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Startup Moats in the AI Era

What still defends a startup when intelligence itself is commoditized.

When anyone can vibe-code an MVP in a weekend and AI agents can replicate features overnight, the question isn't 'what did you build' but 'what protects you'. These pieces cover the durable edges — network effects, licenses, proprietary data, and the underrated fourth option for founders who don't have any of them yet.

EssayOctober 24, 2026

Build vs Buy for SaaS Features: The Question That Actually Matters

"Could I build this feature?" is always yes now, so it decides nothing. The build-vs-buy question with a defensible answer is whether you could build the other side of it: supply, a regulated rail, outcome data, or a partner's users at a moment of intent.

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EssaySeptember 7, 2026

Knowing How to Code Is Not the Valuable Part Anymore

Software is on its way to being free to produce. The three things that can still make it valuable are network effects, data, and IP and licenses — and none of them is the code.

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PlaybookMay 25, 2026

How to Start Making Money with AI as a Beginner (From a Founder Closing Enterprise AI Deals)

Most 'make money with AI' advice is noise. The strategy that actually works: run an AI SaaS and an AI agency in parallel, use the SaaS as your first case study, and land your first client on revenue share — no portfolio, no upfront cash.

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EssayMay 23, 2026

Startup Moats in the AI Era: The Only Three Defenses Left When Intelligence Is Free

AI made coding free, so 'we built it' is no longer a moat. The three defenses that still hold — network effects, licenses, and proprietary data — plus the move for everyone else: collaborate to pivot before the market catches up.

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EssayMay 9, 2026

How to Scale a Tech Startup in 2026: Three Edges That Survive When Intelligence Is Free

Lovable, Cursor, and the rest of the AI build tools mean any founder can ship a real MVP in a weekend. The software market is being inflated by the hour. So how do you actually scale a tech startup in 2026? Three durable edges, one underrated.

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