#411 Moving Fast Without Breaking Everything: MVP Strategy with Andrew Duncan

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, we’re joined by Andrew Duncan, CEO of Vertice Labs, a boutique software engineering company that helps startups and SMBs turn innovative ideas into functional products. Andrew kicks off by sharing his journey in the tech world, which spans nearly two decades, and explaining the unique approach that Vertice Labs brings to software development. Their work goes beyond simple execution, focusing on strategic alignment between management and engineering teams to deliver projects efficiently and without unnecessary complexity. A significant part of the discussion explores why non-technical founders benefit from partnering with experienced tech companies like Vertice Labs. Andrew explains that having access to strategic technical leadership from the start helps avoid costly missteps in architecture, stack choice, and development planning. For founders aiming to get a minimum viable product (MVP) to market, Vertice Labs provides a comprehensive service from ideation through to launch, including guidance on finding a suitable CTO as the startup grows. The conversation also touches on aligning short-term execution with long-term vision. Andrew explains the importance of a CTO’s role in bridging the gap between high-level business goals and day-to-day engineering work. This alignment, he notes, is essential not only for startups but also for SMBs and even larger enterprises where strategic clarity can prevent costly mistakes and wasted resources. Andrew delves into the challenges of managing technical debt and shares insights on building high-performance engineering teams that stay focused on clear, measurable outcomes. He emphasizes the importance of setting milestones and managing resources effectively, ensuring that each stage of development is tightly aligned with the company’s objectives and that teams are always working towards a defined goal. In a lively discussion about innovation, Andrew and Mehmet explore the impact of AI on software development. While AI tools can significantly enhance efficiency and allow teams to focus more on creative problem-solving, Andrew stresses that a human touch is still essential for providing context and strategic guidance. They discuss recent advances in AI, such as AI agents that streamline software development workflows, and how these technologies lower barriers to entry for startups. About Andrew: Andrew Duncan is the founder of Duncan Labs, a boutique software engineering firm. Andrew is a highly driven technology executive with a combination of strategic insight, business expertise, financial skills, and deep technology experience, with a record of success in the leadership of application development, vendor management and consulting initiatives for major companies and high-growth startups. Duncan Labs focuses on providing custom software delivery and strategic technical advisory services for small to mid-sized companies and startups looking to launch or enhance products and services or increase the efficiency of their technical teams. https://www.duncanlabs.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-b-duncan/ 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:06 Andrew Duncan's Background and Vertis Labs 01:49 Importance of Technical Leadership for Startups 04:35 Building MVPs and Scaling Startups 09:17 Aligning Technical Teams with Business Goals 14:59 Avoiding Failures and Managing Technical Debt 20:24 Balancing Speed and Decision-Making in Startups 24:13 The Role of AI in Software Engineering 33:22 When and How to Use AI Effectively 37:49 Conclusion and Contact Information