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#480 The Dangerous Gap: Why Startups Fail After MVP – Insights from Ali Hafizji

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Manage episode 487411354 series 3506362
Content provided by Mehmet Gonullu. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Mehmet Gonullu or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we’re joined by Ali Hafizji, founder of the product development agency Wednesday, for a candid look into one of the most overlooked phases in startup growth: the dangerous gap between MVP and Product-Market Fit (PMF).

We explore why many startups lose momentum after MVP, how to avoid premature scaling, the role of AI in early-stage execution, and what it really takes to survive the chaos between MVP and PMF.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Why the MVP is just a milestone, not the finish line

• The most common traps founders fall into post-MVP

• How to measure the right metrics instead of vanity ones

• The importance of distribution, sales, and customer conversations

• When and how to outsource technical work without losing control

• Why being an AI-native founder or team is now a startup superpower

• The real difference between a programmer and a product engineer

📚 What You’ll Learn

• How to shift your mindset and role after shipping an MVP

• The dangers of scaling too early or hiring too fast

• How AI changes the game for early-stage teams and solo founders

• Whether non-technical founders still need CTOs in the age of AI

• How to evaluate and collaborate with outsourcing partners effectively

👤 About the Guest

Ali Hafizji is a veteran entrepreneur, engineer-turned-marketer, and founder of Wednesday, a product development agency helping startups go from MVP to scalable products. At Wednesday Solutions, he leads a team that has collaborated with over 10% of India’s unicorn companies, delivering solutions that have meaningfully contributed to their growth.

With deep insights from working across multiple startups, Ali brings sharp clarity to common mistakes, smart iterations, and team-building in early-stage ventures.

http://wednesday.is/

http://tuesday.is/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alihafizji/

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Intro and Ali’s background

03:00 – Why MVP is just the beginning

05:00 – The real job of a founder after MVP

06:30 – What is “The Dangerous Gap”?

08:00 – Why vanity metrics lead startups astray

11:00 – Premature scaling: the #1 killer

14:30 – What great early-stage teams focus on

17:00 – How AI can help founders post-MVP

20:00 – Product engineer vs. programmer

25:00 – Outsourcing: best practices and warning signs

30:00 – Do you need a fractional CTO?

33:00 – Final thoughts and how to connect with Ali

  continue reading

479 episodes

Artwork
iconShare
 
Manage episode 487411354 series 3506362
Content provided by Mehmet Gonullu. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Mehmet Gonullu or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we’re joined by Ali Hafizji, founder of the product development agency Wednesday, for a candid look into one of the most overlooked phases in startup growth: the dangerous gap between MVP and Product-Market Fit (PMF).

We explore why many startups lose momentum after MVP, how to avoid premature scaling, the role of AI in early-stage execution, and what it really takes to survive the chaos between MVP and PMF.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Why the MVP is just a milestone, not the finish line

• The most common traps founders fall into post-MVP

• How to measure the right metrics instead of vanity ones

• The importance of distribution, sales, and customer conversations

• When and how to outsource technical work without losing control

• Why being an AI-native founder or team is now a startup superpower

• The real difference between a programmer and a product engineer

📚 What You’ll Learn

• How to shift your mindset and role after shipping an MVP

• The dangers of scaling too early or hiring too fast

• How AI changes the game for early-stage teams and solo founders

• Whether non-technical founders still need CTOs in the age of AI

• How to evaluate and collaborate with outsourcing partners effectively

👤 About the Guest

Ali Hafizji is a veteran entrepreneur, engineer-turned-marketer, and founder of Wednesday, a product development agency helping startups go from MVP to scalable products. At Wednesday Solutions, he leads a team that has collaborated with over 10% of India’s unicorn companies, delivering solutions that have meaningfully contributed to their growth.

With deep insights from working across multiple startups, Ali brings sharp clarity to common mistakes, smart iterations, and team-building in early-stage ventures.

http://wednesday.is/

http://tuesday.is/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alihafizji/

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Intro and Ali’s background

03:00 – Why MVP is just the beginning

05:00 – The real job of a founder after MVP

06:30 – What is “The Dangerous Gap”?

08:00 – Why vanity metrics lead startups astray

11:00 – Premature scaling: the #1 killer

14:30 – What great early-stage teams focus on

17:00 – How AI can help founders post-MVP

20:00 – Product engineer vs. programmer

25:00 – Outsourcing: best practices and warning signs

30:00 – Do you need a fractional CTO?

33:00 – Final thoughts and how to connect with Ali

  continue reading

479 episodes

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