Technical vs Non-Technical Founders | #ATLTechWeek

Two founders. Two mobile apps. Two completely different paths. Darrielle Evans (Bea'Viewed) is a former Big 4 software engineer who quit her job to build solo as a technical founder. Jackie Omorogbe (The Zoku App) is a non-technical founder balancing a full-time epidemiologist role while managing student developers from Georgia State and Georgia Tech. This panel explores the real trade-offs, mistakes, and advantages of each path. From AWS credit mismanagement to technical debt decisions, from managing student developers to wearing every hat yourself, from using AI as a non-technical founder to leveraging AI as your solo co-founder—this conversation reveals what actually works (and what doesn't). You'll hear about: Financial mistakes both founders made and what they'd do differently How each uses AI differently based on technical expertise (Claude for code vs AI for team management) Time and cost trade-offs between DIY development and managing teams What takes longer when you can code vs when you can't Balancing a 9-5 while building vs full-time entrepreneurship When being technical becomes a disadvantage (perfectionism, slower delegation) This talk will be filled with honest insights from two founders with different backgrounds but with one common goal, building a SaaS. This talk will be moderated for maximum learning value.