Tech Stack Decisions are Make-or-break for Startups

The success of startups often relies not only on the originality of the idea but also on the team's ability to swiftly adapt to changes, make efficient use of limited resources, and bring innovative solutions to the market. However, when choosing technologies, early-stage founders frequently encounter a variety of challenges. According to a CB Insights study, around 38% of startups fail due to a lack of funding, with technical errors and poorly chosen tools directly contributing to increased costs for product support and development. According to a CB Insights study, For example, in 2016, the startup Zenefits lost millions of dollars due to errors related to their technology stack, including the use of outdated tools and insufficient system scalability. This slowed down the company's growth and undermined investor confidence. in 2016, the startup Zenefits lost millions of dollars due to errors To minimise these risks, more and more startups are opting for a lean tech stack—an optimised technology stack that allows them to build products with minimal costs while maintaining quality and flexibility. This approach helps to: This approach helps to: Launch an MVP (minimum viable product) faster and receive initial feedback from users. Attract early customers and investors by focusing on creating value rather than managing complex infrastructure. Support business growth without costly migrations to new platforms. Launch an MVP (minimum viable product) faster and receive initial feedback from users. Launch an MVP (minimum viable product) faster and receive initial feedback from users. Attract early customers and investors by focusing on creating value rather than managing complex infrastructure. Attract early customers and investors by focusing on creating value rather than managing complex infrastructure. Support business growth without costly migrations to new platforms. Support business growth without costly migrations to new platforms. For example, the startup Buffer, which started with a simple tech stack, was able to quickly test its idea, attract its first users, and then scale gradually by adding new tools as needed. Buffer In this article, we will take a detailed look at: In this article, we will take a detailed look at: The key principles of building a lean tech stack and its benefits for startups. The common mistakes to avoid when choosing technologies. Real-life cases and examples of lean tech stack usage, supported by data and insights. The key principles of building a lean tech stack and its benefits for startups. The key principles of building a lean tech stack and its benefits for startups. The common mistakes to avoid when choosing technologies. The common mistakes to avoid when choosing technologies. Real-life cases and examples of lean tech stack usage, supported by data and insights. Real-life cases and examples of lean tech stack usage, supported by data and insights. This knowledge will help you understand how to choose the optimal technology stack to accelerate development, reduce risks, and lay the foundation for long-term success. What is a Lean Tech Stack and how is it used? A Lean Tech Stack is a minimalist approach to selecting and using technologies aimed at optimising the development and maintenance of digital products. The main idea is to minimise redundancy and focus on the efficient use of resources — time, money, and human effort. This approach is especially beneficial for startups, which need to quickly enter the market and adapt to changing conditions. 4 key principles of Lean Tech Stack Minimalism Using only the technologies and tools that directly contribute to achieving goals. "Heavy" solutions that require significant investment and complex implementation are excluded. Flexibility Choosing technologies that are easy to scale or replace, depending on the business needs. Speed of Implementation Preferring tools with simple integration and training, allowing the team to start working more quickly. Cost-effectiveness Using free or affordable solutions in the early stages. Minimalism Using only the technologies and tools that directly contribute to achieving goals. "Heavy" solutions that require significant investment and complex implementation are excluded. Minimalism Minimalism Using only the technologies and tools that directly contribute to achieving goals. "Heavy" solutions that require significant investment and complex implementation are excluded. Flexibility Choosing technologies that are easy to scale or replace, depending on the business needs. Flexibility Flexibility Choosing technologies that are easy to scale or replace, depending on the business needs. Speed of Implementation Preferring tools with simple integration and training, allowing the team to start working more quickly. Speed of Implementation Speed of Implementation Preferring tools with simple integration and training, allowing the team to start working more quickly. Cost-effectiveness Using free or affordable solutions in the early stages. Cost-effectiveness Cost-effectiveness Using free or affordable solutions in the early stages. Tasks of Startups, Problems, and Solutions Tasks of Startups, Problems, and Solutions Tasks of Startups, Problems, and Solutions Tasks of Startups, Problems, and Solutions Tasks of Startups, Problems, and Solutions Task Start-Ups Problems Solution Example of a Solution Cost reduction Limited resources Using free and open-source solutions Firebase Offers free plans for creating an MVP, while PostgreSQL — a powerful free alternative to paid databases. Time-to-Market Time - money Flexible instruments Using no-code/low-code platforms, such as Webflow or Bubble, reduces development time. Scalability Costly migrations A flexible and integrable stack with other tools AWS or Google Cloud provide scalable infrastructure Simplification of management Complex infrastructure Fewer tools — fewer problems Trello to maintain tasks or Notion to organize the knowledge Reduction of technological risks Limited number of developers An optimised stack reduces the likelihood of errors and technical debt. - Flexibility and adaptation Optimisation issues A flexible and integrable stack with other tools. Docker and Kubernetes simplify the portability of applications between different environments. Task Start-Ups Problems Solution Example of a Solution Cost reduction Limited resources Using free and open-source solutions Firebase Offers free plans for creating an MVP, while PostgreSQL — a powerful free alternative to paid databases. Time-to-Market Time - money Flexible instruments Using no-code/low-code platforms, such as Webflow or Bubble, reduces development time. Scalability Costly migrations A flexible and integrable stack with other tools AWS or Google Cloud provide scalable infrastructure Simplification of management Complex infrastructure Fewer tools — fewer problems Trello to maintain tasks or Notion to organize the knowledge Reduction of technological risks Limited number of developers An optimised stack reduces the likelihood of errors and technical debt. - Flexibility and adaptation Optimisation issues A flexible and integrable stack with other tools. Docker and Kubernetes simplify the portability of applications between different environments. Task Start-Ups Problems Solution Example of a Solution Task Task Start-Ups Problems Start-Ups Problems Solution Solution Example of a Solution Example of a Solution Cost reduction Limited resources Using free and open-source solutions Firebase Offers free plans for creating an MVP, while PostgreSQL — a powerful free alternative to paid databases. Cost reduction Cost reduction Limited resources Limited resources Using free and open-source solutions Using free and open-source solutions Firebase Offers free plans for creating an MVP, while PostgreSQL — a powerful free alternative to paid databases. Firebase Offers free plans for creating an MVP, while PostgreSQL — a powerful free alternative to paid databases. Firebase PostgreSQL Time-to-Market Time - money Flexible instruments Using no-code/low-code platforms, such as Webflow or Bubble, reduces development time. Time-to-Market Time-to-Market Time - money Time - money Flexible instruments Flexible instruments Using no-code/low-code platforms, such as Webflow or Bubble, reduces development time. Using no-code/low-code platforms, such as Webflow or Bubble, reduces development time. Webflow Bubble Scalability Costly migrations A flexible and integrable stack with other tools AWS or Google Cloud provide scalable infrastructure Scalability Scalability Costly migrations Costly migrations A flexible and integrable stack with other tools A flexible and integrable stack with other tools AWS or Google Cloud provide scalable infrastructure AWS or Google Cloud provide scalable infrastructure AWS Google Cloud Simplification of management Complex infrastructure Fewer tools — fewer problems Trello to maintain tasks or Notion to organize the knowledge Simplification of management Simplification of management Complex infrastructure Complex infrastructure Fewer tools — fewer problems Fewer tools — fewer problems Trello to maintain tasks or Notion to organize the knowledge Trello to maintain tasks or Notion to organize the knowledge Trello Notion Reduction of technological risks Limited number of developers An optimised stack reduces the likelihood of errors and technical debt. - Reduction of technological risks Reduction of technological risks Limited number of developers Limited number of developers An optimised stack reduces the likelihood of errors and technical debt. An optimised stack reduces the likelihood of errors and technical debt. - - Flexibility and adaptation Optimisation issues A flexible and integrable stack with other tools. Docker and Kubernetes simplify the portability of applications between different environments. Flexibility and adaptation Flexibility and adaptation Optimisation issues Optimisation issues A flexible and integrable stack with other tools. A flexible and integrable stack with other tools. Docker and Kubernetes simplify the portability of applications between different environments. Docker and Kubernetes simplify the portability of applications between different environments. Docker Kubernetes Examples of successful companies using Lean Tech Stack Let’s look at how well-known companies applied this strategy in their early stages. Airbnb Airbnb Founded in 2008, Airbnb needed to quickly scale its platform to meet the growing demand for unique and affordable accommodation options for travellers. The Rails framework proved to be the perfect solution for supporting this rapid growth. Airbnb chose Ruby on Rails to build its platform in the early years of its existence. Airbnb Ruby on Rails Why Ruby on Rails? Why Ruby on Rails? Ruby on Rails This framework is known for its simplicity and rapid development speed, enabling teams to launch products to the market faster. Advantages: Focus on functionality: Engineers were able to spend more time developing the user experience. Quick integration: Ruby on Rails enabled quick development and implementation of new features. Community: A large developer community helped quickly find solutions and share experiences. Advantages: Focus on functionality: Engineers were able to spend more time developing the user experience. Quick integration: Ruby on Rails enabled quick development and implementation of new features. Community: A large developer community helped quickly find solutions and share experiences. Advantages: Focus on functionality: Engineers were able to spend more time developing the user experience. Quick integration: Ruby on Rails enabled quick development and implementation of new features. Community: A large developer community helped quickly find solutions and share experiences. Focus on functionality: Engineers were able to spend more time developing the user experience. Quick integration: Ruby on Rails enabled quick development and implementation of new features. Ruby on Rails Community: A large developer community helped quickly find solutions and share experiences. Airbnb case clearly demonstrates how one can focus on user value rather than complex infrastructure. Airbnb case Dropbox Dropbox Dropbox chose Python as the primary programming language at the start, and this became a key factor in their success. Dropbox Python Why Python ? Python This language has a rich standard library and a wide range of tools for developers. Advantages: Convenient scalability: Python allowed for rapid functionality growth while maintaining stability. Ecosystem: Python libraries and tools accelerated the implementation of complex tasks, such as file synchronisation. Development speed: The simplicity of the language allowed the team to focus on innovation rather than technical details. Advantages: Convenient scalability: Python allowed for rapid functionality growth while maintaining stability. Ecosystem: Python libraries and tools accelerated the implementation of complex tasks, such as file synchronisation. Development speed: The simplicity of the language allowed the team to focus on innovation rather than technical details. Advantages: Convenient scalability: Python allowed for rapid functionality growth while maintaining stability. Ecosystem: Python libraries and tools accelerated the implementation of complex tasks, such as file synchronisation. Development speed: The simplicity of the language allowed the team to focus on innovation rather than technical details. Convenient scalability: Python allowed for rapid functionality growth while maintaining stability. Convenient scalability: Python allowed for rapid functionality growth while maintaining stability. Python Ecosystem: Python libraries and tools accelerated the implementation of complex tasks, such as file synchronisation. Ecosystem: Python libraries and tools accelerated the implementation of complex tasks, such as file synchronisation. Python Development speed: The simplicity of the language allowed the team to focus on innovation rather than technical details. Development speed: The simplicity of the language allowed the team to focus on innovation rather than technical details. The secret of Dropbox – is the smart balance between development speed and product quality. Source: TechCrunch: How Dropbox Started. Dropbox TechCrunch: How Dropbox Started. TechCrunch: How Dropbox Started. Research: Analysis of technology costs in startups Data on the distribution of startup budgets for technology According to research conducted by Startup Genome and CB Insights, startups spend an average of 25-35% of their budget on technology and IT infrastructure. Approximate distribution of startup budgets on technology: Category Share of the IT budget (%) Cloud services and infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure) 30-40% Development and testing 20-25% Licenses and SaaS tools 15-20% Cybersecurity 10-15% Analytics and monitoring 5-10% Other expenses 5-10% Category Share of the IT budget (%) Cloud services and infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure) 30-40% Development and testing 20-25% Licenses and SaaS tools 15-20% Cybersecurity 10-15% Analytics and monitoring 5-10% Other expenses 5-10% Category Share of the IT budget (%) Category Category Share of the IT budget (%) Share of the IT budget (%) Cloud services and infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure) 30-40% Cloud services and infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure) Cloud services and infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure) 30-40% 30-40% Development and testing 20-25% Development and testing Development and testing 20-25% 20-25% Licenses and SaaS tools 15-20% Licenses and SaaS tools Licenses and SaaS tools 15-20% 15-20% Cybersecurity 10-15% Cybersecurity Cybersecurity 10-15% 10-15% Analytics and monitoring 5-10% Analytics and monitoring Analytics and monitoring 5-10% 5-10% Other expenses 5-10% Other expenses Other expenses 5-10% 5-10% Common mistakes of early-stage startups Tool redundancy At the launch stage, startups often opt for more complex solutions than necessary. For example, they may choose expensive CRM systems instead of free alternatives. An example of this mistake: Choosing SalesForce for customer management when a free plan from HubSpot would be sufficient. Overpaying for licenses Many startups pay for premium features that go unused. An example of this mistake: Purchasing DevOps, tools that duplicate the capabilities of cloud providers (for example, Terraform and AWS CloudFormation). Underestimating the costs of scaling Using tools that can't handle traffic growth and require a complete replacement at later stages. Tool redundancy At the launch stage, startups often opt for more complex solutions than necessary. For example, they may choose expensive CRM systems instead of free alternatives. An example of this mistake: Choosing SalesForce for customer management when a free plan from HubSpot would be sufficient. At the launch stage, startups often opt for more complex solutions than necessary. For example, they may choose expensive CRM systems instead of free alternatives. An example of this mistake: Choosing SalesForce for customer management when a free plan from HubSpot would be sufficient. At the launch stage, startups often opt for more complex solutions than necessary. For example, they may choose expensive CRM systems instead of free alternatives. An example of this mistake: Choosing SalesForce for customer management when a free plan from HubSpot would be sufficient. SalesForce HubSpot Overpaying for licenses Many startups pay for premium features that go unused. An example of this mistake: Purchasing DevOps, tools that duplicate the capabilities of cloud providers (for example, Terraform and AWS CloudFormation). Many startups pay for premium features that go unused. An example of this mistake: Purchasing DevOps, tools that duplicate the capabilities of cloud providers (for example, Terraform and AWS CloudFormation). Many startups pay for premium features that go unused. An example of this mistake: Purchasing DevOps, tools that duplicate the capabilities of cloud providers (for example, Terraform and AWS CloudFormation). Terraform AWS CloudFormation Underestimating the costs of scaling Using tools that can't handle traffic growth and require a complete replacement at later stages. Using tools that can't handle traffic growth and require a complete replacement at later stages. Using tools that can't handle traffic growth and require a complete replacement at later stages. An example of this mistake: Choosing databases that aren’t built for high loads, leading to the need for migration later on. Survey and research results Popular tools among startups: Key findings from the surveys: About 60% of startups begin with the free plans of popular SaaS tools. This helps minimise costs in the early stages, when budgets are tight. 70% of startup founders admitted that up to 20% of their budget was spent on unnecessary tools. Approximately 50% of startups opt for open-source technologies to reduce costs. About 60% of startups begin with the free plans of popular SaaS tools. This helps minimise costs in the early stages, when budgets are tight. 70% of startup founders admitted that up to 20% of their budget was spent on unnecessary tools. Approximately 50% of startups opt for open-source technologies to reduce costs. Distribution of the technology budget Resources for the diagram: Gartner IT Budget Report 2024. Gartner IT Budget Report 2024. McKinsey Insights on Technology Investments. McKinsey Insights on Technology Investments. Forrester's Guide to IT Spending 2024. Forrester's Guide to IT Spending 2024. How to choose tools for a Lean Tech Stack? Step 1: Defining the startup's needs Before choosing tools, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the business needs, which can vary depending on the stage of development. 1.1 MVP Stage (Minimum Viable Product) At this stage, a startup needs to focus on quickly launching the product with a minimal set of features. The main goal is to test hypotheses and gather user feedback. Main tasks: UI Development. Database Setup. Web Server Deployment. UI Development. Database Setup. Web Server Deployment. Recommended tools: Frontend: React — a library for building user interfaces. Backend: Node.js — a server-side platform for rapid development. Data Storage: MongoDB — NoSQL database, ideal for dynamic data. Testing: Jest — a tool for testing JavaScript applications. Frontend: React — a library for building user interfaces. React Backend: Node.js — a server-side platform for rapid development. Node.js Data Storage: MongoDB — NoSQL database, ideal for dynamic data. MongoDB Testing: Jest — a tool for testing JavaScript applications. Jest Example: The startup "FastShop" used a combination of React and Node.js to build a basic e-commerce site in 3 months. MongoDB helped quickly set up the database to store information about products and orders. FastShop 1.2 Scaling Stage When the product starts attracting more users, tools that support business growth and high traffic loads are essential. Main tasks: Automation of Processes. Customer Data Management. User Behaviour Analysis. Automation of Processes. Customer Data Management. User Behaviour Analysis. Recommended tools: Infrastructure: AWS or Google Cloud for scalable servers. Analytics:: Google Analytics for tracking user metrics. CRM: HubSpot for customer management. Infrastructure: AWS or Google Cloud for scalable servers. AWS Google Cloud Analytics:: Google Analytics for tracking user metrics. Google Analytics CRM: HubSpot for customer management. HubSpot Example: The startup "Growly" integrated AWS Lambda for processing large volumes of data and connected HubSpot to manage its growing customer base. 2.Evaluation of Key Tasks Each startup has three core areas of operation, for which tools are selected: development, marketing, and management. 2.1. Development The choice of programming languages, frameworks, and testing tools plays a key role in the speed and quality of development. Recommended tools: Frameworks: Django (Python), Express.js (Node.js). Version Control: GitHub or GitLab. Frameworks: Django (Python), Express.js (Node.js). Version Control: GitHub or GitLab. CI/CD: Jenkins or GitHub Actions. Jenkins 2.2. Marketing Attracting customers and analysing traffic data require reliable marketing platforms. Recommended tools: Email campaigns: Mailchimp. SEO-analysis: Ahrefs or SEMrush. Social media:: Buffer for automating posts. Email campaigns: Mailchimp. Mailchimp SEO-analysis: Ahrefs or SEMrush. Ahrefs SEMrush Social media:: Buffer for automating posts. Buffer 2.3. Management Organising team workflows and documentation requires simple and user-friendly tools. Recommended tools: Task management: Trello or Asana. Task management: Trello or Asana. Trello Asana Documentation:Notion or Google Workspace. Notion Step 2: Tool Analysis Overview of popular tools: Category Instrument Features Functionality Cost Integrations Task management Trello Simple interface, free plan Kanban boards, checklists, labels Free; paid plans Google Drive, Slack Asana Customisation flexibility, CRM integrations Timelines, reminders Free; from $10.99/month Salesforce, Zapier Payments Stripe Ease of integration, subscription support Payment processing 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction Shopify, QuickBooks Deel Easy integration, subscription support Contract management. From $49/month per user. Slack, HRIS Backend Firebase Fast setup, scalability Data storage, authentication. Free; paid plans. Google Analytics, AdMob Supabase Open-source alternative to Firebase Real-time databases, API Free; from $25/month GitHub, REST API Communication Slack Ease of teamwork Chats, file sharing, notifications Free; from $7.25/month Google Drive, Zoom Microsoft Teams Integration with Office 365 Video calls, file sharing Free; from $5/month Office 365, Trello Category Instrument Features Functionality Cost Integrations Task management Trello Simple interface, free plan Kanban boards, checklists, labels Free; paid plans Google Drive, Slack Asana Customisation flexibility, CRM integrations Timelines, reminders Free; from $10.99/month Salesforce, Zapier Payments Stripe Ease of integration, subscription support Payment processing 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction Shopify, QuickBooks Deel Easy integration, subscription support Contract management. From $49/month per user. Slack, HRIS Backend Firebase Fast setup, scalability Data storage, authentication. Free; paid plans. Google Analytics, AdMob Supabase Open-source alternative to Firebase Real-time databases, API Free; from $25/month GitHub, REST API Communication Slack Ease of teamwork Chats, file sharing, notifications Free; from $7.25/month Google Drive, Zoom Microsoft Teams Integration with Office 365 Video calls, file sharing Free; from $5/month Office 365, Trello Category Instrument Features Functionality Cost Integrations Category Category Instrument Instrument Features Features Functionality Functionality Cost Cost Integrations Integrations Task management Trello Simple interface, free plan Kanban boards, checklists, labels Free; paid plans Google Drive, Slack Task management Task management Trello Trello Simple interface, free plan Simple interface, free plan Kanban boards, checklists, labels Kanban boards, checklists, labels Free; paid plans Free; paid plans Google Drive, Slack Google Drive, Slack Asana Customisation flexibility, CRM integrations Timelines, reminders Free; from $10.99/month Salesforce, Zapier Asana Asana Customisation flexibility, CRM integrations Customisation flexibility, CRM integrations Timelines, reminders Timelines, reminders Free; from $10.99/month Free; from $10.99/month Salesforce, Zapier Salesforce, Zapier Payments Stripe Ease of integration, subscription support Payment processing 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction Shopify, QuickBooks Payments Payments Stripe Stripe Ease of integration, subscription support Ease of integration, subscription support Payment processing Payment processing 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction Shopify, QuickBooks Shopify, QuickBooks Deel Easy integration, subscription support Contract management. From $49/month per user. Slack, HRIS Deel Deel Easy integration, subscription support Easy integration, subscription support Contract management. Contract management. From $49/month per user. From $49/month per user. Slack, HRIS Slack, HRIS Backend Firebase Fast setup, scalability Data storage, authentication. Free; paid plans. Google Analytics, AdMob Backend Backend Firebase Firebase Fast setup, scalability Fast setup, scalability Data storage, authentication. Data storage, authentication. Free; paid plans. Free; paid plans. Google Analytics, AdMob Google Analytics, AdMob Supabase Open-source alternative to Firebase Real-time databases, API Free; from $25/month GitHub, REST API Supabase Supabase Open-source alternative to Firebase Open-source alternative to Firebase Real-time databases, API Real-time databases, API Free; from $25/month Free; from $25/month GitHub, REST API GitHub, REST API Communication Slack Ease of teamwork Chats, file sharing, notifications Free; from $7.25/month Google Drive, Zoom Communication Communication Slack Slack Ease of teamwork Ease of teamwork Chats, file sharing, notifications Chats, file sharing, notifications Free; from $7.25/month Free; from $7.25/month Google Drive, Zoom Google Drive, Zoom Microsoft Teams Integration with Office 365 Video calls, file sharing Free; from $5/month Office 365, Trello Microsoft Teams Microsoft Teams Integration with Office 365 Integration with Office 365 Video calls, file sharing Video calls, file sharing Free; from $5/month Free; from $5/month Office 365, Trello Office 365, Trello Step 3: Building the ecosystem Examples of successful tool integrations: Slack + Notion + GitHub:Suitable for teamwork, task management, and documentation, especially for developers. Trello + Google Drive + Zapier:For startups looking for simple task automation and convenient file storage. Firebase + Stripe + Mixpanel:Perfect for startups with mobile applications and a need for user activity analytics.\ Recommendations: Start with tools that easily integrate with each other and offer free plans. Examples of successful tool integrations: Slack + Notion + GitHub:Suitable for teamwork, task management, and documentation, especially for developers. Trello + Google Drive + Zapier:For startups looking for simple task automation and convenient file storage. Firebase + Stripe + Mixpanel:Perfect for startups with mobile applications and a need for user activity analytics.\ Slack + Notion + GitHub:Suitable for teamwork, task management, and documentation, especially for developers. Trello + Google Drive + Zapier:For startups looking for simple task automation and convenient file storage. Firebase + Stripe + Mixpanel:Perfect for startups with mobile applications and a need for user activity analytics.\ Slack + Notion + GitHub:Suitable for teamwork, task management, and documentation, especially for developers. Slack Notion GitHub: Trello + Google Drive + Zapier:For startups looking for simple task automation and convenient file storage. Trello Google Drive Zapier Firebase + Stripe + Mixpanel:Perfect for startups with mobile applications and a need for user activity analytics.\ Firebase Stripe Mixpanel Recommendations: Start with tools that easily integrate with each other and offer free plans. Start with tools that easily integrate with each other and offer free plans. Start with tools that easily integrate with each other and offer free plans. At the scaling stage, choose tools with the option to easily transition to paid plans. Insights: How startups save on technology 1. Using open-source solutions Open-source technologies provide startups with the opportunity to use powerful tools for free while maintaining flexibility in customisation and integration. Advantages Low cost: no licensing fees. Flexibility: the ability to customise to specific needs. Large community: access to knowledge and support from developers worldwide. Examples: PostgreSQL instead of paid databases (e.g., Oracle Database). PostgreSQL provides enterprise-level functionality and supports the scalability required for growth. Supabase as an open-source alternative Firebase for database management and authentication. Advantages Low cost: no licensing fees. Flexibility: the ability to customise to specific needs. Large community: access to knowledge and support from developers worldwide. Low cost: no licensing fees. Flexibility: the ability to customise to specific needs. Large community: access to knowledge and support from developers worldwide. Low cost: no licensing fees. Flexibility: the ability to customise to specific needs. Large community: access to knowledge and support from developers worldwide. Examples: PostgreSQL instead of paid databases (e.g., Oracle Database). PostgreSQL provides enterprise-level functionality and supports the scalability required for growth. Supabase as an open-source alternative Firebase for database management and authentication. PostgreSQL instead of paid databases (e.g., Oracle Database). PostgreSQL provides enterprise-level functionality and supports the scalability required for growth. Supabase as an open-source alternative Firebase for database management and authentication. PostgreSQL instead of paid databases (e.g., Oracle Database). PostgreSQL provides enterprise-level functionality and supports the scalability required for growth. PostgreSQL PostgreSQL provides enterprise-level functionality and supports the scalability required for growth. PostgreSQL provides enterprise-level functionality and supports the scalability required for growth. Supabase as an open-source alternative Firebase for database management and authentication. Supabase Firebase WordPress for creating websites and blogs without the need to pay for a CMS. WordPress 2. Maximising free plans Many SaaS companies offer free plans with basic features, which are sufficient for the early stage of a startup. Usage strategies: Careful selection of tools with optimal free features. Using multiple free services to cover different tasks. Examples: Slack: The free plan allows you to store up to 10,000 messages and use 10 integrations, which is sufficient for small teams.\ Trello: On the free plan, a startup can manage tasks with an unlimited number of users and up to 10 boards. Google Workspace: The free versions of Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive are actively used by startups for document management and data storage. Usage strategies: Careful selection of tools with optimal free features. Using multiple free services to cover different tasks. Usage strategies: Careful selection of tools with optimal free features. Using multiple free services to cover different tasks. Careful selection of tools with optimal free features. Using multiple free services to cover different tasks. Examples: Slack: The free plan allows you to store up to 10,000 messages and use 10 integrations, which is sufficient for small teams.\ Trello: On the free plan, a startup can manage tasks with an unlimited number of users and up to 10 boards. Google Workspace: The free versions of Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive are actively used by startups for document management and data storage. Examples: Slack: The free plan allows you to store up to 10,000 messages and use 10 integrations, which is sufficient for small teams.\ Slack Trello: On the free plan, a startup can manage tasks with an unlimited number of users and up to 10 boards. Trello Google Workspace: The free versions of Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive are actively used by startups for document management and data storage. Google Workspace: 3. Outsourcing and freelancing for solving niche, specialised tasks. Hiring full-time employees is often not cost-effective for performing rare or highly specialised tasks. Outsourcing and working with freelancers help save resources. Advantages: Cost savings: no ongoing salary expenses. Access to highly skilled specialists as needed. Flexibility: the ability to select specialists for specific tasks. Examples of tasks for freelancers: UI/UX design. Setting up DevOps infrastructure. Writing technical documentation. Cases: Success Stories Case 1: Dropbox — A Fintech Startup that Saved 70% of Its Budget with Lean Tech Stack Description of the situation:Dropbox, The cloud data storage service aimed to quickly enter the market with minimal costs. Solution: Use of open-source solutions: Python for developing the backend, which allowed speeding up the development process and reducing costs. Maximising free plans: Amazon S3 for data storage with pay-as-you-go pricing, which allowed them to avoid large initial investments. Minimisation of infrastructure costs: Using cloud services to scale as the user base grows. Results: Significant savings on infrastructure and tools. Quick MVP launch and attracting the first users. Attracting investment and subsequent company growth. Case 2: Airbnb — An e-commerce marketplace that used a minimal set of tools for a quick market entry. Description of the situation:Airbnb the company aimed to create a platform for rental housing, quickly test the idea, and launch it with minimal costs. Solution: Minimalism in the tech stack: Ruby on Rails for developing the web application, which allowed them to quickly create a prototype. Tools for rapid prototyping: Using simple web technologies to create the first version of the website. Using ready-made solutions for payments. Integration with existing payment systems for transaction processing. Results: Launching the platform in the shortest time. Quick user acquisition and validation of the business model. Scaling and turning into a global company. Stay tuned! Advantages: Cost savings: no ongoing salary expenses. Access to highly skilled specialists as needed. Flexibility: the ability to select specialists for specific tasks. Advantages: Cost savings: no ongoing salary expenses. Access to highly skilled specialists as needed. Flexibility: the ability to select specialists for specific tasks. Cost savings: no ongoing salary expenses. Access to highly skilled specialists as needed. Flexibility: the ability to select specialists for specific tasks. Examples of tasks for freelancers: UI/UX design. Setting up DevOps infrastructure. Writing technical documentation. Cases: Success Stories Case 1: Dropbox — A Fintech Startup that Saved 70% of Its Budget with Lean Tech Stack Description of the situation:Dropbox, The cloud data storage service aimed to quickly enter the market with minimal costs. Solution: Use of open-source solutions: Python for developing the backend, which allowed speeding up the development process and reducing costs. Maximising free plans: Amazon S3 for data storage with pay-as-you-go pricing, which allowed them to avoid large initial investments. Minimisation of infrastructure costs: Using cloud services to scale as the user base grows. Results: Significant savings on infrastructure and tools. Quick MVP launch and attracting the first users. Attracting investment and subsequent company growth. Case 2: Airbnb — An e-commerce marketplace that used a minimal set of tools for a quick market entry. Description of the situation:Airbnb the company aimed to create a platform for rental housing, quickly test the idea, and launch it with minimal costs. Solution: Minimalism in the tech stack: Ruby on Rails for developing the web application, which allowed them to quickly create a prototype. Tools for rapid prototyping: Using simple web technologies to create the first version of the website. Using ready-made solutions for payments. Integration with existing payment systems for transaction processing. Results: Launching the platform in the shortest time. Quick user acquisition and validation of the business model. Scaling and turning into a global company. Stay tuned! Examples of tasks for freelancers: UI/UX design. Setting up DevOps infrastructure. Writing technical documentation. Cases: Success Stories Case 1: Dropbox — A Fintech Startup that Saved 70% of Its Budget with Lean Tech Stack Description of the situation:Dropbox, The cloud data storage service aimed to quickly enter the market with minimal costs. Solution: Use of open-source solutions: Python for developing the backend, which allowed speeding up the development process and reducing costs. Maximising free plans: Amazon S3 for data storage with pay-as-you-go pricing, which allowed them to avoid large initial investments. Minimisation of infrastructure costs: Using cloud services to scale as the user base grows. Results: Significant savings on infrastructure and tools. Quick MVP launch and attracting the first users. Attracting investment and subsequent company growth. Case 2: Airbnb — An e-commerce marketplace that used a minimal set of tools for a quick market entry. Description of the situation:Airbnb the company aimed to create a platform for rental housing, quickly test the idea, and launch it with minimal costs. Solution: Minimalism in the tech stack: Ruby on Rails for developing the web application, which allowed them to quickly create a prototype. Tools for rapid prototyping: Using simple web technologies to create the first version of the website. Using ready-made solutions for payments. Integration with existing payment systems for transaction processing. Results: Launching the platform in the shortest time. Quick user acquisition and validation of the business model. Scaling and turning into a global company. UI/UX design. UI/UX design. Setting up DevOps infrastructure. Setting up DevOps infrastructure. Writing technical documentation. Cases: Success Stories Case 1: Dropbox — A Fintech Startup that Saved 70% of Its Budget with Lean Tech Stack Description of the situation:Dropbox, The cloud data storage service aimed to quickly enter the market with minimal costs. Solution: Use of open-source solutions: Python for developing the backend, which allowed speeding up the development process and reducing costs. Maximising free plans: Amazon S3 for data storage with pay-as-you-go pricing, which allowed them to avoid large initial investments. Minimisation of infrastructure costs: Using cloud services to scale as the user base grows. Results: Significant savings on infrastructure and tools. Quick MVP launch and attracting the first users. Attracting investment and subsequent company growth. Case 2: Airbnb — An e-commerce marketplace that used a minimal set of tools for a quick market entry. Description of the situation:Airbnb the company aimed to create a platform for rental housing, quickly test the idea, and launch it with minimal costs. Solution: Minimalism in the tech stack: Ruby on Rails for developing the web application, which allowed them to quickly create a prototype. Tools for rapid prototyping: Using simple web technologies to create the first version of the website. Using ready-made solutions for payments. Integration with existing payment systems for transaction processing. Results: Launching the platform in the shortest time. Quick user acquisition and validation of the business model. Scaling and turning into a global company. Writing technical documentation. Cases: Success Stories Case 1: Dropbox — A Fintech Startup that Saved 70% of Its Budget with Lean Tech Stack Dropbox Description of the situation:Dropbox, The cloud data storage service aimed to quickly enter the market with minimal costs. Dropbox Solution: Use of open-source solutions: Python for developing the backend, which allowed speeding up the development process and reducing costs. Maximising free plans: Amazon S3 for data storage with pay-as-you-go pricing, which allowed them to avoid large initial investments. Minimisation of infrastructure costs: Using cloud services to scale as the user base grows. Use of open-source solutions: Python for developing the backend, which allowed speeding up the development process and reducing costs. Python for developing the backend, which allowed speeding up the development process and reducing costs. Python for developing the backend, which allowed speeding up the development process and reducing costs. Python Maximising free plans: Amazon S3 for data storage with pay-as-you-go pricing, which allowed them to avoid large initial investments. Amazon S3 for data storage with pay-as-you-go pricing, which allowed them to avoid large initial investments. Amazon S3 for data storage with pay-as-you-go pricing, which allowed them to avoid large initial investments. Amazon S3 Minimisation of infrastructure costs: Using cloud services to scale as the user base grows. Using cloud services to scale as the user base grows. Using cloud services to scale as the user base grows. Results: Significant savings on infrastructure and tools. Quick MVP launch and attracting the first users. Attracting investment and subsequent company growth. Significant savings on infrastructure and tools. Quick MVP launch and attracting the first users. Attracting investment and subsequent company growth. Case 2: Airbnb — An e-commerce marketplace that used a minimal set of tools for a quick market entry. Airbnb Description of the situation:Airbnb the company aimed to create a platform for rental housing, quickly test the idea, and launch it with minimal costs. Airbnb Solution: Minimalism in the tech stack: Ruby on Rails for developing the web application, which allowed them to quickly create a prototype. Tools for rapid prototyping: Using simple web technologies to create the first version of the website. Using ready-made solutions for payments. Integration with existing payment systems for transaction processing. Minimalism in the tech stack: Ruby on Rails for developing the web application, which allowed them to quickly create a prototype. Minimalism in the tech stack: Ruby on Rails for developing the web application, which allowed them to quickly create a prototype. Ruby on Rails for developing the web application, which allowed them to quickly create a prototype. Tools for rapid prototyping: Using simple web technologies to create the first version of the website. Using ready-made solutions for payments. Integration with existing payment systems for transaction processing. Tools for rapid prototyping: Using simple web technologies to create the first version of the website. Using ready-made solutions for payments. Integration with existing payment systems for transaction processing. Results: Launching the platform in the shortest time. Quick user acquisition and validation of the business model. Scaling and turning into a global company. Launching the platform in the shortest time. Launching the platform in the shortest time. Quick user acquisition and validation of the business model. Quick user acquisition and validation of the business model. Scaling and turning into a global company. Scaling and turning into a global company. Stay tuned! Key takeaways from the case studies: Focus on the needs of the MVP: Startups need to choose technologies that align with their stage of development. At the early stage, there is no need for complex and expensive tools. Cost optimisation: Using free plans and open-source solutions can significantly reduce expenses. Flexibility and scalability: The tech stack should allow for rapid scaling without significant changes. These cases demonstrate that a thoughtful approach to technology selection allows startups to successfully overcome budget and resource constraints, achieving success in the market. In the next article, which will be released very soon, I will talk about technological trends for startups and share forecasts for the coming years. You will learn: Popular trends: How low-code/no-code platforms and AI tools are transforming development approaches and accelerating product launches. Forecast for the future: What changes are expected for lean tech stack in the next 5 years, and how startups can prepare for emerging challenges. Promising tools: An overview of the latest solutions that are already setting the trend in the tech market for startups.