Daniel Reeves
Tech Business Writer
About Daniel
Daniel has served as a fractional CTO for over a dozen early-stage startups, giving him a front-row view of what software development actually costs, how long it really takes, and where teams consistently go wrong. He writes about technology investment, build vs buy decisions, and how founders can get more from their development budget without sacrificing the quality that determines long-term success.
Background
- Fractional CTO for 12+ startups
- 15 years in software engineering
- Technology advisor
Writes About
Interests & Hobbies
Interests
- Open source software
- Technology economics
- Cycling
Hobbies
- Building mechanical keyboards
- Smoking brisket
Fun Facts
Keeps a live spreadsheet comparing every project estimate he has ever received to the actual delivery date and cost.
Can identify the tech stack of most SaaS products within thirty seconds of using them.
Articles by Daniel
June 23, 2026 ·4 min read
Best AI Agent Boilerplate in 2026 (Ship Agent Apps & MCP Servers Faster)
The best AI agent boilerplates in 2026. Compare starter kits for building agent apps and MCP servers with tool calling, auth, billing, and usage metering so you can ship an agent SaaS in days.
June 23, 2026 ·5 min read
Best Boilerplate for Lovable in 2026 (From Prototype to Production)
The best boilerplates to pair with Lovable in 2026. Take your AI-generated prototype to a production-ready SaaS with real auth, Stripe billing, and a scalable codebase.
June 12, 2026 ·8 min read
How to Hire a Company to Build a Custom AI Product (2026 Guide + Vetted Vendors)
Want to hire a company to build a custom AI product? Here is what it costs in 2026, how to choose, the red flags to avoid, and our vetted vendor list ranked by budget.
June 10, 2026 ·6 min read
Vibe Coding vs Traditional Coding: An Honest Comparison
Vibe coding vs traditional coding compared honestly. Speed, code quality, maintainability, and cost, plus the hybrid approach that beats both on real projects.
June 9, 2026 ·6 min read
From AI Wrapper to Real Product: Building a Moat Before Margins Collapse
AI wrappers print money until they don't. The four moats that turn a thin model wrapper into a defensible product (workflow, data, distribution, and trust) with a 90-day plan.
June 6, 2026 ·5 min read
Vibe Coding With Cursor: Setup, Workflow, and the Habits That Matter
How to vibe code in Cursor. Setup, Composer and agent mode, .cursorrules, the iteration workflow, and when to put a boilerplate underneath it.
June 5, 2026 ·6 min read
Adding an MCP Server to Your SaaS: Why 2026 Is the Year
MCP became the standard way AI agents connect to software: 97M monthly SDK downloads, support in every major assistant. What an MCP server does for a small SaaS and how to ship one in a week.
June 1, 2026 ·6 min read
Engineering as Marketing: Free Tools as Growth Engines in 2026
Free tools are the marketing channel technical founders are best equipped to win: calculators, generators and utilities that earn traffic, links and AI citations for years. The complete playbook.
May 28, 2026 ·6 min read
Build in Public in 2026: Does It Still Work?
Build in public made careers in 2021. In 2026 the feeds are crowded with revenue screenshots and AI-generated updates. An honest look at what still works and what's theater.
May 26, 2026 ·8 min read
Cursor + a SaaS Boilerplate: The Fastest Path to a Production SaaS in 2026
Cursor is only as good as its starting point. Pairing it with a SaaS boilerplate is the fastest path to a production app in 2026. Here's the workflow and the best foundations.
May 24, 2026 ·5 min read
15 Product Hunt Alternatives Ranked for Indie Makers (2026)
Product Hunt is saturated, but 15 launch platforms still deliver real traffic and backlinks for indie makers in 2026, ranked by effort, audience, and durable value.
May 20, 2026 ·6 min read
41% of Code Is Now AI-Generated: A Code Review Playbook for Solo Founders
You can't read every line your AI agent writes, and you shouldn't try. A practical review system for solo founders: what to always review, what to automate, what to skip.
May 16, 2026 ·5 min read
Claude Code vs Cursor vs Codex: Which AI Coding Agent for Your MVP?
An honest 2026 comparison of Claude Code, Cursor, and OpenAI Codex for solo founders building an MVP: strengths, pricing, workflows, and which to pick for your situation.
May 12, 2026 ·6 min read
The AI-Agent-Ready Boilerplate Checklist: 10 Things Claude Code Needs From Your Starter Kit
In 2026, the best boilerplate is the one your AI coding agent can understand. Here are the 10 properties that make a starter kit agent-ready, and how to check them before you buy.
March 12, 2026 ·12 min read
Seed Funding for AI Startups: What Investors Want to See in 2026
Seed funding for AI startups hit a median of $4.6M in 2025. But the bar is higher than ever. Here's exactly what seed investors look for, who the most active investors are, and how to run a smart seed process.
March 11, 2026 ·7 min read
What Does a Product Studio Do? (And Is It Right for Your Project?)
Product studios have become the preferred build partner for non-technical founders, but most people don't know exactly what they do. Here's a clear breakdown of what a product studio actually delivers.
March 9, 2026 ·12 min read
Funding for AI Startups in Canada: The Complete 2026 Guide
Canada has some of the world's best AI startup funding programs, and most founders don't use half of them. Here's the complete map of grants, VCs, accelerators, and tax credits available in 2026.
March 6, 2026 ·8 min read
20 Questions to Ask a Software Development Company Before You Hire Them
Hiring a software development company without asking the right questions is one of the most expensive mistakes a founder can make. Here are 20 questions that expose the difference between a great partner and a costly mistake.
March 4, 2026 ·8 min read
Product Studio vs Software Agency: What's the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
Product studio or software agency? If you're building an AI product, choosing the wrong type of partner will cost you time, money, and momentum. Here's how to tell the difference.
March 3, 2026 ·11 min read
AI SaaS Development Agency vs. Product Studio: Which One Actually Builds Your Product?
Searching for an AI SaaS development agency? Before you hire one, understand the real difference between agencies, product studios, and freelancers, and which is right for your stage.
February 28, 2026 ·9 min read
How Long Does It Actually Take to Build an AI Product? Honest Timelines for 2026
Tired of being quoted 12 to 18 months? Here are the honest timelines for building an AI product in 2026, what affects speed, and how to actually ship fast without cutting corners.
February 28, 2026 ·9 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Build an AI Product in 2026? An Honest Breakdown
Agency quotes for AI products range from $30k to $500k. Here's what actually drives the cost, what you should expect to pay, and how to get the most value for your budget.
February 28, 2026 ·11 min read
Should You Outsource Your AI Product Development? The Honest Answer for Business Founders
Thinking about outsourcing your AI product? Here's when outsourcing is the smart move, when it's a mistake, how to structure the engagement, and what the best founders do differently.