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