top of page

How the Tech Stack You Will Choose Impacts Your Startup's Runway?

If you're a SaaS startup founder gearing up to get your first paying customers within 12 to 18 months, the composition of your technology stack can be the linchpin to success. Let's compare, for example, the best choice between Ruby, Flutter, and JavaScript, and its implications for development speed, cost, runnability, and efficiency that significantly impact the budget and timeline.

3 Minutes Read  |  April, 2024  | Our FAQs

Consider a hypothetical Scenario Scenario Setup


A software application that needs a backend, frontend, and potentially mobile components delivered in 6 months. And these are the most popular Tech Stack options:

Flutter vs React Native: Which is Better for your Web Projects?
Choosing Ruby over JS: What are the Startup's Implications?
What is the Ideal Tech Stack for Early-Stage SaaS Startups?

Tech Stack Salaries: Based on Glassdoor's Annual Average

💎 The Composition and Cost of a Ruby team require separate devs. Assuming you need at least 2 backend developers, and 1 frontend + 1 mobile developer (both in other technology, probably), the total cost for 6 months would be: (2 × 110,000) + (102,000 + 121,000) / 2 = $221,500

☕ For a Flutter Team: Probably using 2 developers who can handle both frontend and mobile, with a separate backend setup, the cost would be ((2 × 119,000) + 124,000) / 2 = $181,000

⚠️ Risk of idle time on Ruby and Flutter due to either front or back specialization, not both. Also, it might face challenges in integration, leading to potential delays and higher maintenance costs.


💛 And JavaScript Team: A Remote Dedicated Team of 3 Full-Stack Devs (from LatAm, maybe), handling all aspects of the app: 
(3 x 110,000) / 2 = $165,500.

⭐ Plus higher utilization of Full-stack talent, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuous progress across all the projects, and more cohesive development experience with the same language across backend, frontend, and mobile, lowering long-term maintenance costs.

Know the Impact on Runway based on Time, Team Size, Tech Stack, and Budget.

Formula to Calculate the Impact on Runway based on Time, Team Size, Tech Stack, and Budget

💡 Remember, this formula is not exact. To make it more accurate, add the Features and Maturity Jumps amount, the Sprint X-ray (How will you distribute the load according to your dev's role & seniority?), and the confirmed updated Glassdoor Tech Stack Dev's Salary ranges in your region...

Want to keep learning about development teams?

Book and know everything Melt Studio have to help your project

bottom of page