Tech Leadership
Architecture, code quality, technical due diligence, and engineering-leadership questions for CTOs and founders.
Explore our Fractional CTO service →What does PCI DSS compliance require for a fintech app?
PCI DSS applies whenever your fintech app stores, processes, or transmits card data. As of 2026, version 4.0.1 is mandatory: 12 core requirements covering network security, encryption, access control, monitoring, and policy, plus new rules for APIs, payment-page scripts, and MFA. The biggest cost-saver is reducing scope through tokenization so raw card numbers never hit your servers.
Read the answer →Should I Build an MVP or a Full Product First for My Startup?
Build the MVP first in almost every case. It's the smallest version that solves one real problem, so you can test demand cheaply before betting your full budget. Build the full product first only with proven demand or when a partial version can't deliver value. After the MVP, iterate toward the full product.
Read the answer →Should I Build or Buy Enterprise Software for a Regulated Business?
In a regulated business, build vs buy comes down to who carries the compliance risk. Buy when a certified product fits and the vendor signs the needed agreements (like a HIPAA BAA). Build when compliance, data control, or your core workflow is too critical to outsource. Many go hybrid: buy infrastructure, build the sensitive core.
Read the answer →Should I Modernize My Legacy System or Rebuild It?
Modernize first in most cases; rebuild only when the system truly can't be saved. If the core still works but is slow, dated, or hard to maintain, upgrading it in small, safe releases is faster, cheaper, and lower-risk. Rebuild when the technology is obsolete or unmaintainable. Start with an assessment to decide on evidence.
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