The New Startup Playbook: Build Fast, Scale Later

THIS WEEK’S STORY

There’s a new playbook emerging and if you’re here, you're already living it.
I see it all the time with the new wave of "Vibe Founders" building apps today.

It goes something like this:

• Come up with a strong, vibe-driven idea, not from spreadsheets but from intuition.

• Build a very lightweight MVP using AI, no-code, or minimal code (maybe a weekend or two).

• Launch it fast to a small, engaged audience, not some massive PR campaign.

• If it sticks? THEN start layering in product, brand, community, and scaling ops.

The new startup playbook:

• Build a V1 in a few weeks

• Launch on TikTok

• Get customers

• THEN fundraise

• THEN build team

• THEN become a “real company"

You don’t need millions in funding, an army of engineers, or a 50-page business plan anymore.

You just need a vibe, the courage to ship fast, and the creativity to learn on the fly.

Vibe Coding isn’t just for apps, it’s for companies now too.

And the early movers are going to eat everyone’s lunch.

THIS WEEK’S TIP

How to Prompt AI When Building iOS Apps

If you're using AI to build your app (and you should), you need to prompt it properly, otherwise you’ll end up frustrated, fixing dumb errors for hours.

Here's the simple guide:

1. Pick the right stack for your goal
   If you're serious about a fully native iOS app → Learn the basics of SwiftUI.
   If you want to build once and launch fast on web + mobile → Learn the basics of React Native or NextJS.

2. Write a simple Product Requirement Doc
   Before you even open ChatGPT, write a few bullet points:

   • What features you want

   • What the "done" version looks like

   • Step-by-step instructions (one task per chat!)

3. Provide small working examples
   Instead of saying “Build an onboarding flow,” say “Here’s a working login screen. Add a 'Create Account' button.”

4. Use version control
   Always have a way to roll back. Even basic Git saves you from AI-generated messes.

5. When you get stuck, reset the chat
   Don’t keep hammering away in the same thread.
   Open a fresh chat, clearly explain:

   • What you expected

   • What went wrong

   • Error logs or screenshots

Mastering how you talk to AI is just as important as learning SwiftUI or React Native.

It’s your new co-founder; treat it like one!

QUICK HITS

• Baidu Launches ERNIE 4.5 Turbo and X1 Turbo: Faster, cheaper AI models with new no-code tools and realistic digital humans for developers.

• Study Flags AI Code Security Risks: 20% of AI-generated code references fake packages, raising “slopsquatting” concerns.

• Anthropic Criticized for Claude Code Removal: Developers push back, reigniting debates over AI openness and licensing.

• ZenCoder Updates Platform for DevOps: New features boost GitHub, JIRA, and Sentry integration, plus “Coffee Mode” for background tasks.

• China Calls for Healthy AI Growth: President Xi urges balancing innovation with strong AI governance.

And That is all for this week!

See you next Saturday!

Filippo

Filippo Pietrantonio

Find me on X, or Book a 1:1 Call