Technical Leadership & SaaS Development Insights
Expert insights from 20+ years building and scaling B2B SaaS products. From MVP to $100k+ MRR.
Featured Posts
The Non-Technical Founder's Guide to Working with Developers
How to communicate with developers, evaluate their work, and avoid expensive mistakes. A practical guide for founders who don't code.
How to Evaluate Code Quality If You're Not Technical
A practical guide for non-technical founders to assess whether their developer is doing good work—without learning to code.
All Posts (44)
Your MVP Works. Here's Why You Still Can't Sleep at Night.
Your MVP is live and functional. But you don't trust it. Here's the production readiness checklist that turns a working prototype into a real product.
Your Vibe-Coded App Will Break at 100 Users. Here's Why.
Vibe coding tools like Cursor and Lovable get you to MVP fast. But most vibe-coded apps collapse under real traffic. Here's what breaks and how to fix it.
When No-Code Stops Working: A Decision Framework for Founders
Your no-code stack got you to revenue. Now it's breaking. Here's how to decide what to migrate, what to keep, and how to avoid a $50K rewrite you don't need.
Why Your SaaS Is Slow (And How to Fix It Without a Rebuild)
Before you rebuild from scratch, check if one of these 7 common issues is killing your app's performance. Most can be fixed in days, not months.
The Non-Technical Founder's Guide to Working with Developers
How to communicate with developers, evaluate their work, and avoid expensive mistakes. A practical guide for founders who don't code.
When to Migrate Off Bubble (And When to Stay)
Bubble got you to product-market fit. But is it time to move to custom code? Here's how to know when migration makes sense and when it's premature.
Why Your $30K MRR SaaS Doesn't Need a CTO (It Needs a Technical Partner)
Hiring a full-time CTO at $30K MRR is overkill. Here's what bootstrapped SaaS founders actually need—and how to find a technical partner who stays for years.
How to Evaluate Code Quality If You're Not Technical
A practical guide for non-technical founders to assess whether their developer is doing good work—without learning to code.
5 Alternatives to Finding a Technical Co-Founder
Can't find a technical co-founder? You have more options than you think. Here are 5 paths forward for non-technical founders building SaaS products.
Your Developer Just Quit: A Survival Guide for Founders
What to do when your developer gives notice. A practical guide for non-technical founders to assess the damage, protect your code, and find the right replacement.
You've Outgrown Your Freelancer. Now What?
Signs it's time to move on from your freelance developer, and the three paths forward for bootstrapped SaaS founders.
Why I Stopped Calling Myself a Fractional CTO
The difference between a fractional CTO and a technical partner—and why bootstrapped SaaS founders doing $10K-100K MRR need the latter.
Do You Need a Fractional CTO? Signs Your Startup Is Ready
Not every startup needs a full-time CTO. Here's when a fractional CTO makes sense, what they actually do, and how to find the right one.
SaaS Development Timeline: What to Expect Week by Week (2025 Guide)
Realistic SaaS development timelines from 50+ projects. Week-by-week breakdown of what happens during MVP development. Know exactly when you'll launch.
How to Write a SaaS Development Brief in 2025 (Template + Examples)
Get accurate quotes and avoid costly misunderstandings. Free template + real examples from 50+ projects. The exact format developers actually want to receive.
The True Cost of AI Chatbot SaaS Tools in 2025 (12-Month Breakdown)
AI chatbot subscriptions cost $240-$3,600/year for most teams. But that's just the start. Here's the full cost breakdown, including setup time, data lock-in, and when a one-time build makes more sense.
How to Price Your SaaS Product: A Framework That Actually Works
Most SaaS founders price too low or too high. Here's a data-driven framework for pricing your SaaS, when to raise prices, and how to test pricing without losing customers.
7 MVP Mistakes That Waste $100K+ and 6 Months (And How to Avoid Them)
Most founders waste $100K+ building MVPs nobody wants. Here are the 7 most expensive MVP mistakes, what they cost, and exactly how to avoid them.
How to Hire Your First Developer When You're Non-Technical (Without Getting Burned)
Non-technical founders make 5 predictable hiring mistakes that cost $50K+ and 6 months. Here's exactly how to hire, vet, and onboard your first developer successfully.
5 Technical Debt Mistakes That Will Cost You $100K+ (And How to Avoid Them)
Early-stage SaaS founders make predictable technical debt mistakes that cost $100K+ to fix later. Here's how to spot them early and avoid expensive refactors.
Build vs Buy: When to Use AI APIs vs Building Custom AI Features
Should you use OpenAI's API or build custom AI? A framework for deciding when to buy pre-built AI solutions vs building from scratch, with real cost comparisons and decision criteria.
The Hidden Costs of AI Features in SaaS Products (And How to Budget for Them)
Beyond API costs: The real expenses of adding AI to your SaaS. From technical debt to monitoring to team training, here's what most founders miss when budgeting AI features.
AI-First vs AI-Enhanced Products: Which Strategy Is Right for Your SaaS?
Should you build an AI-first product or add AI to enhance your existing SaaS? Cost, market position, and strategic trade-offs explained with real examples.
AI Agents for SaaS: When to Build Them (And When Simple AI Is Better)
AI agents can transform your SaaS product or become an expensive distraction. Learn when agents make sense, how to build them, and when simple AI features work better.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a SaaS Company? (2026 Breakdown)
Real costs from MVP to launch: development, hosting, tools, and marketing. Based on 50+ actual SaaS projects, not theoretical estimates.
MVP Developer Cost: Complete 2025 Pricing Guide (Real Numbers from 50+ Projects)
MVP developer costs $8K-$60K depending on complexity and location. Real pricing breakdowns, hourly vs fixed rates, regional differences, and hidden costs from 50+ projects. Updated Nov 2025.
Claude vs GPT-4 for Building Apps: A Developer's Honest Comparison
After building production apps with both Claude and GPT-4, here's what actually matters for application development. Real benchmarks, not marketing.
How to Find a Technical Co-Founder in 2025 (Step-by-Step Guide + Vetting Checklist)
Where and how to find a technical co-founder without recruiters. 9 proven places, red flags to avoid, vetting checklist, and what great technical co-founders look for. Real founder strategies that work.
Technical Co-Founder Equity: How Much to Give (And When Not To)
The real equity math for non-technical founders. When to offer equity, how much is fair, and why hiring a fractional CTO might be smarter.
When to Add AI Features to Your SaaS (and When to Wait)
Not every SaaS needs AI. Learn the signals that you're ready, common mistakes to avoid, and how to validate AI features before spending $50K+ building them.
Your developer doesn't suck. You're just hiring wrong.
Most founder-developer problems aren't about bad developers. They're about hiring the wrong type of developer for what you actually need. Here's the difference between a Code Typist, Technical Partner, and Turnkey CTO.
How a Part-Time CTO Launches Your MVP in 45 Days
Use this 6-week playbook to scope, build, and ship a revenue-ready SaaS MVP without hiring a full-time CTO.
Technical Co-Founder vs Hiring: What Solo Founders Need (2025)
Equity or cash? Solo founders struggle with this choice. Real comparison of co-founder vs hiring, equity splits, red flags, and when each works. Decision framework included.
From Shopify to Custom SaaS: When (and How) to Make the Jump
Outgrowing Shopify? When to migrate to custom software, what it costs, and how to avoid expensive mistakes. Real migration timelines included.
Stuck at $20K MRR? Why Your Developer Can't Scale (And What to Do)
Revenue plateau? It's not your product—it's your tech. Why MVP developers hit a ceiling and how to break through. Includes scaling roadmap and when to upgrade.
Solo Founder? How to Find a Developer Who Actually Gets It (2025 Guide)
Hiring alone is terrifying. Learn how solo founders find developers who become true partners—not just contractors. Includes vetting checklist and red flags to avoid.
Developer vs Agency vs Technical Partner: What Early-Stage Startups Actually Need
Freelancer ($50/hr), agency ($150/hr), or technical partner ($125/hr)? Real first-year costs, timelines, and outcomes from 50+ projects. Decision framework + case studies. Updated Nov 2025.
Developer Left Mid-Project? 48-Hour Recovery Plan (2025)
Step-by-step rescue guide: secure code, audit progress, and relaunch fast. Free 48-hour recovery checklist.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a SaaS in 2026? Real Numbers
From $5K MVPs to $100K+ platforms — real cost breakdowns from a developer who's built 50+ SaaS products. No fluff, actual project data.
Can't Code? How to Hire a Developer (Non-Technical Founder's 2025 Guide)
Zero coding experience? No problem. Step-by-step guide to finding, vetting, and hiring trustworthy developers. Includes 20 interview questions and scoring rubric.
I Have a SaaS Idea but I'm Not Technical — Here's Your 2025 Action Plan
Validate, budget, and build your first version without coding. Real founder checklist + Notion template.
Virtual CTO Services vs CTO as a Service: Founder's 2025 Playbook
Compare pricing, ownership, and ROI so you can pick the right fractional leadership model before you burn another month of runway.
The Real Cost of a Full-Time CTO in 2025
Beyond the $439k salary: uncovering the true investment required for senior technical leadership and why fractional CTOs are gaining traction in B2B SaaS
The Modern SaaS Tech Stack I'd Choose in 2025
After building 50+ SaaS products, here's the battle-tested tech stack that delivers speed, scale, and maintainability without the complexity
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