1
Pick the AI coding tools, language and framework your team will build with, so you ship fast without boxing yourself in.
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2.1
Why this step matters In 2026 most small teams write a large share of their code with AI help. The tools you pick now shape how quickly you can turn an idea into a working product, how much you spend each month and how easy the code is to hand to a future hire. A good stack is boring underneath… Read more →
Pros
- Trial two or three tools on the same small task before deciding
- Pick a mainstream framework the AI tools know well
- Write a short rules file so every tool follows your conventions
Cons
- Do not pay for annual plans before you have used a tool for a month
- Do not mix several frameworks in one MVP
- Do not let an agent run unattended with production credentials
Cost: $0-100 per person per month · Time: 2-5 days · ai coding tech stack developer tools agents mvp
2
Build the smallest version of your product that solves one real problem, and get it into users' hands within weeks.
ValidationProductCustomers
2.2
Why this step matters A minimum viable product is the smallest thing you can build that lets real people get real value from your idea, so you can learn whether they want it. With AI coding tools the build itself has become much faster, which moves the risk: the danger is no longer that the MVP takes a year, it… Read more →
Pros
- Cut scope to the one job users would pay for
- Ship to real users weekly and watch them use it
- Use managed services for auth, payments and email
Cons
- Do not build admin panels and settings before anyone uses the core feature
- Do not write your own authentication or payments code
- Do not polish design before the workflow is proven
Cost: $0-500 · Time: 2-8 weeks · mvp prototype product vibe coding scope
3
Put your product on a reliable host with your own domain, automatic deploys, HTTPS and backups, without overpaying.
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2.3
Why this step matters Your product only exists for customers when it is live on a stable address. Good hosting is mostly invisible: pages load quickly, deploys happen safely, data is backed up and you hear about problems before users do. Bad hosting shows up as outages during your launch, lost data and surprise bills. For an early-stage team the… Read more →
Pros
- Start on a managed platform with a free or low tier
- Keep staging and production separate
- Store secrets in the host's environment settings, never in code
Cons
- Do not run your own servers until you have a reason
- Do not skip a backup restore test
- Do not register your domain in a personal account you might lose
Cost: $0-50 per month · Time: 1-3 days · hosting deployment domains devops cloud
4
Track the few numbers that show whether people find, use and come back to your product, while respecting their privacy.
ValidationProductCustomers
2.4
Why this step matters Without data you are guessing which marketing works, where users get stuck and whether the product is improving. With too much data you drown in dashboards nobody reads. The right setup for a young startup tracks a handful of events that answer three questions: are people finding us, do they reach the moment of value, and… Read more →
Pros
- Define activation before you add tracking
- Name events consistently, e.g. object_action
- Review the numbers weekly with the whole team
Cons
- Do not track everything just because you can
- Do not send personal data such as emails into analytics tools
- Do not ignore consent rules for EU and UK visitors
Cost: $0-50 per month · Time: 1-3 days to set up, 2-4 weeks for useful data · analytics metrics product analytics privacy tracking