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Writing on technology decisions, AI and buying software: 634 posts since 2012.
26 posts in Buying Software
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- When should a CEO get a second opinion on a technology decisionNot on all of them. There are thresholds, and they are worth writing down before the next proposal arrives, because after it arrives the answer is always...
- What are the red flags in a software development proposal?20 red flags in a software or app development proposal, grouped by pricing, scope, ownership, quality, and vendor behavior, each with the exact question to ask the vendor.
- Three proposals for the same project: $80k, $240k and $600kThree proposals for the same project: $80k, $240k and $600k. They are for the same project the way three quotes to "fix the roof" are for the same roof.
- Build custom software or buy off the shelf?Most owners who think they need custom software need configuration instead. Here is how to tell which side of the build-vs-buy line you are on before you spend.
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2026
267 posts
- Who is liable when a business's AI agent causes harm?When your AI agent causes harm, your business is usually the one exposed. What the OpenAI and Hugging Face breach shows, what vendor terms say, and five controls to set first.
- Should my business lock into one AI vendor while prices keep falling?Anthropic and OpenAI cut frontier AI prices by 20% to 50% in one week. Why owners should keep AI contracts short, stay model-agnostic, and re-test every year.
- What Happens When Users Stop Looking for Apps?For the last 15 years, software discovery has followed a fairly familiar pattern. You realize you need something, you search Google , maybe check Redd
- OpenAI is commoditizing successful AI startups unusually fastOpenAI is commoditizing successful AI startups unusually fast: Meta Muse XAI Grok Bot → Dots.TypeSafe AI Jev → Decisions API.Agent frameworks → Codex...
- AI-built product security worries usually land on the wrong layerWhen an owner worries about the security of an AI-built product, the worry usually lands on the wrong layer.
- Your most exposed IP may be how your company knows what to doYour most exposed IP may be how your company knows what to do. Companies worry about sending the confidential PDF, the source code or the customer list to...
- The same question comes round the table every few monthsThe same question comes round the table every few months wearing different clothes. Should we build it. Should we replace it.
- Who would have known so much information is publicly available?😱 Discuss on LinkedIn
- App vs firmware is the most expensive decision in a connected productEvery feature you put in the app is one your device cannot do on its own. Every feature you put in firmware is one you cannot fix quickly.
- Companies may be about to fire exactly the wrong peopleCompanies may be about to fire exactly the wrong people. Not because AI can’t do a lot of their work.
- For a hardware company, the most expensive screen is the pairing screenFor a hardware company, the most expensive screen in the product is the pairing screen. The device is designed, tooled, certified and boxed.
- You cannot model a software build on the vendor's estimateA fractional CFO asked me how to model a software build in the plan when the only number available is the vendor's estimate.
- Before hiring an AI consultancy, find the part that actually needs AIBefore hiring an AI consultancy, work out which part of the problem actually requires AI. It is usually smaller than the proposal.
- When the development studio stops replyingThe development studio stops replying. Not dramatically. The updates get shorter, the calls get rescheduled, and then there is nothing.
- The size of the invoice is the wrong measure of a decisionOwners tend to judge whether a decision deserves scrutiny by the size of the invoice. The invoice is the wrong instrument.
- Your IT person is the wrong one to ask about a $200,000 buildThe person who keeps your network running is usually the first one an owner asks about a $200,000 build. They will answer.
- Fractional CTO vs technical advisor vs full-time CTO: which do you need?Fractional CTO, independent technical advisor, or full-time CTO: what each role does, what each costs in 2026, and how a non-technical owner picks the right one.
- When is an AI API wrapper enough, and when do you need more?An API wrapper around ChatGPT or Claude is enough for generic, reviewed, low-risk work. You need more once the AI speaks for your company, uses your data, or is the product.
- What are the red flags in a software development proposal?20 red flags in a software or app development proposal, grouped by pricing, scope, ownership, quality, and vendor behavior, each with the exact question to ask the vendor.
- When a roof needs replacing, nobody thinks it is strange to call a second rooferWhen a roof needs replacing, nobody thinks it is strange to call a second roofer. With software, most owners ask the vendor whether the vendor's plan is a...
- Before your next technology investment, ask someone who gains nothingBefore your next major technology investment, ask one person who does not make more money if you say yes. Count the people who have been involved so far.
- Technology due diligence should not happen after you have decided what you wantTechnology due diligence should not happen after you have decided what you want to do. By then it is not diligence.
- The best recommendation I can give is sometimes "don't build anything"The best technology recommendation I can give a client is sometimes "don't build anything." It is also the one clients find hardest to accept, because they...
- "Our competitor is doing it" is the worst justification for a tech investment"Our competitor is doing it" may be the worst justification for a technology investment that a sensible executive regularly accepts.
- A $5,000 technology decision can deserve more scrutiny than a $500,000 oneA $5,000 technology decision can deserve more scrutiny than a $500,000 one. Owners scrutinise by price, and price is a poor guide to consequence.
- A CEO sent me a technology proposalA CEO sent me a technology proposal. These are the first three things I ignored. The feature list.
- If a CEO sent me a $500k software proposal tomorrow, this is what I would reviewIf a CEO sent me a $500k software proposal tomorrow, this is what I would review, in order. The problem statement, before the solution.
- Don’t make the intelligence safe enough to trustDon’t make the intelligence safe enough to trust. Make the environment safe enough that intelligence doesn’t need to be trusted.
- A popular website with no app is usually not an opportunitySomeone will eventually bring you a popular website with no app and call it an opportunity. Usually it is not one.
- When should a CEO get a second opinion on a technology decisionNot on all of them. There are thresholds, and they are worth writing down before the next proposal arrives, because after it arrives the answer is always...
- The person recommending the technology should not be the only one valuing itThe person recommending the technology should not be the only person estimating its value.
- Competent executives make surprisingly bad technology purchasesCompetent executives make surprisingly bad technology purchases, and it is not a judgment problem.
- You do not have a technology problemYou do not have a technology problem. You have nobody representing the buyer. Look at who is in the room when a $400k decision gets made.
- What to know before signing a three-year SaaS contractA three-year SaaS contract is on the desk with a discount for committing. Before signing, this is what I would want to know.
- The contract clauses that create the most lock-in get the least scrutinyThe technology contract CEOs scrutinise least is often the one that creates the most lock-in. Price and term get negotiated.
- I shipped an app that got 47 downloads and zero dollars in 90 daysI shipped an app that got 47 downloads and zero dollars in 90 days. It was one of the better built things I have made.
- The most worrying sentence in a vendor demo: "Yes, we can customise that"The sentence in a vendor demo that should worry you most is "Yes, we can customise that." It sounds like flexibility.
- The software demo was fantasticThe software demo was fantastic. That is almost irrelevant. Demos are built to be demoed. The data is clean, the user is an admin, the workflow is the one...
- Changing ERP or CRM systems often recreates the old company's problemsChanging ERP or CRM systems often recreates the old company's problems in a newer database, and the reason is in the implementation plan.
- In a SaaS agreement, the data exit clause matters more than liabilityWhen a software or SaaS agreement crosses your desk, the liability language usually gets read hardest. The clause that decides what actually happens is quieter.
- Before replacing your CRM or ERP, check whether the software is the problemBefore replacing your CRM or ERP, find out whether the software is actually the problem. Most of the time it is the thing everyone can agree to blame.
- The most expensive sentence in a software project: "We'll figure that out later"The most expensive sentence in a software project is "we'll figure that out later." It is also, sometimes, the right call.
- The best model is becoming a surprisingly bad defaultThe best model is becoming a surprisingly bad default. I was about to tokenmaxx my Claude weekly quota, so I switched to Sonnet 4.5.I expected a noticeable...
- Your development agency says the project is 80% completeYour development agency says the project is 80% complete. Before you feel relieved, ask what is being measured.
- Your CTO says the architecture needs to be rebuiltYour CTO says the architecture needs to be rebuilt. You cannot evaluate the architecture. You can evaluate the claim.
- A CEO I advise canceled the company's hosting accountA CEO I advise canceled the company's hosting account, expecting the servers to keep running until the end of the month.
- Software projects look green right until they failSoftware projects look green right until they fail because status reports measure activity, and activity is always available.
- A software project can be on time and already lostA software project can be on time and already lost. Late is the last sign, not the first. These are the ones that show up earlier.
- Every CEO eventually sits in the sunk-cost meetingEvery CEO eventually sits in the sunk-cost meeting. It opens with a sentence that sounds like an argument and is not one: "We've already spent $300k." That...
- Your software project is six months lateYour software project is six months late. The options are fix it, replace the team, cut scope, or kill it, and every person advising you has a stake in one...
- The first 10% of a software project usually determines whether the other 90%The first 10% of a software project usually determines whether the other 90% is wasted. Owners spend that 10% waiting for the kickoff.
- AI made software dramatically cheaper to createAI made software dramatically cheaper to create. It did not make bad software decisions cheaper. If anything, it made them more common.
- The prototype took three weeksThe prototype took three weeks. The production system is quoted at nine months. Owners read those two numbers and conclude someone is lying.
- An ad group of mine was set to exact matchAn ad group of mine was set to exact match. It spent 96% of its budget on something else. A setting called Search Match was switched on underneath it, so...
- Your business probably does not need an appYour business probably does not need an app. I have shipped apps since 2010, so this is not a position I hold lightly.
- Custom software should have to earn the right to existCustom software should have to earn the right to exist. The default answer to "should we build this" is no, and the burden of proof sits with the build.
- Build versus buy is an incomplete questionBuild versus buy is an incomplete question. There is a third option, and it is the cheapest one on the table: change the process so you need neither.
- The $180,000 dispatch system and the question about month five"The $180,000 dispatch system will take four months. Before AI it would have been nine." Fine. Ask what happens in month five.
- The $20 AI tool versus the $200,000 AI implementationThe $20 a month AI tool and the $200,000 AI implementation are often pitched for the same problem, and the honest answer about which one you need is usually...
- Your team just proposed an AI initiativeYour team just proposed an AI initiative. These are the questions I would ask before approving the budget, in the order I would ask them.
- I run paid ads across a portfolio of more than 40 appsI run paid ads across a portfolio of more than 40 apps. Exactly one campaign makes money. It sells a conduit bending tool to electricians.
- The dangerous AI project is the one that worksThe dangerous AI project is the one that works. Failures are cheap. The working one stays.
- "We need an AI strategy" is usually the wrong first sentence"We need an AI strategy" is usually the wrong first sentence, and it produces a predictable document: a list of AI capabilities with your company's name...
- The questions a CEO should ask in the approval meetingThe CEO does not need to understand the technology. They need to know which questions expose a bad decision.
- The last moment a replacement decision is still cheap to changeA client mentions, almost in passing, that they are getting a quote to replace the system that runs the business.
- Before spending $250k building software, spend a week trying to kill the ideaBefore spending $250k building software, spend a week trying to kill the idea. Not a week of planning.
- Your vendor says you need a custom solutionYour vendor says you need a custom solution. Of course they do. That is not an accusation.
- The most useful question before approving a software projectAsk it in the meeting where the budget gets requested, and watch the room. If the answer is a number, keep listening.
- Three proposals for the same project: $80k, $240k and $600kThree proposals for the same project: $80k, $240k and $600k. They are for the same project the way three quotes to "fix the roof" are for the same roof.
- Share of new apps with "AI" in the name, by year: 0.1% through 2016Share of new apps with "AI" in the name, by year: 0.1% through 2016. 6% so far in 2026. The peak was last year.
- The biggest App Store developers are the ones you've never heard ofThe biggest players are the ones you have never heard of Ask anyone who the biggest developers on the App Store are and they will say Google, Meta, maybe...
- I pulled every live app on the US App Store into a database this weekI pulled every live app on the US App Store into a database this week. 1.13 million apps. Then I looked only at the ones businesses build for their customers.
- The expertise that built an institution can quietly become the reason it stopsThe expertise that built an institution can quietly become the reason it stops learning. Past success gives leaders judgment and pattern recognition, but it...
- Years of internal operational mess are about to have a market valueCompanies are about to discover that years of internal operational mess have a market value.
- AI changes the backlogAI changes the backlog. Economically:Lower implementation cost → lower experimentation threshold → more experiments → more discovered demand.
- The Startup TrapA startup has ten employees and six months of runway. A large prospective customer appears and offers a contract worth $500,000, but wants a few chang
- Beautiful software architecture historically mattered because humans neededBeautiful software architecture historically mattered because humans needed to understand and modify systems cheaply.
- 37signals let designers use agents to implement features37signals let designers use agents to implement features. Individual PRs looked reasonable, but collectively they degraded the architecture enough that...
- Universities are becoming very expensive places to buy time, friendshipsUniversities are becoming very expensive places to buy time, friendships, and adulthood. My son is in kindergarten.
- The best AI for your business probably won’t be the smartest oneThe best AI for your business probably won’t be the smartest one. The big, powerful AI models will keep pushing the limits.
- A custom domain can hide the builder from your customersA custom domain can hide the builder from your customers.It cannot hide it from the internet.
- NVIDIA buying Hugging Face could make open AI depend on a single vendorNVIDIA buying Hugging Face could make “open AI” more dependent on a single vendor.Reports put the potential deal around $13 billion.
- Excellence pays only where it's visibleExcellence pays only where it's visible. collected what 32 people who build at the frontier of AI think work looks like after automation.
- Nobody hacked Hugging FaceNobody hacked Hugging Face. At Black Hat this month, OpenAI presented what happened when they turned unconstrained agents loose on a cybersecurity evaluation.
- It took me less than an hour to reach 200,000 people's private dataIt took me less than an hour to reach 200,000 people's private data (including mine) in an app I don't own. No login of any kind.
- I brought in Codex as an adversarial critic of my thinking with ClaudeI was worried I was delegating too much of my thinking to Claude so I brought in Codex as an adversarial critic.
- AI demos work because the data is cleanAI demos work because the data is clean. Your data isn't, and that's the actual reason the pilot underwhelmed.
- Your company may own a valuable data asset that has never appeared on yourYour company may own a valuable data asset that has never appeared on your balance sheet. Every quote you sent, customer you lost, support issue you solved...
- Everyone's talking about agentsEveryone's talking about agents. Almost nobody has written down what theirs is allowed to do. An agent isn't a smarter chatbot.
- "We don't have anyone who knows how to do this." Neither did the companies"We don't have anyone who knows how to do this." Neither did the companies that figured it out.
- Most AI pilots produce nothing measurableMost AI pilots produce nothing measurable. That's not a technology problem. It's a scoping problem, and it looks like this: the pilot starts with "let's see...
- "What if I get a $4,000 bill?" This is the most solvable fear on the list"What if I get a $4,000 bill?" This is the most solvable fear on the list and almost nobody addresses it before signing up.
- "I don't trust it to be right." You shouldn't"I don't trust it to be right." You shouldn't. That's the correct instinct and it's the wrong conclusion. The mistake is framing this as trust vs no trust.
- "I can't put customer data into an AI tool." Correct"I can't put customer data into an AI tool." Correct. Most owners hear "AI" and picture their entire CRM getting uploaded somewhere.
- Every customer issue should make the company slightly harder to surprise nextEvery customer issue should make the company slightly harder to surprise next time. A support call that ends with “fixed” is only half-finished.
- A $150k employee no longer costs $150kA $150k employee no longer costs $150k. AI is making employee cost dynamic. Salary is only the starting point.
- Everyone seems focused on when we’ll reach AGIEveryone seems focused on when we’ll reach AGI.But I think we’re missing the more immediate point: the AI we already have is capable of doing a huge portion...
- Newer AI models cost more per token but often still cheaper to useNewer AI models cost more per token but often still cheaper to use. Because smarter models often need fewer tokens to get the job done.
- Building software is no longer the hard part of starting a companyBuilding software is no longer the hard part of starting a company. That's exactly why more founders are going to build products nobody wants.
- Build custom software or buy off the shelf?Most owners who think they need custom software need configuration instead. Here is how to tell which side of the build-vs-buy line you are on before you spend.
- Signs your business has outgrown its off-the-shelf softwareThe clearest signs you have outgrown a generic tool are spreadsheets duct-taping gaps, unused seats, manual workarounds, broken integrations, and data trapped in silos.
- 10 questions to ask before hiring a software agencyAsk these ten questions before you sign with a software development agency, with what good and bad answers sound like on code ownership, team, pricing, QA, and exit.
- How much does custom software cost? A 2026 reality checkCustom software runs $25k to $250k for most owner projects. Here is what drives the price, why bids vary 10x, and how to avoid overpaying.
- Four months after I shipped SnackCheckApp.comFour months after I shipped SnackCheckApp.com, a stranger filed my app's name as an EU trademark. Same name, same three classes my app operates in.
- Rules are often an admission that incentives were never designedRules are often an admission that incentives were never designed. A team makes documentation mandatory. Compliance goes up for a month.
- How to make AI "know everything" about your businessI often get asked by companies how they can make AI "know everything" about their business.
- Companies are struggling to innovate because nobody has priced the costCompanies are struggling to innovate because nobody has priced the cost of keeping legacy systems.
- This might seem like a joke, but is it reallyDiscuss on LinkedIn
- The price of content is about to separate from the price of accessThe price of content is about to separate from the price of access.For years, publishers monetized distribution.
- The website stopped being the scarce assetThe website stopped being the scarce asset. Merchant identity is. As more purchases begin inside AI assistants instead of storefronts, the question shifts...
- Owning your own e-commerce store has become cheaper than earning attentionOwning your own e-commerce store has become cheaper than earning attention inside someone else’s marketplace.
- Entry-level jobs are becoming a less reliable way to predict future headcountEntry-level jobs are becoming a less reliable way to predict future headcount. The common assumption is simple: if AI can do part of the work, companies...
- People are confusing "can build" with "should own"A lot of people are confusing “can build” with “should own.” The argument goes like this: AI makes software development dramatically cheaper, therefore...
- Everyone talks about how AI makes startups easier to buildEveryone talks about how AI makes startups easier to build. That’s true, but it’s not the most important change.
- X (formerly Twitter) started asking Claude for moneyX (formerly Twitter) started asking Claude for money. Discuss on LinkedIn
- I spend a lot of time helping business owners think through AI strategyI spend a lot of time helping business owners think through AI strategy. One thing that keeps coming up is that we've been assuming AI agents will use...
- Everyone seems to be reading this chart from Financial TimesEveryone seems to be reading this chart from Financial Times as: "AI is creating lots of apps nobody wants." That's not what the research says.
- At #WWDC26, Apple finally delivered much of what it had promised two yearsAt #WWDC26, Apple finally delivered much of what it had promised two years earlier. Many people will look at that and conclude Apple was behind on #AI.
- The people most obsessed with startup ideas rarely start a companyThe people most obsessed with finding startup ideas are often the least likely to start a company.
- Many CEOs get blamed for decisions the incentive system was designed to produceMany CEOs get blamed for decisions the incentive system was designed to produce. A board meeting rarely starts with, “What’s best in the long term?” It...
- The next defensible advantage may come from process data, not customer dataThe next defensible advantage may come from process data, not customer data. Customer databases are becoming easier to replicate than most executives want...
- When intelligence becomes abundant, customers pay for outcomesIf, as predicted, intelligence becomes abundant, customers stop paying for:reportsdashboardsqueriesworkflow clicks ...they will start paying for:guaranteed...
- UI is the worst thing technologists builtUI is the worst thing technologists built. Software companies organize themselves around screens.
- Analytical SaaS is losing the right to charge for answersAnalytical SaaS companies are losing the right to charge for answers that can be generated directly from the underlying data.
- 120 employees, 40 experimenting with AI, all trapped in private tabs120 employees.40 experimenting.And it’s all trapped in private tabs. This isn’t an AI problem. It’s a knowledge management problem.
- Most firms are optimizing the wrong variableMost firms are optimizing the wrong variable. They’re treating AI like a cheaper labor substitute: reduce cost, automate steps, accelerate workflows.
- AI is unbundling professional services by deleting the middle of the workAI is unbundling professional services by deleting the middle of the work. The “judgment sandwich” is becoming obvious.
- “10x engineering” is a comforting story because it gives you a single lever“10x engineering” is a comforting story because it gives you a single lever: ship more code.
- In some companies you’ll see headcount traded for tokensIn some companies you’ll see headcount traded for tokens. Not because leaders suddenly prefer “AI” to humans, but because tokens look like a variable cost...
- I grew up in ItalyI grew up in Italy. I live in the US now. Same human problem, two opposite answers, and I've watched both up close.
- The most effective way to disrupt an incumbent is to remove the problemThe most effective way to disrupt an incumbent is to remove the problem it was created to solve. OpenAI Sites feels like another step in that direction.
- Domain expertise has always been the real moat because it is the only advantageDomain expertise has always been the real moat because it is the only advantage you cannot buy on a roadmap.
- When AI Makes Features Cheap, What Becomes the Moat?A decade ago, a small mobile team could spend months building something competitors could not easily replicate. Today a capable developer with modern
- I’ll be honest: it makes me sadI’ll be honest: it makes me sad.Ferrari just unveiled its first-ever electric car: the Luce.
- A 2014 study shows walking significantly boosts creative thinkingJust came across a fascinating 2014 study from the American Psychological Association that scientifically validates something I've experienced for years...
- Most of my work happens in abstractionMost of my work happens in abstraction. Systems.Strategy.Second-order effects.Future scenarios.Trade-offs.
- Most people still think of Shopify as a website builderMost people still think of Shopify as a website builder. That version of Shopify barely exists anymore.
- Wow, this piece brought back so many memoriesWow, this piece brought back so many memories... grazie Andrea Fortuna! Discuss on LinkedIn
- Coding and design keep getting cheaperCoding and design keep getting cheaper. What costs business owners money now is quality uncertainty, because it turns every launch into a hidden warranty.
- I’ve been in mobile since 2010I’ve been in mobile since 2010. ASO has always been part of the game, so over the years I’ve tried nearly every tool that entered the market.
- AI adoption fails when learning stays trapped inside individual workflowsAI adoption fails when learning stays trapped inside individual workflows. A developer at Siemens may find a better way to use agents in code review.
- Agentic code is free like a baby goatAgentic code is free like a baby goat.The first day is the cheapest day you will ever have with it.
- The next platform shift will not be won where users clickThe next platform shift will not be won where users click, it will be won where agents connect.
- Another INNOVIT - Italian Innovation and Culture Hub startup mentorship eventAnother INNOVIT - Italian Innovation and Culture Hub startup mentorship event in the books. Always refreshing to work with non-tech founders.
- Freezing junior engineering hiring is not a cost moveFreezing junior engineering hiring is not a cost move, it is an organizational risk decision disguised as efficiency.
- AI cost conversations usually start at the model and end at pricingAI cost conversations usually start at the model and end at pricing. That is the least relevant part of the system.
- For decades we've shipped frozen interfaces where every pixel was decidedFor decades we've shipped frozen interfaces where every pixel was decided by a designer years before you opened the app.
- We spend endless hours agonizing over marketing, tweaking brand colorsWe spend endless hours agonizing over marketing, tweaking brand colors, and putting our logos on every square inch of what we build.
- AI is being discussed as if the economy is mostly software, contentAI is being discussed as if the economy is mostly software, content, and knowledge work. That framing holds if your world is screens, documents, and APIs.
- Vibe-coded apps usually deliver on the big features but they bleed outVibe-coded apps usually deliver on the big features but they bleed out on the small promises.
- One careless download can cascade across companiesOne careless download can cascade across companies. In February 2026, an employee at Context.ai installed a Roblox cheat.Hidden inside: Lumma Stealer malware.
- Most people assume digital has already wonMost people assume digital has already won. Recent data from Pew Research Center shows a different reality: - Print is still the dominant format - ~75% of U.S.
- Moats are retention tools sold as growth strategyMoats are retention tools sold as growth strategy. Switching costs and data gravity make leaving expensive.
- Speed is no longer a differentiator once the customer has to finish the jobSpeed is no longer a differentiator once the customer has to finish the job. What I see inside companies is a familiar sequencing mistake: teams treat an...
- Anthropic has figured out that fear sellsAnthropic has figured out that fear sells. They frame their releases in existential terms, leaning into “this could be dangerous” narratives.
- In AI work, volume is not vanityIn AI work, volume is not vanity. It is a control surface. Most organizations treat quantity as a cost center.
- Engineering teams that went heaviest on AI coding tools are now the onesEngineering teams that went heaviest on AI coding tools are now the ones struggling most with stability.
- Agile fails when it optimizes the speed of building instead of the speedAgile fails when it optimizes the speed of building instead of the speed of learning. Inside most companies, the backlog becomes a proxy for certainty.
- Most people do not want your appMost people do not want your app. They want the outcome. The app is just the path. Yet many companies design the experience as if the download itself were...
- If your strategy requires you to fight for every dealIf your strategy requires you to fight for every deal, you do not have a strategy, you have a stamina test.
- Most “disruption” is just a better interface on top of the same systemMost “disruption” is just a better interface on top of the same system. Real disruption is when the incumbent’s operating model becomes incompatible with...
- The BNP Paribas Indian Wells tennis tournament is my favorite and I attendThe BNP Paribas Indian Wells tennis tournament is my favorite and I attend every year. High-percentage tennis is what coaches teach when they want you to...
- People often ask if you still need to be in San Francisco to build somethingPeople often ask if you still need to be in San Francisco to build something meaningful in tech. For a while, it looked like the answer might be no.
- I get the math, but the part I’d pressure test is the framingI get the math, but the part I’d pressure test is the framing: optimizing a kid’s life around “retiring” at 59½ can accidentally anchor decisions toward...
- I built a Python script that generates App Store screenshots in 1sI built a Python script that generates App Store screenshots in 1s. Drop in a screenshot, get back a polished image with device bezel, 3D tilt, text...
- If your ARPU did not go up by at least 50%If your ARPU did not go up by at least 50%, your new AI component is just a feature. Inside most companies, AI lands where the org can absorb it: a workflow...
- AI boosted coding and now is moving to GTMAI boosted coding and now is moving to GTM. GTM cannot fix PMF. It can only scale whatever truth the product already has.
- Apple will finally have their own niche hyper-performant secure modelsMost companies think the AI race is about building the biggest model. In practice it is about who controls the smallest ones.
- The highest paid AI roles will belong to the people who can makeThe highest paid AI roles will belong to the people who can make the organization change its behavior, not the people who can make the model smarter.
- Life with ClaudeLife with Claude. Discuss on LinkedIn
- Apple’s “Apple Business” launch is not a productivity-suite storyApple’s “Apple Business” launch is not a productivity-suite story. It’s a control-plane story.
- The AI job everyone is talking about does not existThe AI job everyone is talking about does not exist. “Prompt engineer” was a temporary phase.
- I keep seeing the same mistake from vibecodersI keep seeing the same mistake from vibecoders: they describe iOS components instead of naming them.
- Everyone is talking about “AI agents replacing ecommerce.”Everyone is talking about “AI agents replacing ecommerce.” Reality check: the first real experiment didn’t go well.
- White House Unveils National AI Policy FrameworkWhite House Unveils National AI Policy Framework Speed first, regulation later. Discuss on LinkedIn
- One of the stranger patterns in AI adoption is emotional, not technicalOne of the stranger patterns in AI adoption is emotional, not technical. Lower and middle-income regions often read AI as upside.Wealthier regions read it...
- When a company tells me “AI is helping people grieve, learn, get careWhen a company tells me “AI is helping people grieve, learn, get care, access services”, I believe them.
- Anthropic just changed how AI coding tools will be usedAnthropic just changed how AI coding tools will be used. They introduced Claude Code channels.
- Most AI risk conversations are framed like this:Most AI risk conversations are framed like this: “There is the value, and then there are the harms.” That framing is comforting.
- Most leaders are mispricing AIMost leaders are mispricing AI. They’re arguing about “intelligence” while the defensible value is a service bundle humans can’t deliver at scale: patience...
- Most AI conversations inside companies start with: “We need to be faster.”Most AI conversations inside companies start with: “We need to be faster.” Anthropic ran 81,000 interviews and kept hearing the same pattern: people begin...
- From a conversation with Gokul RajaramFrom a conversation with Gokul Rajaram. Discuss on LinkedIn
- Apple is cookingApple is cooking! 😂 90min from submission to approval. Discuss on LinkedIn
- Stripe is launching the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) open standardStripe is launching the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP) open standard. Most leaders still treat payments as a “checkout problem”.
- Racing used to punish mediocrityRacing used to punish mediocrity. With a combustion engine, the car was a system you had to actively manage:gear selection, power band, traction, cooling...
- Most operators say they want teams that “understand the system.”Most operators say they want teams that “understand the system.” What they consistently reward is speed of response inside it.
- Most developers focus on the U.S. and Europe.Most developers focus on the U.S. and Europe. But the fastest-growing iOS markets are elsewhere. I wrote a short piece on why emerging markets are often the...
- Serial founders talk about "batting average" like the goal is to never strikeSerial founders talk about "batting average" like the goal is to never strike out. That is a misunderstanding of the game they are actually playing.
- "Agents" without an orchestrator are just new tools with a chat UI."Agents" without an orchestrator are just new tools with a chat UI. In most non-tech companies, the hard part is not getting a model to take an action.
- AI does move fast.AI does move fast. But the thing that leaves senior managers behind is not the pace of models. It is the pace of decision loops.
- There is a quiet grief a lot of builders are carrying right now.There is a quiet grief a lot of builders are carrying right now. Not fear of AI taking jobs. The loss of a specific kind of joy.
- Was listening to Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia (Product School) and TimWas listening to Carlos Gonzalez de Villaumbrosia (Product School) and Tim Simmons (Walmart) and something really caught my attention: Before AI Agents and...
- Everyone tells the ATM story wrong.Everyone tells the ATM story wrong. They treat labor substitution like a task list: automate the cash withdrawal, the teller disappears.
- With AI agents, complexity stops being a tax and starts becoming a moatWith AI agents, complexity stops being a tax and starts becoming a moat. Most leaders still treat complexity like something to "simplify away": fewer...
- AI is going to create job categories that sound fake until you need one tomorrowAI is going to create job categories that sound fake until you need one tomorrow. Not because the tools get better.
- I started building mobile apps when nobody knew what they were doing.I started building mobile apps when nobody knew what they were doing. Turns out that hasn't changed much.
- The early labor signal from AI is not layoffs.The early labor signal from AI is not layoffs. It is the hiring freeze you do not call a freeze.
- Most SaaS is designed to be chosen by a person who is slightly unsure.Most SaaS is designed to be chosen by a person who is slightly unsure. So we obsess over UX polish, onboarding flows, "time to value", and the story you can...
- AI Is Commoditizing Intelligence.AI Is Commoditizing Intelligence. Value Is Moving Elsewhere. AI capability is becoming widely accessible.
- Most organizations are thinking about AI backwards.Most organizations are thinking about AI backwards. They start with, "Where can we add AI?" and that almost always produces the same roadmap: assistants...
- AI isn't making "development" more valuable.AI isn't making "development" more valuable. It's making raw output less scarce. When a studio can ship 3x the code with the same headcount, the client's...
- The #SaaSpocalypse is a great narrative because it takes a real shift and turnsThe #SaaSpocalypse is a great narrative because it takes a real shift and turns it into a clean conclusion.
- Really Apple?This was such low hanging fruit... I tried the new "Intelligence" in Xcode, hoping it would have a deeper integration than Claude Code (Anthropic) or Codex...
- Most clients don't ask for clarity.Most clients don't ask for clarity. They ask for solutions. "We need a mobile app." Maybe an app is the right answer.
- The theory that we'll vibe code everything is 'flat wrong'.The theory that we'll vibe code everything is 'flat wrong'. --Anish Acharya If you think AI is going to replace your engineers, you are about to create the...
- "Digital transformation" is not disruption."Digital transformation" is not disruption. Buying software does not change your market position. It just changes what you pay for, and who you depend on.
- AI didn't just speed up my work.AI didn't just speed up my work. It changed where the work lives. At first, AI helped me do the thing. Faster execution.
- Coding with AI doesn't reduce rigorCoding with AI doesn't reduce rigor. It increases the penalty for skipping it. The more I use AI for code, the clearer this gets: Tests stop being optional.
- AI isn't replacing workers.AI isn't replacing workers. It's replacing what work even means. Most people still frame AI as productivity software, or task-completing agents.
- Sometimes the reason the category is crowded is the same reason it will notSometimes the reason the category is crowded is the same reason it will not support a durable business.
- AI will replace the parts of consulting that look like consulting.AI will replace the parts of consulting that look like consulting. So why do companies still pay for the rest?
- Your data moat gets weaker the moment interpretation gets cheap.Your data moat gets weaker the moment interpretation gets cheap. So what happens when your "advantage" was just owning the spreadsheet?
- The biggest impact of LLMs is not replacing software.The biggest impact of LLMs is not replacing software. It is turning "unwritten work" into something a business can actually run.
- AI will commoditize the part of software your CFO obsesses over.AI will commoditize the part of software your CFO obsesses over. So why are teams still choosing vendors based on features and day rates?
- The internet did not kill publishing. It broke the unit of value.The internet did not kill publishing. It broke the unit of value. If code generation gets "free", what exactly will SaaS customers still be paying for?
- AI makes writing and analysis cheap.AI makes writing and analysis cheap. So what are you still paying humans for? Most operators respond by layering tools onto the current process.
- Tokens are not the bottleneck. Humans are.Tokens are not the bottleneck. What happens to "AI adoption" when nobody has to ask? Most companies treat AI like a new UI layer.
- AI did not kill software engineering. It moved the mistakes upstream.AI did not kill software engineering. It moved the mistakes upstream. If code is cheap now, why do so many teams still ship the wrong thing faster?
- Law is just the first industry to break (thanks to Harvey and Legora).Law is just the first industry to break (thanks to Harvey and Legora). Every knowledge job is next.
- Most SaaS companies won't die because of competitionMost SaaS companies won't die because of competition. They'll die because their pricing model stops making sense.
- AI is not blocked by intelligence. It's blocked by org charts.AI is not blocked by intelligence. It's blocked by org charts. Everyone thinks AI adoption is about better models.
- A strong architect is paid to say "no" earlier than everyone else.A strong architect is paid to say "no" earlier than everyone else. When was the last time your "senior" decision reduced options instead of adding features?
- One old Cordova app (first launched on Aug 4, 2011).One old Cordova app (first launched on Aug 4, 2011). Three days and now fully migrated to native Swift for iOS.
- AI makes products look simpler while making them harder to run.AI makes products look simpler while making them harder to run. When a UI collapses into a prompt box, leaders assume complexity disappeared.
- PMF is no longer something you "achieve"PMF is no longer something you "achieve"; it's something you re-earn continuously. If last month's PMF can expire, what exactly were you congratulating...
- Data advantage is no longer about owning data.Data advantage is no longer about owning data. If data is truly the moat, why does everyone also expect it to be portable?
- The real scarcity is judgment, not execution.The real scarcity is judgment, not execution. If building is cheap now, why do so many digital programs get slower?
- Customer Support: Growth Lever or Labor Sponge?Most operators hear the Zappos Family of Companies story and take the safe lesson: invest in people, create loyalty, win on experience.
- How Companies Will Hire Based on AI UsageSmart companies will hire you based on "how" you use AI. McKinsey & Company started piloting an interview where candidates use its internal AI tool, Lilli...
- Understanding VC Investment Stages: From Seed to DominanceTo all the VC people... does this sound correct? Seed: “Does this deserve to exist?” You are underwriting judgment under uncertainty and early signals that...
- How a 10% Credit Card APR Cap Could Raise Your Growth CostsA 10% cap on credit card APR can raise your growth costs. If the rate goes down, why would acquisition get harder?
- AI in Engineering, Leadership, and SalesClarity is not something you find before you move. It is something you earn by moving. So why do we keep waiting for a cleaner vision before we act?
- GEO: The New Frontier Beyond SEO and AEOGEO is not a marketing tactic. It is an operations problem. Who owns the truth when the customer never clicks?
- Why Education No Longer Guarantees EmploymentEducational institutions are no longer a reliable path to employment. It is a bet that companies may never need to honor.
- Drone Delivery Is Easy. Getting Picked by AI Is Hard.Drone delivery is the easy part. Getting picked by the AI that starts the shopping journey is harder.
- Why Agentic Checkout Will Break Your Business RulesAgentic checkout will not break because the AI is wrong. It will break because your business rules are.
- Stop Wasting $100K on Dev Shops Without StrategyWant to throw away $100k? just tell a dev shop to build your idea. 😂 Most founders rush to hire a developer before they have a strategy.
- The Ugliest Process Is Usually Keeping You AliveThe ugliest process in a company is usually the one keeping it alive. Before you delete it, do you know what risk it was built to absorb?
- AI Output Quality Mirrors Your Operating DisciplineThe quality of your AI output is a mirror of your operating discipline. Are you using a model, or are you outsourcing requirements?
- Why You Should Use Plan Mode Before Writing AI CodeThe fastest way to get bad AI code is to start typing immediately. Have you decided what “done” looks like, or are you outsourcing the thinking too?
- Most Pricing Problems Are Discovery ProblemsMost pricing problems are really discovery problems. “Worth” is not something you carry into the room.
- AI in Customer Support, Ecommerce, and LeadershipFor years, my default advice was “go hybrid first”. When a founder had 50k, a deadline, and no mobile team, Cordova was a rational way to ship something...
- Cutting features shouldn’t feel like killing your vision.Cutting features shouldn’t feel like killing your vision. It should feel like sharpening it.
- Most product ideas fail at the feasibility layer, not the idea layerMost product ideas fail at the feasibility layer, not the idea layer. Time, budget, team, and sequencing quietly invalidate “great” ideas all the time.
- Why Forward-Deployed Engineers Are the New Operating SystemForward-deployed engineers are now the operating system. Palantir Technologies won early because it put people in the messy middle, translating “the model...
- Your AI Strategy Will Break With the Next Model ReleaseYour AI “strategy” will look brilliant right up until the next model release breaks it. I keep seeing operators in logistics, insurance, and industrial...
- Why Remote Work Fails for Sense-MakingThe project is “on track” for six weeks, then suddenly you cannot explain what you are building to a customer.
- Why Early-Stage Founders Don't Need a Full-Time CTOMost founders do not fail because they cannot build. They fail because they buy the wrong build.
- Why Most GenAI Rollouts FailMost GenAI rollouts fail for the same reason the first ML projects failed. Everyone budgeted for a subscription and got a systems integration.
- Enterprise and Data with AIWe used to ship POS and loyalty updates in 7-10 days. Then we added a “lightweight” process and it became 6 weeks.
- AI in Product, Delivery, and DataWe used to blame our “slow” team for missing the loyalty app launch. Then we added two more squads and missed by another quarter.
- AI, Customer, and HiringI never watched a founder hand over their gut to a dashboard. Then the dashboard started running the company.
- AI in Customer Support, Product, and LeadershipI used to applaud teams for “taking risks.” Then I watched the same launch fail three times with three different names.
- AI and Customer SupportI used to think senior engineers earned trust by always having an answer. Then I watched a launch slip because nobody wanted to say “I do not know.” At a...
- AI in Engineering, Pricing, and DataWe did not rewrite anything. Checkout still dropped from 9 seconds to 5. A regional grocery chain had a loyalty app and a small ops team.
- AI, Product, and DeliveryWe never tracked “delivery speed” until the CEO asked for one number. Two sprints later, we were “faster” and member complaints doubled.
- AI in Automation, Engineering, and EducationPerhaps the real AI investment for businesses is deciding what NOT to automate. Your AI pilot can “succeed” and still stall the business.
- Strategy and Enterprise with AIAI is replaying the SaaS cycle in reverse. “ChatGPT for everything” is the easy part. A mid-market insurer rolled out a generic AI chat tool to help...
- mobile apps do notMost mobile apps do not fail in the big demo. They fail at 8:12am, on a spotty network, when the store opens.
- AI in Engineering, Hiring, and DataI went home to Italy for Christmas. On my flight back to SF, I watched Jersey Boys and it reminded me that talent does not protect you from a bad deal.
- I have an old Cordova app for iOS I wanted to convert to nativeI have an old Cordova app for iOS I wanted to convert to native (Swift for Apple iOS). I tasked both Codex (OpenAI) and Claude (Anthropic) to generate a...
- This year reinforced something I have seen over and over across productsThis year reinforced something I have seen over and over across products, companies, and founders. Effort is rarely the constraint.
- AI in Automation, Ecommerce, and DeliveryMost grocery apps fail for a boring reason. Nobody agreed on the one number it should move. Margins are thin and shoppers bounce fast.
- AI code assistants do not make your team fasterAI code assistants do not make your team faster. They make your weak spots louder. In property and casualty insurance, the moment you point GitHub Copilot...
- The 10x productivity claim with AI Is still misThe 10x productivity claim with AI Is still misleading but in the way you're thinking. Saying AI makes your devs "10x engineers" hides the real variable...
- If I see one more person calling Generative AI a toolIf I see one more person calling Generative AI a tool, my brain is gonna start seeping out of my ears.
- Customer Support and Strategy with AII asked AI to tell me about how I use AI: Here's what it had to say: "You use AI primarily as a leverage tool for thinking, not as a substitute for it...
2025
94 posts
- Customer Support and Enterprise with AII wonder how much of what we call “finance best practice” is really just coping with banks being closed. Your month-end close is a map of bank cutoffs.
- One of my first apps is finally changing handsOne of my first apps is finally changing hands. I released it in 2010. Fifteen years ago. Long before subscriptions existed, before TestFlight existed...
- Most “privacy-first” products still know your real identityMost “privacy-first” products still know your real identity. Email reset, IP logs, phone checks - that is a dossier.
- AI, Customer, and PricingYour next SaaS renewal should feel harder than last year. That is not procurement being annoying. It is the math changing.
- AI in Product, Engineering, and DataApple will reject your iPhone app for one shady permission. Google Chrome will “Feature” a browser extension that watches your AI chats.
- Most people get competition wrongMost people get competition wrong. They look at features and direct substitutes. Cal AI vs MyFitnessPal vs Lose It!
- AI and StrategyMost big consulting engagements are not bought for insight. They are bought for liability transfer.
- Is there a way to block all trash posts with “comment xxx to get full yyy”?Asking for a friend. 👀 Discuss on LinkedIn
- Operations and Data with AIMost grocery stores do not need a data center to decide if a shelf is empty. That is why NPUs are showing up in checkout lanes, handhelds, cameras, and...
- Growth and Pricing with AIMost big private companies avoid the public markets because they can (Stripe, ByteDance, SHEIN, Anthropic, Canva, Fanatics etc).
- AI, Customer, and EnterpriseMost bank AI bans are really policy statements, not behavior changes. The work just goes underground.
- AI, Customer, and DeliveryDomain knowledge is the only moat. AI can write the code, but it cannot own the mess it creates.
- AI, Growth, and DeliveryThe Netflix lawsuit gets one thing wrong right from the start: it’s fighting a market that no longer exists.
- Rethinking AI (8)Everyone is terrified of being wrong. That’s a shame, because being wrong is one of the most useful signals you can get.
- Customer Support and Automation with AIRecent discussions around AI in radiology often suggest that automation will replace human expertise.
- AI, Engineering, and StartupsWe talk about AI as if it’s a contest of smarter models. What’s actually unfolding is a clash of long-standing institutional playbooks...
- The loud debates about AI safety tend to focus on sci-fi risThe loud debates about AI safety tend to focus on sci-fi risks. The quieter, more immediate risk looks very different: a world where one company ends up...
- corporate transformationsMost corporate transformations fail for a simple reason: they’re a substitute for thinking, not a product of it.
- AI in Operations, Growth, and EngineeringEveryone keeps saying content is king. – Paramount lacks scale. – The Walt Disney Company struggles with identity.
- AI and GrowthEveryone is arguing about whether Google's AI models are “better” but that misses the real advantage entirely.
- Fast cheap good. Pick two?Fast cheap good. Pick two? That line should have retired with flip phones. I help founders shape the strategy, the roadmap, and the calls that decide...
- AI in Engineering, Delivery, and DataAI assisted coding isn't a "boost" anymore. It is the default way devs ship software (or your team falls behind).
- AI in Growth, Engineering, and LeadershipMost CEOs are optimizing for a world that no longer exists. Progress isn’t driven by resources, talent, or even technology.
- AI and Hiring"AI Can Technically Perform 12% of US Labor Market's Wage Value" via Massachusetts Institute of Technology Most leaders point AI at dev teams.
- The bar for “good enough” isThe bar for “good enough” is dead. The new bar is delight. AI has democratized building apps.
- Big tech just missed the real story: satellitesBig tech just missed the real story: satellites are about to reshape mobile. Most people still treat Starlink (SpaceX) as rural-internet plays.
- AI and EnterpriseMost SaaS companies are protecting the wrong moat. We’ve spent years thinking features, UI polish, and enterprise checkboxes keep competitors at bay.
- AI in Product, Sales, and DataAI advertising is about to hit an inflection point, and almost nobody is talking about the real reason why.
- AI in Product, DataLet's stop with the self-help guilt. That feeling that you can't focus on anything long enough to get real work done isn't a discipline problem.
- AI in Automation, Product, and GrowthCoding just ate its own tail... and it tastes like rocket fuel. Imagine building the tool that makes software engineers 10x faster… while your entire...
- Automation and Growth with AIMost AI tools today are sold as “cost savers”: shave 20% off headcount, automate one step in a five-step process, done.
- AI in Automation, Strategy, and DataThe smartest way to use Polymarket right now isn't harder research. It's automated research. Most people try to keep up with Polymarket manually.
- AI in Customer Support, Education, and DataOpenAI has just launched "ChatGPT for Teachers," a new tool specifically designed for K-12 educators. This initiative is free for U.S.
- AI in Strategy, Product, and DataHad a great session with Ariel Michaeli of Appfigures on ASO. Here are some nuggets (best for last 😜): Screenshots that convert - Show real UI immediately...
- How far along are you with AI in your business - Post 1I'm curious where most of us stand in 2025... are you already saving hours every week with AI, just dipping your toes in, or still on the fence?
- How far along are you with AI in your business - Post 2I'm curious where most of us stand in 2025... are you already saving hours every week with AI, just dipping your toes in, or still on the fence?
- Google just yeeted Antigravity into orbitGoogle just yeeted Antigravity into orbit — an AI coding IDE that’s gunning straight for Cursor's throne, zero subtlety.
- There's a prevailing belief that AI, especially large language modelsThere's a prevailing belief that AI, especially large language models, will lead to widespread job loss.
- Engineering and Sales with AIApple just launched a Mini Apps Partner Program with a 15% commission on in-app purchases. This is a game changer for developers.
- The arrogance testThe arrogance test. Show an engineer AI-generated code and see if their immediate reaction is dismissal.
- AI in Engineering, Startups, and EducationThis is systemic influence, by design. OpenAI is quietly becoming the backbone of the hashtag#AI economy.
- AI in Strategy, Product, and StartupsMeanwhile in tennis world, something wild is happening. ATP world #1000 is closer to #3 than #3 is to #2. That is what winner-take-most looks like.
- If your advisor only knows your industryIf your advisor only knows your industry, you are paying for the same blind spots. The best second opinion often comes from outside the room.
- When Charles Schwab launched discount brokerage in the 1970sWhen Charles Schwab launched discount brokerage in the 1970s, Wall Street called it dangerous.
- Strategy and Data with AIToday I tried something that sounded impossible: building a web app with zero application code. No routes, no controllers, no logic files...
- AI and LeadershipA CEO plays word games to influence market bets and it shines light on the vulnerability of betting platforms.
- AI in Strategy, Leadership, and StartupsMost people think taste is innate. In reality, it's a skill you earn through tinkering. You don't develop good taste by consuming more content.
- Most people fake confidence to look competent.Most people fake confidence to look competent. But the leaders who grow fastest are the ones who admit they don't know (yet).
- Something smells fishySomething smells fishy... 🤷♂️ Is Flippa.com just trying to get me to sign their "Manager Agreement" (ie they take a cut even if I find a different buyer)?
- AI in Operations, Product, and EngineeringYou've probably heard the hype: "AI agents will replace entire workflows." Yet less than 5% of them actually work in production.
- The 80% agent is better than the 100% agent.The 80% agent is better than the 100% agent. A 100% autonomous agent that makes a mistake 2% of the time is terrifying.
- AI, Operations, and StartupsEveryone in tech talks about AI agents for crypto trading, content generation, or writing code.
- Today I revived an app I developed in 2011 and haven’t touched since.Today I revived an app I developed in 2011 and haven’t touched since. 12h to rebuild from scratch, tons of new features, then approved by Apple AppReview...
- AI in Strategy, Engineering, and HiringIf your team always defaults to React, your business is silently paying a tax on performance, innovation, and opportunity.
- ChatGPT remembers everything aboutChatGPT remembers everything about you. Claude barely remembers at all. That single difference explains why the two products now feel worlds apart.
- AI in Automation, Strategy, and ProductChasing full autonomy for AI Agents is wrong. They need to be the scaffolding human expertise.
- AI in Strategy, Product, and EcommerceMost ecommerce leaders are still optimizing (and spending) for Google search. But your next "customer" won't even be human, it will be an AI agent.
- The Lost Art of Giving a Fck*The Lost Art of Giving a Fck* We've all been told not to care. Don't sweat the small stuff. But here's the problem: apathy doesn't build anything worth keeping.
- AI and EducationMost leaders obsess over efficiency. But efficiency only matters if you are solving the right problem. Too often, organizations “optimize” broken systems.
- Engineering and Digital Transformation with AIThat's not a problem, that's a mess. A problem has a clear cause and solution. A mess is interconnected, dynamic, and resists being solved in isolation.
- Customer, Growth, and StrategyMost companies get stuck chasing the middle. They try to balance cost and experience... and end up delivering neither well.
- Want to go viral on LinkedIn right now?It's extremely easy. All you have to do is... Declare that you either DO or DO NOT use AI in your writing, then proclaim the other side is wrong.
- Growth, Strategy, and ProductMost product teams say they are data-driven. The best ones know that data should not drive the design. Taste builds products that stand out.
- 💥 LAST MINUTE Workshop for Founders💥 LAST MINUTE Workshop for Founders! I got a cancellation for this Monday morning (Pacific Time). It's a 2-hour workshop with me.
- Most founders don't run out of ideasMost founders don't run out of ideas. They run out of time, money, and patience… …because they built too much of the wrong thing.
- "Let's just get the requirements right the first time." That's how millions"Let's just get the requirements right the first time." That's how millions are wasted. Most people can't describe what they want in a way that translates...
- Most dev teams obsess over "doing it rightMost dev teams obsess over "doing it right." But "done fast" often beats "done perfect." Customers aren't buying clean code or test coverage.
- AI, Strategy, and Engineering"Clean code" is not self-documenting when it comes to why it was written that way. Most software documentation explains what the code does.
- The truth? Nobody really knows.OpenAI's GPT‑5 just dropped and everyone wants to sound like they know what it means. Nobody really knows. Yes, GPT‑5 is faster, smarter, more flexible.
- Customer Support and Engineering with AI😱 I gave Claude access to my inbox. Here's what it had to say... Your communication style signals: "I respect your time, I understand the real issues, and...
- ChatGPT has become such a suck-upChatGPT has become such a suck-up. Everything I ask is a “Great question!” and anytime I push back, “I should have thought of that!
- It's not the code that kills your vision, it's the unclear decisionsIt's not the code that kills your vision, it's the unclear decisions, the slipping timeline, and the invoices you don't understand.
- AI in Product, Sales, and DeliveryFive figures on "dev work" and nothing to show. 🤦♂️ • A boutique gym chain spent 6 months and $72k on mockups and 'exploratory' dev sprints • No TestFlight...
- AI doesn't raise the ceiling, it raises the floorAI doesn't raise the ceiling, it raises the floor. It accelerates baseline capabilities across your team. A sales director can prep tailored pitches in minutes.
- AI won't crush your industryAI won't crush your industry. It will magnify the flaw you already ignore. Most leaders still debate whether AI is disruptive or sustaining.
- AI in Automation, Hiring, and EducationWe accidentally deleted the entry-level job. And we haven't replaced it with anything better.
- I’ve been in italy the whole month and I’m used to “small” two-lane freewaysI’ve been in italy the whole month and I’m used to “small” two-lane freeways but something occurred to me while driving.
- AI can generate code faster than ever, but if you're not steeringAI can generate code faster than ever, but if you're not steering, you're not shipping. I've tested what happens when you let AI do most of the coding.
- Startups and Data with AITraining AI on public web data isn't theft, it's fair use... but we need laws that say so explicitly.
- The company known for baby photos (Meta) could end up more valuable than AppleThe company known for baby photos (Meta) could end up more valuable than Apple, Microsoft, or NVIDIA.
- AI in Customer Support, Strategy, and EngineeringCEOs beg for a magic AI prompt. A chef can’t cook without ingredients; your model can’t think without context.
- Now is the time to (re)buildNow is the time to (re)build. Most companies overpay to rebuild digital products because they wait too long.
- Beauty is the outcome of coherence, proportion,Beauty is not arbitrary. Design is not how it looks. It's how it works. Too many companies hear "design matters" and start decorating.
- AI in Product, Ecommerce, and DataYour app doesn’t need more features. It needs fewer while delivering ROI faster. Across 50+ product audits, I see teams sink 60% of budget into functions...
- Rethinking AI (21)Annoying enough that Frontier Airlines forces you to use the app instead of being able to add the boarding pass to Apple Wallet but at least make it large...
- Burger King spent like a League Two club and got a Champions League returnBurger King spent like a League Two club and got a Champions League return. 1.2B impressions from a team nobody can find on a map.
- AI in Strategy, Startups, and DataAI used to build startups from scratch. Now it is buying the ones you forgot existed. VCs like Khosla Ventures are rolling up call centers, accounting...
- Your favorite AI unicorn just tripped over its own numbersYour favorite AI unicorn just tripped over its own numbers. Builder.ai went from $1.3B headline valuation to insolvency in 72 hours.
- Would you leave the lights off when customers walk in?Your UI is your storefront. Would you leave the lights off when customers walk in? We started with static pages, then crammed them onto phones, then...
- I'm increasingly hearing about these frustrations from Startup Founders whoI'm increasingly hearing about these frustrations from Startup Founders who reach out to me. They've tried to hack an MVP with AI tools.
- The hashtag#EU just dropped a preview of its 2025–26 Startup & Scaleup StrategyThe hashtag#EU just dropped a preview of its 2025–26 Startup & Scaleup Strategy. Some parts are solid. Others felt already old.
- Sales and Data with AIPOV: Trying to save $132K in fees cost you $268K in lost earnings 😅 2x more money lost than saved 👎 I said in my last post as well that web checkout...
- Are you still caught up in the hype of AI replacing employees?The narrative has evolved. First, AI promised to 10x your workforce; then, it aimed to replace them.
- Are you betting your business on tools that might mislead you?Many overlook the unmatched value of custom software, favoring large language models that can produce unreliable outputs.
2024
2 posts
- Why a Fractional CTO Might Be Exactly What Your Business NeedsThe Challenge: Managing Technology Without a CTO Many businesses face the same dilemma: technology is critical to their growth, but hiring a full-time Chief...
- Being Data Driven: Do you use XmR charts?Explore the power of XmR charts in this detailed blog post, which offers a comprehensive guide on understanding, creating, and interpreting Individuals and Moving Range Charts for statistical process control. Ideal for quality managers, data analysts, and anyone involved in process improvement, this post covers the essentials of XmR charts, including step-by-step instructions on how to construct them, insightful examples from the mobile industry, and practical tips for optimizing mobile app performance and mobile network quality. Dive into the world of process behavior charts to enhance your process monitoring and improvement strategies.
2023
23 posts
- Guide to Product RoadmapsThe In-Depth Guide to Product Roadmaps: Origins, Utility, and Future Perspectives
- INFJI am an INFJ.
- When it comes to managing investments and capitalWhen it comes to managing investments and capital, several financial firms play vital roles in the world of finance.
- Chief of StaffIn the dynamic world of technology and business, the role of a Chief of Staff is akin to being the conductor of an orchestra, orchestrating harmonious...
- In the dynamic landscape of product managementFinding a universal PM is challenging, leading to the solution of a trusted advisor who oversees specialized PMs, offering strategic guidance, decision arbitration, and efficient resource allocation.
- Exploring Specializations in Product ManagementDiscover the key specializations in product management - core, growth, platform, and innovation. Explore their focus areas, skills, and collaboration methods.
- In the ever-evolving landscape of mobile app developmentIn the ever-evolving landscape of mobile app development, choosing the right framework is crucial to building successful cross-platform applications.
- How Mobile Apps Communicate with Servers: A Behind-the-Scenes LookHow Mobile Apps Communicate with Servers
- In today's fast-paced and interconnected worldWhy a mobile app is important for business
- How do mobile apps measure blood pressure?Introduction The importance of monitoring blood pressure cannot be overstated. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a leading risk factor for heart...
- Growth Strategies for Mobile Apps: A Comprehensive Guide Based on BudgetAs the mobile app market continues to expand, competition among app developers becomes fiercer.
- Key Elements and Metrics for a Successful Mobile AppIn today's digital age, mobile apps have become an integral part of our lives. From social networking to productivity tools, mobile apps play a significant...
- At the core of any successful app lies its ability to create value for usersMobile App Metrics for Optimal Performance
- Key Strategies for Profit MaximizationMastering the Art of Pricing: Unveiling Key Strategies for Profit Maximization (with examples)
- Mobile app development processUnderstand Goals, Desired Outcomes, and Resources The mobile app development process begins by thoroughly understanding the goals, desired outcomes, and...
- The Importance of Having a Trusted Technology Advisor for Business OwnersLearn why it is crucial for business owners to have a trusted technology advisor in the their corner.
- Cloudflare Purge CacheA Comprehensive Guide to Boost Website Performance using Cloudflare Purge Cache
- As a business owner, CEO, or VPAs a business owner, CEO, or VP, you understand the importance of technology in today's business landscape.
- How to parse ICS calendar file in javascriptTo parse an ICS file using JavaScript without libraries, you can follow these general steps: Read the contents of the ICS file into a string variable.
- What kind of support and maintenance do I need for my mobile app after it hasDeveloping a mobile app is just the first step in a long journey towards success. Once your app has been launched, you'll need to provide ongoing support...
- What are the costs involved in developing a mobile app?Mobile app development is a complex and multi-faceted process that requires careful planning, development, and testing.
- Custom web applications are becoming increasingly popular among businessesCustom web applications are becoming increasingly popular among businesses and organizations, as they provide a personalized, efficient and cost-effective...
- 29 key startup principles from Paul GrahamPaul Graham shares these fundamental startup principles in his essays over the years at YC.
2022
3 posts
- Robinhood listsThis is a collection of all the lists currently curated by Robinhood.
- How to backup firebase realtime databaseHere is how to create backups of your firebase realtime database when the database is too large to download.
- Htaccess Tutorial: Rewrite Rules, Security and CachingEvery .htaccess directive worth knowing: rewrite rules, redirects, bot blocking, hotlink protection, gzip and cache headers, with a live rule tester.
2021
14 posts
- This is why I won't steal your ideaWe've already touched this topic but I still get people who spend way too much energy & time worrying about this.Since I'm a one stop shop for mobile apps...
- Holiday season mobile app insights courtesy of ChartboostGiacomo Balli on Holiday season mobile app insights courtesy of Chartboost
- Smart App Banners by Apple - How to ImplementI have over 50 apps in the store (not counting those commissioned by companies) and I just finished implementing Apple's new smart app banners.
- PrMac App PromotionOut of all the promotion and marketing services I've been hearing about during these years, PrMac has definitely been the one that popped up the most often.
- Check if Cloudflare Cache is workingCheck which pages are actually being served from your Cloudflare cache by inspecting the CF-Cache-Status header.
- Automatically Generate Social Share Images for Blog PostsAuto generate social sharing images for Facebook, Twitter and any other social media platform.
- A/B Testing ideas for website conversionsThis is a collection of the best A/B testing ideas to improve your website conversions.
- Animated Pure CSS spinnerThis code sample will allow you to include an animated spinner just by using CSS. This makes it extremely lightweight and performant.
- Smooth scrollThis code sample will allow you to scroll the view to a predefined vertical offset (in pixels) or the beginning of a specified id.
- Email validationThis code sample will allow you to validate an email in real time, as the user types. The email field will have a red border until a valid email is provided.
- SKError list of in-app purchase errorsThis is an article listing all the most common errors when implementing in-app purchases for iOS apps.
- How to cancel an App Store subscriptionThis article will show you how to cancel your in-app purchase subscriptions on iOS (iPhone and iPad).
- Replicating The Secret iOS App Text Animation using HTML CSS JavaScriptFollowing the huge success of my previous "replicating" post regarding recreating Facebook UI on the mobile app for iPhone, I decided to do another one.
- Do you really need a 12MP photo of a goat?Use this script to easily resize all your images while preserving metadata.
2016
19 posts
- Top 30 books recommended on Hacker NewsThis is a collection of the top 30 books ranked by total number of links to Amazon in Hacker News comments.
- Dynamic search suggestThis code sample will allow you to provide suggestions while the user is typing. Ideal for search fields.
- Animated Pure CSS Progress BarThis code sample will allow you to include an animated progress bar just by using CSS. This makes it extremely lightweight and performant, you only need to...
- Get all pages of paginated API ResponseGet All Pages Of API This code sample will allow you to iterate API calls when pagination is in place.
- Find match in JSON ObjectThis code sample will allow you to look through an array of JSON objects and extract a specific property.
- Format large number with commasThis code sample will allow you to format a large number with commas for easier user reading.
- Calculate distance between two GPS coordinatesThis code sample will allow you to calculate the distance between two points (GPS coordinates).
- Reasons why GPS failedThis code sample will allow you to show a message to the user regarding why you were unable to retrieve their GPS data.
- Add Adaptive color backgroundThis code sample will allow you to add a smooth background gradient that takes into account the image itself when it does not fill the entire element.
- Swap images for higher resolutionThis code sample will allow you to load the view/page super quickly by using low resolution images and then replaces them with their respective...
- Sort an Array based on a JSON Object PropertyThis code sample will allow you to sort an array of JSON objects based on a property. Directions: - db is your array.
- Shuffle an Array in Random OrderThis code sample will allow you to randomize (shuffle) the order of an array of objects, strings or numbers.
- Capitalize stringsThis code sample will allow you to capitalize a string. CSS only allows you to have all lower-case, all upper-case or all words capitalized (not just the...
- CSS Range Double SliderThis code sample will allow you to implement a double range slider so the user can specify both minimum and maximum (not normally supported by the browser).
- Get API or File SizeThis code sample will allow you to retrieve the size of a file or API response without actually downloading it (server needs to provide Content-Length header).
- Check Storage UsedThis code sample will allow you to check how much of your allowed storage quota you are using via localStorage (maximum depends on browser).
- Cache API CallsThis code sample will allow you to cache API calls for a super fast UX. Directions: - url is the full url you want to retrieve.
- Instant Audio (Tap Feedback)Back to main listing. This code sample will allow you to deliver instant (audio) feedback to the user when they tap something.
- HTML, CSS & JavaScript code snippetsCode sample This is a collection of useful HTML CSS & JavaScript sample code and snippets that I created or tweak while developing Cruiseable.com ⚓️ .
2015
7 posts
- Mobile app monetization mindsetPepe Cantos, chief monetization officer and head of product at Barcelona-based publisher Social Point, does a great job at laying out his mindset when...
- Mobile app launch guideThis is an amazing full guide that nicely lays out all the points (with relevant tips) on how to successfully launch your mobile application.
- Google Launches Mobile Network!Google's Mobile Network ... Giacomo Balli's insight: Although this is certainly big news, we can't pretend it's a complete surprise.
- What is Big Data and why you can't control itBig Data is a big deal Big Data is a big deal because it has the potential of providing insight in ways we have no clue about.
- Android's market share has droppedThis is a very important piece of news: Android's share of the smartphone market has actually dropped for the first time since 2013.
- Mobile is differentMobile requires new skills and new ways of thinking. Mobile is different. But it also can be learned if you make the right investment in your people and...
- New book releasedFor a few months I've been working on the book "The Business of iOS App Development" with Dave Wooldridge & Taylor Pierce and it has finally been published...
2014
16 posts
- HTML5DevConf videosFirst round of HTML5Devconf Oct 2014 Videos are up. HTML5 Developer Conference took place during October 2014 at Moscone Center in San Francisco.
- Mobile App PodcastsHow to make money with APPS by iOS Entrepreneur and developer Giacomo Balli Enterprise Radio hosted by Eric Dye Oct 27, 2012 MyLyrics: The 7-Second Trick to...
- PhoneGap FAQ - Hybrid mobile app developmentI've be a follower and supporter of PhoneGap as a cross platform mobile app development tool since it's very first days, back in 2010 (my first feature on...
- Recreating Facebook UI with HTML and CSS (live coding screencast tutorial) In the following, is a screencast of me live coding in pure HTML & CSS. The goal is recreating Facebook UI mobile.
- iTunes Connect app transfer to another accountNot long, after many people requested, Apple finally implemented iTunes Connect app transfer to another account.
- HTML5 geolocation zip codeA very common question you see coming up in online forums and discussion boards is regarding html5 geolocation zip code.
- How to get an app madeMobile apps are not the future, mobile apps are the present. Leveraging mobile is crucial.
- Phonegap app store approvalThere have recently been some grumblings from the development community that Apple has rejected their PhoneGap apps for not being "native enough".
- Xamarin vs Titanium vs Phonegap vs Native application developmentThe development for Android and iOS requires obtaining the respective SDKs. On iOS, this means learning Objective-C and also learning Cocoa Touch.
- iAd attribution for app installsApple very recently released the newest version of its mobile device operating system: iOS7.1 All the New iOS 7.1 Features, Improvements and Refinements...
- Best amazon prime movies and TV shows not on netflixFull list of Amazon Prime stuff not on Netflix. Downton Abbey Settle down with tea and crumpets and indulge in this delectable BBC import.
- What is a target marketDefinition A target market is a group of customers towards which a business has decided to aim its marketing efforts and ultimately its merchandise.
- How to identify your target marketWe already discussed what is a target market. Knowing how to identify your target market is crucial when it comes to properly spreading the word about your...
- Mobile app marketing calendarThe App Store is extremely seasonal. Every year you see not only trends repeating but also themes being applied.
- The 7 pillars of user experience designWe've already went through a primer on User Experience. Although we try to keep things simple, user experience design is huge topic that is very hot right...
- User experience design lessonsEveryone needs user experience design lessons. Until a few years design was the big player when it came to being able to seek a product, especially online.
2013
77 posts
- 100 best FREE movies on Amazon PrimeThis is a list of the 100 best FREE movies on Amazon Prime. Amazon also offers a free trial which means you can watch all of these movies without even...
- 13 most popular products of 2013I'm not sure why but I'm always intrigued by the idea of what is the top selling item in a whole year.
- How to invest in bitcoinIf you reached this page you probably heard about bitcoins, the new, trendy, ubercool, cryptocurrency that has been skyrocketing in valuation over the past...
- Top 9 brands advertising on FacebookI'm sure you will be shocked when you hear how much big brands spend advertising on Facebook.
- App Store Optimization keyword volume estimatorWhen it comes to App Store optimization keyword research, there are many techniques that can be leveraged to have the best results.
- 13 trends that will drive the future of AmericaEverything has been speeding up over the past decades. You can look at pretty much any business industry or aspect of life in general and you will notice a...
- User experience design books (UX)A couple days ago, Christina Wodtke asked on Twitter for book recommendations on user experience design books.
- Amazon Half OffAmazon Half Off is a new easy to access url to find all Amazon Half Off deals. http://AmazonHalfOff.com You will be able to find items from all the...
- HTML5 Developer Conference Slides#HTMLDevConf Unfortunately I wasn't able to speak this time due to prior engagements at #GMIC2013: Today's panel at @theGMIC on iOS with @chiah @orege...
- Apps using iPhone 5s M7 motion coprocessorIn September 2013, Apple announced the new iPhone 5s. The big news, a part from iOS7 itself, was the fingerprint scanner to unlock the device.
- Create a mailing listSooner or later we all find ourselves wondering how to create a mailing list. Whether your looking to launch a new product or just keep in touch with your...
- Siri commands, tips and tricksNow that the frenzy of asking Siri for crazy things is fading, people seem to actually like the idea of voice commands.
- Mobile consulting servicesMobile is not a trend or novelty anymore. The mobile business is a reality and as such it needs to be acknowledged, understood and leveraged.
- iTunes affiliate toolsThis is a section of the main tutorial on iTunes affiliate links. Everyone loves making money from iTunes affiliate links but it is often a pain to be on...
- iTunes affiliate APIThis is a section of the main tutorial on iTunes affiliate links. There isn't a specific iTunes affiliate API.
- Tradedoubler iTunes affiliate linkThis is a section of the main tutorial on iTunes affiliate links. This is still following the old way of doing things and is more complicated to generate.
- PHG affiliate linkThis is a section of the main tutorial on iTunes affiliate links. Creating a PHG Affiliate link is extremely easy; especially after having cleaned up the URL.
- iTunes Affiliate Link ExampleThis is a section of the main tutorial on iTunes affiliate links. Often I feel like just reading the "theory" of how to do something isn't enough to fully...
- iTunes AffiliateApple has been offering iTunes affiliate commission for years. The system used has been the same pretty much since it was introduced and therefore as a pain...
- Mobile Monetization & ASO on IAmA RedditShout out to all the redditors following my thread on Mobile monetization and app store optimization. Check it out here.
- iPhone 5s vs iPhone 5c vs iPhone 5On September 10th, just a few days ago, Apple announced the next generation of iPhones. It's obvious that when you divide your work, your focus divides too...
- App Store Optimization ServiceWhat is ASO App Store Optimization is the means to enhance App Store ranking and improve conversions.
- Mobile application key performance indicators (KPI)Strictly speaking, the definition of mobile application KPI is mobile application key performance indicators. Tweet this What does KPI mean?
- The best way to boost mobile phone signalHere is how to boost your mobile phone signal to improve reception quality.
- How to hire a freelancerTL;DR you need to have experience and knowledge in order to weave-out the bad candidates...
- Andrew Chen reading listThis is Andrew Chen reading list of 2013. What are your thoughts? The Little Kingdom. Michael Moritz, in his previous job as a journalist, covers the early...
- App Store new kids category in iOS7This is email Apple sent out today: Dear Giacomo Balli, At WWDC, we announced an App Store new kids category in iOS7.
- 4 Hour Body Shopping List - Tim FerrissThe Four Hour Body The 4 hour body is not just a diet which is great to lose weight, feel great and get some really impressive results; it is also a an...
- App Store Optimization Keywords (ASO)As we mentioned in the main App Store Optimization article, there are many elements that are taken into consideration when putting together and App Store...
- iPhone App IdeasWhenever I introduce myself to someone saying I'm an iOS developer, they immediately feel the urge to tell me they're amazing, never heard before...
- Apple App Store changed the business world foreverIn raw numbers, the Apple App Store's reach is undeniable, with more than 50 billion downloads and about 900,000 apps in total.
- How to leverage in app purchases in mobile appsI'll give you a hint – it's mostly about satisfying emotional and psychological needs. If you can understand how people think, you've got a leg up in your...
- iOS7 mobile app marketing implicationsiOS7 has been announced at Apple's WWDC in San Francisco the past June. For anyone in the mobile world this is a big deal and must make sure to be aware of...
- Mobile application download tracking solutionsFor marketers responsible for promoting mobile apps, ad tracking has become a mission critical component of most app marketing programs.
- ASO & marketing roadmap for mobile applicationsBuzz and prelaunch Step 1: Know Your Audience Step 2: Analyze Your Competition Step 3: Identify Your App's Unique Value Step 4: Name Your App Step 5: Design...
- Top 8 App Store Optimization questions answeredYes. Descriptive app names rank higher across more keywords. 75% of searches are for app function (fun game) rather than an app's brand name (Angry Birds)...
- iOS7 new API features I'm excited aboutWWDC is currently taking place in San Francisco. I still find it funny that now that I live in SF I am spending my summers in Italy (visiting family) and...
- 30 fast tips for marketers to improve conversionBefore you modify your marketing campaigns you should spend some time optimizing your site for conversions.
- Mobile Application Marketing Plan TemplatePlatforms (iOS, Android, etc.) 3. Marketing goals (Rank, organic users, downloads, cost-per-download, loyal users, revenue, other) 4.
- Mobile application strategy for big brandsIt's no longer enough for brands to just have an app (or a suite of apps) and promote it through traditional channels.
- Tips to acquire more loyal organic users for your mobile appFollowing are proven best practices for promoting your app for profitable and sustainable loyal user acquisition and business growth.
- 10 Mobile App Marketing Mistakes and How to Avoid ThemMobile applications are not the future, they're the present. However, marketing and tracking are still lagging to find the best way of maximizing revenue...
- Mobile app control panel for optimization, affiliates and analyticsApp Store Optimization I am a firm believer in App Store Optimization. I take a lot of pride in the fact of not spending money for marketing and user...
- Context menu with web technologies for PhoneGapI noticed in the PhoneGap Developer Forums a question that doesn't get asked frequently (unlike many others).
- Original pitch decks of big companiesMany times we forget that most current big companies were once startups, like many of the ones we see today.
- More reasons why you should have a mobile appWe already discussed when/why you need a mobile app and also how to monetize it. If you still need convincing, either for yourself or your boss, here are...
- How to understand mobile statistics and metricsIn the tech industry, we are bombarded with numbers. Every other day there is a new study showing percentages and huge numbers that are supposed to prove or...
- 96 Online resources for app development, design, testing & monetizingApp Store Optimization Tools “What are the best tools to use to start my app business?” We get asked this question a lot, and it's no wonder.
- How to make money with mobile appsor better, how to monetize them... :) The opportunities for developers and publishers for connect with consumers via apps is a seemingly limitless opportunity.
- Apple WWDC 2013 dates announced and ticketsApple has just sent out an email to all registered developers regarding the famous World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC).
- 12 key questions your startup pitch needs to answerA pitch is the only bullet. In most cases you will not have a second chance and if you do it will never be like the first one.
- Want to validate your startup idea for FREE?If launching a startup is like jumping off a cliff and building a plane on the way down, then lean startup principles are the kiddie parachutes you deploy...
- Apple MapKit vs. Google Maps SDK“When we first got sight of Apple's maps in the iOS 6 SDK beta at WWDC 2012, we were excited,” says Lee Armstrong, developer of the popular Plane Finder...
- Gmail extractor - Extract all email addresses from your inboxGiacomo Balli on Gmail extractor - Extract all email addresses from your inbox
- The value of conferencesThis is a counter rant following today's article on TNW - Why conference tickets cost money Please don't take this personally, these are consideration on...
- Getting traction for startupsMany have issues understanding traction. This is particularly true because it depends on context and who you're asking (more details here).
- How to get paid at a startup company - A guide to salary, equity, sharesTL;DR: salary depends on funding (could still be high), high demand for developers, take into account different scenarios, keep things in writing, cash...
- How VCs decide to invest in your startupTL;DR: Team, Product, Market, Traction. What characteristics of a startup make it attractive for venture capitalists to invest in it?
- When should an enterprise application become a mobile app?The short answer is in 99% of cases as soon as possible. However, if you still need elements to justify the time and money investment, you should keep in...
- App Store Optimization (ASO) - How to enhance your AppStore presenceMany people think that after you commissioned your app to a developer and discussed all points you can sit back and relax and wait for it to be done.
- How to test your iOS mobile appMost first-timers think that once they have their app coded and deployed it is ready for the market.
- How to convey your mobile app idea to a developerThis is the main point about deciding to go with a developer from eLance, oDesk, Freelancer or any other website.
- What to look for in an iOS developer (with checklist and answers)Initially one might think that a developer is purely someone who needs to put some code together therefore not much can go wrong...
- Mobile Panel Video: Native (iOS & Android) vs Hybrid (PhoneGap) vs Web (HTML5)Here's a video from the “What Developers Love and Hate about iOS, Android, Windows and HTML5″ panel discussion that I took part in during MoDev East back in...
- Startups – How NOT to pitch a big brandDON'T: Insult me by insulting the company for which I work. Tell me what we're doing wrong, and how you can fix it.
- How to use vanity App Store short link URLApple recently (1/31/2013) updated their guide to creating App Store short links (aka Technical Q&A QA1633).
- "Freemium is a hybrid generated by todays' business world." -- Giacomo BalliGiacomo: Many people invest a lot of time debating whether freemium is a business model, revenue model or marketing technique.
- Everything you need to know about Facebook Graph SearchFacebook now aims at being the social search engine and made it clear when it announced its very own Graph Search on Jan 15th (pictures form official press...
- 7 Ways Mobile Apps Are Driving Revenue for BusinessesFrom leveraging specific features like GPS all the way down to the mere fact that people are walking around with Internet-connected computers in their...
- How to get featured on the Apple AppStoreIt's worth understanding that Apple doesn't feature apps to help us developers, it features apps because they benefit Apple and its customers - as long as...
- 9 elements to convince your VC investor to give you moneyInvesting in startups is becoming more and more a pragmatic business procedure. Most venture capital funds have their own set of requirements to assess...
- The Best Navigation App for iOS: Magellan RoadMate (Gizmodo)For $10 less than every other navigation app tested, the Magellan RoadMate does just about everything better.
- 6 Free Apps That Can Make Planning Your Next Vacation EasyUse Minube to browse pictures and video of destinations to get inspiration on where to take your next big trip.
- Top Free iPhone AppsGiacomo Balli on Top Free iPhone Apps
- 10 Questions to Answer Before Pitching InvestorsPitching investors is one of the most important tasks you'll ever face in building your business.
- 5 Tips on how to pitch to media... by the mediaKeep your pitch short and snappy. If you're pitching a journalist in person, make your presentation shorter than three minutes.
- Take It From A Successful Entrepreneur: No One Will Steal Your Big IdeaEntrepreneurs enter stealth mode because they have an idea or technology that is, in their opinion, too young for public exposure.
2012
111 posts
- Investing in AppsThe most successful applications all have one thing in common: they provide a unique service. Do you have an idea?
- App GuidelinesiPhone and iPad Application Guidelines Download as PDF As you prepare to hire an iOS developer to create your first iPhone/iPad application, there are a...
- The Key Elements For Your App Website Landing PageThe goal of your app website or app landing page is to show off your app and why it is so great. You want to convince visitors and convert them into users.
- How To Validate Your App IdeasHaving a “cool app idea” isn't enough. If you want to succeed in the app business then one thing you really need to do is market research before you launch...
- How much does it cost to develop an app?In the past two years, the app market has exploded. In under 9 months the Apple store reported over a billion downloads, and then doubled that number in...
- Tim Ferriss on recommended reading booksTim is a two-time, #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author with his books The 4-Hour Work Week and The 4-Hour Body, and he recently came out with the third...
- Case Study: 13 Pre-Launch Traffic Strategies for Startups (Part 1 of 3)Experienced entrepreneurs will tell you that no traffic is free. Even if you aren't paying money for something you are paying in time (which is worth...
- Tell Everyone Your Startup IdeaThe first lesson I talked about was how being open with your ideas, and vocal about sharing progress can put you in a much greater position over time...
- Apple API Strengthens Facebook AdsThis is quite annoying...
- Best productivity apps of 2012Evernote helps you keep track of all your notes while syncing them across all devices In 2012, Evernote went through a massive overhaul.
- Giving indie iOS game developers exposureRecently I published Coin Toss Extreme, my first game for iPhone (you can read more about it here and here).
- Why Most Venture-Backed Companies FailThe success rate of private equity firms isn't much better. Money doesn't guarantee success; only effective execution can deliver that goal.
- 12 Tips To Building A Successful Startup Community Where You LiveCome on Italy!
- 15 Super Useful Apps for Busy EntrepreneursJasmine, a better YouTube player Jasmine is a minimal YouTube app replacement. We love how Jasmine allows us to play YouTube audio in the background...
- Count Down to Christmas With These 5 Free AppsAdvent Calendar - Bacarox This is a simple, graphic advent calendar with separate designs for boys and girls.
- Miranda Doctrine (Sep 2004)Facts On the 3rd of March 1963 and 18 year old girl had been kidnapped, driven into the desert, and raped.
- Common Angel Investment TermsThere are only a handful of common angel investment terms that you should be familiar with before you go out looking for capital.
- CEOs Don't Come Pre-Made, Authentic Leadership Has To Be LearnedGiacomo Balli on CEOs Don't Come Pre-Made, Authentic Leadership Has To Be Learned
- 70 best free apps of 2012Giacomo Balli on 70 best free apps of 2012
- Why has the Euro Disney's Land failed (Dec 2005)1.1 Purpose The purpose of this report is to analyse problems of Euro Disney's Land and recommends alternatives and solutions.
- The right time to launch your productGiacomo Balli on The right time to launch your product
- Apps we're thankful for but rarely mention (delayed)Giacomo Balli on Apps we're thankful for but rarely mention (delayed)
- Facebook Data Use Policy changesFacebook recently announced they're considering changing their data use policy. This is something that has been extremely talked about and is extremely...
- Freelancer just acquired vWorker (my thoughts on elance, odesk and similar)When I first started freelancing, 3 years ago, the first thing I did was to sign up for all the websites where people posted contract work they wish to...
- The Importance of Monitoring and Evaluation in Projects Funded by CitizensProject Control Management is a very important function not only in the business world but in also in the lives of each and every one of us.
- Justin Vincent — Anatomy of a Beautiful, Native Feeling, HTML5 iOS AppThere's been a lot of bad press about how you can't build a native feeling HTML5 app on iOS.
- Types of mobile apps that can be developedThere are many different kinds of apps you can develop. This goes beyond the categories that Apple groups the apps into.
- How much does an app cost?Tips for not getting screwed (at an “app dealer”): Learn to wireframe. It'll improve communications between your idea and the physical reality of that idea.
- Going For "Pretty First" Is Wrong: A Designer's Take On App DevelopmentGiacomo Balli on Going For "Pretty First" Is Wrong: A Designer's Take On App Development
- Basic Concepts of Strategic Management (Feb 2006)Today competition has reached levels which could have never even dreamt 50 years ago. Nowadays there are so many elements that influence and mine our...
- 10 Excellent iPad Apps You Should Download Right NowAudioNote Taking notes at a meeting, meet-up or conference? AudioNote lets you link audio recordings to the notes you keep along the way.
- 5 Apps for iOS Your Kids Will LoveArthur's Teacher Trouble Ages 4-12 Overall rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars Why we like it: First released on CD-ROM in 1993 as one of the Living Books series...
- A new (old?) model for understanding the stages of a startupA new (old?) model for understanding the stages of a startup – The Startup Toolkit Blog.
- International Marketing Case Study: Red Bull in Japan (Feb 2006)1.1 Basic Facts about Japan Japan is an Asian country which lies between North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, East of the Korean Peninsula which...
- How to Code HTML Email NewslettersMy good friend Adam from Wurpool asked me to spruce up his HTML emails. Nothing big, just little fixes.
- Why I Won't Sign Your NDAI recently came across a very interesting article regarding NDAs. I was never a fan, mainly due to the many writings on how pure original ideas don't exist...
- An iPad Lover's Take On The Surface With Windows RTAdd your thoughts here... (optional)
- Mobile Marketing: 50 Ways to Promote Your iPhone AppI was looking to see if there are new ways of promoting an iPhone app using YouTube and came across this blog post.
- Which Apps Got Screwed By iOS 6?Add your thoughts here... (optional)
- Frustrated iOS developers might be starting a unionI just came across this article thanks to a link on NYT. They definitely have some good arguments and will now take time to look into it.
- Evernote: New Legal Page and Changes to Contracts Coming SoonEvernote will soon be updating their ToS and Privacy contracts with users. Here is the full note the sent out: We spend a lot of our time improving our...
- How fast do users update iOS apps? Some numbers shared.Today I was browsing Quora for interesting questions and came across this one. I had a vague idea in mind but figured I'd do something "nice" and get real...
- Project Management Basics (Feb 2006)“Project Management is the discipline of defining and achieving targets while optimizing the use of resources (time, money, people, materials, energy...
- Explore great iOS Dropbox appsRecently Dropbox directly advertised some iOS apps that nicely integrate with... Dropbox.In case you missed it, you might want to check them out below.
- 4 Simple iPhone Apps for Creating and Editing DocumentsWhen you're in a hurry, you need the fastest way to get a thought to your smartphone. While there are some apps for editing Microsoft Office documents, such...
- What is luxury? (Apr 2008)Luxury can be defined in many ways, usually depending on which aspect we want to put more emphasis.
- 4 iPhone Apps for Increasing Customer Loyalty If one thing is true about loyalty marketing campaigns, it's that they're constantly growing.
- International Advertising as a tool of Marketing Campaign (Feb 2005)Among the different levers of marketing, the publicity is undoubtedly that one that arouses the levels of involvement you increase.
- Apple enterprise developer program explainedA couple days ago we discussed both Apple's Volume Purchase Program and Business to Business (B2B) Apps.
- Why we have never hired an MBAThis is the age old debate that school have to teach how to think not what to think. I have an MBA and I think it's priceless when managing myself, my brand...
- Apple Custom B2B Apps on the AppStore explainedAs an extension to the volume purchase program, businesses can also have custom apps built by third-party developers.
- Apple Routing app coverage file for iOS explainedEver since iOS6 rolled out, every developer noticed the “routing app coverage file”. Many were wondering “what is a routing app coverage file” and mainly if...
- General IT services vs mobile development companyPersonally, when I browse the websites of companies that provide mobile app development services I find myself turn off if they also do other things.
- The traits that make a “normal” person a leader and how to acquire themIntroduction Beginning over a century ago, scientist, and philosophers pondered what it takes to become a great leader.
- Apple Volume Purchase Program and B2B Apps on AppStore explainedThe latest data regarding apple devices (and especially iPads) being adopted as a tool by schools and businesses is amazing.
- 21 Tactics to Increase Blog Traffic by the amazing Rand FishkinI just came across (again) this amazing blog post by SEO authority Rand Fishkin (CEO of seoMoz) and figured it'd be worth sharing and making easy for other...
- Coin Toss Extreme: iPhone game stats and analytics after 2 weeksIn the past 3 years I've developed all kinds of apps (read more here). However, 2 weeks ago I released my first game for iPhone.
- New Product Development (Feb 2003)New Product Development: This is the business process for developing new hardware, software and service products for the company.
- My first 3 years in the iPhone App Business - Getting ideasIn the past 3 years I have developed all kinds of apps. All of my own creations tackle a specific "problem" I encountered and figured other people have or...
- 5 Ways to Set a New Company Up for SuccessStarting your own business forces you to face your limitations, test out every idea in the real world and accept that sometimes what looked great on paper...
- Donations in iPhone apps - one of the few things to be done outside the appLast week I finished the app for Florence's mayor Matteo Renzi. I personally like him and he will be running to be prime minister.
- 31 Major Causes of FailureBefore leaving for San Francisco back in August, my older sister Monica (yes, the celebrity wedding planner) gave me a book she really liked: "Think and...
- Samsung Mobile Phones' International Marketing Strategy (Dec 2005)Global marketing mix Global marketing is becoming an important key term for the current marketplace. There are many different definitions of global marketing.
- Top 5 ways to generate download leading traffic to your apps.Number 5: Chartboost Chartboost has gained a lot of ground over the last 12 months. It is a great place to buy traffic.
- 5 Little-Known iPhone and iPad Apps for Startups1. Invoice2Go: This app helps you create invoices and estimates on your iPhone or iPad. You can create a master list of regular billable items, or use the...
- AppStore changes with iOS6 - What you need to fix.Apple's iOS 6 brought lots of changes to the iTunes community, developers are going to have to change with it or face more big challenges.
- Effects of Globalization on Italy (Jan 2004)The dark side of the globalization The initial phase The long cycle of the world economic expansion initiated in the second half of the 80s seemed not to...
- How to make money with APPS on ePodcastNetwork (interview)A few weeks ago I was interviewed for Entrepreneur Podcast Network. The feature successful entrepreneurs and it was great for me to have a chance to better...
- iOS 6.0.1 Already Accounts For 7.5% Of iOS Traffic 24 Hours After ReleaseI'm preparing a post on my own audience and their stats but in the meantime you can enjoy this.
- Foursquare Looks Into A Fourth Round At An Over $700M ValuationProving that we are in a bubble...
- What happened to the AAPL stock price?Giacomo Balli on What happened to the AAPL stock price?
- Weight loss ebook - my toolsI haven't been talking a lot about lately but in the past I also wrote an ebook on weight loss.
- iPhone apps I like and use on PinterestI just remembered that some time ago I created this board on Pinterest. I was quite excited about this new way of sharing content but then kinda lost steam...
- Know what you do - and be able to share itShortly after moving to SF I registered for the Tennis Leagues at TennisSF.com (if you play you can find me in Division A).
- Mobile Web vs. Native Apps: What are the... ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDIN ME?!?!Enough already please... Yesterday I received another invitation to an event regarding the super annoying them of Mobile Web vs Native Apps (you can find it...
- iTunes Connect: New delivery tool for In-App Purchase and Game Center metadataWow, I guess it's a big day for Apple developers... A second email was just sent out informing about a new tool.
- New App Store marketing badges availableThe iTunes Connect team recently informed all Apple developers that there are new graphics available for use.
- Other Diseases of Affluence: Depression, Obesity, DiabetesIntroduction As time passes by and many bad things are being erased there are new ones that come up. This is particularly true in the medicine field.
- Why EU startups are an incredible opportunity for US investorsStefano brings some great insights... as usual!
- Mobile Payments in Apps - What are the options?Getting paid has always been a priority in any business. Nowadays that customers are more "spoiled" than every, you have to make it extremely easy for them...
- What's new in Cordova iOS 2.2.0I upgraded my whole working suite yesterday (Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion, Xcode 4.2 to Xcode 4.5.1, PhoneGap 1.4.1 to PhoneGap 2.1).
- What can be edited once an iOS app is live (without update)?Like I already briefly mentioned here, defining an app's timeline is extremely important. In order to take advantage of some tweaks and elements, we first...
- Cross Cultural Management (May 2005)Introduction In today's increasing globalization and multi cultural companies the importance of our background and our culture gets put to the side.
- Approaching the iPhone App Business: "Se lo fai, falloI love making apps for early stage startups. Many of my clients are big companies that are scared to fall behind and therefore just want an iPhone app.
- New iOS Paid Applications Contract Amendment - Changes by AppleThis morning when I logged in iTunes Connect to check some routine "stuff", I was greeted with a message from Apple.
- Introduction to GitHubWish I found this when I first started! It makes it extremely easy and clear for everyone.
- PhoneGap 2.1.0 in Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8: from Download to iOS App StoreVery nicely put. Will give it a try tomorrow!
- Coin Toss Extreme - The First Coin Flip Game for iPhoneI always refused to develop games for iOS devices. I don't spend much time playing videogames (I actually don't) and therefore had no idea what could be a...
- Business Organization & Leadership: A look at Renault and Korea (Apr 2004)Introduction In general terms there are many reasons for which a company might want expand internationally.
- iTunes Store API (finally?)Not long ago I ran into this page. I remember first seeing it some time ago but then, like with many things, I just "dropped it".
- New iOS 6 Fonts for iPhone & iPadApple recently released and updated the list of fonts available in the latest iOS firmware: iOS6. You can find the full list here.
- The Hype of Silicon ValleyVenture Beat just published an article regarding Silicon Valley, contributed by serial entrepreneur Bill Karpovich.
- AppStore Optimization (ASO) - The Complete Guide to Enhancing Downloads & SalesThe following is the most update way to optimize your app for the Apple AppStore. App Name - use descriptive app name which includes (additional) keywords...
- Business and Congressual Tourism in the Area of Florence (Dec 2003)Introduction The new millennium sees the tourism industry become more and more a main business of the general economy.
- QR Codes are picking up steam and become a real toolSeems like QR codes are finally strengthening their position as a marketer's tool (you can find an infographic, everyone loves them, here).
- How test and pick the best iPhone app icon (automation)I recently made my first "graphic investment" for one of my apps. I created a contest where designers had to come up with a new icon for one of my most...
- A beautiful iPhone app icon thanks to 99DesignsI'm a developer. After the years I spent developing for iPhone I'm confident in saying I can recreate any layout.
- 8 Qualities of top modern CEO / Entrepreneur / FounderStartups are popping up everywhere, the average company size has been going down and certainly without lowering the quality standard.
- Craigslist listings on mapCraigslist has always been an incredible resources for anyone who wanted to make some kind of deal.
- Legal issues with APIs and their useThese days there is a lot of rumors going on regarding Craigslist and how they seem to be tightening the grip on other services that appear to be using...
- Facebook Gifts: seems like it'll be a flopFacebook is taking off a newfangled emphasize to its users that will permit them to buy true gifts for each other for example gift cards, sustenance, and...
- Create graphs with HTML5 JavaScript and CSS3The big deal of HTML5 is that it brings A LOT of power to modern browsers; it's isn't just the addition of semantic tags or declaration updates.
- 7 Tips to maximize your app's revenue with ads $$$Everyone already told you the freemium is the currently the way to go to make money with your app, especially if it's game.
- Your Own App is the Ultimate Brand BuilderI just came across this article. It basically brings to attention a trend that is becoming a necessary step in todays society.
- How to Make a Successful Pitch of your StartupI recently relocated to San Francisco as have been amazed by the energy you feel all around.
- Big Day for MyLyricsMyLyrics is one of my most successful apps when looking at number of downloads (over 325,000).
- Evernote ConferenceToday I'm at the Evernote Trunk Conference in San Francisco. It's awesome to live here since I get to attend all these amazing events!
- Finally in SFWe left Italy on the 3rd of August and after two weeks of spending time with the US family, we finally made it San Francisco.
- Advertising in iOS appsMany people, sooner or later, wonder what is the best way to monetize their iPhone apps. There are many different possibilities but for some (high...
- Apple App Store Expedited ReviewLast year I created an app for the famous Crawford County Fair which takes place in Meadville, PA. This is the largest agricultural fair in Pennsylvania!
- Relocating!My wife and I decided to relocate to San Francisco. I was there only during Apple's WWDC but am sure it'll be an amazing experience.