Insights by Stefan Sarbu

Stefan Sarbu - 6 Apr 2026

How to build a business case for AI before writing a line of code

A pre-development business case for an AI initiative functions as a technical constraint document: the cost of what is displaced, the accuracy threshold required to sustain that displacement, and the maximum allowable cost per unit of output together determine architectural decisions before any model is evaluated. Without these constraints defined in advance, accuracy targets become intuitive, infrastructure choices become arbitrary, and the decision to move to production becomes a matter of engineering preference rather than measurable evidence. The sequencing discipline, business case before technical evaluation, is what makes success criteria testable and completion definable.

Featured AI
Stefan Sarbu - 12 Mar 2026

Pivot or persevere? How to make startup decisions that drive success

Every successful founder faces this crossroads: your idea isn’t gaining traction, your metrics are flat, and the market feels like it’s slipping through your fingers. Do you keep pushing forward, or is it time to pivot? The difference between startups that thrive and those that fail often comes down to mastering this decision. Let’s break it down so you don’t have to second-guess your next move.

Featured Startup
Stefan Sarbu - 21 Jul 2025

The New Business Model Playbook for First-Time Founders

The term “business model” has evolved far beyond its traditional definition as a static framework for generating revenue. For modern startups, especially those in fintech and digital services, it now denotes a dynamic architecture, one that captures value creation, data flows, and stakeholder incentives in real-time. This shift reflects how companies must adapt not only to market volatility but also to evolving regulatory environments and continuous feedback loops.

Featured Startup
Stefan Sarbu - 27 May 2025

Market validation tactics for pre-seed and seed tech startups

Every startup begins with a hypothesis: there’s a real problem, and you have the right solution. But you haven't validated anything until someone outside your team cares enough to engage, sign up, pay, or even just respond. Still, this step often gets overlooked. Early-stage founders frequently jump straight into building, pitching, or scaling, driven by momentum or pressure to show progress. Validation becomes an afterthought, something to deal with once there’s a product or a few users.

Idea to MVP Featured Startup
Stefan Sarbu - 4 Nov 2024

From Idea to Reality: How to Identify a Market Gap

One of the key challenges entrepreneurs face is identifying a market gap—a unique area of opportunity that hasn't yet been tapped. But why are these gaps often referred to as goldmines for startups, and how can you conduct a thorough analysis to find them? This article delves into these crucial questions, offering practical guidance for budding entrepreneurs.

Idea to MVP Featured Startup
Stefan Sarbu - 19 Jun 2024

How much will my MVP cost?

The question “how much does it cost to build an MVP?” sounds straightforward, but in practice it rarely is. Teams looking for a quick estimate often end up with ranges that are either too generic to be useful or too optimistic to hold once real constraints emerge.

Idea to MVP
Stefan Sarbu - 15 Mar 2024

Guiding Early Stage Development with the Build-Measure-Learn Loop

A while back, we talked about designing lean business models for mobile startups, guided by Ash Maurya's wisdom on the perils of falling too deeply in love with our solutions prematurely. The resonance of that conversation within our community was both surprising and affirming. It turns out, many of us are navigating similar challenges, trying to strike the perfect balance between passion for our products and the practicality of market validation.

Idea to MVP
Stefan Sarbu - 8 Mar 2024

How To Navigate The Uncertainties Of The MVP Phase

As a tech founder, tackling the most uncertain aspects of your product early on is paramount. This approach builds investor confidence and validates the market need for your product.

Idea to MVP
Stefan Sarbu - 23 Feb 2024

The Tech Founder’s Dilemma: Navigating the Choice Between MVP and MMP

The concepts of Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and Minimum Marketable Product (MMP) are both pivotal in the product development process, especially in agile and lean startup environments. However, they serve different purposes and are used at different stages of the product life cycle.

Idea to MVP
Stefan Sarbu - 11 Sep 2023

Thinslices partners with Solaris

We are excited to announce our partnership with Solaris, one of Europe’s first and leading Embedded Finance Platform. Our work together will combine our technical expertise in creating user-friendly frontend solutions for neobanks with Solaris’ vast experience in handling regulatory complexities in the financial technology space.

Press Releases Fintech