Startups For the Rest of Us Episode 788 | Do I Need a Co-founder? And More Listener Questions (with Derrick Reimer)
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Aug 19, 2025 Derrick Reimer, the Founder of SavvyCal and a seasoned entrepreneur, joins the discussion to tackle pressing listener queries. He shares insights on whether you really need a co-founder for SaaS success and the pitfalls of AI-generated code, highlighting the risks of 'vibe coding.' The conversation delves into managing scope creep for solo founders and the importance of fostering a startup culture focused on action. Plus, Derrick offers strategies for finding and retaining top contractors, ensuring you're set up for growth.
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AI Enables Prototypes But Risks Scale
- AI tools let non-technical founders build impressive prototypes quickly but they miss deep developer knowledge.
- Derrick warns lack of security and maintainability oversight creates long-term risk as codebases scale.
Hire A Technical Owner With Equity
- If you're building SaaS long-term, recruit a technical owner with equity rather than only hiring contractors.
- Use that person to maintain code quality, security, and avoid frequent costly rewrites.
Prototype vs Production Decision Early
- Prototypes built with no-code or AI can validate demand quickly but often aren't suitable as permanent production systems.
- Decide early whether to continue with the prototype or replace it before customers accumulate technical debt.