GitHub 101 for Non-Technical Founders

If you’re a non-technical founder working with a tech team, you’ve probably heard the word GitHub thrown around in meetings. Maybe it came up in discussions about "pushing code," "repos," or "branches." But what does GitHub actually do, and why should you—as someone who doesn’t write code—care about it?

Let’s break it down.

What is GitHub?

GitHub is a platform where developers collaborate on code. Think of it like Google Docs for software—but with more structure, version control, and security. It allows multiple developers to work on the same codebase at the same time without overwriting each other’s work.

It’s built on top of a system called Git, which tracks changes to code over time. GitHub adds a visual interface, tools for collaboration, and a way to host and manage projects remotely.

Imagine you're writing a book with a co-author. You each write chapters in your own notebooks. Git is the system that keeps track of who wrote what and when. GitHub is like a shared online folder with version history, comments, and the ability to review and merge chapters safely. Without it, you'd be emailing Word documents back and forth and losing track.

How Engineering Teams Use GitHub

Here’s a simplified breakdown:

1. Repositories (Repos): A repo is a folder where all the code for a particular project lives. It includes files, documentation, and a full history of changes.
2. Branches: Developers create branches to work on new features or bug fixes without affecting the main code. Think of branches as parallel drafts.
3. Commits: A commit is like saving your work—along with a message explaining what was changed.
4. Pull Requests (PRs): When a developer finishes working on a branch, they create a pull request to merge it into the main codebase. Other team members review the changes first.
5. Issues: These are like task cards or to-do items—used to track bugs, feature requests, or other work items.

Why Non-Technical Founders Should Care

Even if you don’t code, GitHub is central to how your product is built. It’s where:

• All your intellectual property (your product code) lives
• Development progress is tracked
• Quality control and team collaboration happen

If your startup loses access to its GitHub repo—or if it’s under a personal account—you risk losing the codebase entirely.

The Risk: Personal vs. Organizational GitHub Accounts

One common mistake is letting your technical cofounder or lead engineer create the GitHub repo under their personal account. If they leave or a dispute arises, the code may be inaccessible.

The fix:

• Create a GitHub Organization using a company-controlled email (e.g., tech@yourstartup.co).
• Add your tech team as collaborators or admins.
• Retain ownership through access control and backups.

You don’t need to understand every line of code, but you do need to understand how code is managed. GitHub isn’t just a tool for developers—it’s a piece of your company’s infrastructure that you, as a founder, need to own and govern.

Consider making GitHub part of your early founder checklist—just like bank accounts and incorporation documents. It may not seem urgent now, but it’s one of those decisions you’ll be thankful for later.

Want to go deeper? Stay tuned for our upcoming post: "5 GitHub Mistakes That Can Sink a Startup."