Cadence blog

Startup engineering

Founder-facing guides: tech stack choices, MVP scoping, when to hire, how to manage a developer when you're non-technical.

May 7, 2026 · 10 min read
How to choose a startup name and domain

Pick a short, brandable, phonetically clear name (5-12 characters), confirm it's free in USPTO TESS and on the social handles you actually need, then buy the cheapest TLD that doesn't actively confuse

May 5, 2026 · 12 min read
Build vs buy framework: 2026 founder guide

A build vs buy framework is a scoring rubric you run before writing a line of code: rate the feature on differentiation, time-to-value, 3-year TCO, and switching cost, then pick the path with the high

May 5, 2026 · 11 min read
How to Set Up SaaS Terms of Service (Founder Playbook)

--- slug: set-up-saas-terms-of-service title: How to Set Up SaaS Terms of Service (Founder Playbook) metaDescription: A founder's playbook for shipping defensible SaaS terms of service this weekend, w

May 4, 2026 · 10 min read
How to find a technical co-founder in 2026

To find a technical co-founder in 2026, post in YC's Co-Founder Matching, hit two hackathons a month, and run a paid 4-week trial project before signing any equity papers. But before you start the sea

May 4, 2026 · 7 min read
How to build a startup without a technical co-founder

The honest answer in 2026: you don't need a technical co-founder. You need a clear MVP, someone who can ship it, and the discipline to validate before scaling. Founders who chase a technical co-founde

Apr 15, 2026 · 8 min read
Uber for engineers: why booking beats hiring

The average tech hire takes 23 days from first conversation to first commit. Forty percent leave within a year. The all-in cost runs $4,700 per hire. None of this is necessary.

Mar 25, 2026 · 8 min read
Why we settled on 48-hour free trial (not 7 days)

We started with a 7-day free trial. Founders loved it. Engineers absorbed the cost, and quality dropped. Trial-to-paid conversion went from 41% to 67% when we shortened to 48 hours.

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