Building a SaaS Product Without a Technical Co-Founder
How a non-technical founder could go from idea to funded MVP
If you have a validated SaaS idea but no CTO, no engineering team, and no technical background, this is what working with Prodevel could look like — from first call to funded product.
Is This You?
Pre-seed B2B SaaS founder with no technical background, pilot customers lined up, and a funding round on the horizon
Questions You\'re Probably Asking
- Q1How do you build a SaaS product without a technical co-founder?
- Q2Do I need a CTO to build my startup?
- Q3How much does an MVP cost to build in the UK?
- Q4How long does it take to build an MVP?
- Q5What is a fractional CTO and do I need one?
The FAQ section at the bottom of this page answers all of these in detail.
The Challenges This Scenario Involves
- No technical co-founder or in-house engineering capability
- Unsure whether to build on no-code platforms or invest in custom code
- Pre-seed budget doesn't stretch to a full-time senior engineer
- Investors will ask technical questions you can't currently answer
- Pilot customers are waiting — every week of delay costs credibility
- Risk of building the wrong thing without an experienced technical voice
How Prodevel Would Approach This
If you came to Prodevel in this position, here is how we would approach it. The first decision is always build vs buy — we help you decide what needs to be custom-built and what can be assembled from existing tools. Once that's clear, we provide a Fractional CTO to own the technical strategy and bring in a dedicated build squad through our Startup Accelerator programme.
Technical Discovery & Strategy
Week 1–2- Fractional CTO onboards and reviews your product requirements
- Build vs buy analysis — what truly needs custom development
- Tech stack selection and architecture design
- Investor-ready technical documentation produced
- Project scope and timeline agreed with your input
Design Sprint
Week 2–4- User personas and journey mapping
- Wireframes for core user flows
- Interactive prototype for stakeholder and pilot customer feedback
- Design system defined — component library and brand guidelines
- Development-ready specifications handed to engineering
MVP Development
Week 4–10- Frontend and backend development in parallel sprints
- Weekly demos so you can see progress and give feedback
- Core feature set built to production-grade standards
- Authentication, billing (Stripe), and onboarding flows
- Automated testing suite for critical paths
Launch & Investor Prep
Week 10–12- Deployment to production with monitoring and alerting
- Performance and security review
- Technical due diligence pack for investors
- Handover documentation and onboarding for any future hires
- Fractional CTO available for investor technical Q&A calls
What You Could Expect
A funded, production-ready MVP with a Fractional CTO on standby — built in 10–12 weeks.
Services Involved in This Scenario
Fractional CTO
Part-time technical leadership from £960/month. Owns your tech strategy, makes architecture decisions, and prepares you for investor scrutiny.
Startup Accelerator
Fast-track MVP programme from £4,999. Dedicated squad of designer and engineers, Agile delivery, 4–16 week timelines.
Custom Software Development
Bespoke web application built to your exact requirements — scalable, secure, and maintainable from day one.
UI/UX Design
User research, wireframing, and high-fidelity design that runs ahead of development so no time is lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build a SaaS without any technical knowledge?
Yes — and it's more common than you think. Many successful SaaS founders are non-technical. What you need is a trustworthy technical partner who can translate your vision into architecture decisions and manage the engineering. A Fractional CTO from Prodevel fills this role without the cost of a full-time hire.
Should I use no-code tools like Bubble or Webflow instead?
No-code tools are excellent for validating ideas and getting to a first demo quickly — we'd recommend them for pre-validation. Once you have paying customers or a funding round in sight, they tend to create scaling, customisation, and investor credibility problems. Custom code gives you full control and a defensible product.
How much does an MVP cost to build in the UK?
A production-ready B2B SaaS MVP with a dedicated Prodevel squad typically starts at £15,000–£25,000 for a 6–10 week engagement. This includes design, frontend, backend, authentication, and deployment. Our Startup Accelerator packages start at £4,999 for leaner initial builds. We're transparent about scope and cost before any commitment.
How long does it take to build an MVP?
A focused MVP with a clear scope can be built in 6–10 weeks with a dedicated team. The most common cause of delays is undefined requirements — which is exactly why we start with a discovery and design sprint before any development begins.
What happens after the MVP is built?
Your Fractional CTO can remain engaged post-launch to support investor meetings, manage ongoing development, and help you hire your first permanent engineer when you're ready. We also provide full handover documentation so you're never locked in.
Do investors care whether my MVP was built by an agency?
Investors care about the quality of the product, the technical architecture, and whether the technical decisions were sensible. A well-documented, cleanly built MVP from a reputable agency is often viewed more favourably than a poorly-built in-house product. Our Fractional CTO produces investor-grade technical documentation as part of the engagement.
Does This Sound Like Your Situation?
Book a free consultation. We'll listen to your specific context and tell you honestly whether Prodevel is the right fit and what an engagement would look like.