How much design polish is really enough?

In this episode, Rob Walling is joined by fan favorite Derrick Reimer for a new round of listener questions. They dig into the best AI coding stacks right now, how to ship fast without losing polish, whether AI is changing the kind of risk founders face, and when to start taking security seriously.

Episode Sponsor:

Are you a non-technical founder with solid revenue and real traction, but your technology is holding you back? You should check out today's sponsor, Designli.

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If your tech is the bottleneck to your next stage of growth, check them out at https://designli.co/fortherestofus.

• (2:03) – What’s the best A.I. coding stack for developers right now?
• (11:14) – How can solo founders ship fast without sacrificing polish?
• (21:55) – Is A.I. shifting startup risk from market fit to feasibility?
• (31:44) – When should SaaS founders start worrying about security?
• (44:30) – SavvyCal’s latest product expansion

• Call for Speakers – Apply to speak at MicroConf US in Portland
• Claude Code
• Windsurf
• Cursor
• GitHub Copilot
• VS Code
• Visual Studio
• SavvyCal Appointments
• Derrick Reimer | LinkedIn
• Derrick Reimer (@derrickreimer) | X

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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What are the can't-miss AI tools for SaaS founders?

In this episode, Rob Walling sits down with Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, to dive deep into Craig’s “100 Days of AI” YouTube series. They discuss the lessons learned from exploring the latest AI tools for founders, why ChatGPT might not be the best option for SaaS entrepreneurs, and which AI platforms are actually moving the needle.

Rob and Craig also chat about the realities of AI agents, the challenges of building a second product after hitting a growth plateau, and Craig’s approach to evaluating new opportunities as he looks to expand beyond podcast hosting.

Episode Sponsor:

AI is transforming how people discover brands and Ahrefs is helping SaaS companies stay ahead.

They’ve just launched Brand Radar, a new tool that lets you track your visibility in AI platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s AI Overviews. See how you stack up against competitors, monitor reputation, and build authority across search, social, and AI.

No more cobbling together tools. Ahrefs brings it all into one powerful SaaS marketing platform, backed by 15+ years of real-world web data and marketing-savvy AI.

Try it free at ahrefs.com/awt.

• (03:28) – 100 Days of AI YouTube series, biggest surprises and key takeaways
• (08:20) – Claude Code, ChatGPT, and Manus: Which AI tools work best for founders
• (13:00) – Practical AI workflows in content production and automation
• (18:35) – AI agent cuts customer support in half
• (21:27) – Burnout and breakthroughs from publishing 100 videos in 100 days
• (25:43) – Craig’s new AI projects and what’s next
• (30:14) – Three new product ideas under evaluation
• (33:09) – The pros, cons, and emotions behind launching a second product

• MicroConf US 2026- April 12-14, 2026 · Portland US
• TinySeed’s SaaS Institute
• Claude Code (by Anthropic)
• Manus
• Creator Hooks
• Cursor
• HelpScout
• DocsBot
• LinkBerry.ai – Craig’s new tool for LinkedIn content creation
• Castos
• Craig Hewitt | YouTube
• Craig Hewitt | LinkedIn
• Craig Hewitt (@TheCraigHewitt) | X

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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Is it time to sell, autopilot, or double down on your plateaued SaaS business?

In this episode, Rob Walling tackles listener questions and shares practical frameworks for what to do when your product hits a plateau, explains why “autopilot” often leads to decline, and outlines when founders should seriously consider SOC 2 compliance. Rob also talks about balancing a startup with a newborn, the real value of open source and IP, and the risks and rewards of building MVPs in exchange for equity.

Want to get your question answered? Drop it here.

Episode Sponsor:

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As a listener, you get the first 20 hours of development free when you mention the podcast.

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• (2:34) – What to do with a plateaued $500k B2C app
• (4:28) – Founder motivation, business longevity, and the myth of autopilot
• (13:15) – Should you offer MVP development in exchange for equity?
• (14:04) – Equity risks, upside, and how to protect yourself
• (18:00) – When SOC2 compliance actually matters for founders
• (21:08) – Balancing a new baby, a job, and SaaS ambitions
• (24:38) – Can open source IP help bootstrappers stand out?
• (25:25) – Why differentiation and marketing matter more than patents or code

• Discretion Capital – M&A Advisory for B2B SaaS with $2-25m ARR
• MicroConf - SaaS Community
• TinySeed - SaaS Institute

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

Subscribe & Review: iTunes | Spotify