Episode 822 | No-code vs. A.I. Coding, SaaS Margins in the A.I. Age, and More Listener Questions (with Derrick Reimer)
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hiring engineers right now is kind of broken. AI resumes, fake profiles, people who look senior on paper but can't ship anything real.
What are the differences between no-code and AI coding for SaaS?
G2i cuts through all of that. They've pre-vetted over 8,000 engineers. Not, we glanced at their GitHub vetted, actually tested with live technical interviews. Contractor or full-time, just tell them what you need and within days you're reviewing real candidates. And you get a risk-free trial.
What should a non-developer focus on when starting a SaaS project?
If it's not a fit, they'll replace the dev in 24 hours. Meta trusts them. 1Password trusts them. So do bootstrap founders who need to move fast without expensive mistakes.
Will I need to rewrite my no-code or AI apps in the future?
If you've been to React Miami, you already know. They're deeply embedded in the builder ecosystem. They're also launching AI Miami this year. Check them out at g2i.co slash rob. Get a seven-day free trial and $1,500 off when you mention startups for the rest of us. That's g2i.co slash rob.
When should I consider taking small funding versus bootstrapping?
It's another episode of Startups for the Rest of Us. I'm your host, Rob Walling. And in this episode, I sit down with fan favorite Derek Reimer, and we answer your listener questions. Topics range from comparing building SaaS with no code versus AI vibe coding, how to think about taking a small amount of funding in the early days, whether SaaS margins might be compressed in the AI age of software.
How can I de-risk my SaaS business before seeking funding?
and more, and you'll have to tune in to hear the final question. Before I dive into my conversation with Derek, MicroConf Europe is coming to Iceland September 21st through the 23rd. I would love to see you in Iceland, along with 160-ish of your favorite bootstrapped founder friends. We have a great speaker lineup. Iceland is amazing. If you haven't been to Reykjavik, you're going to want to come.
Will AI technologies compress the margins for SaaS companies?
That's microcomfeurope.com to grab your ticket, and I hope to see you there. With that, let's dive into listener questions.
Derek Reimer, back for your 22nd, 23rd appearance on the show. I've truly lost count at this point.
Why is brand positioning still crucial in the AI era?
Fine. I'll ask you at GPT again later. It's great to have you back, man. And it's always by popular demand. Yeah, whenever we mention you on X Twitter that you're coming on, people are like, yeah, yeah, these are some of my favorite episodes. So it's great to have you here. We are digging into listener questions. First question comes from Kostsia. I hope I'm, I just know I'm mispronouncing that name. Question is about no code versus AI vibe coding. And I would say even versus AI coding in general, right? Because it's, I wouldn't call you a vibe coder. You're a senior engineer using AI to augment and move faster and write better code quicker. Then there are folks, you and I have a friend or two who are just vibe coding.
And that's when it's like, nah, they're not a developer. And they're just doing the best they can. So let's get into this email. Hi Rob, I've been listening to you for years and I've gained a lot of insight, wisdom, direction, encouragement, motivation, et cetera. That's, wow, that's awesome. That's a lot of stuff. That's SaaS. It sucks, but it's like, oh yeah, been there, done that. That sounds like you're right on track. Now I have the skills and I'm building two other products. I haven't hit revenue goals yet, but I'm determined. This has been a very time-consuming side hustle. I get customers, I implement, I listen, I iterate, I improve the product, and I ship fast, but it still takes time, testing, and effort.
Then I see folks online using AI tools to prompt and launch very fast, and it's scary. I've played with these tools and they look cool, but I feel like they don't compare to building slower and having control of your app and understanding the whole thing. I'm using AI, but to build and run features within the app. But as you've mentioned on the show, I am scared of being left behind, becoming obsolete or missing this opportunity because I'm not moving faster. Then I also hear of cases where people are developing products and making X amount of dollars in a very short time. And I think, am I going about this the wrong way? I'd love to hear your thoughts on no code options compared to AI vibe coding.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:08
2
What are the differences between no-code and AI coding for SaaS?
0:08–0:25
3
What should a non-developer focus on when starting a SaaS project?
0:25–0:35
4
Will I need to rewrite my no-code or AI apps in the future?
0:35–0:54
5
When should I consider taking small funding versus bootstrapping?
0:54–1:19
6
How can I de-risk my SaaS business before seeking funding?
1:19–1:41
7
Will AI technologies compress the margins for SaaS companies?
1:41–2:08
8
Why is brand positioning still crucial in the AI era?
2:08–51:50
More from Startups For the Rest of Us
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Episode 850 | How Not to Screw Up When Hiring Your first Developer and More Listener Questions (with Derrick Reimer)
Episode 849 | Legal Threats, AI as Platform Risk, Building Confidence, and More Listener Questions (Rob Solo)
Episode 848 | What Liquid Death Can Teach Us About B2B SaaS (Rob Solo)
Episode 847 | What Second Time Founders Do Differently, Pricing AI Agents, and More Listener Questions (Rob Solo)
Episode 846 | Snail Mail, Cold Calling, Regulating Your Nervous System, and More Listener Questions (Rob Solo)