, secure coding practices, and best practices for protecting sensitive data. X
8. Cloud Computing: used AWS in the past ✔
9. Testing and Quality Assurance: Familiarity with testing and automated testing frameworks. ✔
10. Agile Development: Experience with Agile methodologies. ✔
11. Learning Ability: Hell Yeah! ✔

Findings: Need to get support for web development→ Make sure we acquire the necessary knowledge in the security and encryption field.