1
Essential 12 min read
How to Know If Your Dev Agency Is Screwing You
Red flags that indicate your agency is taking advantage of you, from someone who's rescued 4 projects from failed agencies.
Guides For Non-Technical Founders
Storm Survival
Building a product without a technical background? We're writing the guides we wish existed - how to evaluate agencies, spot red flags, know if your code is good, and avoid the mistakes that sink startups.
We've spent years as the technical partner for non-technical founders. We've rescued four products from failed agencies. We've seen what goes wrong - and what goes right.
Most advice for founders is written by people selling something. We're writing this because we're tired of seeing talented founders get burned by problems that are entirely avoidable.
These guides are opinionated. They're based on real experience. And they're free.
Start here.
2
Essential 10 min read
Do I Really Need a Technical Co-Founder?
The myth that every startup needs a technical co-founder. Alternative models that work better for most founders.
3
Essential 11 min read
Why Your Last Agency Failed (And How to Not Repeat It)
Common patterns in failed agency relationships, and what to look for in the next one.
4
Essential Coming Soon
How to Evaluate Tech When You're Not Technical
Practical ways to assess code quality, team capability, and technical decisions without being a developer.
6
Coming Soon
How to Know If Your Dev Team Is Lying to You
Mid-project red flags that indicate progress isn't real, and what to do about it.
7
Coming Soon
What Questions Should I Be Asking My Dev Team?
The questions non-technical founders don't know to ask, and what the answers should sound like.
8
Coming Soon
Is My Product Actually Ready to Launch?
What 'production-ready' actually means: a checklist for non-technical founders to assess launch readiness.
9
Coming Soon
Why Is This Taking So Long?
What actually takes time in product development, and when delays are legitimate vs. concerning.
10
Coming Soon
How to Make Sure You Actually Own Your Code
IP ownership, documentation, and handoff. Making sure you're not held hostage by your development partner.
Who this is for
These guides are for non-technical founders who:
- Are about to hire a development agency or team
- Are in the middle of a project and something feels off
- Have been burned before and don't want to repeat it
- Want to understand enough to ask the right questions
You don't need to become technical. You need to know enough to protect yourself and your company.
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Hurricane Studio is a technical co-founder for non-technical founders. If you're looking for a partner, not an agency, let's talk.