Are you stuck deciding between building custom software or buying an expensive SaaS solution? In this episode, Ashok breaks down a real-world workshop with a medical device CEO facing a costly operational bottleneck. You'll learn how to size problems effectively to ensure they are worth the tech investment and why "renting" software might actually be the fastest path to owning your own high-value IP.

Ashok challenges the common "tech-enabled" playbook—hiring a C-suite CTO immediately—and offers a leaner alternative: the "In-House Prototyper." Discover how using AI tools and low-code platforms can help you validate business value before committing to expensive development. Whether you are navigating compliance-heavy industries or just trying to improve EBITDA, this episode provides a tactical framework for negotiation, sequencing, and strategic capital allocation.

Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge.

In this episode:

Build vs. Buy Math: How to calculate the break-even point for custom software.

The "Sandbox Pilot": How to negotiate a 1-month trial instead of a 12-month lock-in.

Strategic Sequencing: Why you should "rent to learn" before you build to own.

The Prototyper Role: A high-leverage alternative to hiring a full-time CTO.

Problem Sizing: Identifying problems that compound with growth vs. those that vanish.

Mentioned in this episode:

Prototyping Tools: Lovable, Bolt, Replit, Vibe Coding.

Workflow Automation: N8N, Langflow

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