The Designli blog.
Resources for unlocking your next level of business growth with custom-built software.
How Do Free Apps Make Money? 9 Proven Monetization Models
Written by Keith Shields, May 14, 2026
There are plenty of ways to make money from a free app. Here are eight proven methods to generate app revenue with a free app and what you should consider with each.
MVP vs. MAP: Why Just 'Viable' Isn't Enough in 2026
Written by Keith Shields, May 6, 2026
Viability is the floor, not the goal. Learn why the Minimum Awesome Product (MAP) is the new standard for SaaS retention.
How to Find Your First 100 Users for Your New SaaS Product
Written by Keith Shields, May 5, 2026
Forget paid ads. Learn how to get your first 100 SaaS users through founder-led outreach, niche communities, and IEA targeting. Plus
How to Define and Strengthen Your SaaS Moat in 2026
Written by Keith Shields, May 1, 2026
Features aren't moats. Learn how to engineer structural defensibility through switching costs, workflow embedding, and data network effects from day one.
How to Write a Killer Feature Brief for Your Developer
Written by Keith Shields, Apr 30, 2026
Learn how to write structured, 1-page feature briefs that align teams and speed up shipping. Includes a repeatable template.
Answer Before You Build: 13 Questions That Reveal Product Risks
Written by Keith Shields, Apr 24, 2026
Most apps fail due to operational blindness, not missing features. Use this guide to validate testing, monitoring, and ownership before you ship.
4 Advantages of Angel Funding For Startups
Written by Laura MacPherson, Apr 23, 2026
What is angel funding and what makes it so beneficial? In this post, we’ll explore four advantages of angel funding for startups.
How to Scale a Development Team: From Solo Builder to a High-Performing Team
Written by Keith Shields, Apr 15, 2026
Struggling to scale your dev team? Learn how to transition from solo builder to team leader with the right hiring, delegation, and process strategies.
How Do I Find the Best App Development Partner for My Project?
Written by Keith Shields, Apr 14, 2026
Learn how to find a product-focused app development partner that challenges your vision, utilizes 2026 AI workflows, and builds for ROI, not just code.
Pros and Cons of the 11 Best Mobile App Programming Languages
Written by Katie Iannace, Apr 8, 2026
Choosing the right mobile app programming language depends on your priorities and goals. There are pros and cons to all popular languages.
Vibe Coding: The Fast Fashion Approach to Building Software
Written by Keith Shields, Apr 7, 2026
Learn how vibe coding resembles “fast fashion” when it comes to building software in 2026. Best practices, risks, and cues for knowing when to evolve.
20 Pros and Cons of Building a Mobile App vs. a Web App
Written by Katie Iannace, Mar 31, 2026
This guide will walk you through the advantages and disadvantages of building a mobile app vs. a web app to help you decide.
Software Development & Execution Risks: How Projects Quietly Go Off the Rails
Written by Keith Shields, Mar 27, 2026
Learn how software projects fail due to execution risk. Discover hidden risks in product development and how to prevent misalignment, delays, and rebuilds.
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