Build to Last or Patchwork? Choosing the Right Technology Strategy for Startups

Startups often face a critical decision: Should we develop our software quickly and flexibly to enter the market fast, or should we invest in a scalable architecture from the start? This article examines both approaches and explains why I recommend beginning with a fast and disposable solution—a “patchwork” approach—despite many experts favoring scalability from the outset.

High Development Speed with Flexible Tools

In the early stages of a startup, speed is crucial. Therefore, I suggest using low-code or no-code platforms like FlutterFlow or Bubble. These tools allow applications to be developed quickly and cost-effectively, enabling startups to create first versions, test ideas, and make adjustments with minimal effort. They also allow for experimenting with ideas, iteratively adjusting, and discarding them if necessary, without incurring high costs. The advantage? If the solution doesn’t resonate with the market, it can be easily discarded—without having sunk significant time and resources into complex architectures.

The “Good Problem” of Growth

The goal is to reach a point through rapid iteration and market feedback where the platform begins to hit technical limits. Success in the market can mean the system buckles under high user load, requiring it to be reengineered for scalability. These are the “good problems” we want, as they indicate that the product is working in the market and it’s time to adapt the architecture. New team members might criticize the initial “patchwork” approach, but without it, the company might never have reached the stage where scalability becomes an issue.

Embrace flexibility: Startups need speed, not perfection, to scale successfully.

The Risky Approach of Perfection from Day One

Some startups—and many experts—opt for scalable systems from the outset, aiming to be prepared for the long haul. The downside? These complex architectures delay market entry and experimentation significantly, often leaving the company without the user base to justify scalability. There’s a real risk that the company invests a lot of time and resources into theory without ever reaching the growth phase that would put it to practical use.

The ChatGPT Example: Success without Perfection

An example of the success of the patchwork approach is ChatGPT. Originally intended as an internal tool for testing AI interactions, the idea arose to make a chat interface publicly available. The OpenAI team anticipated a few community comments—and then to move on. Instead, the platform became unexpectedly popular, and the team spent the following months adapting the infrastructure to meet increasing demand. Sometimes, an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) can achieve far more than a "perfect" solution.

Conclusion: Embrace Flexibility

In my experience, startups that begin with flexibility are more successful in the long term. The philosophy is: develop quickly, test early, and be willing to discard solutions if necessary. Only by doing so can you reach the “good problem” of scaling. Those who focus only on stability often miss the opportunities that a quick and flexible market entry can bring.

(c) me ^ chatGPT

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