[cootsnuck]

Yup. I'm starting to wonder if the startup space has a pretty big blind spot not realizing that how easy it is to build mostly/semi functioning software is not a unique advantage...

I left an AI startup to do tech consulting. What do I do? Build custom AI systems for clients. (Specifically clients that decided against going with startups' solutions.) Sometimes I build it for them, but I prefer to work with their own devs to teach them how to build it.

Fast forward 3+ years and we're going to see more everyday SMBs hiring a dev to just build them the stuff in-house that they were stuck paying vendors for. It won't happen everywhere. Painful enough problems and worthwhile enough solutions probably won't see much of a shift.

But startups that think the market will lap up whatever they have to offer as long as it looks and sounds slick may be in for a rude surprise.

[raw_anon_1111]

Of course it still makes sense to have a startup. Not because you will ever find a decent enough market. But if you are well connected enough you can find a VC and play with other people’s money for awhile.

You aren’t doing it to get customers, it’s for investors and maybe a decent acquisition

[MangoToupe]

> Fast forward 3+ years and we're going to see more everyday SMBs hiring a dev to just build them the stuff in-house

I don't see this happening. Businesses generally want familiar tools that work reliably with predictable support patterns.