When you’re considering launching a startup, be it in SaaS, Spacetech or Cyber, you need to know who you’re going to need in your team to get your idea off the ground.

Of course you could outsource everything, but that’s expensive..

So, what skills and roles do you need?

Call it the minimum viable team or the golden triangle, but there are three roles every software startup needs to fill as soon as possible:

1. Designer

Someone to design the product that people will love to use.

2. Hacker

Someone to build the product.

3. Hustler

Someone to sell, sell, sell.

Often one of these three people will also play the role of the Executive. This is the person who keeps an eye on the big picture, maintains the vision, is trusted to make strategic decisions and ensures the right things get done.

In this handy video Ann Miura-Ko, the founding partner of a seed stage VC firm called Floodgate speaks below about the importance of key roles in founding teams.