January 12, 2026
January 12, 2026
January 12, 2026
How Startups Compete When Everyone Has Access to the Same Tools
I was on a call with a founder last month. Their product was solid. Team was smart. Funding was there. But their website looked like a school project.
They just lost a partnership deal because the other company "didn't feel confident" in them.
It wasn't the product. It was the presentation.
The Bar Just Got Higher
Silicon Valley startups set a new standard. Stripe. Linear. Attio. Notion.
These companies made "looking like a million-dollar business" the baseline.
Now every founder you're competing with for customers, talent, and partnerships is being compared to that standard.
And here's the problem: most founders think they need a $50k agency and 3 months to get there.
They don't.
The game changed. Premium digital presence isn't a luxury anymore—it's table stakes. But the cost and timeline dropped dramatically.
What Changed
No-code killed the old playbook
The old way:
Hire agency
Figma designs for 4 weeks
Custom development for 8 weeks
Revisions for 4 more weeks
$30k-50k minimum
The new way:
Framer (or similar no-code)
Design + build simultaneously
1-2 weeks
$1k-5k
You get the same polished, modern look. SEO built in. Mobile responsive. Fast.
Your 3 problems as a founder:
Not getting enough customers
Not hiring smart enough people
Not having a digital presence that makes people take you seriously
Your website directly impacts all three.
I worked with an AI platform a few weeks ago. Two weeks. Their demo bookings doubled because prospects stopped questioning if they were "real."
Dan Koe said it best: "When anyone can write anything or build any software, which ones are going to win? The ones that people know about."
But Here's Where Most Founders Mess Up
They think any designer with a Framer account can do this.
Wrong.
Most designers are unhirable.
Not because they can't make things look good. They can.
But because they don't understand business.
"A person who studied psychology and design sees user behavior differently from the pure designer. A person who learned sales and philosophy closes deals differently than the pure salesman. A person who understands fitness and business builds health companies that MBAs can't comprehend." — Dan Koe
What elite designers actually do:
Function as business partners, not pixel pushers
Understand your market, customers, and positioning
Know what converts, not just what's pretty
Communicate clearly and manage their time
Save you from decision fatigue
Every interest you've ever pursued leaves behind a residue. Every experience compounds. The more complex your model of reality, the more problems you can solve.
You're not buying rectangles. You're buying someone who gets your business and can translate that into a digital presence that works.
I spent 6 years in management consulting before I touched Framer. That's my edge. I think like your business partner first, designer second.
How to Actually Do This
1. Don't hire based on portfolio alone
Every designer has a nice portfolio. Look for:
Do they ask business questions on discovery calls?
Can they articulate why design decisions matter?
Do they understand your customers?
The gap between good and great is where all the value lives. The difference between being top 10% in a field and being top 1% is not 10x—it's 1000x.
2. Invest, don't spend
This isn't an expense. It's an investment in:
Closing more customers (better conversion)
Attracting better talent (people want to work for real companies)
Building partnerships (credibility with investors/partners)
"You should not chase money. You should chase doing something noteworthy. The road to getting there is hard work. But the road is 10x longer if it's something that you don't enjoy." — vas
3. Move fast
Test your offer. Launch. Get feedback. Iterate.
The main advantage of being a one-person business is speed and adaptability. The startups that win aren't the ones with perfect websites. They're the ones that ship fast and keep moving.
4. Find the right fit
Both sides should be selective. If it doesn't feel right, say no.
You need confidence that your designer can deliver. They need confidence they can overdeliver for you.
Money alone isn't enough.
I say no to projects where I don't feel the fit. Not because they're bad clients. Because I know I won't do my best work, and that's not fair to either of us.
What This Actually Means
The bar is high. But the tools to clear it are accessible.
You don't need a massive team or a massive budget.
You need:
The right tools (Framer, modern no-code)
The right person (business-savvy designer)
The right mindset (invest, move fast, iterate)
Silicon Valley startups didn't win because they spent more. They won because they understood that in 2026, your digital presence is your first impression.
And first impressions close deals, hire talent, and build partnerships.
If you're a founder building something real and you need a digital presence that matches your ambition – let's talk. I work in 1-2 week sprints. Client portal. Daily updates. No disappearing for weeks.
Let's build something magnetic.
I was on a call with a founder last month. Their product was solid. Team was smart. Funding was there. But their website looked like a school project.
They just lost a partnership deal because the other company "didn't feel confident" in them.
It wasn't the product. It was the presentation.
The Bar Just Got Higher
Silicon Valley startups set a new standard. Stripe. Linear. Attio. Notion.
These companies made "looking like a million-dollar business" the baseline.
Now every founder you're competing with for customers, talent, and partnerships is being compared to that standard.
And here's the problem: most founders think they need a $50k agency and 3 months to get there.
They don't.
The game changed. Premium digital presence isn't a luxury anymore—it's table stakes. But the cost and timeline dropped dramatically.
What Changed
No-code killed the old playbook
The old way:
Hire agency
Figma designs for 4 weeks
Custom development for 8 weeks
Revisions for 4 more weeks
$30k-50k minimum
The new way:
Framer (or similar no-code)
Design + build simultaneously
1-2 weeks
$1k-5k
You get the same polished, modern look. SEO built in. Mobile responsive. Fast.
Your 3 problems as a founder:
Not getting enough customers
Not hiring smart enough people
Not having a digital presence that makes people take you seriously
Your website directly impacts all three.
I worked with an AI platform a few weeks ago. Two weeks. Their demo bookings doubled because prospects stopped questioning if they were "real."
Dan Koe said it best: "When anyone can write anything or build any software, which ones are going to win? The ones that people know about."
But Here's Where Most Founders Mess Up
They think any designer with a Framer account can do this.
Wrong.
Most designers are unhirable.
Not because they can't make things look good. They can.
But because they don't understand business.
"A person who studied psychology and design sees user behavior differently from the pure designer. A person who learned sales and philosophy closes deals differently than the pure salesman. A person who understands fitness and business builds health companies that MBAs can't comprehend." — Dan Koe
What elite designers actually do:
Function as business partners, not pixel pushers
Understand your market, customers, and positioning
Know what converts, not just what's pretty
Communicate clearly and manage their time
Save you from decision fatigue
Every interest you've ever pursued leaves behind a residue. Every experience compounds. The more complex your model of reality, the more problems you can solve.
You're not buying rectangles. You're buying someone who gets your business and can translate that into a digital presence that works.
I spent 6 years in management consulting before I touched Framer. That's my edge. I think like your business partner first, designer second.
How to Actually Do This
1. Don't hire based on portfolio alone
Every designer has a nice portfolio. Look for:
Do they ask business questions on discovery calls?
Can they articulate why design decisions matter?
Do they understand your customers?
The gap between good and great is where all the value lives. The difference between being top 10% in a field and being top 1% is not 10x—it's 1000x.
2. Invest, don't spend
This isn't an expense. It's an investment in:
Closing more customers (better conversion)
Attracting better talent (people want to work for real companies)
Building partnerships (credibility with investors/partners)
"You should not chase money. You should chase doing something noteworthy. The road to getting there is hard work. But the road is 10x longer if it's something that you don't enjoy." — vas
3. Move fast
Test your offer. Launch. Get feedback. Iterate.
The main advantage of being a one-person business is speed and adaptability. The startups that win aren't the ones with perfect websites. They're the ones that ship fast and keep moving.
4. Find the right fit
Both sides should be selective. If it doesn't feel right, say no.
You need confidence that your designer can deliver. They need confidence they can overdeliver for you.
Money alone isn't enough.
I say no to projects where I don't feel the fit. Not because they're bad clients. Because I know I won't do my best work, and that's not fair to either of us.
What This Actually Means
The bar is high. But the tools to clear it are accessible.
You don't need a massive team or a massive budget.
You need:
The right tools (Framer, modern no-code)
The right person (business-savvy designer)
The right mindset (invest, move fast, iterate)
Silicon Valley startups didn't win because they spent more. They won because they understood that in 2026, your digital presence is your first impression.
And first impressions close deals, hire talent, and build partnerships.
If you're a founder building something real and you need a digital presence that matches your ambition – let's talk. I work in 1-2 week sprints. Client portal. Daily updates. No disappearing for weeks.
Let's build something magnetic.
