Exploring the Different Types of Tech Companies

Learn the difference and position yourself accordingly

In this article, we will be providing an in-depth analysis of various types of tech companies, including B2B SaaS, B2C, marketplace, and hardware companies, and sheds light on the wide range of non-technical job opportunities available within each sector. By examining the distinctive characteristics of these company types, their business models and exploring the diverse roles they offer, this information should help non-technical professionals (you) navigate their career paths in the current changing tech landscape.

B2B SaaS

B2B SaaS (Business-to-Business Software-as-a-Service) companies are focused on providing software solutions to other businesses. These companies cater to the specific needs of enterprises, offering products and services that enhance productivity, streamline operations, and drive efficiency. Within B2B SaaS companies, non-technical professionals can find a wide array of roles. For instance, product managers play a vital role in defining and managing the product roadmap, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and ensuring successful product launches. Sales and marketing professionals are crucial for driving revenue and acquiring new clients, utilizing their business acumen to understand customer needs and effectively communicate the value of the software solutions.

Most B2B SaaS companies have a very mature and established product, they are focused on scaling and increasing their revenue by selling to more clients. As such, the core value add as a non-technical person here is helping the company go-to-market with their product easier. Any function that supports sales and/or supports expansion of existing product lines in existing clients is especially crucial.

Examples: Salesforce, Okta

Recommended Roles: Sales Engineering, Value Engineering, Revenue/Sales Operations

Note: If the B2B SaaS you are looking at does NOT have product market fit you should stay far away from the company. (This is true for all tech companies/startups but especially true for companies that are in the B2B space as B2C start-ups usually have a little more leeway).

B2C

On the other hand, B2C (Business-to-Consumer) tech companies directly target individual consumers. These companies develop products and services that cater to the mass market, aiming to improve the daily lives of individuals. In B2C companies, non-technical professionals can explore roles such as user experience (UX) designers, responsible for creating intuitive and user-friendly interfaces, and customer support representatives, who ensure customer satisfaction and address inquiries or concerns. Additionally, roles in product marketing are vital for building brand awareness, crafting compelling messaging, and driving consumer engagement.

Because B2C tech companies are generally always concerned with user acquisition and user retention, this paves way for great business/growth related roles such as Strategy and Business Operations. The Product work at these companies can also tend to be less technical, focusing more on user experience and user journeys which will be a better fit for someone without a CS background. B2C companies will rarely have sales orientated roles so all the related sales support roles are also obsolete at these companies. The only exception is if a B2C company has branched out and is offering B2B services as well which is very rare.

Examples: Netflix, Spotify

Recommended Roles: Strategy, Product Management, Product Marketing

Note: B2C companies are are great place to learn how to build a product and scale it. Great for if you are thinking about bootstrapping future entrepreneurial pursuits

Marketplace

Marketplace companies have emerged as significant players in the tech industry, connecting buyers and sellers through online platforms. These companies provide a digital space for transactions, facilitating the exchange of goods, services, or expertise. Within marketplace companies, non-technical professionals can find roles such as operations managers, responsible for overseeing platform operations, ensuring smooth transactions, and managing relationships with sellers and buyers. Additionally, business development professionals are instrumental in fostering partnerships with key stakeholders and expanding the marketplace's reach.

Marketplace is called out as a separate type of business because it has a mixture of B2B and B2C elements. Typically there will be a consumer facing side that is more concerned with acquiring more new users (the buyers) and there is also a sales/sales support team that is focusing on acquiring bigger stakeholders (the vendors). For a market place to work there has to be a good balance of buyers and sellers at all times so there are a lot of non-technical roles focused on balancing all the users of the marketplace to ensure that the operation can run smoothly. Non-technical roles at these companies tend to be more operations heavy so watch out for that if you are not interested in that type of work.

Examples: DoorDash, Uber

Recommended Roles: Strategy, Program Management, Operations Management

Note: Some of the bigger marketplace companies pay extremely well, however they can have extremely thin profit margins which could put you at risk of layoffs if they occur

Hardware

Hardware companies focus on the development and manufacturing of physical technology products, ranging from consumer electronics to industrial equipment. In these companies, non-technical professionals can explore roles such as supply chain managers, responsible for coordinating the production and distribution of hardware products. Project managers play a crucial role in overseeing product development cycles, managing timelines, budgets, and cross-functional teams. Marketing professionals are essential for promoting hardware products, conducting market research, and creating effective marketing strategies to drive sales.

Adding these company types here as a call out to distinguish the different between software and hardware companies. Although established hardware companies are typically vey solid, they suffer from lower profit margin and scalability that their software counterparts. This means that pay is *typically* higher for non-technical roles at software companies because they can afford it. In addition to this legacy hardware companies also typically have less modern company cultures which makes it less likely they would allow employees to work fully remote or even Hybrid.

Examples: Intel, Apple

Recommended Roles: Supply Chain Management, Program Management, Project Management