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Finishing Round 1 of a Government Startup Program — It Ended Right When It Got Interesting
I applied almost by accident, got in, found it overwhelming, then started enjoying it once the mentoring began. And then it was over. Here's the honest version, including why I can't reapply.
"We're a Tech Company" — With Zero Developers
AI means you can ship without a developer. So calling yourself a tech company got a lot easier. But building something and being able to keep it alive are different problems.
How Projects Die Without a PM — And Why a Solo Company Is Missing More Than That
Projects without a PM don't fail from laziness. They collapse because nobody forces a decision and nothing that's stalled is visible. The collapse order I've seen for 18 years — and the same thing happening to solo operators.
Running 10 Projects at Once with AI — Not Easier, Just More Bearable
Does running multiple projects at once with AI coding tools actually make things easy? Running 6-10 in parallel taught me that multiplaying doesn't remove the pain — it just makes it survivable.
Four VC Mentoring Sessions, Two Months — The Time I Dropped What I Was Building
Over two months in Korea's 'Modoo Startup Project' round 1, I got four 1:1 mentoring sessions with a VC investment associate — and dropped the direction I was preparing along the way. Here's what I learned.
Why Development Timelines Still Slip — AI Added a New Illusion
AI coding tools produce demos in minutes, creating a new timeline illusion. Here's why the speed you see in a demo isn't the speed of shipping a real service.
What Happens When a Founder Doesn't Understand Development — And the Minimum You Should Know
The real costs non-technical founders pay for not understanding development, and the minimum judgment framework to protect your project without becoming a developer.
What a Developer Really Thinks When You Ask "It's Almost Done, Right?"
Why developers pause before answering "it's almost done, right?" — why the word "almost" is a trap, and the gap between visible progress and real progress.
Business Is Still People to People
AI made it possible to do everything alone. But in the end, it was people who brought the work. An honest record of how contracts started coming in after starting my own business.
Why Development Timelines Always Slip — It's Structural, Not a Lie
Development schedules slip constantly. Not because developers are lazy or dishonest. Here's the actual structural reason — and how to manage it.
Why Cheap AI Development Ends Up Costing More
AI is driving software prices down. But there's a massive difference between a real developer using AI and someone who just isn't — and it shows up at the worst possible time.
Why an 18-Year Developer Finally Went Independent
I built a system that could run without me. Then I realized I was making myself obsolete. That's when I decided to leave.
AI Forced Me to Rest — How I Burned Through My Claude Code Weekly Limit Alone
Two years on Cursor, switched to Claude Code for the larger limits — and even that wasn't enough. Running 4 projects solo, 7 days a week, the limit caught up anyway.
"Just One Simple Thing" — The Words Every Developer Dreads
The most common phrase I've heard in 18 years of development: 'Can you just add one simple thing?' Here's why it's never simple, and what's actually happening beneath the surface.
Modu Startup Selectees: How to Use the AI Solutions and the ₩2M Card
A practical guide to the AI solutions (400+, apply by Jun 24) and the ₩2M startup activity card for 2026 Modu Startup selectees — both feed into Round 1 evaluation.
Built an MVP in a Day? The Real Work Starts on Day Two
The idea that you can build an MVP in a day with AI is spreading. You can. But that's a demo, not a product. Building is 10% of the work — the other 90% starts the day after launch.
Selected for Modu Startup 2026 — The Support at This Stage, and the Full Roadmap
MVPIT passed the idea screening of Korea's 2026 Modu Startup program, among the 5,000 selected (4,000 in the general/tech track). Here's the support at this stage (activity funds, mentoring, AI solutions) and the official roadmap from the prototype rounds to the finals.
Someone Who Couldn't Code Shipped an App in 3 Hours with AI — Are Developers Finished?
Notes from a workshop where people who'd never coded shipped an app in three hours with AI — and why developers need to go deeper, not disappear.
You Said You Needed It. So Why Is Nobody Using It?
The feature you fought hardest for is often the one nobody touches after launch. After 18 years of outsourced builds, here's the pattern — and the one question to ask before writing any code.
Korea's Modoo Startup Round 2 — What Changed for Round 1 Rejects
Korea's Modoo Startup Round 2 launches in early July. Double the spots, re-challenge support, and a new global league — here's what changed for the 57,000 who didn't make Round 1.
Passed the Idea Round of Korea's Largest Startup Competition — What We Submitted and Learned
MVPIT passed the idea screening of the 2026 Modoo Startup program with an AI-powered MVP diagnosis service. Here's what we submitted to a 63,000-applicant competition and what we learned.
You Didn't Win the Startup Contest — Here's Why You Should Still Build Your MVP
With 63,000 applicants and only 5,000 spots, most people don't win startup competitions. But you don't need government money to build an MVP. Here's how to start with minimal budget.
How to Prepare a Prototype (MVP) for a Startup Competition
When a startup competition requires a working prototype, here's how non-technical founders can realistically plan scope, budget, and timeline for their MVP.
MVP Maintenance Costs — How Much Should You Budget?
How much maintenance actually costs after launching an MVP, the difference between maintenance and operations, and how to manage post-launch costs effectively.
MVP Development Contracts — 5 Clauses Every Founder Must Check
The 5 contract clauses that cause 90% of outsourcing disputes. Scope, payment, ownership, acceptance, and termination — check these before you sign.
MVP Features: What to Include vs What to Cut
How to decide which features belong in your MVP and which to save for later. A practical framework with real examples of common over-builds.
5 Things to Check Before Choosing an MVP Development Partner
A practical checklist for selecting the right MVP development partner — covering portfolio, pricing transparency, communication, contracts, and post-launch support.
5 Common Mistakes When Building an MVP
Recurring mistakes in MVP development and how to fix them — from feature overload to skipping market validation.
How Much Should MVP Development Actually Cost?
Why MVP quotes vary so much, how to evaluate them, and practical ways to keep costs reasonable.
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