Not always, sometimes its just an interest, or it doesn't necessarily mean they have the technical means? For example a restaurant owner is not necessarily a technical expert, but could have an idea for a generic product that benefits every restaurant out there, and prototypes something, and gets funded and hires real devs to rework his prototype into a functioning viable product.
I have met and interviewed with YC founders who are not developers by any means for software heavy projects.
I have met and interviewed with YC founders who are not developers by any means for software heavy projects.