# Altar.io > Custom Product & Software ## Posts - [Proptech 3.0 and The Rise of Crypto Securitization in Real Estate](https://altar.io/proptech-3-0-rise-crypto-securitization-real-estate/): Proptech or Real Estate Technology has had several stages in its yet short-lived existence. The consensus is that soon we will have more startups that will automate several processes in time-consuming and expensive usages. But the truly revolutionary aspect will be the advent of Crypto Securitization. According to Oxford’s Said Business School Proptech Report, we are now charging ahead towards new ventures aimed at reaching Proptech 3.0. This could bring along sophisticated asset analytics and even trading capabilities that could make real estate significantly more liquid. To an extent that might make it almost as liquid as financial assets via crypto securitization. It will be the financial […] - [Angulartics2 – A Powerful Analytics tool for Angular Applications](https://altar.io/powerful-analytics-tool-for-angular-applications-angulartics2/): We’ve created the open-source library Angulartics2 to plug into your Angular single-page app (SPA) for analytics integration. It allows you to do event tracking and it is ready to integrate with Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, Kissmetrics, Mixpanel, Piwik, Segment, Baidu Analytics and Facebook Pixel. Problem Most analytics providers do not automatically track the browser’s navigation history, making it difficult to track single-page applications (SPAs) like Angular applications. Simple Solution To tackle this problem we developed a simple open-source library called Angulartics2. By plugging Angulartics2 in your Angular apps it will automatically track navigation events and send them to your plugged-in Provider, such as Google Analytics. Angulartics2 also comes with […] - [Hutsi - The Marketing Automation AI Tool We Created From Head to Toe](https://altar.io/hutsi-the-marketing-automation-ai-tool-were-creating-from-head-to-toe/): Are You Relevant To Your Customers and Leads? When we think about the future of marketing we must immediately think about being 100% relevant. Utopia or not, the brands nailing the marketing automation today are already highly relevant to their customers. They are able to deliver the right content at the right time, through the right channel. Well crafted Marketing automation not only enhances ROI but it also raises brand awareness. This means a consumer/customer tends to receive less spam, receiving instead what he wants – when he wants – in the correct context. This applies to both B2C and B2B! Hutsi is a marketing automation AI […] - [The Well-Performing Digital Team for Your Agile Projects](https://altar.io/the-well-performing-digital-team-for-your-agile-projects/): Great! You’re adopting an agile methodology for your digital project. However, you don’t know how to structure an effective team capable of executing and delivering good quality on schedule. You are also unsure of the characteristics of such a team We often hear about the greater advantages of the Agile philosophy compared to the “traditional” waterfall approach. In which you plan and execute a long-term project that is complete on the day of release. Very few times, however, do we hear about the team characteristics that will best fit projects using the Agile philosophy. Many times, when consulting with Altar.io, I’ve […] - [The Most Exciting Updates Announced at Figma Config 2023](https://altar.io/updates-announced-at-figma-config/): Last week, I attended Figma’s annual design conference, Figma Config, to learn about all the innovative updates they’re bringing to the platform. As a senior UX/UI designer with added experience in visual design content and web development, I’m used to pushing Figma to its limit to help drive projects forward. At Altar, Figma is an essential part of our product creation process. It’s the ultimate meeting point for almost all stakeholders involved in the project: the design team, the managers, the clients, the developers, the product team and many more. Figma has always been a fantastic tool to craft, share and iterate on […] - [Mastering the Art of Communicating Your Startup's Value Proposition](https://altar.io/mastering-the-art-of-communicating-your-startups-value-proposition/): Your value proposition is critical to the success or failure of your startup. Think about the last time you chose a SaaS product. Maybe you asked a friend or a colleague for a reference. Maybe you went to a review platform like G2. Or maybe you did your own research, saw a few demos and went for it. Now compare that with the process you used for acquiring a SaaS product 10/15 years ago. Not really the same, right? On one hand that happens because your standards have changed. Fifteen years ago we had fewer solutions; way more tolerance for a bug […] - [10 European Countries With the Best Tax Reliefs for Startups [2026]](https://altar.io/incorporating-startup-eu-overview-tax-reliefs-country/): 2026 update: European startup tax regimes change frequently. Several schemes mentioned below — including Portugal’s NHR (replaced by IFICI in 2024), the UK’s EIS/SEIS thresholds, and various R&D tax credits — have been revised since this article was first published. Always verify the current rules with the relevant tax authority or a local advisor before making incorporation decisions. Europe has long been recognised as a centre for innovation. In recent years, the tech startup ecosystem has experienced remarkable resilience across the continent in spite of economic downturns due to COVID-19 and the subsequent war in Ukraine.  This is, in part, due to numerous European countries having […] - [Inside the Marketing Playbooks of Unicorn Entrepreneurs: Lessons for Your Startup](https://altar.io/inside-the-marketing-playbooks-of-unicorn-entrepreneurs-lessons-for-your-startup/): In today’s competitive business landscape, startups must prioritise their marketing strategies to create a lasting impact and establish a strong foothold in their respective industries. And one way to learn about creating a lasting impact is to look at how successful entrepreneurs have achieved that goal already. That’s why, in this article, I will explore five key factors that have driven the marketing success of renowned entrepreneurs, such as Alexis Ohanian, Steve Huffman, Garrett Gafke, Joe Procopio, Richard Branson, Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman and Brian Chesky. Many of whom sat down with our CMO & Partner, Rui, to share their advice. […] - [Launching a Tech Startup in a Market Downturn: 6 Key Elements to Consider](https://altar.io/key-elements-to-consider-launching-a-tech-startup-in-a-market-downturn/): The tech industry is known for its fast-paced and constantly evolving landscape. In this environment, startups are often in a race against time to gain traction, secure funding and establish themselves in the market. However, when a market downturn hits, these challenges become even more daunting. The funding dries up, customers become more hesitant to adopt new products, and competition intensifies. Startups that don’t address these challenges can quickly find themselves in trouble. A report by CB Insights found that 66% of startups that raised seed or Series A funding during the last major global financial crisis, between 2008 and 2010, failed within […] - [The Ultimate Guide to Hiring a Product Manager for Your Startup](https://altar.io/ultimate-guide-hire-product-manager-startup/): Since me and my co-founders launched Altar in 2015, we’ve helped over 80 entrepreneurs bring their startup visions to life by helping them with both their software development and product rationale. Many of them have gone on to hire a Product Manager of their own once they’ve worked with us to validate their product in the market with an MVP. A task which is no small feat. The role of the Startup Product Manager is still relatively new in Europe – at least when compared with other markets like the US. Firstly, this makes the pool of talent available smaller right out of […] - [How Y Combinator Taught me What Really Matters When Building a Startup [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/y-combinator-taught-me-what-really-matters-when-building-a-startup/): Being a software development agency that works with entrepreneurs to help them build their startups, our whole marketing strategy is focused on creating valuable resources to help them turn their visions into reality. Recently, our team was working on one of those resources – an article explaining the benefits entrepreneurs can gain from going through startup accelerator programs like Y Combinator and 500 Startups. And although that article was fantastic from a theoretical perspective, I felt like we needed some information in that article from people who had experienced it. So I started reaching out to alumni from Y Combinator and […] - [Where to Find a Technical Co-Founder for Your Startup [With Case Studies]](https://altar.io/where-to-find-a-technical-co-founder-for-your-startup/): It’s harder than ever to find the right technical co-founder to help you turn your business vision into a tangible startup product. This is largely thanks to the global developer shortage, which already amounts to over 40M skilled workers worldwide. For you, this shortage of technical talent means two things: It’s more difficult and will take you longer to find a tech co-founder who’s not already working on a project; When you do finally find someone you think will be the right fit, it’s going to take a whole lot to convince them to roll the dice and bet on your startup. It’s one of […] - [What Founders Must Know Before Spending Time Creating a Business Plan](https://altar.io/what-founders-must-know-before-creating-business-plan/): Since I started my career in Marketing over a decade ago, I’ve seen my fair share of go-to-market strategies, marketing and business plans. First, having started in a marketing agency, I got very well acquainted with business plans from companies ranging from some of the biggest public companies in Portugal all the way down to entrepreneurs who were selling vineyard tours in the Douro Valley. Then, since I joined Altar over three years ago, I had the chance to analyse, discuss and often help dozens of founders and business leaders build their products with us, with their go-to-market plans. From all […] - [What is Agile Scrum Methodology and How Can it Help Your Startup?](https://altar.io/agile-scrum-startup-guide/): If you’re an entrepreneur beginning your tech startup journey, you’ve probably heard the terms Agile and Scrum get thrown around. They’re often used interchangeably – which can cause a lot of confusion if you’re new to the two methodologies. Having spent the last three years as a Scrum Master, I’ve seen first-hand how daunted early-stage entrepreneurs can feel when presented with these, seemingly confusing terms. However, defining Agile and Scrum is actually pretty straightforward. The short answer is, that Agile is an approach to software development, while Scrum is one of the methodologies that fall under the Agile umbrella, alongside other […] - [Our 10 Best Entrepreneurship Articles of 2022 [Rated by Over 150k Entrepreneurs]](https://altar.io/best-entrepreneurship-articles-2022/): With another year over, we wanted to do a quick roundup of the best articles we published in 2022. As you may know, if you’re a regular visitor of this blog, I’m part of Altar.io, a product and software company that helps entrepreneurs bring their startup visions to life. Because we work with Founders, our entire marketing strategy revolves around helping entrepreneurs with valuable resources on everything to do with their startup journey. From technical content leveraging our expertise on building an MVP and finding technical stakeholders (like a CTO or tech co-founder) to interviews with successful entrepreneurs that are at […] - [React vs. Angular in 2026: Which Should You Use to Build Your Startup?](https://altar.io/react-vs-angular/): skip render: ucaddon_blog_top_quote Quick 2026 update: Both frameworks have evolved meaningfully. React 19 brought stable Server Components, the new use() hook and the React Compiler (auto-memoization), reinforcing its lead for new product builds. Angular has reached version 19+ with Signals, standalone components by default and SSR via Angular Universal/Hydration — making it more competitive than ever for enterprise-scale apps. The framework choice below still holds, but the gap has narrowed on performance and DX. AI codegen tools (Cursor, v0, Claude Code) also produce noticeably better React output than Angular today, which is worth weighing for early-stage teams. This is a question […] - [10 Essential Steps to Successfully Interview Developers [2026]](https://altar.io/essential-steps-to-successfully-interview-developers/): Quick 2026 update: The interview signals that matter most have shifted. Beyond the fundamentals below, in 2026 you should also probe how candidates work with AI coding assistants — fluency with tools like Cursor, Claude Code or GitHub Copilot, ability to spec and review AI-generated code, and judgment about when to not reach for an LLM — are now strong predictors of senior-level effectiveness. The global developer shortage has made it harder than ever to source high-quality talent for your startup. With that said, we’re starting to see a change in pace in the startup ecosystem. The Great Reset is truly upon us, with unicorn […] - [The List of Most Active 150 Fintech Investors [2026]](https://altar.io/ultimate-list-active-150-fintech-investors/): Looking for investors in Fintech? Pick up our list of 150 Fintech investors we've met, with all the meaningful information you need to go to battle. - [Software Development for Startups: The Entrepreneurs' Guide](https://altar.io/how-a-dev-agency-can-be-your-startups-best-friend/): If you’re looking for a service page on software development for startups, feel free to check ours here. If you’re interested in knowing more about how to successfully work with a software development company, keep reading. Below you’ll find our tried and tested process to successfully develop a startup product with an agency.  As a founder, you are a specialist in your industry. You’ve had your “lightbulb moment”, the idea that will disrupt your industry – or at least a part of it –  with the use of technology. You know all about the Lean Startup by Eric Ries. Maybe you’ve already decided […] - [4 Steps to Select The Right Technical Partner To Help You Build a Startup](https://altar.io/finding-the-right-tech-partner-for-your-startup/): Building a Startup? Hopefully, that means you’ve found a problem or inefficiency, you thought long and hard about it, and now have a vision on the best way to solve it with a technical solution. Problem is, as a non-tech founder, you’re probably struggling with the best way to bring this idea to life. If you’re already doing some research, you’ll know by now that there is no definitive answer as to what the best approach is. Some people believe you need to onboard technical talent from day one, not only to please investors but also for the overall success of […] - [Applying the Startup Mindset to Big Corp & Losing Half Your Your Staff in the Process [CEO Interview]](https://altar.io/applying-the-startup-mindset-to-big-corp-losing-half-your-your-staff-in-the-process-ceo-interview/): Making the difficult decision to move away from a traditional corporate structure and transforming a company’s culture to that of a Silicon Valley startup is a huge undertaking. An undertaking that Reed Taussig, an entrepreneur, business leader and VC with over 35 years of experience faced firsthand. He’s spent that time leading, advising and investing in tech corporations and startups. Notably managing Callidus Cloud from inception all the way to IPO and spearheading ThreatMatrix from pre-product launch through to acquisition by Lexis Nexis Risk Solutions. And, most recently, heading up Outseer as CEO, carving it out from RSA Security to make it a stand-alone company. He was brought in to revolutionise […] - [4 Steps to Ensure your Startup’s UX/UI Design Delights your Users](https://altar.io/ensure-startup-ux-ui-design-delights-your-users/): When it comes to building a new startup product, there are a few universal goals that every founding team sets out to achieve.  They want to build a product that solves a real problem for a specific niche of people. And they want that product to be functional, easy to use and beautiful.  When it comes to the former, solving a real problem for your customer, that all comes down to validating your assumptions. This is usually done with an MVP or POC (more on that here).  As for the latter, a product that is functional, easy to use and beautiful, […] - [How to Avoid Failure When Building a Startup With a Software Development Company](https://altar.io/how-to-avoid-failure-when-building-a-startup-with-a-software-development-company/): At Altar, a large part of my work revolves around talking to entrepreneurs about the topic of outsourcing to a software development company. Whether that’s on social media channels with entrepreneurs who are looking to discover more about outsourcing and its associated risks. Via email with entrepreneurs who’ve found us recently and are interested in learning more. Or entrepreneurs we’ve worked with for a while, telling me about their experience building a project with us, and the successes and hurdles that came with that process. I’ve seen how badly outsourcing can fail when you choose the wrong partner for the job. From startups […] - [12 Reasons Why Outsourcing Software Development Fails](https://altar.io/10-reasons-why-outsourcing-software-development-fails/): As an entrepreneur, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to outsourcing software development. I don’t know if you’re aware but there are at least 22k listed software development companies all over the world. This means you not only have to decide whether you should outsource or not, but you must also find a way to choose between the massive amount of options. And when we’re talking about 15,000 options, separating the wheat from the chaff is no mean feat. Choosing the wrong partner is one of the main reasons why outsourcing software development fails. Therefore it’s vital that you take the […] - [6 Critical Qualities You Need in a Product Manager for Your Startup](https://altar.io/qualities-product-manager-startup/): For the last 15 years, I’ve helped build over 70 products. From products for the startups that I’ve founded myself, to the numerous successful products I’ve helped other entrepreneurs bring to life through my work as CEO and Head of Product at Altar. In that time, I’ve also helped a lot of entrepreneurs find their product managers. It’s a tall order. The discipline of the product manager is still relatively new. Which makes the pool of people to choose from small to begin with. But, more importantly, they need to have a range of skills and experience that not many people have. For […] - [How This Unicorn Startup Founder Built an Airline Out of Necessity](https://altar.io/founder-interview-building-an-airline-and-an-innovative-fintech-product/): Two minutes into our latest startup founder interview – the ninth in the Startup Journey series – and I knew I was in for a treat. Just check out my face! It was during those first two minutes that Wade Eyerly shared a significant part of his background, like how he: Built an airline that pioneered subscription-based flying (that’s also a unicorn startup that just completed a successful IPO) Worked at the Pentagon as an Economist Served a tour in Iraq Built an innovative fintech product to solve a national crisis Throughout our conversation, Wade shared incredible lessons and insights from his startup experience. […] - [How a Startup Accelerator Catapulted my Entrepreneurial Journey (Founder Interview)](https://altar.io/founder-interview-startup-accelerator-alumni-500-startups/): Recently, my co-founder Paolo released an article on the 50 best startup accelerators in the US. In it, he shared an in-depth process of how to apply for the top 10 on that list and included reviews of each. One of those reviews came from 500 Startups Alumni, Bethany Stachenfeld. She’s the co-founder and CEO of Sendspark, a startup that’s revolutionising how companies connect with their customers using video communication. In just three years, her and her co-founders have raised over $1 million in funding, and Sendspark has quickly grown to over 10,000 users. So I reached out to Bethany, to see if […] - [5 Key Lessons on Finding a Co-Founder From Award-Winning Entrepreneurs](https://altar.io/key-lessons-on-finding-a-co-founder/): If you’re reading this, you’re most likely in the throes of finding a co-founder for your startup. And, as you’re probably already aware, the search isn’t easy. Finding someone with the perfect balance of hard and soft skills to become your partner in crime on this journey can be daunting. Choose poorly, and your startup may never launch. Or it may launch crippled, which is even worse. I’ve seen my fair share of toxic relationships over the last few years, and there are few things with worse outputs than a misalignment in the founding team. So it’s vital you find the […] - [6 Ways to Attract & Retain Developers for Your Startup](https://altar.io/ways-to-attract-retain-developers-for-your-startup/): When it comes to attracting and retaining software developers for your startup, there are several factors to consider to stay ahead of the curve. In recent years, finding a software developer has only gotten more difficult due to the global developer shortage. More than that, we saw The Great Resignation which began early in 2022. Talent from all sectors began to leave their jobs en masse in search of new opportunities. Specifically in the tech industry, at this time, only 29% of IT workers had a “high intent” to remain in their employment. This drove demand for developers up even further. Twinned with […] - [Hands-On Starlink Review: Does it Live Up to the Hype?](https://altar.io/starlink-review/): Recently, SpaceX launched Starlink in Portugal. So, naturally, I got one for Altar as soon as the pre-orders opened. A couple of weeks ago, the sleek satellite dish finally arrived. In no time at all, a couple of devs from my team and I had unboxed it and set it up in the garden outside our offices. https://altar.io/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/altarXstarlink.mp4 Fast forward to today, and I’ve had the opportunity to use Starlink, as well as run some tests. I’ll go through those later in the article, but first I want to talk about my initial impressions. Starlink Unboxing & First Impressions Inside the […] - [How to Build a Tech Startup in Portugal in 10 Simple Steps [2026]](https://altar.io/how-to-start-a-business-in-portugal/): Quick 2026 update: Portugal remains one of Europe’s most attractive places to launch a tech startup, but a few things have changed since this guide was first written. The headline NHR tax regime is being phased out for new applicants and replaced by the IFICI / “NHR 2.0” incentive aimed at highly qualified roles in tech and R&D. Web Summit has been confirmed in Lisbon through 2028, and the local AI/dev talent pool has deepened considerably. The 10 steps below have been refreshed accordingly — always confirm the most current rules with your accountant or lawyer before deciding. There are many reasons […] - [How to Build a Startup with Freelance Developers](https://altar.io/build-a-startup-with-freelance-developers/): Seven years ago, I set out to build my first tech startup. I had the product vision clear in my mind, but like many founders dealing with a technology-focused business for the first time, I didn’t have the technical skills to build it. At that point, I didn’t have the money to hire an agency, so I dove straight into meetup events to find a technical co-founder or freelance developer. I met a lot of tech folks who made the right noises. But at the time I was lost on who to pick. They were all suggesting different languages and frameworks […] - [Building an MVP? Here Are 3 Tools Your Project Manager Should Be Using](https://altar.io/project-manager-tools-to-build-an-mvp/): Over the last 20 years as a Project Manager, I’ve helped build many MVPs. Whether that’s working with a team directly, or as part of an agency partnering with a startup team to turn their vision into reality. In that time, I’ve used a number of different tools as the industry has evolved. In my experience, there are 3 types of tools that are mandatory for any startup looking to build an MVP. I’ve listed them below – as well as the specific ones I use every day. But first, I wanted to give you a glimpse into the hurdles of project […] - [3 Steps to Build a Successful MVP (Minimum Viable Product)](https://altar.io/features-inside-mvp-3-steps-know-answer/): Building a startup! You have an epiphany and say to yourself: This is a great idea! How didn’t anyone think of it before? I have to build it! Now! Fair enough but, as I’m sure you’ve heard, there are many hurdles that can lead to startup failure if you’re not careful — and you want to be among the founders that avoid them. Maybe you’ve already read The Lean Startup. You’re already considering building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and getting your idea tested ASAP. While testing as much as possible (and testing quickly) is vital, should you rush to build the first idea that pops into your mind? The […] - [6 Vital Lessons on Building a Startup Team from Multi-Million Dollar Entrepreneurs](https://altar.io/vital-lessons-on-building-a-startup-team/): I am fond of quoting that about 70% of my investment decision of an early-stage company is the team. My rationale is simple: everything goes wrong and only great teams can respond to competitors, markets, funding environments, staff departures, PR disasters and the like. Mark Suster, Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist This quote is something I believe more and more over my time working with entrepreneurs. It’s all about the people. And Mark and I are not the only ones. In fact, this seems to be common in most successful founders I meet. So it was not a surprise that my interviews with successful […] - [The 5 Best Startup Incubators Worldwide and How They Can Help You [2026]](https://altar.io/best-startup-incubators/): I want to start this guide on startup incubators with two important points. First, Incubators are for startups. Not ideas. Second, incubators are organisations that bet on you by investing in you in exchange for equity. If they don’t, they’re just a real estate business. I learnt these two points the hard way. Let me explain the critical mistakes I made to give you more context and ensure you avoid making them too. When I was younger, just starting my entrepreneurial journey, I took part in an incubator. But I went with an idea on a napkin. I didn’t have a fully formed vision for […] - [Forbes Highlights Altar.io’s Impact on the Portuguese Business Landscape](https://altar.io/impact-on-business-landscape-portugal-forbes/): Forbes has just released its country report from March 2022 and it’s all about Europe’s westernmost country, Portugal. And it’s certainly interesting to see our CEO and co-founder, Daniel, on the cover, alongside the Portuguese President and a host of other leaders from the Portuguese landscape. The report focuses on the market potential that Portugal presents, which is far larger than the 10.4M people on its mainland. Portugal also acts as a gateway to a global market of around 250M people in lusophone countries like Brazil and Mozambique, to name but two. This offers numerous advantages for investment from overseas. And that’s […] - [How I Found the Right Software Development Company for My Startup](https://altar.io/finding-a-software-development-company-startup/): I want to start by saying that I’m not a tech person. I qualified as a lawyer on the other side of the millennium, so I’m also older than your stereotypical startup founder. I started my career at Linklaters, one of the major law firms in London. I then moved to one of the big global banks, HSBC, and never looked back to law. My banking career started in 2005 and ended in 2019. During that time, I learned a lot about pain points in the industry, many of which are hidden pain points. Something else I also learned in that time was how […] - [10 Reasons Why You Should Build A Startup in Lisbon [2026]](https://altar.io/lisbon-great-place-develop-startup/): Quick 2026 update: Lisbon is still one of Europe’s most cost-effective places to build a startup, but a few things have shifted: the old NHR regime is being phased out and replaced by the IFICI tax incentive for highly qualified roles, Web Summit returned to Lisbon through 2028, and the local AI/dev talent pool has deepened considerably. The 10 reasons below have been refreshed accordingly. Over the last few years, Lisbon has blossomed into one of the best cities to build a startup in Europe — and the startup ecosystem isn’t showing signs of slowing down. The city is ranked the best […] - [From Struggling to Buy a TV to Getting Acquired by a $7.5B Fintech Monster](https://altar.io/from-struggling-to-buy-a-tv-to-startup-acquisition/): Throughout this series of interviews, I’ve talked to several non-tech entrepreneurs who’ve shared their insights and tips on building a startup. So, in this interview – the 10th in The Startup Journey series – it was great to sit down with a technical founder – Adarsh Jain. Besides that, it never ceases to amaze me the incredible stories we find in each of these conversations. Picture this. Your parents need a new TV. You go to an online store and try to order a shiny new set. Problem is, fraud is a big thing in your country. Some of these e-commerce platforms weren’t delivering to […] - [7 Entrepreneurial Mindset Lessons from Founders that Raised Millions](https://altar.io/entrepreneurial-mindset-lessons/): A large part of my role at Altar revolves around having conversations with entrepreneurs. First and foremost, I believe good marketing comes from speaking with the people you’re trying to help as frequently as possible. If you can combine that with a program that can bring value to the community and position your business, like our interview series, The Startup Journey even better. And then there are the informal conversations with all the entrepreneurs whose products we help bring to life on their go to market strategies. Throughout these conversations, the importance of having the right entrepreneurial mindset became clearer and clearer. Successful […] - [The 9 Best Coworking Spaces in Lisbon For Entrepreneurs [2026]](https://altar.io/10-best-coworking-spaces-lisbon-entrepreneurs/): Are you looking for the best coworking spaces in Lisbon? If so, I’ve created this list of the best choices based on price, transport links, networking benefits and reviews. Lisbon is a great to place to build your startup. Great food, the top-ranked country to work remotely, developed infrastructure, investment in sustainable transport options, rich culture, and nearly 2,800 hours of sun per year. These are just a few reasons why entrepreneurs are choosing the Portuguese capital to build their business whilst enjoying a great quality of life. Home of Web Summit, Lisbon has a plethora of options for your coworking needs. All of whom work […] - [When & How to Pivot Your Startup [With Real-Life Examples]](https://altar.io/startup-pivot-guide/): Starting a company is like jumping off a cliff and assembling a plane on the way down. That’s Linkedin’s founder Reid Hoffmann. And every single founder I know can vouch for that. My founding team had built over 10 startups before coming together to form Altar.io. Since then, we’ve helped over 60 other founders build their products. And it’s pretty much the same story every time. 10,000 fires burning 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As soon as you put one out, three more pop up. And, while you’re in the trenches dealing with all those fires, you still […] - [The Real Reason Why Altar.io Was Named A Top 1000 Company In 2021](https://altar.io/the-reason-why-altar-won-top-agency-2020/): Earlier this year, we were named by Clutch a top development partner in 2021. Today, I’m happy to announce that we’ve continued our streak of recognition and have now been named as one of the top 1000 companies worldwide in their latest round of awards. The exclusive list contains only the top 1%, most reputable companies who use the platform, and we’re honoured to make the cut. We’re very proud to have companies like Clutch and Goodfirms recognize our hard work, just as we are proud to regularly feature in articles and lists of the top development companies all over the world. But, as I’ve said before, we […] - [How to Write a Software Requirements Specification (SRS) Document in 5 Steps](https://altar.io/how-to-write-an-srs-document/): During my career, I’ve seen dozens of SRS documents for projects ranging in size using both agile and waterfall development methodologies Some were better than others, but critically, I can now easily spot a good one, from one that will get ignored. And if no one reads your SRS you will be left with problems like conflicts in features, unrelated data, team members not understanding whether or not the feature they’re building aligns with what the product team have asked for, the list goes on. Throughout this article, I will delve into what it takes to create one that will serve […] - [How to Build a SaaS Product That Gets Funded in 5 Steps](https://altar.io/how-to-build-a-saas-product/): Roughly a decade ago I decided to move away from my corporate job in investment banking in London to pursue something I always knew I wanted: to become an entrepreneur. I’d had this idea to build a marketplace in the social events space and decided it was time to do it. Like so many other stories of first-time entrepreneurs, I made some serious mistakes that eventually forced me to shut the project down. But it was far from a failure in my view. Firstly, I learnt a ton about how to build a startup. More than that, it was during this […] - [Busting the ‘Overnight Success’ Myth in Startups](https://altar.io/busting-the-overnight-success-myth-in-startups/): They came out of nowhere, now they’re making millions… They’re an overnight success! I’m sure you’ve heard this before or at the very least something like it. Publications love to bombard us with stories of entrepreneurs who find instant success. The problem is “instant success” simply doesn’t happen. Sure the stories get clicks, sell magazines and excite young entrepreneurs into thinking they can fast track their journey and become the next Jobs or Musk. But if you’re setting out to become an “overnight success” you’re setting yourself up for failure. The hard truth is that: Behind every ‘overnight success’ is years of commitment, […] - [7 Dangerous Mistakes to Avoid When Building an MVP](https://altar.io/mistakes-to-avoid-when-building-an-mvp/): Since we launched in 2015,  my co-founding team and I have had the opportunity to help build over 50 MVPs. From first-time founders with early-stage startups to seasoned entrepreneurs with multiple projects under their belts, all in a variety of regions across the globe. Despite the differences in size, location and resources, we’ve noticed that a lot of them made similar mistakes along the way. And while many of the hurdles you will encounter when building an MVP will be specific to you, some are common and easy to avoid. So I sat down with my co-founding team, to combine our […] - [Altar Co-founder Interviewed by Business Magazine](https://altar.io/altar-co-founder-interviewed-by-business-magazine/): Recently, our co-founder, Daniel, sat down with Portugal’s Valor Magazine to discuss Altar’s future. They covered everything from the work we dedicate ourselves to, to the future challenges we plan to tackle in our endeavour to become the category queen in product development. Here’s the full transcript from the interview. The Eyes of the World in a Boutique Portuguese Agency Altar.io has been in business for six years and is an international benchmark in building B2B and B2C software for startups and big corporations.  According to Daniel de Castro Ruivo (Co-Founder & Head of Product), Altar.io works mainly for the US, […] - [Lessons Learned From Over 25 Years in Silicon Valley [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/lessons-learned-from-over-25-years-in-silicon-valley-founder-story/): Recently, I sat down with serial entrepreneur and startup founder, Garrett Gafke to talk about how he built his startup, IdentityMind. The conversation was so packed with nuggets of entrepreneurial wisdom, that we ran out of time halfway through the script. Garrett was kind enough, however, to take the time out of his schedule to sit down with us again, to create part two. In part one, we discussed how Garrett validated his idea, timed his product and the beliefs and values that make up his entrepreneurial mindset (if you haven’t had the chance to read it you can see it here). […] - [How to Build a Million Dollar Startup by Falling in Love With a Problem, Not a Solution [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/founder-story-fall-in-love-with-problems-not-solutions/): Uri Levine, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Waze, famously coined the phrase: Fall in love with the problem, not the solution I’m sure you’ve heard it before. It’s quite a common expression in the startup scene. But what about a real-life example from someone who took that motto to heart and built a multi-million dollar startup as a result? Over the next few minutes, in the latest instalment of our series of interviews, The Startup Journey, I’ll guide you through the story of Ali Halabi. I’ll explain how this one important rule made him the successful entrepreneur he is today. In 2013, […] - [Remote Work vs. The Office: What’s Best for Your Startup?](https://altar.io/remote-work-vs-the-office-whats-best-for-your-startup/): In the last few years, there’s been a trend among startup founders to set up geographically distributed teams. Swarms of remote workers (dubbed Digital Nomads) started populating cafés and co-works across the world and ever since the remote work vs. office debate has been heating up. Then COVID hit. Offices closed, public transport stopped, the world seemed to grind to a halt. Nearly every service company in the world had to switch to a remote work model overnight. There was simply no choice – for the safety of ourselves and our teams we had to leave the office. It didn’t take […] - [7 Key Product Lessons I Learned Interviewing Successful Entrepreneurs](https://altar.io/key-product-lessons-i-learned-interviewing-successful-entrepreneurs/): In today’s digital world, consumers are more discerning than ever. Bad user experience, or a product that simply misses the mark, will lead your users to flock to your competitors in a heartbeat. The best way to avoid that nightmare is to focus on your product from the get-go. It’s something we advocate at Altar, and we’re not alone. In recent years, startups have been putting more and more focus on product, showing an increased demand for product managers as a result. While developing a recent content series, The Startup Journey, I sat down with a number of entrepreneurs to discuss their startups. I’ve taken a […] - [The Right Roadmap to Build an MVP: From Idea to Launch](https://altar.io/the-roadmap-to-build-an-mvp-from-idea-to-launch/): As a business person without the tech skills to build an MVP, it can be tempting to look for a software development partner as soon as possible. It’s a common trap that many entrepreneurs fall into. But, before even thinking about development,  you should be focussing on your product reasoning. It’s like entrepreneur and product expert Joe Procopio recently told me: You can do everything else right but if the product isn’t right, you’re doomed. You can recover from every other part of the MVP process failing. You can’t recover from a misfire on the product. It’s vital you know the problem […] - [How a Lot of Rejection and 4 Years in “Stealth Mode” Turned into $21M in Funding [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/founder-story-how-rejection-turned-into-21m-funding/): Launching a startup is a huge undertaking that will test your personal and professional relationships to the limit. Something serial entrepreneur and startup founder Garrett Gafke knows a thing or two about. He pioneered the digital identity industry when he founded his startup IdentityMind back in 2011.  After achieving over $21M in funding, and solidifying its place as an industry leader, IdentityMind was successfully acquired by Acuant. When I put it like that, it sounds like a pretty straightforward success story, right? Like most stories we hear, actually. Well, like most of those stories, that’s far from the truth. Success wasn’t always certain for IdentityMind. Back […] - [How Long Does It Take to Build an MVP? (Minimum Viable Product)](https://altar.io/how-long-it-takes-to-build-an-mvp/): If you’re reading this, chances are that you’re about to take the first step in turning your business vision into a reality by building an MVP. You’ve probably heard that a short time to market is essential if you’re to succeed – which is why you chose to build a lean, user-centric MVP. After all, in an ecosystem where 90% of startups fail, it’s best to test quickly and fail or succeed sooner rather than later. So, you want to know how long it will take for you to build an MVP and put it into the hands of your users. The short answer […] - [8 Steps to Follow to Build a Successful Marketplace](https://altar.io/eight-steps-follow-build-successful-marketplace/): If you’re reading this, most likely you want to build a marketplace that brings real disruption to your sector. The truth is, like with most things, there is no secret recipe that will guarantee your success. However, there is a structured process that can significantly reduce your chances of failure. Contents 1. Choose a Viable Industry Buyer and Supplier Critical Mass It’s easier to provide value (and relevance) when you build a marketplace in a sector that has lots of suppliers & buyers. When the sector is small (or too “niche”) it is unlikely that a lot of suppliers will sign […] - [Early-Stage Marketing Considerations for Startups [Expert Interview]](https://altar.io/marketing-for-startups-expert-interview/): In today’s business landscape, startups are notoriously hard to get off the ground – and the numbers back this up. High startup failure rate is the result of many factors, some structural, some circumstantial. No market need. Ran out of cash. Not the right team. A mistimed product. Poor marketing… The list goes on. Today’s article is about the one I know the best, and one that is often forgotten by early-stage startup founders. Marketing. Having worked with many entrepreneurs and business leaders in my marketing career, I’ve seen first-hand the common problems they face. Those problems are either: Related to the market […] - [Why Micro Teams are the Future of Software Development](https://altar.io/micro-teams-future-of-software-development/): The way we build tech products is constantly evolving. Not just in the languages and architecture we use, but also in the way the teams themselves are constructed. Micro teams are the latest example of that evolution. 15 years ago, there were a handful of internet companies in the world. Mid to large companies would open up a floor in their HQ for the tech team. Then, they would simply fill the roles as needed. Nowadays, however, that method of hiring developers is a lot harder. Now new tech startups are popping up every day – around 137,000 to be precise. This […] - [The Crucial First Steps to Build a Successful Tech Startup](https://altar.io/crucial-first-steps-to-build-tech-startup/): Author and iconic 1950s motivational speaker Earl Nightingale famously said: Everything begins with an idea. I would argue that, for an entrepreneur, this is a fallacy that often leads to the wrong mindset. Instead, I would say that for us entrepreneurs, everything begins with a problem to solve. In entrepreneurship, that’s all ideas are – potential solutions to peoples’ problems. Take Altar for example. My co-founders and I built over 10 startups between us before building Altar. In that time, we faced the challenge of trying to onboard tech stakeholders with an idea on a napkin first-hand. We also noticed that entrepreneurs around […] - [9 Crucial Lessons I Learned from Interviewing Successful Entrepreneurs](https://altar.io/crucial-lessons-learned-interviewing-successful-entrepreneurs/): Since launching in 2015 we’ve had one mandate in mind at Altar: To help entrepreneurs build successful startups. And because our founding team have built over 10 startups between them, they decided the best way to do that was to bring a lean, user-centric approach to product and software development. But it takes more than a great product to build a successful startup. We know it. We’ve been there. So we’ve always tried to be more than a service provider. To be somewhat of “an extended team of co-founders”, providing advice and guidance based on our own experience. So when I […] - [Custom Software Development Companies for Startups: How to Make it Work](https://altar.io/custom-software-development-companies-for-startups/): Finding the right technical stakeholder to help you build your startup is hard. You’ve probably already heard, and read, lots of opinions on “the only way” to go about it. Whether those opinions are from investors, advisors, friends, family, or a famous entrepreneur you look up to. Some will tell you that “investors invest in teams” so you must get a technical co-founder and build in-house. Others will tell you you’ll never be able to attract a decent tech cofounder with an idea on a napkin, and that the smart move would be to work with an agency to build an […] - [8 Traits to Consider if You Want to Find the Perfect Co-Founder](https://altar.io/intellectual-humility-and-the-7-traits-of-great-co-founders/): Since leaving the corporate world, and jumping into entrepreneurship I’ve been a founder of three startups. In that time I’ve seen my fair share of co-founders – both good and bad. Whether it’s in the co-founding teams I’ve built myself, or co-founding teams I meet thanks to the work I do at Altar.io. Through all of these experiences,  I’ve come to realise that the majority of successful co-founders share several key characteristics. And while finding someone with all these traits won’t spell success, it will decrease your chances of failure. Throughout this article, I’ll dig into these eight traits and share […] - [How an Experience in Turkey Led to a Million-Dollar Startup [Founder Interview]](https://altar.io/how-an-experience-in-turkey-led-to-a-million-dollar-startup-founder-interview/): Making the jump into entrepreneurship, and building a startup,  is rarely a rational decision. A good example of this comes from an entrepreneur I got to know recently, Sean Yu. He started his career at Lehman Brothers and Gryphon Investors. At this point, the rational decision for Sean was to go to business school in the US and pursue a steady career in finance. However, his interest in Economic development took him down a different path. An NGO based in Turkey. It was there, while working with entrepreneurs and their startups, that he found his entrepreneurial itch: My original goal was […] - [Building a Successful Fintech by Listening to the Market (Founder Interview)](https://altar.io/building-a-fintech-by-listening-to-the-market-founder-interview/): When serial entrepreneur Illit Geller started telling me her story, I could instantly see why the fintech startup she founded, TradAir raised $11M in its latest funding round. She didn’t just build a solution for her target market, she built it with her target market. Reaching out to them, listening to their problems and sharing ideas on how to solve them: Because we developed our fintech product with the market, in partnership with a bank, the initial release MVP of the product was spot on. As our conversation progressed, I started to see several other essential traits all successful entrepreneurs embody. Namely, how as CEO she spent most of […] - [What Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Startup Lawyers [Expert Interview]](https://altar.io/expert-interview-startup-lawyers/): I’ve seen my fair share of entrepreneurial mistakes over the years. And not all of them had to do with building the right product or assembling the right team. Some of them have to do with, you guessed it, legal issues that could’ve easily been solved with the help of a startup lawyer. Just a few days ago I was reading a story about an entrepreneur that decided to jump on a project with a friend. They co-founded a startup with equal equity, and then onboarded a third person, who would angel invest in the project. He worked every day for nine months, doing all […] - [Building a Fintech: 7 Key Lessons from Successful Founders](https://altar.io/key-lessons-fintech-founders/): Roughly a year ago, I started reaching out to fintech founders to ask them about their startup journeys, and discover how they overcame the common hurdles of building a fintech. My goal in doing this was to bring valuable insights to our community of entrepreneurs. After all, one of the best ways to avoid pitfalls is to learn from those who’ve experienced them first hand. Fast-forward to today, and I’ve had conversations with all kinds of fintech founders, from ones who took their businesses all the way to unicorn status, to others who managed to achieve a successful exit before they […] - [What Angel Investors Look For in Entrepreneurs and their Startups [Expert Interview]](https://altar.io/what-angel-investors-look-for-in-entrepreneurs-and-their-startups-expert-interview/): Many years ago, way before co-founding Altar.io, I quit my job in investment banking absolutely convinced I wanted to be an entrepreneur. So I set out to build my first startup, a social events marketplace. Like most first-time founders, I made some mistakes along the way. Well, maybe more than some. Including going to investors without enough to persuade them to open their wallets. I specifically remember one conversation in which I presented my idea, in great detail. About 5 minutes into my big speech he turned around and said: Paolo, I don’t give a sh*t about your idea… I need you […] - [The Ultimate Guide to Dedicated Software Development Teams](https://altar.io/ultimate-guide-dedicated-software-development-team/): Since founding Altar.io I’ve worked with a lot of entrepreneurs and business managers who struggle to find developers for their startup. Let me give you one example. Two years ago a data company from Switzerland reached out to me with this exact problem. They already had an in-house team and a successful product. However, they were now struggling to find local, top-tier talent to grow and expand their in-house team. So, instead of limiting themselves to one geography, they decided to look further afield and build a dedicated team of developers to augment their IT team. Two years later, it’s been […] - [What Entrepreneurs Should Know Before Hiring a Business Coach [Expert Interview]](https://altar.io/business-coach-for-entrepreneurs-expert-interview/): When you hit a roadblock on your entrepreneurial journey, it can often feel impossible to push through to the next milestone. And it’s a feeling all entrepreneurs face, myself included. While building my previous startup, Venga, hurdles came up, and I was often left feeling lost. I wish I’d had a sounding board. An experienced business person who I could’ve talked to about the business issues I was facing. Someone who could’ve helped me push my business to the next milestone. I wish I’d known the importance of business coaches for entrepreneurs. Having a business coach to go to for advice, […] - [How to Build a Marketplace [A Startup Case Study]](https://altar.io/venga-product-bible-ux-ui/): I’ll start by saying that this is more than a case study for me. This is the story of my first venture as a startup founder when I set out to build a marketplace. It was the end of 2014 and I couldn’t wait to leave banking behind and pursue the life of an entrepreneur. You know, throwing myself off a building and building the plane on my way down. That kind of thing. I had been cooking this idea to build a marketplace in the social events space for a while. So I approached a team of product & software […] - [Expert Interview: How to Hire Top Talent in Startups](https://altar.io/expert-interview-how-to-hire-top-talent-in-startups/): The secret of my success is that we have gone to exceptional lengths to hire the best people in the world. This quote, famously coined by Steve Jobs, perfectly sums up the importance people play in your business. And, as a co-founder at Altar.io, I’m always looking for new processes to onboard the best talent possible. The last book I read on the subject was Who: The A Method for Hiring by Geoff Smart & Randy Street.  After reading it, I was impressed.  I could see why the book featured on both the New York Times & Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list. I […] - [What Founders Should Know Before Hiring a CTO or a Software Agency [Expert Interview]](https://altar.io/what-founders-should-know-before-hiring-a-cto-or-software-agency-expert-interview/): I recently sat down with Nelly Yusupova, a CTO & Startup Advisor with 18 years of experience in the tech industry. Throughout our conversation, she shared a number of tips and insights on exactly what you should do as a non-technical founder before you begin your search for a technical partner. To give you just a taste of what’s coming, one question that came up is one of the most contentious points of discussion in the startup world… Should you hire a CTO to build your startup product or outsource to a software development company? While there are pros and cons to both […] - [Selling a Fintech Before Launch by Leveraging Your Most Valuable Resource: People](https://altar.io/selling-fintech-before-launch-leveraging-people/): We often talk about how people are the most important aspect of your startup – regardless of if you’re in fintech, social media or any other vertical. Whether it’s your team, advisors, investors or clients, having the right people in your corner can be the critical difference between success and failure. And when it comes to finding those people, your relationships are as valuable as the money in your pocket. Something entrepreneur, and co-founder of fintech Moneymour, Giacomo De Lorenzo knows a thing or two about: I wouldn’t have imagined I could have had so much help from the people I talked to during […] - [My Experience Building a Tech Startup Without a Technical Co-Founder](https://altar.io/building-a-startup-without-a-technical-co-founder/): Finding a technical co-founder is one of the biggest challenges faced by startup founders. Here’s how Audapio’s Founder Dudley Gould overcame this common startup hurdle.  I started my entrepreneurial journey like most first-time founders. I had a great idea, with the industry knowledge to turn it into a business vision. But I had no idea how to actually bring it to life. No experience. Limited technical expertise. And no technical co-founders. I was convinced I needed a technical co-founder, that dream partner who could help turn my vision into a product. So I started looking for them. I went to meetups. […] - [Founder Story: The Key Decisions When Building a Fintech](https://altar.io/founder-story-the-key-decisions-when-building-a-fintech/): The best business ideas don’t come from the entrepreneurs who are focusing their efforts on becoming the next Gates, Zuckerberg or Branson. They come from entrepreneurs who can see unsolved problems and inefficiencies in the market. Just like Christian Nothacker. It was a gap in the market that inspired him to launch his fintech startup, PrestaCap. While working as an early employee of another fintech, mobile payments company SumUp, he noticed that small business owners were facing major inefficiencies when it came to the financing process offered by traditional banks: We heard stories of customers queuing at their bank with a paper invoice, handing […] - [Cloud Migration & B2B Fintech Trends to Watch in 2026](https://altar.io/cloud-migration-fintech-trends/): As CTO at Altar.io, a large part of my work revolves around observing the forward-looking industry trends (including fintech trends) that affect how we create innovative products. The fintech industry is experiencing a paradigm shift across multiple vertices of the technology spectrum, which has been accelerated first by the pandemic and now by the rise of AI in financial services. This has sparked a series of new fintech trends, which I have been observing throughout 2025 and into 2026. Most of which are based around financial corporations moving their operations from on-premises to the cloud. More and more financial corporations are shifting […] - [Functional or Non-functional MVP? An Early-Stage Startup Problem](https://altar.io/mvp-functional-non-functional-startup-early-stage-dilemma/): If you’re deciding how to create your MVP there is an initial question you must ask yourself: “Should I make a Functional OR Non-functional MVP?” This is an important question. The answer can save you time, and money and ultimately prevent you from choosing the wrong vehicle to prove your assumptions. All of these factors will contribute to your chances of success or failure. First, remember why you’re building an MVP. Your MVP should be the shortest path to prove that people need your solution and will adopt your product. Keep this in mind as I move on to discuss the differences between functional and […] - [The Ultimate List of MVP Examples [21+ Case Studies, Updated for 2026]](https://altar.io/ultimate-list-mvp-examples/): In an increasingly competitive business landscape, it’s more important than ever for startups to reach their target users quickly and efficiently. Building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) has become the de facto process to achieve this. I’ve lined the ultimate list of  MVP examples, from a range of industries, to share with you – One of which, you probably aren’t expecting to be included in this list.   skip render: ucaddon_blog_table_of_contents 1. Uber Back in 2008, Travis Kalanick and Stumbleupon founder Garrett Camp were just two guys with an idea. The problem they wanted to solve? The cost of black car services. They built […] - [15 Passion Economy Subscription Marketplace Ideas](https://altar.io/passion-economy-marketplace-ideas/):  You are never a commodity when you are being yourself A few months ago  I wrote about the latest instalment of the web mimicking real-life:  The Passion Economy Marketplace. Within the article, I discussed how it brings local artisans to a global audience – and how that relates to “Homo Deus” – a civilization advancing through a hyper-connected world. We see broadcasters bring a vast array of individual knowledge and skills to the web.  Reaching a potential audience of over four billion people, and growing, with their specialised fields. Since I last wrote about The Passion Economy I’ve been thinking about new ideas for […] - [Lessons Learned from the Early Days of a Fintech Unicorn](https://altar.io/lessons-from-a-fintech-unicorn/): Whether you’re thinking of launching a startup or in the trenches of your first entrepreneurial venture, any morsel of advice from someone who’s been in your shoes can be like gold. That’s why I sat down with serial entrepreneur and fintech founder, Alex Tonelli. He knows a thing or two about the hurdles entrepreneurs face, to say the least. Back in 2009, Alex was a young founder looking for a loan for one of his early ventures, a chain of fitness centres. Despite the fact he had six profitable units in operation, he struggled to secure a small business loan to help his […] - [Founder Story: Building and Scaling a Fintech Startup by Trusting your Gut](https://altar.io/building-and-scaling-fintech-startup-by-trusting-your-gut/): As startup founders, much of our decision making is grounded in empirical data, and that makes sense. There’s too much at stake to risk it all purely on guesswork. But we also know that our instincts can guide us to places that are bigger and better than if we rely on data alone. We see iconic entrepreneurs use their intuition to succeed every day – Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey. But knowing when to trust your gut is, I believe, something every entrepreneur struggles with from time to time. If this is you, I think you’re going to like my conversation with Jan-Philipp […] - [How to Build a Startup? CTO, Freelancers, Agency?](https://altar.io/whats-the-best-way-to-build-your-startup-cto-freelancers-agency/): As a non-technical founder, you’ve had your lightbulb moment. The idea that resulted in the business-driven vision for your startup. There’s just one problem. You lack technical skills and have no idea how to actually build your startup vision. Do you hire a kick-ass CTO? A team of freelancers? Or should you find a top notch software development company? It’s a problem every non-technical founder faces, myself included. Before creating Altar.io, I co-founded over seven startups. I’m not a developer, so I’ve tried many approaches and learnt the hard way. In this article, I’ve taken my experience and created a list […] - [Expert Interview: The 3 Pillars to Become a Successful Entrepreneur](https://altar.io/expert-interview-become-a-successful-entrepreneur/): Becoming a successful entrepreneur is a question many of us will ask. In fact, it’s a question I recently came across on Quora: How do you know if you’re going to be a successful entrepreneur? Scrolling through the replies, one story caught my eye. It was from Hector Quintanilla, a brilliant startup expert and successful entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience helping entrepreneurs build their businesses. It went something like this: You can predict with outstanding accuracy how successful you will be. It’s a very easy formula to understand — yet difficult to execute. What’s the secret? We become like the […] - [Expert Interview: The One Thing You Can’t Miss When Building an MVP](https://altar.io/expert-interview-building-an-mvp/): At Altar.io we’ve built dozens of products over the years, working with entrepreneurs from all over the world. In other words, we know a thing or to about building an MVP successfully. Based on that experience, it’s absolutely clear to us that one of the key elements of success is taking the time to reason with your product. We believe this so much we encourage every entrepreneur that works with us to start with a 5/7-day immersive process to align the product reasoning with the business goals, before building anything. We call it Product Scope. Recently, I had the chance to sit […] - [From Being Fired to Building a Multi-Million Dollar Fintech Startup](https://altar.io/from-being-fired-to-building-a-multi-million-dollar-fintech-startup/): “How can you make a startup successful?” That was my main question when I sat down with Yaron Samid. He’s a multi-exit startup founder whose companies have been acquired by the likes of Microsoft and Cisco, to name but two. Yaron is a regular lecturer at Stanford and Columbia business schools. He is the founder of TechAviv, one of the largest founder clubs in the world. “My true passion,” he told me, “is helping the next generation of entrepreneurs.” So he was more than happy to tell me the story of how he built and scaled his fintech startup BillGuard. From the number […] - [Founder Story: Starting And Selling a Fintech Startup in Less Than 4 Years](https://altar.io/founder-story-starting-and-selling-a-fintech-startup-in-less-than-4-years/): From “challenger banks” to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, fintech startups such as Stripe & Paypal continue to revolutionise the financial industry. And with over 20,000 fintech startups across the globe breaking into this competitive landscape is no easy task. I’ve worked with many fintech startups over the years; with each new story, I learn something new. This time, I’m sharing an action-packed conversation with a Forbes 30 under 30 founder with years of experience in the financial technologies landscape. In 2015, Ankit Singh founded fintech startup MyPoolin – a peer to peer payment platform that disrupted the Indian fintech market. Less than four years later MyPoolin was acquired by California-based fintech startup Wibmo. […] - [Expert Interview: The Ultimate Guide to Startup Advisors](https://altar.io/expert-interview-ultimate-guide-to-startup-advisors/): “Startup advisors are crucial to the success of your business.” No matter the source, I’m sure you’ve heard or seen this statement before. And I agree with it. Before co-founding Altar.io I had my own startup. From experience, I know that onboarding the right startup advisors; who have experience, knowledge, expertise and a broad network is only going to benefit your company. Which is kind of obvious, right? Problem is, whenever you think about one of the cornerstones of your entrepreneurial journey – be it co-founders, team, investors or business advisors – a million questions arise. What should I expect from a startup advisor? How should I compensate an […] - [What Startup Investors Look for In Entrepreneurs and Their Teams](https://altar.io/what-startup-investors-look-for-in-entrepreneurs-and-their-teams/): When building your startup you can have a great idea and the perfect market conditions and still come up short. For both your startup and investors, execution is key. Just look at this slide I found from Alexander Jarvis on Quora: You and your startup team, especially at a management level, are a huge factor as to whether you secure investment or if your pitch ends up in an investor’s trash can. And the first person investors look at as they decide whether or not you are deserving of their time and money is you, the founder. What Startup Investors Look […] - [Expert Interview: The Hidden Details When Funding Your Startup](https://altar.io/expert-interview-funding-your-startup/): There are countless articles on the web that talk about what investors look for when funding your startup. Normally they all focus on similar things: A stunning pitch deck Solid financials Market opportunity A founding team with the “X-Factor” Execution capability All of which are, undeniably, important. But even if you think you have everything figured out, the numbers don’t lie. Few startups successfully raise capital and even fewer get a good deal. So what’s different for the founders that do secure funding? What secrets do they know that the rest are oblivious to? To find out, I sat down (virtually) with Startup expert Paul O’Brien, […] - [Raising Capital For A Startup: First Steps To a Great Deal](https://altar.io/raising-capital-for-a-startup-first-steps-to-a-great-deal/): Money, or lack of it, can make or break a startup. Period. As a startup founder raising capital is about to become an important part of your efforts. A survey by the Kauffman Firm estimates that it takes, on average, a minimum of $80K to get your startup through its first year alone. Moreover, depending on the industry, it may take more than that just to get your startup off the ground — as you can see from this pricing simulator. Most companies fail to procure startup funding. Partly because it’s extremely difficult, but also because they fail to follow some basic steps. Fundraising requires understanding and […] - [Covid-19 in The Age of Technology and The Homo Deus](https://altar.io/covid-19-in-the-age-of-technology-and-the-homo-deus/): As I write these words we’ve just passed one million known infected with COVID-19 and the economies of the “advanced” world are certainly going into a recession (two quarters of negative growth). In a globalised world physically connected by just over 100,000 flights per day, contagious disease populates the world in a matter of weeks. With a global mortality rate of around 10%, despite modern medicine, this is yet another global “plague”. But we as a globally connected society have new tools (such as lung ventilators) and new tricks (social distancing). This is also the most controlled and managed global recession […] - [Startup Series Funding: Everything You Need To Know](https://altar.io/startup-series-funding-everything-you-need-to-know/): How does Series Funding work? What’s an Angel Investor? How are they different from Venture Capitalist firms? Which stage of series funding is best for my company right now? Getting funding for your startup can be a daunting task with lots of questions to answer and options to consider. From ideation to scaling, your company will have several opportunities, known as “funding rounds”, to raise capital from outside investors. Initially, you will be looking for capital to build the core product. This won’t be the type of capital you need later on when hiring top talent or marketing your product to the world. […] - [The Rise of the Passion Economy & The Future of Marketplaces](https://altar.io/the-future-of-marketplaces-the-passion-economy/): The future of marketplaces is unknown. However, the rise of the Passion Economy could be an opportunity to create marketplaces with passion-driven verticals. skip render: ucaddon_blog_simple_quote Discoverability and Monetization are The Roots of the Marketplace What good is it if you want to follow your passion, tell your stories, cook your delicacy or make the most beautiful shoe if it doesn’t reach the eyes of the buyer? From the grand markets of Venice and Bazaars of Istanbul to today’s Amazon and Alibaba, the core concept remains: building marketplaces is relevant because they serve both the sellers and buyers at scale. They help both […] - [Machine Learning in the Browser with Tensorflow.js](https://altar.io/machine-learning-in-the-browser/): Machine learning in the browser is the newest kid on the block within web edge technologies. By the end of this article, you will know the basics behind machine learning in the browser and how Javascript, with the help of WebGL, allows us to train and run models directly to the client-side. Machine learning in the browser is only adequate to run smaller models as it runs over the edge. It cannot run the larger models of traditional machine learning. This is where we will focus as developers. In this article we will cover: What is Machine Learning Neural Networks Heavy […] - [The Startup MVP Development Process from A-Z](https://altar.io/why-your-startup-should-take-4-6-weeks-to-launch-not-4-6-months/): Developing a Minimum Viable Product has quickly become the industry standard for startups to ensure they build a user-centric product with a quick time-to-market.  Part of the Lean methodology, an MVP is defined as: The version of a new product that allows you and your team to collect the maximum amount of validated learning about your customers with the minimum amount of effort. However, I’ve noticed a common problem whilst helping entrepreneurs build their startups through my work with Altar.io, and advising many others. They often struggle, not with the philosophy, but with the MVP development process itself. Which can easily result […] - [10 Different Types of Developers You’re Likely to Find [2026]](https://altar.io/looking-developers-10-developer-archetypes-youre-likely-encounter/): Quick 2026 update: The 10 archetypes below still describe how developers think and behave. What’s new in 2026 is a meta-archetype layered on top of all of them: the AI-augmented developer — someone fluent with Cursor, Claude Code or Copilot, comfortable orchestrating MCP servers and AI agents, and able to ship 2–3x more code without losing review discipline. Watch for this signal across every type below; it often separates a good hire from a great one. I’ve met many types of developers throughout the years building different products with Altar.io. The one important lesson I’ve learnt along the way is: skip render: ucaddon_blog_simple_quote […] - [5 Simple Steps to Create Your UK Startup in One Week](https://altar.io/5-steps-to-create-your-uk-startup-in-one-week/): Are you looking to incorporate your startup in the UK? Here I present 5 simple steps you need to accomplish in order to have your startup ready to operate and receive investments: Registration Bank Account SEIS Approval Accountancy Taxation I’ve been through this process for more than once before creating Altar.io and I realised that one clean recipe over the different steps was missing, so here I try to nail the point! 1. TELL THE QUEEN YOUR COMPANY EXISTS Register the LTD Company through Companies House: Among some easy fields that need to be filled, there are some that worth a few words: Address: you can easily […] - [Are You Too Old To Start A Business and Be A Great Founder?](https://altar.io/managers-improve-become-successful-entrepreneurs/): There’s little evidence to support that anyone is too old to start a business. In fact, older founders are usually wiser. They are more focused on achieving sales metrics than on building “the best product ever”. They work silently, attend fewer startup conferences and, without any surprise, the over 40s tend to achieve more. But What Should They Be Careful Of? Indeed at Altar.io, we’ve had a longstanding belief that teams of older founders are wiser. They are better connected, know how to sell, have more access to capital and generally read more about business to make themselves better poised to succeed. Now there is data to prove […] - [A Real Options Model for Tech Startups' Valuation](https://altar.io/real-options-model-tech-startups-valuation/): Looking to raise money and struggling to figure out your startup valuation? Valuations are created as a negotiation between the two parties (founding team and investors) on the ratio between the investment sought and the percentage of equity that founders want (and are able) to give out. Of course, they will still be crafted that way, but this approach tries to replicate the behaviour of a tech startup and proposes practical valuation ranges. Here’s the summary of the key points that will be approached in order to outline the model: Founders and Investors’ ability to undertake certain investments or not: The Managerial Flexibility […] - [Altar.io Named Leading B2B Company by Clutch.co](https://altar.io/altar-io-named-leading-b2b-company-by-clutch-co/): It’s a great day here at Altar. We were named one of the leading B2B companies in Clutch’s latest Western European award list. After being nominated a Leading IT Business Services Company in Clutch.co’s 2019 Awards, it feels amazing to stand out among so many excellent tech agencies once again. The always kind Clutch team puts it this way: “based on your strong reviews and ability to deliver, it’s clear that your company goes above and beyond for your clients.” We really appreciate those words. And it touches an underlying truth. We go above and beyond for our clients because we love working with them. […] - [Lessons I’ve Learned Mentoring and Co-Founding Successful Startups](https://altar.io/lessons-ive-learned-virgin-mentor/): As a Mentor at Virgin Startup and Co-founder of a Product & Software Development Agency, I’m often asked what it takes to build a successful startup. For me, one of the more important aspects is less about the ‘what’ and more about the ‘who’. Having the right people by your side will benefit you in all situations. When the chips are down and you are facing, what feels like, countless barriers they will give you the support you need to succeed. Conversely, when you are already succeeding they will give you the right tools to grow and expand your business. The right people, in my opinion, all […] - [A Software Development Agency Must Challenge A Startup Founder](https://altar.io/saying-no-to-a-lead-is-hard-but-brings-value-to-the-lead/): As the founder of a Product & Software Development Agency, I learnt a long time ago that aligning with a startup founder’s vision is crucial. However, to truly deliver great results it’s important to challenge founders’ ideas so that the product being built can grow and improve. At Altar.io, we often challenge the assumptions of the founders we work with. Some think this is a risk. That it will intimidate or even threaten a potential client and stop them working with us. In our experience, this couldn’t be further from the truth and, in the long run, has a positive effect for […] - [Looking for Investors? Avoid These 7 Types of Bad Business Angels](https://altar.io/looking-investors-avoid-7-types-bad-business-angels/): You’re building your tech venture and looking for investors, but it’s still too early to approach Venture Capitalists (VCs). So you decide, instead, to fill your next months’ calendar with meetings with Business Angels. Great! Business Angels are a group of investors consisting of many amazing professionals who are a positive force for the startup sector’s advancement. But, as we often see at Altar.io, too often Founders struggle with Bad Investors. If you want to avoid Bad Business Angels this will help you understand and spot the most common profiles. Here are the time-waster profiles you should steer clear from as soon as […] - [The Best AI Product Agencies in Europe in 2026](https://altar.io/best-ai-product-agencies-europe/): This list is going to look a little different from most you’ll find online, and I want to be upfront about why. You can’t simply line up ten companies, slap “best” on them, and call it a guide. The best agency for a solo founder with a validated idea and €40k is not the best agency for a Series B scale-up rebuilding its data platform. Pretending otherwise does a disservice to the person actually trying to make a decision. So instead of a ranked top ten, I’ve split this by the kind of company you are and the kind of partner […] - [Agency vs. Freelancer vs. Vibe Coding: How to Decide Who Builds Your Startup in 2026](https://altar.io/agency-vs-freelancer-vs-vibe-coding/): Every week, a non-technical founder comes to me with a version of the same question. They’ve thrown together a prototype on Lovable over a weekend, they’ve been emailing a freelancer they found on Toptal, and they’ve just been quoted €120k by an agency. So what do they actually do? Hire the agency? String together a few freelancers? Or just keep going on their own with the AI tools? I’ve been having this conversation for the better part of a decade, and here’s what I’ve learned: the question itself is the problem. These aren’t three options you pick between, like cereals on […] - [How Much Does an MVP Cost in 2026? A Real Breakdown From a Decade of Building Them](https://altar.io/mvp-cost-real-breakdown/): Disclosure: This article reflects our own portfolio data and pricing. We don’t earn commissions from any tools, partners, or services mentioned. In the last six months, we’ve shipped MVPs at €18k, €40k, €100k, €160k, and €350k. Every single one was the right answer for the founder who paid for it. None of them was over-priced. None of them was under-priced. They were just at different tiers of complexity, for different stages of business, solving genuinely different problems. That’s the answer to “how much does an MVP cost?” — and almost nobody publishes it. Search the question and you’ll find dozens of […] - [Lovable vs. Bolt vs. v0 vs. Replit Agent vs. Base44: A Founder’s Comparison (2026)](https://altar.io/lovable-vs-bolt-vs-v0-vs-replit-vs-base44/): Disclosure: Neither I nor Altar.io receives any commission if you choose to work with one of these tools. In July 2025, a well-known SaaS investor named Jason Lemkin spent a weekend “vibe coding” a product on Replit. Day seven, he was euphoric — he called it “the most addictive app I have ever used.” Day nine, Replit’s AI agent ignored repeated explicit ALL-CAPS instructions not to touch his code, deleted a production database containing thousands of executive and company records, fabricated roughly 4,000 fake users to cover for it, and then told Lemkin the data was unrecoverable. (It wasn’t. He restored […] - [The Startup Tech Stack I'd Use If I Were Starting from Scratch Today (Pre-MVP Edition)](https://altar.io/pre-mvp-startup-tech-stack/): When I’m advising a founder who’s still testing whether an idea has legs, I remind them that we’re working in the dark. We don’t yet know if our assumptions are correct or which features will resonate with customers. Every choice we make, from database to framework, carries risk because it might not survive the next pivot. At this stage, it’s less about picking shiny tools and more about choosing the fastest, least painful route to learning what will work within your MVP. Think of it like opening a small shop on a new street. You wouldn’t sink all your cash into […] - [Strong Product Delivery Takes More Than a Talented Dev Team](https://altar.io/strong-product-delivery-takes-more-than-a-talented-dev-team/): When clients begin their product journey, they naturally focus on the core team: a sharp product designer, strong developers, and a savvy product manager. These are the visionaries and builders who bring the idea to life.  But anyone who’s attempted a complex build knows, whether software, a house, or anything else, having the right team is only half the solution. Without delivery leadership, an intentional focus on process, people and progress, even the best‑coded features will arrive late, cost more or miss the mark. Studies of project management show that coordinated leadership helps ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget […] - [The 60+ Best Startup Incubators & Accelerators in the USA for 2026](https://altar.io/best-startup-accelerators-usa/): The due diligence of choosing the right accelerator or incubator for your startup is a process I experienced firsthand when I built my first startup. As with many other things on that journey, I made mistakes. And I learned the hard way just how important it is to do proper due diligence. For now, I won’t bother you with the details, if you’re interested in knowing a bit more about that experience you can find it here. The bottom line is finding a startup incubator or accelerator that’s right for you can be like finding a needle in a haystack. The critical […] - [Vibe Coding ≠ Free Coding: What Founders Get Wrong About AI‑Generated Code](https://altar.io/vibe-coding-what-founders-get-wrong/): Early in 2025, “vibe coding” burst onto the software scene. Advocates describe it as coding by instinct: you sketch a feature in natural language, feed it to an AI agent and watch usable code. Stories circulate of hobbyists building games or small SaaS products in hours with nothing more than a few prompts and some looped back error messages. If you’re trying to choose between the actual tools driving this — Lovable, Bolt.new, v0, Replit Agent and Base44 — we walked through them in detail in our founder’s comparison. For founders sprinting towards product–market fit, that vision is intoxicating. An AI […] - [When AI MVPs Fail: Lessons from the Trenches](https://altar.io/ai-mvps-fail-lessons/): Everyone wants an AI product. But few know how to build one that actually works. AI is the new gold rush, and founders are sprinting to stake their claim. But in that rush, many are skipping the fundamentals of good product development. The result? AI MVPs that overpromise, underdeliver, and crash before they even get a shot at product-market fit. Many of these failures trace back to the same handful of AI builder tools founders reach for first. We mapped where each one breaks in our Lovable vs Bolt vs v0 vs Replit vs Base44 comparison. You’ve seen the headlines: “AI […] - [How the Best Product Teams Are Leveraging AI To Reach Value Faster](https://altar.io/how-product-teams-are-leveraging-ai/): There’s a pattern I keep seeing: ambitious teams, great ideas, and stalled momentum. Not from a lack of talent or effort, but from bloated processes and friction-filled workflows. And in a world moving this fast, that friction kills momentum. Meetings get eaten by research. Prototypes take weeks. Validation drags. You’re not alone—this is the reality for many product teams right now. What’s changing that reality for the best teams? Strategic use of AI. Not as a gimmick. Not as a shortcut. But as a real enabler of speed, clarity, and impact. I’ve spent the last two decades working in product and […] - [Beyond Chatbots: 5 Creative Ways Startups Are Embedding AI into Products](https://altar.io/beyond-chatbots-creative-ways-startups-are-embedding-ai-into-products/): Increasingly, startups are claiming to be “AI-powered.” However, in most cases, that just means they’ve slapped a chatbot onto their homepage or added a search assistant inside their app. It’s surface-level, often disconnected from core functionality, and ultimately uninspiring. According to Gartner’s 2025 CEO & Senior Business Executive survey, 77% of CEOs believe AI is transforming their business landscape, yet only 44% trust their CIOs to be AI-savvy. The gap between aspiration and application is wide. The real opportunity isn’t in adding AI as a feature. It’s in embedding AI so deeply into your product’s workflow, automation layer, or output logic […] - [The Code Dump Scam: How to Avoid Ghost Software Agencies & Protect Your Startup](https://altar.io/how-to-avoid-ghost-software-agencies-protect-your-startup/): Navigating the world of software development can sometimes feel like walking through a minefield. Have you ever worried about handing your critical project over to a software partner only to find out later you’ve been misled? Unfortunately, an alarming trend has emerged known as the “Code Dump Scam,” perpetrated by what we term “ghost software agencies.” These scams leave businesses with unusable, incomplete, or deceptively AI-generated codebases, causing significant setbacks, stalled projects, and considerable financial losses. If you’ve been through this, or are concerned it could happen, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: these scams are entirely avoidable if […] - [Iterate to Startup Success: Embracing Lean Development and Continuous Feedback](https://altar.io/iterate-to-startup-success-lean-development-and-continuous-feedback/): Picture this: you pour months (and a small fortune) into building the “perfect” product, only to launch to crickets. It’s every founder’s nightmare, and I’ve seen it happen more than once. In fact, a whopping 42% of startups fail because they build something nobody actually needs. The hard truth is that building in a vacuum is a costly gamble. But there’s a better way to improve your odds of success drastically: embrace Lean Product Development and continuous user feedback from day one. Lean Product Development isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a battle-tested approach to creating products that actually resonate with users. It’s about starting small, learning fast, and […] - [Software Product Development & Strategy in 2026: A Guide for Startup Founders](https://altar.io/software-product-development-strategy-guide-for-startup-founders/): As the CMO at Altar.io, I spend a lot of time thinking about how to create value for founders, not just through what we build, but also through what we share. Lately, I’ve been working with Daniel (our Founder and CPO, and someone who’s led 100+ product builds at Altar.io) on a new video content series. The goal is to explore how great product thinking can be a real competitive advantage, especially in an era where AI and low-code tools make it easier than ever to launch software, but not necessarily easier to succeed. Before kicking off the series, we wanted […] - [Lean Product Development 101: Implementing Build-Measure-Learn Cycles in Your Startup MVP](https://altar.io/lean-product-development-build-measure-learn/): If you’re building an MVP, you’re not just launching a product, you’re kicking off a cycle of discovery. The most common reason startups fail is simple: they build something nobody wants. But that risk is avoidable… If you approach your MVP the right way. Throughout my career, I’ve been immersed in environments purpose-built to help early-stage startups bring new products to life. I’ve had a front-row seat to what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to turning raw ideas into successful, scalable solutions. One framework that often marks the line between startup success and the startup graveyard is today’s focus, […] - [Startup Product Scaling 101: How to Grow Without Breaking What Made Your MVP Work](https://altar.io/startup-product-scaling/): Over the past five years, I’ve worked at a product and software development house built to support startup growth, from napkin sketch to scale-up and beyond. During that time, our team helped over 100 founders turn bold ideas into thriving ventures. One pattern shows up again and again: many founders underestimate the complexity of scaling. Scaling isn’t just about adding features or hiring fast. It’s about evolving intentionally, without losing the clarity and momentum that got you here. According to Genome, 74% of high-growth startups fail due to premature or poorly planned scaling. This guide is here to help you avoid […] - [Mastering Product-Market Fit: A Founder’s Guide to Continuous Alignment](https://altar.io/mastering-product-market-fit/): In the startup world, few terms are thrown around as casually or misunderstood as thoroughly as Product-Market Fit. Founders chase it like a finish line, investors probe for signs of it, and many describe it as a single magical moment. But here’s the reality: Product-Market Fit isn’t binary. It’s not a trophy you earn once and display on a shelf. It’s a spectrum. A living, shifting target that evolves with your product, your market, and your strategy. At Altar.io, we’ve spent the last decade immersed in early-stage product development, working with over 100 startups across a plethora of industries. We’ve seen […] - [5 Practical Steps to Find the Right AI Expert for Your Startup: The 2026 Founder’s Guide](https://altar.io/how-to-find-the-right-ai-expert-for-your-startup/): Finding the right AI expert for your startup is no longer about chasing cutting-edge skills. It’s about avoiding the wrong hire or partner at the wrong moment. In the last few years, AI has moved from experimentation to execution. Many founders now feel pressure to “bring in AI expertise” early; often before they’ve clearly defined the problem they’re trying to solve. That’s where things start to break down. The reality is that most early AI initiatives don’t fail because the technology is too complex. They fail because the expertise brought in doesn’t match the stage, constraints, and real needs of the […] - [6 Crucial Things to Look for in a Software Development Company [Startup Guide]](https://altar.io/crucial-things-to-look-for-in-a-software-development-company/): Since you’re looking for information on how to choose the best software development company for you, I’ll assume you did your reasoning on the matter of in-house vs outsourcing and decided this is the best choice for your particular case. Regardless, I’ll still say that in most circumstances, finding a tech co-founder or a CTO is the idyllic option. Even if you end up working with an agency all the same. More on that here. The problem is, this can take months of searching – and even then you can end up empty-handed – this entrepreneur’s story is living proof of that. If that’s you, […] - [How to Leverage the MoSCoW Method for MVP Prioritisation](https://altar.io/leveraging-the-moscow-method-for-mvp-prioritisation/): Since 2015, our team has helped build over 100 startup products. From zero to MVP and beyond. These weren’t just well-designed apps. They became real businesses, many securing venture funding, winning awards, and hitting key revenue milestones. That experience taught us one hard truth: feature prioritisation makes or breaks early-stage products. You’ve got the idea. Maybe even your first wireframes. But somewhere between whiteboarding and launch day, things start to snowball. More features. More feedback. More ideas. Suddenly, your MVP isn’t so “minimal” anymore. And that’s dangerous, because in startups, building everything is a luxury you can’t afford. According to PMI, […] - [How to Prioritise Your Startup MVP Features: 8 Steps to Do More with Less](https://altar.io/how-to-prioritise-your-startup-mvp-features/): Anyone working in the startup world for more than five minutes has seen this scenario play out at least once: a brilliant founder with a bold idea, a tight budget, and a sense of urgency. They’re racing to build the “perfect” product. What happens next? A bloated feature set. Burned runway. And, critically, a product that no one truly needed. Launching a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) isn’t about doing everything. It’s about uncovering the core truth that proves your product is worth building in the first place. If you’re a founder, especially if you’re non-technical, this guide is built for you. […] - [Validating Your Startup Idea: The Lean Customer Feedback Playbook for Founders](https://altar.io/validating-your-startup-idea-lean-customer-feedback-playbook/): You have a great startup idea. You’ve sketched it out, maybe talked to a friend or two, and you’re feeling good. But here’s the question that changes everything: Will anyone actually use it? This is where too many founders go all-in on a hunch, only to realise months later that they’ve built something no one needed. Validation isn’t about slowing down your startup, it’s about saving it. Done right, it gives you the confidence that you’re not just building, but building the right thing. For over five years, I’ve had the privilege of working in an environment surrounded by dozens of […] - [AI-Powered Software Development: The Practical Advice Your Startup Can’t Afford to Ignore](https://altar.io/how-startup-founders-can-actually-leverage-ai-in-software-development/): You’ve seen the headlines: “AI writes code now.” “Developers are being replaced.” “Ship 10x faster with AI.” But if you’re building a real product, you already know it’s never that simple. Forget the hype. The best startup teams aren’t chasing full automation. They’re creating workflows where AI supports engineers without replacing human judgment. In short, they’re using AI to get better outcomes, not just faster outputs. I’ve been building software for over 14 years. During that time, I worked on more than 50 products across different industries and stages. I’ve been following the rise of AI in software since 2017, when […] - [How a $50B German Industry Giant Innovates Like a Startup & What You Can Learn From It](https://altar.io/how-an-industry-giant-innovates-like-a-startup-what-you-can-learn-from-it/): Even the most powerful enterprises, with elite engineers, deep pockets, and global reach, often struggle with something far more fundamental than technology: momentum. We recently had a front-row seat to this challenge during a workshop with the digital leadership team of one of the world’s largest industrial conglomerates. With a $50B footprint and operations across dozens of countries, their goal wasn’t to experiment. It was to ship real innovation faster, leaner, and with measurable value. The constraints? Familiar to almost anyone trying to drive change in a large organisation: Siloed decision-making Pilots that gather dust Competing definitions of “value” Legacy systems […] - [Why Product-Led Growth Startups are Winning More in 2026](https://altar.io/why-product-led-growth-startups-win/): In the current startup landscape, the most successful founders aren’t chasing trends or outspending the competition. Instead, they’re building products that solve real problems with clarity and focus. As traditional sales-led approaches struggle to cut through the noise, product-led growth (PLG) is gaining traction. The product itself becomes the clearest voice in the room. One that users trust, understand, and come back to. This is no longer a niche strategy. It’s the norm. According to recent benchmarks, 91% of B2B SaaS companies plan to increase their investment in PLG initiatives this year. Over the past five years, I’ve had the privilege […] - [Why UX is More Important Than Ever For Startup Products](https://altar.io/why-ux-is-more-important-than-ever-for-startup-products/): As a Product Manager at Altar.io, I work closely with startups every day, helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into real products. And if there’s one thing I’ve seen time and time again, it’s that a great idea alone isn’t enough. Startups fail not because they lack innovation, but because their products are frustrating to use. If users don’t immediately understand your product, can’t navigate it smoothly, or feel friction at any step, they will leave—and they won’t come back. In today’s market, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. First impressions are everything, 88% of users won’t […] - [How to Navigate Losing Your Tech Co-Founder (Without Derailing Your Startup)](https://altar.io/how-to-navigate-losing-your-tech-co-founder/): It’s every non-technical founder’s worst nightmare: your tech co-founder leaves. Maybe they lost interest, couldn’t commit full-time, or found another opportunity. Suddenly, you’re facing a defining moment in your startup journey. But here’s the truth—losing a tech co-founder isn’t the end. It’s a challenge, yes, but also a turning point. Some of the most successful startups have faced this exact moment and emerged stronger. Take Airbnb—in 2012, the company lost four early employees, including its first hire and lead engineer, Nick Grandy. At such a critical stage, losing foundational team members could have derailed their momentum. Instead, Airbnb pressed forward, refining […] - [Dev Hiring Blues: 6 Warning Signs That Your Developer Hiring Process May Need an Overhaul](https://altar.io/warning-signs-that-your-developer-hiring-process-may-need-an-overhaul/): Hiring people is both a science and an art. Hiring software engineers, in particular, sometimes feels like alchemy, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are common mistakes teams make when hiring (and retaining) developers, but there are also common solutions to avoid falling into that trap. We’ll look into issues you might be facing in how: You present your company to potential candidates; The recruitment process might make them turn away; The skills and characteristics you’re searching for might not be the most relevant; New dev hires can struggle to adapt to the team and the product; No […] - [How Product Development is Changing in 2026 – What Startup Founders Need to Know](https://altar.io/product-development-is-trends-what-startup-founders-need-to-know/): In the past, startups could secure traction and even funding with a compelling pitch. Customers were more willing to take a chance on early-stage products, and investors were eager to bet on visionary ideas—often before a tangible product existed. But the startup ecosystem has changed. Today, funding is tighter, competition is fiercer, and both customers and investors expect more than just a great idea—they need to see real progress and execution. Startups that fail to meet these rising expectations risk being left behind. This has caused a shift in product development trends in recent years, and 2026 is proving no different. […] - [7 AI Platforms to Supercharge Your MVP Development in 2026](https://altar.io/ai-platforms-to-supercharge-mvp-development/): The AI space is evolving rapidly, and with it comes a flood of new tools claiming to transform how startups operate. It’s no secret that AI allows startups to develop and iterate faster while leveraging data-driven insights to shape their product strategy. The right AI tools can be game-changers, offering automation, scalability, and efficiency from day one, giving startups a competitive edge. Every week, a fresh AI model or platform emerges, creating both excitement and confusion among founders. The reality, however, is that most startups do not struggle due to a lack of AI adoption but because they fail to apply […] - [Building Remote Development Teams: A Founder’s Guide to Success](https://altar.io/building-remote-development-teams-founders-guide/): I can visualize it – your early-stage startup is picking up steam, and the time has come to start hiring a development team. Or is it? Do you already have a solid MVP? Do you know what kind of product you are creating and what stack you’ll need? If not, well… that’s why we’re here! I’d recommend bookmarking this article for later and start with this article from our CEO and Co-Founder Daniel. If indeed it’s time to start hiring folks and expanding from your initial team let’s carry on, shall we? Starting with the basics – if you’re reading this, you’re […] - [Proven Strategies to Attract The Right Talent to Your Startup Team in 2026](https://altar.io/proven-strategies-to-attract-the-right-talent-to-your-startup-team/): Building a startup is hard. But building a startup without the right team? That’s near impossible. In fact, 14% of startups fail because they can’t find the right talent to bring their vision to life, because hiring for a startup isn’t just challenging, it’s transformative. Every role, every hire, shapes your company’s culture, trajectory, and ultimately, its success or failure. It’s widely said that “The first 10 employees define the next 100.” In my experience, that couldn’t be more true. These individuals solidify your culture, establish your company’s DNA, and set the standard for what your business will become. I’ve watched […] - [The 5 Product Mistakes Early-Stage Startup Founders Make – And How to Avoid Them](https://altar.io/the-top-5-product-mistakes-startup-founders-make/): Nearly 90% of startups fail, with a significant portion faltering due to avoidable product mistakes. Starting a tech startup is exhilarating, but it’s also full of potential pitfalls. First-time founders often encounter key challenges that slow progress, drain resources, and ultimately impact the trajectory of their companies. Have you ever wondered why so many promising startups stumble? Whether it’s misjudging the market or over-engineering a solution, these mistakes often boil down to simple oversights. I’ve spent the last two decades working in product and UX. Many of those 20 years I spent as a Product Leader – driving innovation, building high-performing […] - [The 8 Best AI Tools for Entrepreneurs & Startups in 2026](https://altar.io/the-best-ai-tools-for-entrepreneurs-startups/): In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, leveraging cutting-edge AI technology is no longer a luxury but a necessity.  World-famous entrepreneurs like Sundar Pichai and Jeff Bezos have lauded the revolution it will bring – stating that “it has tremendous potential to improve our lives” and “it will transform everything just like electricity did.  Mark Zuckerberg has already adopted the AI revolution in full force, stating that his AI assistant, Jarvis, manages his entire life.  All of this to say, AI tools have emerged as invaluable allies, propelling innovation, streamlining operations, and fostering substantial growth for entrepreneurs and their startups.  I’ve spent […] - [The Structured Process Behind Developing a Successful MVP in 2026](https://altar.io/structured-process-develop-mvp/): You’re here so that means you’re considering a lean approach to develop your MVP. That’s a great first step. But lean product development methodologies alone won’t cut it into today’s entrepreneurial landscape. I know this because over the last ten years I’ve built my own startup (which crashed and burned), worked on dozens of MVPs with Altar.io and witnessed hundreds of other founder stories. The hard truth is, building a successful MVP is not as simple as coming up with an idea and taking it to a team of developers or a software development company. Before writing a line of code, you need to make […] - [How to Hire the First Software Developer for your Startup in 2026](https://altar.io/how-to-hire-the-first-software-developer-for-your-startup/): When building a startup, you have several options when it comes to software development. From finding a CTO to outsourcing to a software development company or hiring a developer.  If you’re reading this, I’m going to assume you’ve already explored these options and already decided that hiring a software developer is the right choice for you.  I’m also guessing that this will be the first software developer you onboard for your startup. As such, I’ll be tailoring my advice to that scenario. If you haven’t explored all of your options, I suggest first reading this article by my co-founder and product legend, Daniel. There, […] - [The 12 Most Relevant Business Magazines for Entrepreneurs in 2026](https://altar.io/business-magazines-for-entrepreneurs/): The business landscape is evolving and changing faster than ever. And it’s never been more critical for entrepreneurs to stay at the cutting edge of that evolution. As Wayne Gretsky famously said: “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been” For over a century, business magazines have been helping entrepreneurs stay at the forefront of innovation, through in-depth articles & reports on the current affairs of the business landscape. And in today’s entrepreneurial landscape, that hasn’t changed. However, cutting through the noise and finding the magazines that provide true value for entrepreneurs is often easier said than […] - [The 34 Best Books for Entrepreneurs Starting a Business in 2026](https://altar.io/the-12-best-books-for-entrepreneurs-starting-a-business/): Every entrepreneur is a life-long learner. And that’s not just because you have the mindset for it. You don’t have a choice. New challenges appear every day and you need to learn and figure out how to solve them. That’s true for you, as it is for any one of my founders here at Altar.io. They are all ex-startup founders who learned the lean way by doing it, but also by reading an unhealthy amount of books over the years. So I sat down with them, as well as many of the entrepreneurs we work with or have interviewed in the past, […] - [The 12 Best Websites to Hire Developers for Your Startup in 2026](https://altar.io/best-websites-to-hire-developers-for-startup/): Trying to hire developers for your startup is one of the biggest challenges faced by startup founders.  The task is made even more daunting by the fact that only 2.9% of professional developers are unemployed and actively seeking work.   Before we dive into the list of the 12 best websites to hire developers for your startup, I want to cover one important point:  “It’s crucial you have the right tools to vet potential developers for your startup.” Normally a CTO or a custom software development company will advise you on this. If you’re managing your tech team yourself, however, I recommend bringing […] - [How to Find a Technical Co-Founder For Your Startup in 2026](https://altar.io/how-to-find-a-technical-co-founder-for-your-startup/): Choosing a technical co-founder is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as an entrepreneur. And the fact is, there’s no secret playbook, and sometimes the perfect match appears in the weirdest place. I usually mention an example from a really smart entrepreneur I got to know a few months ago, Jan-Philipp Kruip, the founder of FitSense. He was looking for entrepreneurial opportunities in Singapore when he stumbled upon a platform that was essentially Tinder for co-founders. In his own words: skip render: ucaddon_blog_simple_quote The rest was history and their health app is now used by some of the biggest insurance […] - [8 Steps to Bring Your Tech Startup Idea to Life in 2026](https://altar.io/7-steps-bring-your-startup-idea-to-life/): When our founder Daniel first had the idea to build Altar, he’d already built six startups from the ground up. Earlier in his entrepreneurial career, being a non-tech founder, he faced a challenge that is quite common to anyone in that position, wanting to start a tech startup: Finding a skilled technical expert to help him out with nothing but an idea on a napkin. At some point, he even had to learn how to do some basic coding by himself. That’s when he fell in love with technology. Although he knew he’d never be proficient enough to build something complex […] - [The 12 Best Software Development Companies of 2026](https://altar.io/the-best-software-development-companies/): Let me start by saying that this list of the “best software development companies out there” may be a bit different from what you’re used to seeing online.  That’s mostly because I don’t think you can simply select five, 10, or 15 software development companies and say they are the best. Just like you can’t say that someone would be the perfect co-founder for any startup. It’s actually a disservice to anyone looking for the best possible partner. But before I show you how I’m solving that in this article, let me give you a bit more context regarding my perspective: […] - [20+ Entrepreneurial Platforms that will Help You Overcome Startup Hurdles in 2026](https://altar.io/entrepreneurial-platforms-that-will-help-overcome-startup-hurdles/): The internet is full of entrepreneurial platforms geared towards helping you succeed. From networking to educational resources, you’re spoilt for choice. And that’s before you start looking into the tools out there to help you get through each day efficiently and effectively. But, as you start your entrepreneurial journey, which platforms should you be looking at? And how to make sure you find valuable allies, not distractions? In my experience working closely with dozens of successful founders, the two most important things to focus on in the beginning are building your network and learning from people who’ve been in your shoes. For that […] - [The 30 Most Active Angels & VCs for Seed Startup Investments in 2026](https://altar.io/most-active-angels-vcs-for-seed-startup-investments/): For startup founders actively seeking investment, choosing the right investor isn’t just about securing funds—it’s about finding a partner who will help shape the future of your company. Take, for instance, Brian Chesky’s partnership with Sequoia Capital. It wasn’t just about the funding—Sequoia brought critical strategic insight that helped Airbnb achieve its remarkable growth. Similarly, consider Patrick and John Collison, who partnered with top investors like Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz to transform Stripe into a global payments leader. These investors offered not only financial support but also invaluable expertise, which played a pivotal role in Stripe’s incredible success. That’s what […] - [Should a Startup Outsource Software Development in 2026?](https://altar.io/should-a-startup-outsource-its-software-development/): It’s a decision that can make or break a startup: Do you invest in in-house resources to create your product or do you outsource software development to a third-party company? On the one hand, as a startup, shouldn’t product development be a core competency? On the other, surely it’s better to go to market as quickly as possible. So shouldn’t you allow the “experts” to help you get there and avoid all the pitfalls of technology development? Both approaches have their pros and cons and the decision is by no means straightforward. The answer depends on many business and cultural factors and […] - [How to Outsource Software Development Successfully in 2026](https://altar.io/founders-guide-how-to-outsource-software-development-2020/): Whether you’re an entrepreneur launching a startup or a business manager building a satellite product, outsourcing your software development is a critical business decision. You can’t fail and there are many factors to consider to ensure you choose the right company for the job. I’ve seen first-hand the effects of choosing the wrong agency when you outsource software development. It’s a nasty business, believe me! A while back, a startup founder came to me with this exact problem. He outsourced with an offshore software development company that offered a price no one could compete with. On top of that, their time […] - [24 Entrepreneurs Share the Tools They Can't Live Without](https://altar.io/tools-for-entrepreneurs/): Full Transparency This article does not contain affiliate links. Meaning neither I nor Altar.io receives any commission if you should choose to use any of the tools for entrepreneurs listed here. This list was created based on personal recommendations, the recommendations of entrepreneurs I work with. Starting a company today rarely feels like starting a company. Most of the time, it feels like being thrown into a sea of tools before you’ve even had the chance to properly understand the problem you’re trying to solve. Notion, Slack, Stripe, Figma, HubSpot, Zapier. Everywhere you look, there’s another recommendation, another “must-have”, another stack […] - [9 Founders Share What To Expect From a Startup Accelerator in 2026](https://altar.io/founders-share-what-you-can-expect-from-a-startup-accelerator/): Startup accelerators have rapidly increased in popularity ever since Y Combinator came into existence in 2005. Since then the “accelerator model” has come into its own, providing entrepreneurs with a wealth of expertise and access to capital that simply wasn’t available in the past.  A quick look at Seed-DB will attest to that. According to their data, accelerators have pumped over $88M into the global startup ecosystem. But, as an entrepreneur thinking about applying to a startup accelerator, it can often be tough to know what to expect from the process or how to do it (and whether or not it will actually benefit […] - [The Top 5 Startup Accelerators in Norway & How to Apply [2026]](https://altar.io/the-top-startup-accelerators-in-norway-how-to-apply/): Almost a decade ago, while building my first startup, I had my first experience with a startup accelerator. And it was awful. A network of other entrepreneurs like me. Mentorship. Coaching. Easy access to investors. I was sold on the idea in a heartbeat. It turns out this accelerator was little more than a glorified real estate business. As most of them are. The whole experience ended out being a failure. As did my first startup (more on that here). Since then, I built another company – with a very different result. And since at Altar we help entrepreneurs build their […] - [The 20 Best Business Podcasts for Entrepreneurs in 2026](https://altar.io/best-business-podcasts-for-entrepreneurs/): Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Sir Richard Branson, Steve Jobs. What do all these successful entrepreneurs all have in common? They never stop learning. The hunger to learn new skills and strategies that drive your entrepreneurial journey to the next milestone is essential for any entrepreneur. As I’m sure you know, trying to find time to learn new skills while managing a delicate work-life balance is no mean feat. That’s where podcasts come in. Packed with fascinating conversations, insightful lessons and excellent entertainment, business podcasts have become the go-to knowledge source for leading entrepreneurs. Whether you’re cooking, hitting the treadmill, waiting for […] - [12 Product Leaders You Should Follow as a Startup Founder [2026]](https://altar.io/product-leaders-you-should-follow-in-as-a-startup-founder/): Navigating the choppy waters of startup entrepreneurship is no small feat, especially when it comes to product development.  In a landscape that’s continuously evolving, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. But how do you maintain that cutting edge?  One proven strategy is to tap into the wisdom of those who’ve walked the path before you — world-class product leaders. They can offer invaluable insights into upcoming industry trends, helping you stay one step ahead.  They frequently share best practices, case studies, and lessons learned, essentially serving as your virtual mentors in product management.  Engaging with these experts can also open […] - [Switzerland's Leading Startup Accelerators: Top 5 Programs 2026](https://altar.io/switzerlands-leading-startup-accelerators/): Navigating the complex world of startup accelerators or even discerning if the model suits your needs, can be a daunting task that leaves you feeling swamped. I experienced this challenge firsthand when embarking on my own entrepreneurial path. You can read about my journey here if you’d like more insight. Several aspects must be considered when evaluating a startup accelerator for your venture, such as their industry focus, funding offered (and the corresponding equity they require), and the calibre of their alumni network. This exhaustive process can easily divert your attention from the crucial mission of actualising your startup dream. It is vital […] - [Build vs. Buy in the Age of AI Product Development](https://altar.io/build-vs-buy-ai-product-development/): Every founder will eventually face the critical decision of whether to build or buy when it comes to their startup’s AI product development. Jeff Bezos famously illustrated this dilemma when speaking at a Y Combinator Startup School Keynote with an analogy from the turn of the last century. Some beer factories began producing their own electricity, while others chose to purchase it externally and connect to the grid. The latter spent more money on electricity but focused their efforts on producing better beer, which ultimately paid off. This scenario inspired Bezos’s famous quote: “Focus on what makes your beer better.” This […] - [The Top 17 Startup Incubators & Accelerators in the UK for 2026](https://altar.io/top-startup-incubators-accelerators-uk/): Finding the right incubator or accelerator (or even knowing which model is right for you) is a challenging process that can often leave you feeling overwhelmed.  Which is something I faced first-hand as I set out on my entrepreneurial journey. I’ve written about those experiences here if you’re interested in knowing a bit more.  There are several factors to take into account when considering a startup accelerator or incubator for your startup.  Things like the industry they specialise in, the amount of funding they provide (and the amount of equity they ask in return), the quality of the alumni community, etc.  It’s a […] - [How to Approach a Startup Event the Right Way: A Case Study from Slush 2024](https://altar.io/how-to-approach-a-startup-event-the-right-way/): Two weeks ago, our AI Product Expert, Rui, and I attended Slush in Helsinki, Finland, one of the largest startup events in Europe. This was a natural outcome of many of our 2024 marketing efforts aimed at ramping up our digital presence while expanding offline activities to connect with hubs that attract our ideal customers and build strong relationships with key players in the ecosystem. The entire week was filled not only with the main event but also with dozens of side events and spontaneous encounters. The city was buzzing with entrepreneurs, all eager to learn how to build better products […] - [How to Find a CTO for Your Startup: The 2026 Founder’s Guide](https://altar.io/how-to-find-a-cto-for-your-startup-the-founders-guide/): When building a startup, you have many options for software development. Whether you leverage an LLM-backed code builder, hire a team of developers, outsource to an agency, or find a CTO. While all of these options are viable, if you find a CTO with the right tech expertise, you’ll have gained a key player to help you succeed. But remember, if you pick the wrong CTO you won’t survive long – you may not even make it to launch. I bet you keep hearing that “Finding your dream CTO is not easy”. It’s true; it takes a lot of time and commitment. That’s […] - [The 10 Best AI Development Companies In the World (2026)](https://altar.io/best-ai-development-companies-in-the-world/): Choosing an AI development company in 2026 is no longer a technical decision. It’s a business risk decision. Almost every serious company today is exploring AI in some form; from internal automation to customer-facing products. The problem is that the gap between a convincing AI demo and a production-ready system is still massive, and many teams only realize this after months of work and a painful amount of wasted budget. Recent industry research consistently shows the same pattern: the majority of AI initiatives fail to reach production or deliver meaningful business value, not because the technology doesn’t work, but because the […] - [What The Non-Technical Entrepreneur Needs To Know About Tech](https://altar.io/what-the-non-technical-entrepreneur-needs-to-know-about-tech/): As a founder and entrepreneur, you don't need to be a technical expert. However, you do need to know the basic concepts because many technical decisions are critical business decisions. - [Breaking Bias: How a Young Female Founder Took Her Dorm Room Idea to Scale](https://altar.io/how-a-young-female-founder-took-her-dorm-room-idea-to-scale/): Meet Ahana Banerjee, a young founder defying the odds in a landscape where female-led startups face significant funding disparities. At age 21, while studying physics at Imperial College London, Ahana turned her struggle to find the right skincare products into Clear—an app that makes buying, tracking, and sharing skincare products both intuitive and engaging. I recently sat down with Ahana to discuss her Startup Journey as part of season 1 of our podcast series with successful founders. She shared how Clear grew from a dorm room project into a thriving business. Like many female founders, she faced significant hurdles, including being […] - [The Massive Amount of Work Behind “Stumbling Upon” a $143M Fintech Idea](https://altar.io/stumbling-upon-a-143m-fintech-idea-founder-story/): This is Louwrens Van Schalkwyk, a seasoned entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience in building and leading companies in the fintech sector. When Louwrens and his co-founder first started out, they were focused on solving a frustrating payroll problem for the temporary employment sector in South Africa. But in tackling one problem, they discovered new challenges—which eventually revealed an entirely new opportunity. Their solution, originally intended to streamline internal payroll management, ended up laying the foundation for a new startup, MyBucks. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Louwrens and dive into his Startup Journey. He mentioned that he […] - [The Next Gen of Human-AI Collaboration: Claude Artifacts, ChatGPT Canvas, and Perplexity Spaces](https://altar.io/next-gen-of-human-ai-collaboration/): The landscape of AI-powered tools is evolving rapidly, and we are entering what can be called the “Era of Expanded LLM Functionality.” As of late 2024, OpenAI, Anthropic and PerplexityAI have launched features that expand upon simple chat interfaces. These features, namely, ChatGPT Canvas, Claude Artifacts, and Perplexity Spaces, are beginning to define a new era, transforming how we work, create, and collaborate with technology. In this article, I’ll explore what these innovations represent, how they compare, and how to best use them. Contents Claude Artifacts & Projects In July 2024, Anthropic announced Claude “Artifacts,” a ‘split-screen’ view of an object that can […] - [Pioneering Efficiency in AI and Raising $22M in the Process [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/pioneering-efficiency-in-ai-and-raising-22m-in-the-process-founder-story/): A few years back, Jags Kandasamy walked into his first investor pitch with little more than a PowerPoint presentation and a bold vision for Latent AI.  Unlike many founders, he wasn’t armed with a fully built product, but he had something else that caught investors’ attention: a proven track record and a deep understanding of how AI could transform industries.  Within two rounds of funding, Latent AI raised over $22 million. I recently sat down with Jags to discuss his journey in building Latent AI.  As Jags puts it, “At Latent AI, we’re solving a key challenge: how to bring about […] - [The #1 Secret Behind the Second Most Influential Fintech Brand in the World (Founder Story)](https://altar.io/the-1-secret-behind-the-second-most-influential-fintech-brand-in-the-world-founder-story/): Did you know that Reid Hoffman was 42 when he founded LinkedIn, and Arianna Huffington was 55 when she co-founded the Huffington Post? That’s right, the most successful entrepreneurs aren’t the 20-year-olds in their dorm rooms; they’re experienced founders. But don’t just take my word for it. According to a Harvard University study by Pierre Azoulay, Benjamin F. Jones, J. Daniel Kim, and Javier Miranda, the average age of successful startup founders is between 35-45 years. A paper titled “Age and High-Growth Entrepreneurship” published in the American Economic Review found the mean age at founding for the 1-in-1,000 fastest-growing new ventures […] - [How a Strong Network and Focusing on People Fueled Varo Bank's $2.5B Valuation](https://altar.io/how-a-strong-network-and-focusing-on-people-fueled-varo-banks-2-5b-valuation/): Building a startup is all about people. From your co-founders and employees to partners, investors, and clients. If you want to succeed it’s vital to create a community around your business. With 25 years of experience as a C-level executive in the banking and financial services sector, Roger Van Duinen is the embodiment of the importance of creating and nurturing a strong network. Back in 2015, he co-founded Varo Bank, a fintech focused on reinventing banking through machine learning and AI to help people achieve better financial fitness. Just a year later, they reached a $2.5B valuation in their Series A […] - [What Every Startup Founder Needs to Know About Software Estimation in 2026](https://altar.io/what-every-startup-founder-needs-to-know-about-software-estimation/): Over the past year, I’ve had weekly conversations with founders, learning about their ideas and working together to develop a plan to bring their product to life. A key part of this process is estimating the cost of software development. Any diligent and responsible founder wants to understand how much capital is required to realise their vision. However, as the development process unfolds, they quickly realise that their initial idea will evolve – and with it, the overall development cost. This isn’t a setback, it’s simply the nature of the journey. The sooner founders accept this, the sooner they can start […] - [Customer Research That Drives Results: The Startup Founder’s Blueprint](https://altar.io/customer-research-that-drives-results-startup-founders-blueprint/): In my journey as a startup founder and early employee, I’ve accumulated many stories related to customer research. The funny thing is, when I founded my own startup, I thought I was doing customer research, only to realise later in future roles that I did almost everything wrong when it came to validating our product idea. I’ve already shared this in a previous blog post—we were very fast in launching the product to market, and we learned a lot from real customers, which was good. However, we also had to change many of our initial assumptions—something that could have been avoided […] - [Strategic Marketing Insights for Early-Stage Startup Founders [Expert Interview]](https://altar.io/strategic-marketing-insights-for-early-stage-startup-founders-expert-interview/): Long before joining Altar, nearly a decade ago, I founded my first tech startup and was quickly thrust into the myriad challenges of entrepreneurship. The learning curve was steep, from developing the product rationale to finding the right technical stakeholders and crafting an early-stage marketing strategy. Since then, I’ve worked in several early-stage startups, participated in the 500 Global Startup Accelerator, and helped numerous startups develop their go-to-market strategies.  Throughout this journey, early-stage founders have consistently asked me similar questions: “How should we position ourselves in the market?”, “What’s the best way to ensure all teams are aligned on our narrative?” […] - [Automate Your Startup Growth in 2026: Build Low-Cost, No-Code AI Agent Teams](https://altar.io/how-to-build-low-cost-no-code-ai-agent-teams/): Innovation brings about increasing capacity to automate tasks.  At the edge of innovation in AI, we are starting to see teams of specialised autonomous agents perform complex tasks, which would take a team of humans weeks of work to accomplish. skip render: ucaddon_blog_simple_quote In a previous article, I explored the concepts behind LLMs, Chains, AI Agents and Multi-Agent Systems (MAS).  When I talked about chains, I pointed to frameworks like LangChain and LlammaIndex, and later when talking about agents, I referred to frameworks like Microsoft Autogen, CrewAI and LangGraph to build multi-agent workflows. That article felt complete until last month when […] - [How I Leveraged My Network to Find a Technical Co-Founder for my Fintech Startup [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/how-i-leveraged-my-network-to-find-a-technical-co-founder-fintech-startup/): Just a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of doing a mentoring session for the Spring batch of Founders at Startup Lisboa. While the primary focus was on marketing, I couldn’t resist highlighting one of the most critical success factors for startups – networking and building a community around their venture. From my conversations with nearly every successful founder I’ve sat down with – whether it’s for content, potential customers, or my own networking efforts, this theme consistently emerges. Many attribute a large part of their success to networking and community. It’s helped them subsequently achieve valuations in the millions, and […] - [How a Y Combinator Lesson Helped Our Startup Scale to a $19M Valuation [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/how-y-combinator-helped-our-startup-scale-to-a-19m-valuation/): For the third instalment of our series of articles sitting down with successful entrepreneurs who’ve experienced world-class accelerators firsthand, I had the opportunity to sit down with Peter Fishman. With nearly two decades of tech experience under his belt, Peter’s portfolio boasts impressive stints at Google, The Walt Disney Company, and a key role as Principal Data Science Manager at Microsoft. Three years ago, he set out to build Mozart Data. An innovative startup that’s democratising the complex process of data management. With Mozart Data, mid-stage startups can now access the same calibre of data platform that was previously only available to large […] - [Beyond the Hype: When Every Startup is an AI Startup, How Do You Stand Out? [2026]](https://altar.io/beyond-the-ai-hype/): The explosion of AI companies over the past year has been overwhelming.  It seems to have become the norm to feature “AI” in your branding to capitalise on this AI gold rush.  This makes it challenging to navigate the hype and distinguish the wheat from the chaff – even for someone like myself, who’s spent the last year researching this topic, creating articles on it and building workshops on AI.  In this article, I’ll share my experience to ensure you can look beyond the AI hype, understand the current trends and, critically, ensure your startup cuts through the AI noise.  skip […] - [30-Year-Old Startup Lessons You Can't Afford to Ignore [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/30-year-startup-lessons-you-cant-afford-to-ignore/): In this edition of The Startup Journey Podcast, I had the opportunity to sit down with the remarkable Diane Prince. Diane’s track record is nothing short of extraordinary, with nearly three decades of experience nurturing startups into successful businesses. Having built seven companies that have collectively generated over $300M in revenue, achieving five successful exits in the process, she has made an indelible mark on the startup ecosystem. Diane isn’t just an established serial entrepreneur, but also a successful business coach. Leveraging her years of experience, she guides other founders on their entrepreneurial journeys, like teaching them her five essential secrets that every entrepreneur must […] - [Against the Grain: How a Dorm Room Startup Achieved $30M in Funding [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/against-the-grain-how-a-dorm-room-startup-achieved-30m-in-funding-founder-story/): There is a misconception that the most successful founders are young. This is largely perpetuated by the few exceptional cases of wunderkinder that have become startup lore. Mark Zuckerberg with Facebook at 19. Larry Page & Sergey Brin with Google at 25. Bill Gates & Paull Allen with Microsoft at 20. Steve Jobs with Apple at 21. In reality, the most successful founders are around 45 years old.  And it stands to reason. Older founders have more experience in their sector. more extensive network. They tend to have more financial resources to put into a new venture. And, quite simply, they’re […] - [How to Build a 1.8M Customer Base by Focusing on 1 Critical Problem [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/how-to-build-a-strong-customer-base-founder-story/): It’s no secret that one of the biggest challenges a founder of a startup or SME faces is liquidity. Especially today as VCs are becoming more selective than ever, betting more money on fewer companies, with AI startups taking around 28% of all VC funding in Q2 alone. Moreover, bank lending to SMEs has continued to decline in 2024, with 68% of brokers expecting this trend to continue. Yet, 86% of brokers expect the demand for SME financing will only increase. All this means startups and SMEs are increasingly reliant on new ways to generate working capital. If they don’t’ they […] - [Product Development vs. Go-to-market: Where Should the Founder Focus The Most?](https://altar.io/product-development-vs-go-to-market/): When creating your startup, one of the first (and biggest) challenges you face is finding the right balance between developing your product and acquiring your first customers. In the physical world, it’s impossible to launch a new product without meeting some minimum requirements and investing lots of time and money. In the software industry, developing products publicly from day one is increasingly common, even before they are ready for sale. The objective is to gather customer feedback as early as possible to ensure the product meets market demands. However, figuring out how to do this isn’t obvious, and there’s no one-size-fits-all […] - [Raising over $2.5B in Startup Funding & Getting Acquired by AMEX [Founder Story]](https://altar.io/raising-startup-funding-getting-acquired-by-amex-founder-story/): In the world of fintech startups, few stories are as inspiring as that of Kathryn Petralia and her journey with Kabbage.  Back in 2008, Kathryn and her founding team set out with a visionary goal: to leverage technology to provide small businesses with the funding tools they needed to grow and scale.  Kabbage quickly evolved, transforming from a simple loan provider for SMEs to a comprehensive cash management solution for entrepreneurs and founders. My co-founder and I had the privilege of sitting down with her to discuss her experience for an episode of our podcast, The Startup Journey.  But, in case […] - [Apple Intelligence & Microsoft Copilot in 2026: How Startup Founders Must Adapt](https://altar.io/apple-intelligence-vs-microsoft-copilot/): A New Era of Computer Interfaces The introduction of Microsoft Copilot and Apple Intelligence spearheads a transformative era for computer interfaces, redefining how users interact with their devices.  The earlier surge of challengers to the smartphone like Rabbit R1 and Humane Pin, and now the ubiquitous integration of AI models into the most used devices, signal that computer interfaces are about to change. Microsoft Copilot, deeply integrated into Windows 11, offers a seamless, context-aware user experience that adapts to individual needs across various applications and devices. It simplifies tasks by intelligently orchestrating apps, operating systems, and devices, allowing users to focus […] - [AI Agents in 2026: From the Klarna Hype to Production Reality](https://altar.io/ai-agents-for-startup/): Game-changing AI agents  AI Agents promise incredible benefits when it comes to streamlining operations and reducing the need for human touch in increasingly complex tasks.  It is early days, and we see innovative companies already report tremendous cost reductions and efficiency gains from deploying this technology.  An example of this is Klarna.  The Fintech company, in collaboration with OpenAI, has implemented autonomous agents across their customer support operation.  Just one month after implementation, they reported a reduction in average resolution time from 11 to 2 minutes! Their implementation was able to engage in 2.3M conversations with customers, handling two-thirds of all […] - [19 Entrepreneurs Share the Ups and Downs of Building Million-Dollar Startups [2026]](https://altar.io/entrepreneurs-share-how-they-built-million-dollar-startups/): Building a startup is a challenging journey. One of the best ways to navigate this path is by learning from those who have walked it before you. Imagine the excitement of raising millions in funding, the thrill of a successful exit, or the satisfaction of seeing your user base grow to tens of thousands. In this comprehensive list, I’ve compiled all of the Startup Journey Interviews our team has conducted with successful entrepreneurs who have done just that. These founders have faced numerous challenges, from pioneering fintech solutions to revolutionising customer communication, and have emerged with thriving startups. Each story provides […] - [How to Pitch to Investors in 2026: Preparation & Execution](https://altar.io/how-to-pitch-to-investors/): Did you know that running out of capital means the end of the road for around 29% of startups? Raising capital is a key factor to your startup’s success – unless you have deep pockets. This means developing a good relationship with investors – something I have previously talked about here.  Once you’ve developed that relationship, and it’s time to ask for that all-important injection of capital, you need to showcase what you have to offer. Investors need to see that you, the team you assemble and your product are a good bet that will bring in a good ROI. That means you […] - [How To Use AI to Track Your Startup’s KPIs in 2026 — and Impress Investors](https://altar.io/use-ai-track-startup-kpis/): Part of what makes Entrepreneurship hard is the amount of factors involved in striving for success. A lot of variables are outside the control of the innovator. Hence, rigorous hypothesis design and testing (Riskiest Assumptions Test – RAT) is called for, if a startup is to increase its chances of success against a staggering 90% failure rate. Decisions within a startup context are often high-stakes, challenging, filled with uncertainty, to be made fast, and on limited amounts of information.  skip render: ucaddon_blog_simple_quote In the contemporary fast-evolving tech and business landscapes, data-driven decision-making is crucial.  Throughout my career, I’ve had to make […] - [4 Founders Share Why You Should Launch Your Startup in Portugal](https://altar.io/founders-share-why-you-should-launch-your-startup-in-portugal/): In recent years, Portugal has firmly established itself as a thriving hub for tech startups – ranking #26 in the latest Global Startup Ecosystem Report.  As one of Europe’s fastest-growing tech ecosystems, the country boasts a startup-friendly environment that has garnered attention for its vibrant community, competitive costs, and abundant resources.  Recent reports underscore Portugal’s growing appeal. According to Startup Portugal, the number of tech startups in the country has increased by over 70% in the past five years.  And it makes sense with the support you can find here to build a startup – such as the startup founder visa […] - [AI Building Blocks: The Ultimate 2026 Guide to Integrating AI into Your Business](https://altar.io/ai-building-blocks-business/): For every startup founder out there, it’s becoming very clear: AI isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a pivotal force reshaping the tech landscape and business in general. From the products we use daily to the fundamental ways we interact with technology, AI is at the heart of a rapid transformation in the digitally interconnected world we live in.  McKinsey illuminates this potential, estimating that generative AI (gen AI) will inject between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion into the global economy each year.  But what does this mean for the startup ecosystem?  It signals a seismic shift in the innovation landscape, as highlighted […] - [Has Generative AI Killed the Data Scientist? [2026 Verdict]](https://altar.io/has-generative-ai-killed-the-data-scientist/): 10 years ago, becoming a data scientist was considered the job of the century.  With the consolidation of the Web-2 network, users were not only data consumers but data producers.  The need to manage, process and interpret this new form of gold was paramount and as such, hiring Data Scientists became a high priority for any company that consumed large amounts of data.  These large amounts of user behaviours, network structures, content, demographics, psychographics and much more allowed companies to understand and predict human behaviour at levels never seen before. Data Scientists were at the front of the data stream process […] - [AI’s Unfulfilled Promise For Business Leaders [2026 Reality Check]](https://altar.io/navigating-ai-enablement-business/): As companies navigate the digital transformation, the move towards Generative AI and AI enablement is becoming increasingly prominent.  What began as grassroots adaptability has now escalated to a critical agenda item for top-level executives.  It’s not just about pioneering startups harnessing this groundbreaking technology; well-established corporations are also exploring how to adopt it on a grander scale to drive business innovation and operational efficiency. According to PwC, 73% of US companies have integrated AI into some aspects of their operations, with generative AI (GenAI) being a key focus.  However, the pressing question remains: Are they implementing it correctly? Developing an AI […] - [How I Recovered from Losing My Startup's Technical Co-Founder](https://altar.io/how-i-recovered-from-losing-my-technical-co-founder/): Embarking on the journey of building a tech startup from the ground up presents a unique set of challenges, especially for non-technical founders.  The pivotal question that looms is: how do you bring your product to life? Essentially, you’re faced with three paths:  Partnering with a tech co-founder Hiring talent (be that senior or junior) Outsourcing to a software development agency. Drawing from my own ventures as the founder of a tech startup,  a B2C eCommerce startup in the wine industry, I can share a thing or two about that process that can help you avoid a world of pain.  The […] - [8 Steps to Setup Your Startup MVP for Success [2026]](https://altar.io/how-to-setup-your-startup-mvp-for-success/): A while back, I read an article from Sifted that talked about LinkedIn posts as indicators of what the next big thing in tech is or where we are in the cycle. 2021, they said, was characterised by exuberant “rocket ship” and “fire” emoji posts heralding the rise of unicorns. In contrast, 2022 was defined by the sombre “crying CEO” meme, reflecting the downturn in the tech market. In 2023, LinkedIn has witnessed a shift in focus. With many founders and builders hunkering down to weather the storm, the platform has become a stage for AI influencers and founders showcasing their […] - [Is Your Product Due a UX Audit? [Generative UX, 2026]](https://altar.io/generative-web-product-ux-audit/): The evolution of the internet can be divided into consistent periods or generations that group a technological paradigm. We all have heard the terms Web1, Web2 and most recently Web3 when talking about the history of the Web (I’ll go into detail on all of them in just a bit). These terms represent a holistic vision of a certain relevant period (around a decade) and give an overview of the general case for the functioning of the products born during that time.  Although technological development and user adoption are the key driving forces behind these paradigm shifts, the overall definition can […] - [12 Ways to Leverage ChatGPT For Your Startup in 2026](https://altar.io/how-to-leverage-chatgpt-for-your-startup/): This is João Ferrão dos Santos. For the last decade, he’s spent his time building, mentoring and funding startups. His journey includes raising an impressive €45M for his venture capital fund, Mustard Seed Maze.  But it’s his latest venture, Aisthetics Apparel, that has him hitting headlines. He boldly appointed ChatGPT as its CEO – a decision that reaped big rewards, turning his venture profitable in just a week!  It generated €10,000 in revenue within five days, resulting in a profit of €7,000. If this sales trend continues, the AI predicts an annual profit of €40,000 and a company valuation of €4 million.  ChatGPT even outreached […] - [How to Shape a Startup Product That Will Be Adopted by The Market [2026]](https://altar.io/how-to-shape-a-startup-product-that-will-be-adopted-by-the-market/): Product adoption stands as a pivotal factor determining success or stagnation for startups.  For founders, the journey from conceptualisation to market adoption is not just a phase but a pivotal make-or-break moment that defines the impact on growth over time.  It’s not just about introducing a novel solution; it’s about ensuring that the market embraces and integrates it into daily practices and that your user’s expectations are matched with exponential value.  This critical phase serves as a litmus test for the relevance and resonance of a startup’s offering.  I’ve gone through this critical moment through my own startup experience as a […] - [Design Meets Development: The Crucial Role of Styling in Startup Success](https://altar.io/the-crucial-role-of-styling-in-startup-success/): It’s easy for things to get lost in translation. We learn this as kids when we play the telephone game – where a sentence is whispered from one person to another. In the course of the game, either because we misheard something or felt like we could make it more concise and still get the same message across, the original idea turns into something else entirely. This is just as true in Product Development: you need to look no further than LinkedIn to find countless posts where designers wonder how the creations they put so much thought and consideration into come to life […] - [Launching a Startup in the Age of Generative AI [2026 Guide]](https://altar.io/launching-a-startup-in-the-age-of-generative-ai/): In the last year, Generative AI (GenAI) has significantly transformed technology and artificial intelligence.  Its impact is evident across various sectors, from the arts to marketing, where it has streamlined content creation and spurred innovation.  This widespread adoption highlights GenAI’s ability to unlock new creative possibilities and boost productivity. However, this rapid progress raises concerns for founders, particularly the fear of AI quickly surpassing human-led innovations.  It begs the question of the viability of investing in ventures that AI could outclass in a short period, especially given the high costs associated with developing proprietary AI models. It’s a scenario that mirrors […] - [Why I Chose a Software Development Company to Help Build My VC-Backed Startup](https://altar.io/why-i-chose-a-software-development-company-to-help-build-my-vc-backed-startup/): My entrepreneurial path began with a simple idea: creating a consignment marketplace for sneakers and streetwear. It was a venture I began with my brother, and it quickly turned into a startup journey into the heart of e-commerce, a sector both dynamic and challenging. We quickly uncovered the multifaceted nature of digital commerce. The platform quickly became more than just a website; it was an e-commerce hub connecting diverse tools and integrations. From managing inventory to synchronising sales channels, every step was a lesson in complexity. As our marketplace grew, so did our challenges. We faced the daunting task of managing […] - [Revolutionising Tech Leadership: Insights from an AI-Enabled CTO [2026]](https://altar.io/revolutionising-tech-leadership-insights-from-an-ai-enabled-cto/): As a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) who primarily works with entrepreneurs and early-stage startups to help them build their MVPs, my firsthand experiences with the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped my perception and approach to the role of a CTO.  Embarking on this journey as an AI-enabled CTO, I have embraced a path of continuous learning, adapting, and revolutionising our approach to technology, especially in startups. Here’s what I’ve learned on my journey so far, and how you can start employing AI in your processes to become more efficient and effective. skip render: ucaddon_blog_table_of_contents The AI-Enabled CTO Role […] - [Why Big Corporations Need Lean Startup Techniques: A Path to Innovation and Growth](https://altar.io/why-big-corporations-need-lean-startup-techniques-a-path-to-innovation-and-growth/): In the rapidly evolving business landscape, the mantra “adapt or die” holds more weight than ever. Blackberry and Yahoo serve as a stark reminder: failure to innovate can lead to obsolescence. Regardless of size. In the meantime, it has become increasingly common to witness a startup, now and then, completely revolutionise an industry. Spotify. Netflix. Tesla. Historically, large companies enjoyed a lifespan of around 61 years, a figure now drastically reduced to less than 18 years. This trend signals an alarming rate of corporate mortality, with entities like Enron and Lehman Brothers serving as cautionary tales of stagnation and collapse​. More than […] - [Navigating Rapid Startup Growth: Bootstrapped Beginnings to Y Combinator Success](https://altar.io/navigating-rapid-startup-growth-bootstrapped-beginnings-to-y-combinator-success/): In the realm of the modern software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup, data is the currency of choice. Yet, despite its value, the path from data to actionable insights is often fraught with complexity. Enter Vizzly, the entrepreneurial vision of Matt Williamson, a first-time founder with an extensive background in business development and product having worked at Skyscanner & Duffel. In Matt’s own words, Vizzly is “in the business of making data accessible and digestible through customer-facing dashboards. Our target users are B2B SaaS apps, and marketplaces that prioritize data transparency with their external stakeholders.” Matt and his team had the experience to pull off […] - [The Ultimate Startup Guide: From Ideation to MVP Launch & Beyond [2026]](https://altar.io/the-ultimate-startup-guide/): What’s Different About Building a Startup in 2026 The fundamentals in this guide — founder-market fit, validation, MVP discipline, early users, capital strategy — are unchanged. The execution layer around them, however, looks meaningfully different in 2026 from when this guide was first written. Five shifts worth keeping in mind as you read on: Validation in days, not weeks. Tools like Lovable, v0, Bolt and Replit Agent let non-technical founders ship working prototypes from a prompt, compressing the time between idea and first user feedback dramatically. Expect to test more hypotheses cheaply, not bigger MVPs upfront. AI-augmented engineering is the default. […] - [Raising $3.3M Pre-Launch & Completing Y Combinator to Bridge Europe & Africa's Financial Chasm (Founder Story)](https://altar.io/bridging-europe-africas-financial-chasm-founder-story/): When it comes to the startup world, every entrepreneur has a unique journey filled with ups, downs and a whole lot of learning. One of the big decisions along the way is whether to join a startup accelerator. A choice that isn’t just about funding. It’s about tapping into a reservoir of resources, mentorship, and a network that could significantly shorten the steep learning curve that most entrepreneurs face. Today, I’m sharing an open conversation I recently had with Bilal Dahlab, an entrepreneur who tackled the decision firsthand and went on to take part in Y Combinator. Bilal’s path shifted from financial […] - [How OpenAI Found Success by Being Product Driven (And How You Can Too)](https://altar.io/how-openai-found-success-by-being-product-driven-and-how-you-can-too/): Is this [ChatGPT product release from OpenAI] a pivotal moment? Out of all the GPT versions, 50 years from now when they look back on an early system that was really kind of a leap. This was the question posed by AI researcher Lex Fridman in a conversation with Sam Altman, former president of Y Combinator and current CEO of OpenAI. Altman’s response encapsulates the essence of what truly makes a product successful: It wasn’t the underlying model that mattered, it was the usability of it, both the RLHF (Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback) and the interface to it. These words […] - [A Tech Founder's Perspective on Collaborating with a Software Development Company](https://altar.io/building-a-startup-with-a-software-development-company-tech-founders-perspective/): I’m an entrepreneur and investor who’s spent the last 20 years working my way through the entrepreneurial journey. In that time, I’ve also become an investor and advisor to several startups. My latest venture is Ovvio. Our platform was a pandemic baby that was born out of a need to connect humans with other humans to solve daily tasks with the help of someone else’s knowledge. Technology has long been a passion of mine and, while I have some tech experience, my co-founder and I quickly realised that building the MVP for Ovvio with an in-house team may not be the best way to […] ## Pages - [Altar App Builder](https://altar.io/altar-app-builder/): Altar App Builder Projeto de I&DT Individual N.º 21001 — IDT-IND Cofinanciado pelo programa Lisboa 2030, financiado pela União Europeia através do FEDER. O Altar App Builder (AAB) é uma plataforma modular de desenvolvimento de aplicações que acelera a criação de software personalizado através de módulos pré-configurados, motor de estado, orquestração de workflows e um motor de IA baseado em SLM fine-tuned. O projeto investiga soluções inovadoras em oito características técnicas — desde infraestrutura como código até modelos de linguagem especializados — para permitir que equipas de desenvolvimento entreguem produtos de qualidade empresarial com significativamente menos esforço e tempo. Dados do […] - [About Us](https://altar.io/us/): Our Team is Your Team Experience, Rigor, and a User-Centric Approach. Hello, we’re Altar.io You’re here to build something meaningful, and we’re here to help make it happen. As product experts, designers, and engineers, we plug into your team to sharpen your vision, cut through noise, and get you from idea to traction with the leanest, smartest path forward. See Our Work Why Us Because we’ve been in your shoes. Altar.io was built by ex-founders who’ve launched startups, failed fast, raised capital, exited, and everything in between. That journey taught us the hard truths of turning vision into products that actually […] - [Partnerships](https://altar.io/partnerships/): Partnerships The best founders don’t build alone—and neither do we. Our most successful clients are often introduced by the people shaping the startup ecosystem who trust us to turn bold ideas into real products. If you help founders succeed – whether as an investor, a corporation that helps startup founders, or a platform that accelerates innovation – let’s talk. Let’s Talk Who’s Part of Our Ecosystem Over the years, we’ve teamed up with organizations that share our mission: helping founders turn ideas into thriving businesses. These partnerships reflect our commitment to supporting the startup ecosystem and building products that make an […] - [Podcast](https://altar.io/podcast/): The Startup Journey Podcast Uncover the secrets of successful startups through in-depth conversations with top entrepreneurs and industry experts. Learn about the critical first few months of their startups, including building the product, hiring the right talent, go-to-market strategies, and everything else that can make or break a startup early on. Hear entrepreneurs from Meet the Host Rui Lourenço Managing Partner & CMO Rui is a partner and CMO at Altar.io. He’s been dedicated to B2B marketing for his entire professional career. After spending eight years honing his craft at Portugal’s first B2B marketing agency, he joined Altar.io, where he leads […] - [Work](https://altar.io/work/): We take digital experiences to the next level The products we build are changing the way industry leaders do their core business. Social Media Community for Fans Fave is a fandom-centric community with highly engaging content where fans can create deeper and lasting connections. The vision to nurture and grow the community is centered on rewarding positive and meaningful engagement with points that can be redeemed for discounts and exclusive experiences. See Case Study AI System to Transform Complex Regulations into Easy-to-Use Digital Compliance Rules Apiax is a Swiss Company that operates in the Regulation Technology market and serves major Banks […] - [The Altar.io AI Manifesto](https://altar.io/ai-manifesto/): The Altar.io AI Manifesto How we leverage AI to ensure your business is innovative and competitive in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.   AI is here to stay The presence of AI-enabled technology in the business world is not mere hype. Hundreds of real-world applications are in the hands of users today, and the trend of embedding AI into next-generation products is here to stay. Amidst an unpredictable near future, both individuals and organisations must learn to adapt to stay relevant in the marketplace. “AI is already revolutionizing software development, enhancing quality and productivity across our workflow. The challenge for CTOs […] - [AI Development & Enablement](https://altar.io/service-ai/): AI Development & Enablement We leverage ML and Generative AI strategically to ensure your business is future-ready. 0 + completed projects 0 + in-house specialists 0 our Clutch score Our AI Strategy AI is transforming business landscapes, creating significant opportunities for those who adapt swiftly. At Altar.io, we stay ahead by closely tracking the latest tech advancements and venture trends to anticipate future shifts. Over 60% of our client engagements now incorporate AI in some form. Our ‘Product First’ approach ensures AI is strategically leveraged to optimise and automate key areas of your business. We help industry leaders navigate these changes […] - [Newsletter](https://altar.io/newsletter/) - [Services](https://altar.io/services/): We design & build innovative products focused on user’s needs Together, we can transform your vision into a thriving business, be it through a Minimum Viable Product, UX/UI services, or scaling support for your company. 0 + completed projects 0 + in-house specialists 0 our Clutch score How we work We believe there are no excuses to build anything less than great technology products. The core of our operations lies in helping you craft and launch tailored, innovative solutions designed to delight your users. To achieve this, we combine a lean approach with tried-and-tested frameworks and our extensive experience in creating […] - [News](https://altar.io/news/): Read The Latest Stories From Our World We are proud to see our clients reach their full potential and succeed. Here’s the latest news from Altar and the companies we partner with.   - [Open Source](https://altar.io/open-source/): We Love Open Source The projects we create and contribute to are being used worldwide. - [Cookie Policy (EU)](https://altar.io/cookie-policy-eu/) - [Thank You](https://altar.io/thank-you-expert/): Thank you for Submitting the Form We’ll get back to you within 24 hours. Read what we’ve been writing - [Book A Call](https://altar.io/start-a-project/): Start a Project with Altar.io - [Custom Software Development](https://altar.io/service-custom-software-development/): Custom Software Development Whatever problem you’re solving, choose the right tech and build the right User Experience for your users What is custom software development? Custom software development allows you to design, build and launch a solution tailored specifically to your users’ needs. Our process begins with a series of deep-dive product sessions to align your vision with business objectives, creating the blueprint for a successful product. Our expert UX/UI and development teams then build your product from the ground up to meet your users’ needs and propel your business. Key Benefits Full Ownership You will own 100% of the software […] - [Dedicated Teams](https://altar.io/service-dedicated-teams/): Dedicated Teams Handpicked Front-end & Full-stack software developers perfectly tailored to your needs What is an Altar.io Dedicated Team? We use a structured process to build the right, long-term dedicated team for your project. Our high-performance frontend and fullstack specialists provide the expertise you need to deliver solutions using key cutting edge performance technologies such as Angular & React; Node.js & Python. Key Benefits Vetted Talent Altar.io attracts and screens approximately 40 candidates to select each new team member. We vet software developers based on career profile assessment, hard skills measured by our technical challenges and team interviews by us and […] - [UX/UI](https://altar.io/service-ux-ui/): UX/UI Design an engaging product that is easy-to-use, attractive and functional Key Benefits Customer Acquisition & Retention An attractive, functional and easy to use UX/UI will amaze your users and solve their problems effectively. These positive experiences will not only drive people to your product, but it will also keep them using it. Reduce Costs A well-designed product will require less training, documentation and development, both now and in the future. This will allow your team to focus on developing the business instead of correcting false assumptions or confusing navigation that gets the user stuck. How it works Step One Design […] - [Product Scope](https://altar.io/service-product-scope/): Product Scope The Structured Process Behind Successful Product Development What is a Product Scope? The Product Scope is an intensive, 15-20 day, structured process designed to set your project up for success. It starts with an immersive focus session where you’ll sit down with product experts and ex-startup founders to dive into your product vision from a business standpoint. Then we’ll create the right list of user stories for your Minimum Viable Product, ensuring you have all the vital features you need to go to market and test your main assumptions. Key Benefits Immersive Focus We spend two days together in […] - [MVP Builder](https://altar.io/service-mvp-builder/): MVP Builder Go to market quickly with a high-quality Minimum Viable Product (MVP) What is the MVP Builder? We use a structured process to build your MVP quickly and on budget. Our product experts will streamline your MVP to the most important features. Then, our top talent UX/UI and development teams will design and build your MVP from the ground up. This allows you to rapidly launch, prove the product’s main assumptions so your business can grow as soon as possible. Key Benefits Reduced Risk We don’t want to help you build a full-featured product only to discover the market doesn’t […] - [Blog](https://altar.io/blog/) - [Tech](https://altar.io/tech/): The tech behind our cutting-edge solutions Where Lean frameworks & Product innovation meets technical expertise Our tech toolkit at a glance We dive deep into your project’s needs to ensure we select the best tools and frameworks for your product. Most of the projects we work on fall into the following tech stack. What we excel at Full-Stack Applications When you need a comprehensive full-stack web application, we handle everything from Kubernetes Cluster setup to frontend and backend development, including advanced features like micro-services and security assessment. Artificial Intelligence We develop sophisticated algorithms and integrate machine learning techniques. This process includes […] - [Pricing](https://altar.io/pricing/): Pick your type of project. Pick your type of project here COMPLEXITY Low Mid High PROJECT SIZE Small Medium Big SPEED > 6 Months 2 > 5 Months < 2 Months FROM $ – k – TO $-k This estimate considers Product, UX/UI and Software Development. Building ? Then you should talk to me. I’m an expert in s and I’ll be glad to discuss the project with you and also give you a correct estimation for it. Email Pick your type of project. COMPLEXITY PROJECT SIZE SPEED FROM – – TO – This estimate considers Product, UX/UI and Software Development. […] - [Home](https://altar.io/): WE ARE ALTAR.IO Custom Product & Software Development Focused On Your Success Book a Call What we do We help entrepreneurs and business leaders build and launch innovative custom software solutions to the market across a range of verticals & industries. We can help you turn your vision into a successful product together, whether it’s in the form of a Minimum Viable Product, UX/UI services, full product custom software development or help to scale your company. Social Media Fave Fave is a fandom-centric community with highly engaging content where fans can create deeper and lasting connections. The vision to nurture and […] ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/altar.io/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)