No.16: No Code Changes Everything
A newsletter about entrepreneurs building sustainable profitable businesses.
Good morning people,
Long time no see, I know … It turns out starting a company takes a lot of time (who would have thought so?) We spent the last months focusing on getting Betterfront off the ground and that left very little time for this newsletter. So please apologise for the irregularity in sending Mereo out, which going forward will be on a monthly(-ish) basis. Today on the menu …
No Code Changes Everything
Have you ever had a great business idea but were blocked because you don’t know how to code? Most people who have ideas draw them on paper before looking around for a CTO / technical co-founder to actually build their ideas. This has been even truer after Steve Jobs launched the AppStore and mobile apps unlocked major business opportunities.
Well, to you I bring good news: no code product development has arrived and it is big.
What’s no code development?
From Wikipedia:
No-code development platform (NCDPs) allows programmers and non-programmers to create application software through graphical user interfaces and configuration instead of traditional computer programming.
In other word, no code development tools let you build tech products such as websites, mobile apps and voice apps (e.g. Alexa skills) without programming skills. That is right: you – and everybody else – can now bring their own ideas to life without having strong technical skills or people. Thanks to a number of no code tool providers, there is no more technical barrier to building and launching tech products.
But what can you build exactly?
Most use cases focus on websites and mobile apps where you can build directories, lists, guides, CRMs, marketplaces – you can even build clones of Airbnb and Twitter with no code tools. Of course, there are some limitations: if you wish to build a complex product from day 1, no code is maybe not the way to go. However, after years of the “Lean Startup Methodology”, today’s entrepreneurs are well aware that the best way to build a successful product is through a MVP (minimum viable product) and test it with real users early on. In other words: launch as soon as you possibly can and improve and iterate along the way. For that process, no code development is your best friend.
And now what?
With the numerous possibilities of no code tools and the absence of technical barrier, the no code movement will create a wave of makers and creators who will be able to turn their ideas into reality the same way that retailers and entrepreneurs were able to seamlessly sell online with e-commerce platforms like Shopify and Squarespace.
“No code could be to software development what Shopify is to e-commerce: a way for everyone to “get in” and become a maker. “
There is so much more I would like to share with you today, like:
What are the no code tools currently in the market?
Which tools are best suited for which purpose?
How does it actually work?
Do you have example of what people built?
What do you think of HBO’ Succession season 2? (Obviously it’s great)
I will try to answer all of these questions and more in the following Mereo’s newsletter editions. However, no code is too big to leave it here. That is why, I have decided to gather 200 no code enthusiasts at “No Code Assembly 2019” this December. The event will bring together founders and professionals who want to learn more about no code opportunities and how to bring ideas to life without writing a single line of code. You can join the event list right here – I built this website with no code website builder carrd.
About No Code Assembly 2019
What: an assembly of no code enthusiasts looking to learn more about the possibilities of no code tools
Where: Wayra Germany, Kaufingerstraße 15, Munich 80331, Germany
When: December 10th, 2019, 6pm-9pm
Who: entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, students
Speakers and program will be announced soon - here at Mereo first!
Sign up to No Code Assembly 2019 to receive your event invitation (limited to the first 200 guests) as well as the event program and the speaker line.
I am looking forward to meeting you there and seeing what opportunities no code tools can bring to you.
Best,
Michel
About Mereo
Mereo is a newsletter-driven publication about entrepreneurs building sustainable profitable businesses. Mereo is written by Michel Geolier, an entrepreneur and former venture investor based in Munich, Germany.
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