Product Is a Bug Until Users Pay

About this event

This session is a special preview of Renier Kriel’s upcoming talk at DevConf in Johannesburg, shared first with the community. Built around a simple but uncomfortable idea, “a product is a bug until someone pays for it,” the session challenges how technical founders think about building. If no one is willing to pay, the problem is not solved. Instead of polishing features and waiting, founders can apply the same debugging mindset used in software to markets. Drawing from a decade of working with more than 200 South African founders, Renier will unpack what developers get right, where they get stuck, and how to shift from clean architecture and zero revenue to discovering real value early. This is also a chance for the community to engage, challenge the thinking, and give feedback before the talk goes to a larger stage.