Why Strategy Still Wins in an AI-Fueled World

Everyone’s building faster. But the real winners? They’re building smarter. This month, we explore what happens when hype fades, deadlines hit, and real products need to ship. From AI automations to product philosophy, this issue shares our inside strategies for moving fast and building things that last

August 01, 2025

How Much Does an App Really Cost? A Founder's Guide to Smart Budgeting

By Erik Goins | CEO of Flywheel Studio

We get asked this every day: “How much does it cost to build an app?”

But that’s the wrong question. In this transparent guide, our CEO breaks down the real drivers of product cost, from risk tolerance and complexity to how polished your MVP needs to be. Plus: when to use no-code, when to upgrade, and how to avoid the 2 most common budget traps.

 📐 Why We Scope “Backwards”

By Ty Naik | Product Manager at Flywheel Studio

Most teams start with features and estimate forward.

We do the opposite: begin with the outcome, then work backwards. In this personal piece, Ty shares our scoping method for building outcome-aligned products that are lean, resilient, and actually ship on time.

🛠️ ClickUp Automations & Templates: Tiny Systems, Big Wins

By Bryan Brenes | Developer at Flywheel Studio

It’s not about working harder. It’s about systemizing the small stuff.

Here’s how our dev team used ClickUp automations and templates to streamline sprint planning, reduce overhead, and scale product velocity, without overwhelming the team. Bonus: tips you can apply to your own team today.

Everyone’s Building with AI. Most Will Quit.

By Erik & Abbas | at Flywheel Studio

AI tools are everywhere, and so are promises that “anyone can build an app.” But fast builds don’t mean smart products.

In this breakdown, Erik and Abbas unpack why most AI-built apps won’t make it past launch day, how real development challenges still exist, and why product thinking (not prompts) is what actually ships. If you’ve ever cloned something in 10 minutes only to get stuck, this one’s for you.

📚What We’re Reading:

This month’s picks explore the rising tides of AI-first culture and the explosion of AI-driven coding innovation:

From Memo to Movement: Shopify’s AI‑First Strategy

Shopify’s internal memo set expectations that teams must justify why AI can’t do a job before hiring someone. This deep dive uncovers the four tactical insights that turned a seemingly blunt directive into systemic transformation, from empowering beginner mindsets to open model access across teams.

How Anthropic Became the Benchmark for AI Coding

Anthropic’s Sonnet‑based coding models rocked the ecosystem in 2024—but how did they pull it off? A Business Insider feature unpacks their training breakthroughs, feedback-driven tuning process, and why Silicon Valley still can’t catch up.

Building fast is easy. Building smart is harder.

That’s where we come in.

Ready to build something that lasts?

Until next time,

The Flywheel Team