In this episode, Dan Villa speaks with Brandon Powers, founder of Hyperformant, about practical advice for software companies, including how to avoid over-engineering products, the balance between specialization and generalization, and the current state of SaaS. They discuss the importance of efficient meetings, managing anxiety, and the role of AI in software development. Brandon shares insights from his experiences with startups, including lessons learned from failures and the significance of preparing for acquisition. The conversation emphasizes the need for industry-specific solutions and the evolving landscape of technology.

Brandon Powers is a father of four, progressive thinker, and relentless tinkerer. Over the past 19 years, he’s scaled six companies as a CTO and software architect across fintech, healthcare, social media, and retail. His latest venture, Hyperformant, blends visionary technical insight with creative market positioning strategies to help software companies achieve unbridled growth and command top-tier valuations.

Music by Eggy Toast

00:00 Simple Advice for Meeting Efficiency

02:31 Learning to Deal With and Learn From Stress

05:56 Advise for Aspiring Entrepreneurs | Don’t Buy the FOMO Lie

11:19 The Reward of Being Your Own Boss

12:14 The High Impact of Domain Expertise for Your Product

19:43 How to Avoid Over-Engineering

26:40 Making the Most of AI as an Engineer

31:08 How to Skill Up: Specialist or Generalist?

38:44 Who Should (And Should Not) Care About AI Governance

41:52 The Unethical Thing About AI Replacing Jobs

49:39 The Future of SaaS: Is It Really Dead?

56:33 Modern Web Stacks and Frameworks for Startups

01:03:39 The 10X CTO: Understanding that Business & Tech Are…

01:09:24 If You’re Looking to Sell, Do NOT Do This