Released Method

Pragmatic guidance for planning, releasing, and selling software products.

Startup Checklist

This checklist is your go-to guide for launching and scaling a technology startup. It doesn’t guarantee success — nothing does — but it gives you a solid operational foundation and eliminates the most common early-stage mistakes.

✅ Team

A strong team isn’t optional — it’s the engine of your startup. Make sure these roles are covered:

  • Architect – Owns the system design and technical direction
  • Developer(s) – Build, test, and ship the product
  • Tester(s) – Ensure reliability, performance, and edge-case coverage
  • Build/Release Automation – Sets up the CI/CD pipelines to support rapid delivery
  • UX Developer(s) – Designs workflows that make sense for users
  • Designer(s) – Creates the visual identity and UI components

⚙️ Process

Define your processes early. It’s how you stay efficient as you grow.

  • Daily Triage – Prioritise and unblock the team every day
  • Issue Management – Track and resolve bugs and feature requests
  • Task Lifecycle – Define how tasks move from idea to done
  • Automated Build – CI builds on commit — no manual compiling
  • Automated Release – Scripted, repeatable deployments
  • Peer Review – No code gets merged without another set of eyes
  • Quality Bar – Shared definition of what’s “ready for release”
  • Static Code Analysis – Catch bugs before they’re bugs
  • Code Coverage – Know how much of your code is tested
  • Documentation – Write it down, so people don’t ask twice
  • Sprint Planning/Execution – Use agile ceremonies with intent

🛠️ Technology

You need the right tools in place before you scale — not after.

  • Issue Tracker – JIRA, GitHub Issues, Linear, etc.
  • Task Planning System – Kanban or sprint-based
  • Version Control – Git is mandatory; use it properly
  • Dev Analytics – Track velocity, throughput, and cycle time
  • Artifact Repository – Store built packages safely
  • Automated Build System – CI pipelines for consistency
  • Automated Test Suite – Unit, integration, and regression tests
  • Automated Release Pipeline – One-click deploys to staging and prod
  • Documentation System – Wiki, Notion, GitBook — just make it accessible

👥 Minimum Viable Team

Startups move fast — you need a well-rounded core from day one:

  • Hustler – Drives the business: sales, marketing, partnerships, and funding
  • Hacker – Builds the product: writes code, solves problems, scales infrastructure
  • Hipster – Owns the user experience: design, UX, storytelling, brand

Don’t start until you’ve got all three.

📚 Documentation

Good documentation makes everything easier — onboarding, support, scaling, and investment.

  • Code Comments – Keep them relevant and helpful
  • API Docs – Clearly explain endpoints, payloads, and auth flows
  • Architecture & Design Docs – The “why” behind your system decisions
  • Risk Register – Track risks and mitigations like a pro
  • Sprint/Project Planning – What’s happening, when, and why
  • End-User Docs – Help users get value from your product
  • SDK Docs – Make it dead simple for others to build on your platform

Final Word

Use this checklist to build your foundation. It won’t eliminate risk, but it will make you more resilient, more credible, and more likely to ship something that matters.