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You build fast.
You feel like a genius.
You’ve got an MVP live by Friday and your team’s buzzing.
And then... your app faceplants in front of your first real users.
That’s the vibe coding trap. And it’s claiming more startups by the day.
Last week, I sat down with Jared Neutel, founder of an 8-figure dev agency with 200+ engineers and one of the few people who’s been scaling AI-assisted software before the LinkedIn influencers caught on.
Between us, we’ve seen everything from brilliant founders with busted apps to vibe-coded prototypes that couldn’t handle a gentle breeze, let alone real traffic.
Here’s the pattern we see over and over:
Founders get hypnotized by AI’s speed.
They skip the boring stuff. Security, scalability, structure.
They end up with tech debt, lost users, and investor embarrassment.
And the core problem?
There’s a Grand Canyon-sized gap between vibe coding and AI-assisted development.
So Jared and I decided to unpack what’s really happening in this new era of AI-built software, and why most early-stage products are setting themselves up to fail.
Prompting ≠ Programming
Let’s be clear:
Vibe coding is magic.
You can spin up a prototype in hours.
You can go from “what if…” to “look at this…” before lunch.
And for personal projects, internal tools, or testing an idea?
It’s perfect.
But here’s where founders blow it:
They try to vibe code all the way to scale.
That’s when the fun stops.
That’s when you realize the thing you built can’t handle real traffic, real users, or real money.
The founders who win?
They flip the switch from vibe coding to AI-assisted development.
They treat AI like the world’s fastest junior developer:
Great for drafts.
Useless without oversight.
Dangerous if you let it touch production without a grown-up in the room
Big Player Move: Vibe code to get the idea out. Strategically scale it to survive contact with the real world.
The Era of 0 to 0.5 (Where Most Startups Die)
We’re in what Jared and I call the 0 to 0.5 era of AI development.
You can get halfway to a product faster than ever.
You can spin up an MVP in a weekend.
You can impress investors with a slick demo.
But here’s where founders get smoked:
They confuse 0.5 with done.
That other half?
That’s where the game is won or lost.
That’s where:
Security holes sink you.
Users churn when the product crashes.
Investors walk when they realize you built a toy, not a business.
Speed without structure is just a faster way to screw yourself.
The founders who win are the ones who know when to pivot from vibe mode to build-it-right mode.
Big Player Move: AI gets you to the starting line faster. But it won’t get you across the finish line unless you layer in structure, systems, and strategy.
The 3 AI Layers Every Founder Needs (To Not Wreck Their Launch)
This isn’t about learning to code.
It’s about protecting your startup from the hidden dangers of speed.
Here’s how to use AI to scale smart, not sloppy.
Layer 1: Clarify or Die
Your idea sounds brilliant, to you.
But when you hand it to your dev team? Confusion, wasted sprints, budget burn.
Fix it:
Use AI as your Chief Clarity Officer.
Feed AI your messy thoughts, goals, and what you think the app should do.
Then run this: My favorite PRD prompt.
Make it spit back:
Clear specs
User stories
Task lists with definitions of done
Big Player Move: “Bad instructions cost more than bad code. Use AI to get everyone building the same thing.”
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Layer 2: Protect Your Launch (And Your Reputation)
Your app works in the demo.
But what happens when 1,000 users show up?
Will it crash? Leak data? Trigger a lawsuit?
Founders don’t need to read code—but you DO need to know it’s solid.
Fix it:
AI tools like CodeRabbit & Neucheck are your product insurance policy.
They scan your product for hidden risks before your users (or regulators) find them.
Why it matters:
Prevents “Oh shit” launch-day disasters
Gives investors confidence you’re not playing amateur hour
Keeps your team focused on building, not patching
Lets you sleep at night
Big Player Move: Don’t check the code. Check the risk.
Layer 3: Make Distribution Your Moat (Not Just Your Afterthought)
Your real problem:
Most founders obsess over product—and ignore distribution until launch day.
That’s backwards.
Product gets you in the game.
Distribution is how you win it.
AI Fix:
Use AI not just for coding, but to build your distribution machine from day one.
How you should be thinking:
Use AI to generate hundreds of micro-content pieces from every build log, user feedback, or founder update
Turn product updates into X threads, LinkedIn posts, TikToks, and email drips automatically
Use AI to monitor your competitors’ messaging, SEO, and ads. So you can punch above your weight
Set up AI agents to scrape, tag, and engage your ICP across social platforms and niche communities
Why it matters:
Distribution compounds. If you wait until launch day, you’re already too late.
AI lets you build an unfair advantage by turning your build process into your marketing flywheel
Keeps you top of mind while you’re still iterating product
Turns distribution from a slog into a system
Big Player Move: The best founders don’t just build products. They build audiences. AI makes it stupid easy. No excuses.
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Oh, and by the way, Jared and I also built an AI events app + social network with the world’s collection of music.
Imagine planning your entire weekend with friends in one sentence. That's what we built.
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