# 13Labs - Full Documentation

> 13Labs is an AI-powered software development studio and education platform based in Melbourne, Australia. Founded by Callum Holt, a full-stack engineer with 10+ years of experience, 13Labs teaches non-technical founders to build and ship real software using AI-assisted development tools. The company also offers agency services for MVP development, rapid prototyping, and AI integration.

13Labs operates at the intersection of AI-powered development education and software consultancy. The mission is to democratise app development and empower anyone with an idea to bring it to life without needing traditional coding skills.

The learning pathway has three tiers: buildDay (one-day workshop), buildAcademy (12-week bootcamp), and buildClub (ongoing membership). Core tools taught include v0 for AI-powered UI generation, Supabase for database and authentication, and Vercel for deployment.

The company is based at Stone & Chalk, 710 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD, Victoria 3008, Australia.

---

## Programs & Services

### buildDay - One-Day Workshop

**Overview**: 6-hour hands-on workshop where participants build and deploy a real web application using AI tools. Held in Melbourne CBD, limited to 20 spots per session.

**Pricing**: $95 AUD (Early Bird), regular price $140 AUD

**Schedule**:
- When: Saturday, 28 February 2026
- Time: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
- Location: Stone & Chalk, Melbourne CBD

**What's Included**:
- Full-day workshop (9am-3:30pm)
- Expert instruction and support from Callum Holt and assistants
- All tools and resources provided
- Catered lunch
- Course materials and resource access
- 1 month buildClub membership
- Alumni community invitation

**Learning Outcomes**:
- Build and deploy a complete web application
- Learn v0 for UI generation, Supabase for database/auth, Vercel for deployment
- Deploy live application with real URL
- Understand AI-assisted development workflow
- Network with other builders and founders

**Typical Day Schedule**:
- 9:00 AM - Map Your MVP: Define core features and requirements
- 10:00 AM - Build Your UI: Use v0 to generate professional components
- 12:00 PM - Add Functionality: Set up authentication, database, and core workflows with Supabase
- 2:00 PM - Deploy Live: Push your app to a real URL you can share
- 3:30 PM - Demo & Feedback: Present working product and get actionable feedback

**Perfect For**:
- Non-technical founders who need to validate ideas quickly
- Professionals wanting to understand software development
- Anyone curious about AI-powered building
- People who want hands-on, in-person learning
- Founders preparing for investor pitches

**Testimonials**:

> "I don't have a lot of skills or know-how with coding, but Callum introduced us to v0, Supabase and it was very well explained. Pretty much blown away with what we could have accomplished in just a couple of hours."
> — Paul, buildDay Attendee (Built QAMEL - test question generator)

> "I love tactile learning where you're hands on. As opposed to all the courses you can do online, it's really good to be part of a group with a presenter, live questions and answers, and build something in real time."
> — Regional Attendee (Drove 3 hours to attend)

> "I really wanted to come here to learn how to actually deploy stuff so people can test it and you can iterate. We didn't realise how powerful it was to just use these tools — we thought we had to do everything manually."
> — James, buildDay Attendee

> "I quite enjoyed the process. I also learned a lot from people and had really nice chats with people around me as well. It's helpful for me to go through all of the processes today so that I can continue working on my project in the future."
> — Millie, buildDay Attendee (Built a resume helper)

> "It's constantly evolving — that's the exciting thing. Previously you may be able to do things at a 20% level. With AI, you can do it five times better. You can always do things that you don't think you can actually do before."
> — Raymond, buildDay Attendee

> "Callum explained it at a very good level for somebody with a bit of technical knowledge. I heard about these automation tools and the great things you can do with them — going to implement it right away."
> — Academic Researcher, buildDay Attendee (Built collaboration form)

**Social Proof**: 47+ founders helped to build their first apps

**Booking**: https://www.13labs.au/buildday

---

### buildAcademy - 12-Week Programme

**Overview**: 12-week hands-on programme for working professionals to build a production-ready app with payments (Stripe), AI features, and custom domain deployment. Includes 4 in-person workshop days, weekly group calls, async Slack support, and a systematic debugging framework. Limited to 8-10 participants per cohort.

**What's Included**:
- 12-week structured curriculum
- Weekly 2-hour live group sessions
- Fortnightly 1-on-1 mentorship calls
- 4 in-person workshop days in Melbourne
- Async support via Slack
- Project-based learning approach
- Code reviews and detailed feedback
- Systematic debugging framework
- Lifetime community access
- Build complete production app with:
  - Payment processing (Stripe integration)
  - AI features and integrations
  - Custom domain deployment
  - User authentication and authorization
  - Database design and implementation

**Perfect For**:
- Founders building a startup from scratch
- Professionals making a career transition into tech
- Serious learners who want to master modern development
- People who want to launch a real product
- Those who need structured accountability and mentorship

**Program Structure**:
- Weekly group calls covering new concepts and techniques
- 1-on-1 calls every two weeks for personalised guidance
- Real project builds from week 1
- Progressive feature additions each week
- Code review and debugging support
- Community learning with cohort peers

**Enquiries**: Contact via https://www.13labs.au/about

---

### buildClub - Monthly Membership

**Overview**: Monthly membership for ongoing support, resources, and community access. Never build alone - get expert help whenever you need it.

**What's Included**:
- Weekly office hours with live support
- Private Discord community access
- Monthly skill-building workshops
- Comprehensive resource library
- Latest tool updates and tutorials
- Networking events with other builders
- Peer code review and feedback
- Access to templates and boilerplates

**Perfect For**:
- buildDay or buildAcademy alumni wanting ongoing support
- Solo builders who need accountability and community
- People who want to stay current with AI development tools
- Anyone wanting to connect with the AI development community

**Membership Benefits**:
- Never get stuck alone - community support available
- Stay up-to-date with rapidly evolving AI tools
- Build relationships with other founders and builders
- Access exclusive workshops and resources
- Get feedback on your projects from experienced builders

**More Info**: https://www.13labs.au/programs

---

### buildAgency - Enterprise Consulting Services

**Overview**: Enterprise AI and software implementation for businesses. We help companies safely adopt AI tools, build custom solutions, and transform operations with enterprise-grade security.

**Services Include**:
- AI Strategy: Assess readiness, identify opportunities, create implementation roadmaps
- Custom Development: Build tailored solutions using AI-powered development
- Secure Implementation: Enterprise-grade security and compliance
- Team Augmentation: Supplement existing teams with AI development expertise
- MVP Development: Rapid prototyping and validation for new products
- AI Integration: Connect AI capabilities to existing business systems

**Target Clients**:
- Enterprises adopting AI tools safely
- Companies needing custom software solutions
- Businesses transforming operations with AI
- Organisations requiring enterprise security and compliance

**More Info**: https://www.13labs.au/buildAgency

---

## AI Development Tools Guide

### UI Generation Tools

**v0 by Vercel**
- **Description**: Transform ideas into beautiful React components just by describing what you want. Generates production-ready code with Tailwind CSS styling.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (10 generations/day), Paid $20/month (unlimited generations, priority access, private generations)
- **Best For**: Landing pages, UI prototypes, component libraries, quick mockups
- **Difficulty**: Beginner
- **Key Features**: React components, Tailwind CSS, copy-paste code, shadcn/ui integration, iterative refinement
- **Company**: Vercel (founded 2023)

### AI IDEs (Integrated Development Environments)

**Cursor**
- **Description**: A code editor built from the ground up with AI at its core. Understands entire codebase and can write, edit, and debug code through natural conversation.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (2000 completions/month, 50 slow premium requests), Paid $20/month (unlimited completions, 500 fast premium requests, GPT-4 access)
- **Best For**: Professional developers, complex codebases, refactoring, learning to code
- **Difficulty**: Intermediate
- **Key Features**: Codebase awareness, multi-file editing, chat interface, terminal integration, git integration
- **Company**: Anysphere (founded 2022)

**Claude Code**
- **Description**: Anthropic's official CLI tool bringing Claude directly into your terminal. Understands entire project and makes complex multi-file changes with remarkable accuracy.
- **Pricing**: Usage-based via Anthropic API
- **Best For**: Professional developers, terminal users, complex refactoring, large codebases
- **Difficulty**: Advanced
- **Key Features**: Terminal integration, multi-file editing, codebase understanding, git awareness, project context
- **Company**: Anthropic (founded 2024)

**Windsurf**
- **Description**: AI-powered code editor by Codeium combining copilot-style completions with agentic coding capabilities.
- **Pricing**: Free tier with generous AI features, Paid $15/month (unlimited AI, faster models, priority support)
- **Best For**: Developers wanting free AI, VS Code users, multi-file projects, exploration
- **Difficulty**: Intermediate
- **Key Features**: Cascades for multi-file edits, intelligent completions, command palette AI, codebase search, flows automation
- **Company**: Codeium (founded 2024)

### Full-Stack Builders

**Lovable**
- **Description**: Build complete web applications by chatting with AI. Handles frontend, backend, and deployment so you focus on vision rather than technical details.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (limited generations), Paid $20/month (unlimited projects, custom domains, team collaboration)
- **Best For**: MVPs, startups, non-technical founders, rapid prototyping
- **Difficulty**: Beginner
- **Key Features**: Full-stack apps, database integration, authentication, one-click deploy, real-time preview
- **Company**: Lovable (founded 2023)

**Bolt**
- **Description**: Create and deploy full-stack web apps directly in browser. Combines AI-powered development with instant deployment.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (limited tokens/day), Paid $20/month (more tokens, faster responses, priority support)
- **Best For**: Quick prototypes, learning projects, side projects, demo apps
- **Difficulty**: Beginner
- **Key Features**: Browser-based IDE, instant deployment, full-stack support, AI chat interface, package management
- **Company**: StackBlitz (founded 2024)

**Replit**
- **Description**: Code, create, and learn in browser with AI assistance. Complete development environment with collaborative features and instant deployment.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (basic AI, public projects), Paid $25/month (private projects, more compute, advanced AI)
- **Best For**: Learning to code, hackathons, teaching, quick experiments
- **Difficulty**: Beginner
- **Key Features**: Browser IDE, 50+ languages, multiplayer coding, AI assistant, instant hosting
- **Company**: Replit (founded 2016)

### Backend & Database Tools

**Supabase**
- **Description**: Open-source Firebase alternative with PostgreSQL database, authentication, instant APIs, and real-time subscriptions. Build backend in minutes.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (500MB database, 50MB file storage, 50K monthly active users), Paid $25/month (8GB database, daily backups, email support)
- **Best For**: Full-stack apps, real-time apps, startups, indie hackers
- **Difficulty**: Intermediate
- **Key Features**: PostgreSQL database, authentication, real-time subscriptions, edge functions, storage, auto-generated APIs
- **Company**: Supabase (founded 2020)

**Firebase**
- **Description**: Google's comprehensive app development platform with real-time database, authentication, hosting, and analytics.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (1GB storage, 10GB transfer, 50K reads/day), Pay as you go (unlimited scale, phone auth, Cloud Functions)
- **Best For**: Mobile apps, real-time apps, rapid prototyping, Google ecosystem
- **Difficulty**: Intermediate
- **Key Features**: Real-time database, Firestore, authentication, hosting, Cloud Functions, analytics
- **Company**: Google (founded 2011)

**Clerk**
- **Description**: Drop-in authentication for modern applications with beautiful UI components and user management out of the box.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (10K monthly active users), Paid $25/month (more users, custom domain, priority support)
- **Best For**: Authentication, user management, SaaS apps, multi-tenant apps
- **Difficulty**: Beginner
- **Key Features**: Pre-built components, user management, organisations, multi-factor auth, SSO
- **Company**: Clerk (founded 2019)

### Deployment Platforms

**Vercel**
- **Description**: Deploy frontend with zero configuration. Instant global deployments, automatic SSL, seamless Git integration.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (100GB bandwidth, serverless functions, analytics), Paid $20/month (team features, more bandwidth, advanced analytics)
- **Best For**: Next.js apps, static sites, Jamstack, frontend teams
- **Difficulty**: Beginner
- **Key Features**: Instant deployments, preview URLs, edge functions, analytics, DDoS protection, automatic SSL
- **Company**: Vercel (founded 2015)

**Netlify**
- **Description**: Modern web development simplified. Handles continuous deployment to serverless functions.
- **Pricing**: Free tier (100GB bandwidth, 300 build minutes), Paid $19/month (more bandwidth, background functions, analytics)
- **Best For**: Static sites, Jamstack, marketing sites, documentation
- **Difficulty**: Beginner
- **Key Features**: Continuous deployment, forms handling, serverless functions, split testing, identity management
- **Company**: Netlify (founded 2014)

**Railway**
- **Description**: Infrastructure made simple. Deploys apps with zero configuration, handles databases, scales automatically.
- **Pricing**: Free tier ($5 credit/month, 500 execution hours), Paid $20/month (more resources, team features, support)
- **Best For**: Full-stack apps, hobby projects, startups, database hosting
- **Difficulty**: Beginner
- **Key Features**: One-click deploy, PostgreSQL/MySQL/Redis, automatic SSL, preview environments, metrics
- **Company**: Railway (founded 2020)

---

## Key Concepts & Guides

### What is Vibe Coding?

**Definition**: Vibe coding is a revolutionary approach to software development where you describe what you want and AI builds it. Coined by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy, it represents coding by "vibes" - describing the feel and functionality you want rather than concerning yourself with technical implementation details.

**Key Principles**:
1. **Describe what you want**: Explain functionality and features in natural language
2. **Refine through conversation**: AI asks clarifying questions or you iterate on output
3. **Review and test**: Verify generated code works as expected
4. **Make adjustments**: Request changes, bug fixes, or enhancements through prompts

**How It Differs from Traditional Coding**:
- Traditional: Write every line of code, manage dependencies, debug errors, handle technical minutiae
- Vibe Coding: Work at level of intent and requirements while AI handles translation to implementation

**2026 Statistics**:
- 92% of US developers use AI coding tools daily
- 82% of developers globally use AI tools at least weekly
- 41% of all code written globally is now AI-generated
- 256 billion lines of code generated by AI in 2024 alone
- 87% of Fortune 500 companies use at least one vibe coding tool
- 74% of developers report increased productivity with vibe coding
- 51% faster task completion for teams implementing vibe coding
- Market size: $4.7 billion in 2026, projected $12.3 billion by 2027

**Who Benefits**:
- Founders and entrepreneurs (build MVPs without hiring dev team)
- Product managers and designers (prototype without dev sprints)
- Students and career changers (alternative path into tech)
- Small business owners (custom software without agencies)
- Experienced developers (5-10x productivity increases)
- Hobbyists and creators (turn ideas into reality)

**What You Can Build**:
- Landing pages and marketing sites (hours)
- CRUD applications (days to weeks)
- Prototypes and MVPs (days)
- Internal tools (days to weeks)
- API integrations (days)
- Real-time applications (weeks, more technical)
- Mobile applications (weeks with frameworks)
- E-commerce (weeks, requires security review)

**Limitations**:
- High-performance applications requiring optimisation
- Complex algorithms and novel logic
- Large-scale systems (millions of users)
- Regulated industries (require professional review)
- Security-critical applications (need expert oversight)

**Getting Started**:
1. Choose tool (v0, Lovable, or Bolt for beginners)
2. Start simple (portfolio, landing page, to-do list)
3. Learn effective prompts (specific, contextual, outcome-focused)
4. Iterate and refine
5. Test everything thoroughly
6. Learn from generated code
7. Join community
8. Build something real

---

## Target Audiences & Use Cases

### For Founders

**Pain Points**:
- Can't afford $50K+ dev agency quotes
- Need to validate ideas quickly before raising capital
- Want to understand what they're building, not just pay for it
- Struggling to find technical co-founder
- Blocked by technical dependencies

**Benefits**:
- Launch MVP in days, not months
- Iterate based on customer feedback without dev sprints
- Speak tech language when talking to investors
- Build credibility with working product, not just slides
- Reduce burn rate by building yourself

**Typical Use Cases**:
1. MVP for investor pitch (customer portal with auth, dashboard, workflow)
2. Customer validation (landing page with waitlist, onboarding, payment)
3. Internal tools (CRM, admin panel, team dashboard)

### For Product Managers

**Pain Points**:
- Dependent on engineering sprints to prototype
- Can't test concepts without technical resources
- Stakeholders want working demos, not wireframes
- Ideas die in backlog waiting for development
- Struggle to communicate technical feasibility

**Benefits**:
- Build clickable prototypes in hours
- Test with real users before committing dev resources
- Present working demos, not static mockups
- Understand technical constraints firsthand
- Ship side features without sprint capacity

**Typical Use Cases**:
1. Feature mockups (dashboard view with real data)
2. User testing (onboarding sequence with validation)
3. Stakeholder demos (new feature with working interactions)

### For Consultants

**Pain Points**:
- Clients want tangible deliverables, not just documents
- Can't execute on technical recommendations without dev partners
- Losing deals to agencies that 'do' instead of 'advise'
- Hard to demonstrate ROI with PowerPoints
- Revenue capped by billable hours

**Benefits**:
- Deliver working tools clients can use immediately
- Charge premium fees for execution, not just advice
- Win against agencies by shipping faster and cheaper
- Build productised services you can sell repeatedly
- Create passive revenue through tools

**Typical Use Cases**:
1. Client dashboards (KPI dashboard pulling from client systems)
2. Automation tools (lead qualification system, approval workflow)
3. Audit & reporting (interactive SEO audit tool, compliance checker)

### For Designers

**Pain Points**:
- Best designs never get built by engineering
- Handoff friction turns pixel-perfect work into compromises
- Can't prototype interactions and micro-animations
- Portfolio shows static mockups, not working products
- Dependent on developers to bring ideas to life

**Benefits**:
- See designs live on internet, not stuck in Figma
- Build interactive prototypes with real functionality
- Create portfolio pieces that actually work
- Launch side projects and creative experiments
- Collaborate better by understanding code

**Typical Use Cases**:
1. Interactive prototypes (animated onboarding with validation)
2. Portfolio pieces (personal website with CMS)
3. Side projects (design resource library, micro-SaaS tool)

---

## App Types You Can Build

### Simple Complexity (1-2 hours)

**Portfolio Website**
- Features: Project gallery, about section, contact form, responsive design, social links
- Best Tools: v0, Framer, Webflow
- Example Uses: Designer portfolio, photographer showcase, developer projects

**Waitlist Page**
- Features: Email capture, referral tracking, position display, social sharing, launch countdown
- Best Tools: v0, Lovable, Framer
- Example Uses: Product launch, beta signups, early access campaigns

**Blog**
- Features: Content management, categories and tags, comments, RSS feed, social sharing
- Best Tools: v0, Framer, Webflow
- Example Uses: Personal blog, company news, content marketing

### Medium Complexity (4-6 hours)

**Booking App**
- Features: Calendar integration, user accounts, email notifications, payment processing, availability management
- Best Tools: Lovable, Supabase, v0
- Industries: Fitness gyms, healthcare, consulting, beauty salons
- Example Uses: Hair salon bookings, consulting calls, fitness class reservations

**CRM (Customer Relationship Management)**
- Features: Contact management, pipeline tracking, activity logging, email integration, reporting
- Best Tools: Lovable, Supabase
- Industries: Professional services, real estate, consulting, marketing agencies
- Example Uses: Sales pipeline tracking, client relationship management, lead nurturing

**Customer Portal**
- Features: User authentication, order history, document access, support tickets, account settings
- Best Tools: Lovable, Supabase, v0
- Industries: Professional services, agencies, e-commerce, manufacturing
- Example Uses: Agency client portal, wholesale ordering, service delivery tracking

**Invoice Generator**
- Features: Invoice templates, client management, payment tracking, PDF export, recurring invoices
- Best Tools: Lovable, Supabase
- Industries: Professional services, consulting, agencies, trades/construction
- Example Uses: Freelancer billing, consulting invoices, service business payments

**Membership Site**
- Features: Member authentication, content gating, subscription billing, member directory, exclusive areas
- Best Tools: Lovable, Supabase
- Industries: Education, fitness, media, coaching
- Example Uses: Premium content library, private community, coaching program

**Directory**
- Features: Searchable listings, category filters, profile pages, map integration, reviews
- Best Tools: Lovable, Supabase, v0
- Industries: Home services, professional services, travel, healthcare, education
- Example Uses: Local business directory, professional network, resource database

**Job Board**
- Features: Job listings, search and filters, application tracking, employer accounts, email alerts
- Best Tools: Lovable, Supabase
- Industries: Recruitment/HR, professional services, home services
- Example Uses: Industry-specific jobs, remote work board, local employment

**Internal Tool**
- Features: Data management, user roles, reporting, workflow automation, integration APIs
- Best Tools: Lovable, Retool, Supabase
- Industries: Professional services, recruitment/HR, accounting/finance, logistics
- Example Uses: Operations dashboard, data entry tool, team reporting system

### Complex Complexity (8-16 hours)

**Marketplace**
- Features: User listings, search and filters, payment processing, reviews and ratings, messaging
- Best Tools: Lovable, Supabase
- Industries: E-commerce, professional services, real estate, home services
- Example Uses: Handmade goods market, service provider directory, equipment rentals

**SaaS Dashboard**
- Features: User authentication, subscription billing, dashboard interface, settings management, usage analytics
- Best Tools: Lovable, Supabase
- Industries: Professional services, marketing agencies
- Example Uses: Analytics platform, marketing tool, business management software

---

## Frequently Asked Questions (Inline Answers)

### Getting Started

**Q: Can I really build an app without coding?**

A: Yes, with AI tools like Lovable, Bolt, and v0, non-technical people are building and launching real apps every day. The rise of 'vibe coding' has made app building accessible to anyone who can clearly describe what they want. Tools generate real code from natural language descriptions, handling the technical complexity while you focus on the product vision.

However, 'without coding' doesn't mean 'without understanding'. You'll still need to learn how apps work conceptually - what a database does, how authentication functions, why certain features cost more than others. The AI handles the syntax and implementation details, but you're still the architect of your product. Many successful founders have built and launched revenue-generating apps this way.

**Q: How long does it take to learn vibe coding?**

A: Most people can build their first functional prototype within a weekend, but building production-ready apps takes 2-3 months of consistent practice.

Week 1-2: Build simple landing pages, basic forms, understand how to communicate with AI tools. Expect trial and error learning what prompts work best.

Month 1-2: Comfortable building multi-page apps with user authentication, basic database operations, can troubleshoot common issues. This is when most people build their first 'real' project.

Month 3+: Develop intuition for architecture decisions, understand when AI suggestions are wrong, can build increasingly complex features. Recognise patterns that help you work faster.

The biggest factor isn't time - it's consistency. Building something small every day beats marathon weekend sessions. Building things you actually care about accelerates learning dramatically.

**Q: Which AI tool is best for complete beginners?**

A: Lovable is currently the most beginner-friendly option, with Bolt as a close second. Both let you build without touching code while producing real, deployable applications.

Lovable offers the smoothest experience with a visual interface that shows your app as you build it, handles deployment automatically, and its AI is particularly good at understanding vague requirements. You describe what you want in plain English, and it generates a working app you can iterate on.

Bolt is similarly approachable but gives you slightly more control over the code. It's a good choice if you think you might want to learn more about the underlying technology eventually.

V0 by Vercel is excellent for UI components and design-focused work but assumes more technical context. Cursor is powerful but really designed for people who already know how to code.

**Q: What's the difference between no-code and vibe coding?**

A: No-code uses visual builders with fixed components. Vibe coding uses AI to generate real code from descriptions, giving you more flexibility but requiring more learning.

No-code platforms like Bubble, Webflow, and Glide give you pre-built components you arrange visually. They're easier to start with but constrain what you can build to their available features. When you need something custom, you hit walls. The 'code' these platforms generate is often proprietary and locked to their ecosystem.

Vibe coding is different - you describe what you want in natural language, and AI generates actual source code (React, Python, etc.). This code is real, portable, and can be modified endlessly. The tradeoff is that you need to understand more about how apps work, even if you're not writing code directly.

Practically: No-code is great for simple apps, internal tools, and MVPs where speed matters more than customisation. Vibe coding is better when you need custom features, plan to scale, or want to eventually transition to traditional development. Many people start with no-code to validate ideas, then rebuild in vibe coding tools when they hit limitations.

### Tools & Technology

**Q: Is AI-generated code production ready?**

A: It can be, but it requires review and testing. AI code is a starting point, not a finished product - treat it like hiring a junior developer who needs supervision.

AI-generated code quality varies enormously depending on the tool, complexity of request, and how well you've communicated requirements. For straightforward features like forms, authentication, and CRUD operations, the code is often quite good and production-usable.

However, AI code frequently has issues with edge cases, security best practices, and performance optimisation. It might generate code that works perfectly for the happy path but fails when users do unexpected things. Security-critical features like payment processing or handling sensitive data should always be reviewed by someone with experience.

The practical approach is to treat AI-generated code as a very fast first draft. Use it to build quickly, test thoroughly, and invest in professional review for anything that handles money, personal data, or could cause real harm if it breaks.

**Q: Can ChatGPT build me an app?**

A: ChatGPT can help you plan and write code snippets, but it can't directly build or deploy a complete app. You need specialised tools like Lovable, Bolt, or Cursor for that.

ChatGPT is incredibly useful for app building, but not in the way most beginners expect. It can explain concepts, debug code, suggest approaches, and even write substantial code blocks. However, it doesn't have access to your codebase, can't run your application, and can't deploy anything.

Think of ChatGPT as a very knowledgeable advisor who can't actually do the work. You'd still need to copy code into the right files, set up your development environment, handle deployment, and manage the dozens of technical details that go into a working app.

This is where purpose-built tools shine. Lovable and Bolt create complete, deployable applications from descriptions. Cursor integrates AI directly into your code editor with full project context.

The best workflow combines these tools: Use ChatGPT to understand concepts and plan your approach, then use specialised tools to actually build.

**Q: Should I use v0 or Lovable?**

A: Lovable for complete apps, v0 for UI components. Lovable builds full-stack applications with databases and auth. V0 generates beautiful UI components you integrate into existing projects.

Lovable is a complete application builder. You describe an app, it generates the full stack - frontend, backend, database, authentication. It handles deployment. You can build and launch a working SaaS product without touching code or setting up infrastructure. Best for: Complete applications, especially if you're non-technical.

V0 (by Vercel) generates UI components and page designs. You describe what you want visually, it creates beautiful React components. However, you need to integrate these into an existing project - it doesn't handle databases, authentication, or deployment. Best for: Design-focused work, adding components to existing projects, or when you want more control over the technical stack.

Typical workflow combining both:
1. Use v0 to design key pages and components
2. Use those designs as references when building in Lovable
3. Or build the core app in Lovable, then use v0 for polished marketing pages

**Q: What's the best database for beginners?**

A: Supabase is the current favourite for beginners - it's free to start, has a visual interface, and handles authentication too. Firebase is another solid option.

Supabase advantages:
- Visual interface for creating tables and viewing data (no SQL required to start)
- Built-in user authentication (one less thing to figure out)
- Real-time subscriptions work out of the box
- Generous free tier that handles most MVPs
- Direct integration with Lovable, Bolt, and other AI tools
- It's PostgreSQL underneath, so it's a real database that scales

Firebase (Google) is the main alternative:
- Better for mobile apps and real-time features
- More complex pricing model (can get expensive unexpectedly)
- Different data model (document-based vs relational) that some find confusing

For most web applications, especially those built with AI tools, Supabase is the safer choice. The AI tools know Supabase well, which means fewer errors and smoother generation.

**Q: How do I accept payments in my app?**

A: Stripe is the standard choice - it integrates with most AI tools and handles subscriptions, one-time payments, and tax compliance.

Stripe is the default choice for most applications:
- Works in Australia and most countries
- Handles subscriptions, one-time payments, invoicing
- Has pre-built checkout pages so you don't need to build payment forms
- Manages tax compliance in many jurisdictions
- Extensive documentation and AI tools know it well

Integration complexity:
- Simple: Using Stripe Checkout (redirect users to Stripe's hosted payment page)
- Medium: Embedded payment forms with Stripe Elements
- Complex: Custom payment flows, marketplace payments, or complex subscription logic

AI tools like Lovable can generate basic Stripe integrations, but payment code is security-critical. Test thoroughly, and consider having someone experienced review your implementation before going live.

Alternatives: Lemon Squeezy (simpler than Stripe, handles more compliance automatically), Paddle (good for SaaS, handles VAT/GST), Gumroad (for simple digital product sales).

**Q: How do I deploy my app?**

A: Most AI tools handle deployment automatically. If deploying manually, Vercel and Netlify are the easiest options with generous free tiers and one-click deployment from GitHub.

Automatic deployment: Tools like Lovable and Bolt deploy your app automatically. You build, you click deploy, you get a URL. This is the simplest path and works fine for most MVPs.

Manual deployment (if you export your code):

Vercel is the most popular choice for Next.js and React apps:
- Connect your GitHub repository
- Click deploy
- Automatic updates when you push code changes
- Free tier handles most projects
- Custom domains are straightforward

Netlify is similar, with slightly different pricing and features. Railway and Render are good for backend-heavy applications.

What you need to understand:
- Environment variables: Configuration that varies between development and production (API keys, database URLs)
- Build process: How your code gets converted into something deployable
- Domains: You'll want a custom domain eventually (yourapp.com instead of yourapp.vercel.app)

### Business & Strategy

**Q: What's the real cost to build an app with AI?**

A: A basic MVP can cost $0-500 using AI tools. Production apps with users typically run $50-500/month for hosting, plus tool subscriptions of $20-100/month.

The cost breakdown:

Tools and subscriptions: Lovable, Bolt, and similar tools range from free tiers (limited usage) to $20-100/month for serious building. You'll likely use multiple tools - a code generation tool, a database like Supabase ($25/month for pro), and possibly design tools.

Hosting and infrastructure: Vercel and Netlify offer free tiers that handle most MVPs. Once you have real users, expect $20-100/month. Databases, authentication services, and file storage add more - budget $50-200/month for a small production app.

Domain and extras: Domains cost $10-50/year. Email services, analytics, and monitoring tools add up - maybe $30-50/month total.

Professional help: When you hit walls, hiring someone on Upwork for a few hours ($50-200) can save days of frustration.

Realistic total: Building an MVP might cost nothing but your time. Running a production app with a few hundred users costs $100-300/month. These costs are dramatically lower than traditional development, where a basic MVP might cost $20,000-50,000.

**Q: How do I validate my app idea before building?**

A: Talk to potential users, build a landing page to gauge interest, and create the simplest possible version to test the core value proposition before investing heavily.

The biggest mistake first-time founders make is building in isolation for months, then discovering nobody wants what they've created. Validation should happen before and during building, not after.

Step 1: Talk to people. Find 10-20 people who might use your app and have genuine conversations about their problems. Don't pitch your solution - understand their pain points. If you can't find people who have the problem you're solving, that's a signal.

Step 2: Build a landing page. Use AI tools to create a simple page describing your app and collect email signups. Run some small ads ($50-100) to see if strangers are interested. No signups? Reconsider the idea or the positioning.

Step 3: Build the smallest testable version. Not a full app - just enough to let real users try the core feature. A waitlist management app doesn't need AI integrations and team features for v1. Build the waitlist part, get feedback, iterate.

Step 4: Get paying customers before scaling features. Someone paying $10/month is more validation than 1,000 people saying 'I'd definitely use that.' Money is the ultimate signal of value.

This process can happen in weeks with AI tools, not months. Fast iteration beats extensive planning.

**Q: Do I need a technical co-founder?**

A: Not necessarily, especially early on. AI tools let you build and validate without one. But as you scale, having technical expertise on the team becomes increasingly valuable.

The traditional advice was that every startup needs a technical co-founder, and that's increasingly outdated. Here's the nuanced reality:

For validation and early traction: You probably don't need one. AI tools let solo non-technical founders build surprisingly capable MVPs. Focus on finding customers and proving demand first.

For scaling and complex features: Technical expertise becomes more important. AI-generated code works well for standard features but struggles with complex integrations, performance optimisation, and security hardening.

The middle path: Many successful founders use contractors, fractional CTOs, or technical advisors instead of full co-founders. You might hire a developer to review your AI-generated code monthly, or bring on a technical lead as your first employee rather than a co-founder.

The worst mistake is bringing on a technical co-founder just because you think you should. Bad co-founder relationships sink more startups than technical challenges.

**Q: Do VCs fund non-technical founders?**

A: Yes, but it's harder. VCs care most about traction, market insight, and your ability to execute. Having a technical co-founder helps, but it's not always essential.

The honest answer is that being non-technical is a disadvantage when raising venture capital, but it's not disqualifying. VCs have historically preferred teams with technical co-founders because software companies face constant technical challenges.

However, the landscape is shifting. With AI tools enabling non-technical founders to build and launch products, investors are seeing more solo non-technical founders with real traction. If you can demonstrate paying customers, strong growth metrics, and deep market insight, your technical background matters less.

Many successful companies were founded by non-technical people who recruited technical talent after proving the concept. The key is showing you can execute - whether that's by learning enough vibe coding to build an MVP, partnering with a technical co-founder, or demonstrating traction through clever no-code solutions.

For early-stage funding in Australia, angel investors and pre-seed funds are often more flexible than traditional VCs. Focus on building something people want first; the funding conversation gets easier once you have proof.

### Security & Scaling

**Q: What are the security risks of AI-generated code?**

A: AI code can have security vulnerabilities like any code. Common issues include improper input validation, weak authentication, and exposed API keys. Professional review is recommended for sensitive applications.

AI-generated code has the same types of security vulnerabilities as human-written code, sometimes more. Main risks:

Input validation: AI often generates code that trusts user input too much. Forms might not properly sanitise data, making SQL injection or XSS attacks possible. Always test what happens when users enter unexpected data.

Authentication weaknesses: AI implements basic authentication but might miss edge cases like session management, password reset security, or rate limiting on login attempts.

API key exposure: AI sometimes puts sensitive keys directly in frontend code where they're visible to anyone. This is a common and serious mistake. Always use environment variables and server-side handling for secrets.

Over-permissive access: Database rules generated by AI might be too permissive, allowing users to access or modify data they shouldn't.

Mitigation strategies:
- Use established authentication services (Supabase Auth, Clerk, Auth0) instead of custom implementations
- Get a security review before handling payment data or sensitive personal information
- Follow the principle of least privilege for database access
- Test your app by trying to break it
- Use AI to review your AI-generated code specifically for security issues

**Q: Is vibe coding just for MVPs or can I scale?**

A: You can scale AI-built apps to significant user bases. However, high-scale applications usually require professional optimisation and may need partial rewrites.

What works at scale: Basic CRUD applications, content platforms, simple marketplaces, and most B2B SaaS tools can absolutely scale to thousands or tens of thousands of users on AI-generated code. Modern frameworks and cloud infrastructure handle a lot of complexity automatically.

Where you'll hit limits: High-performance applications (real-time features, heavy computation), complex data processing, applications with unusual security requirements, or anything serving millions of users will eventually need optimisation that AI doesn't automatically provide.

The practical approach: Build with AI, scale until you hit real problems, then invest in fixing those specific problems. Many startups raise funding, acquire customers, and generate revenue on AI-built code before ever needing professional optimisation.

Think of it like starting a restaurant in a food truck. You can serve great food and build a loyal customer base without a full commercial kitchen. If demand grows enough, you might need a bigger kitchen - but you'll have revenue to pay for it by then.

**Q: What happens when my AI-built app breaks?**

A: You debug it the same way any app is debugged - error messages, testing, and iteration. AI tools can often help fix issues they created, or you can hire help for complex problems.

Every app breaks eventually, regardless of how it was built. Here's how AI-built app debugging typically works:

First line of defence: The AI that built it. Describe the error to your AI tool, and it can often diagnose and fix the problem. 'When users click submit, they see a white screen. Here's the error message.' AI is surprisingly good at debugging its own code.

Second line: Error messages and logs. Learn to read error messages - they usually tell you what's wrong. Modern hosting platforms like Vercel show logs that help identify issues. This is a learnable skill that pays dividends.

Third line: Community and forums. Most errors have been encountered before. Copy the error message into Google or post in relevant Discord communities. Other builders have likely solved your exact problem.

Fourth line: Hire help. For $50-200 on Upwork, you can often get someone to fix an issue in an hour that would take you days.

The honest truth: Some breaks will frustrate you. You'll spend hours on problems that seem impossible. This is normal - professional developers experience the same thing. The difference with AI tools is that you usually have a knowledgeable assistant helping you debug.

---

## Melbourne & Australian Context

13Labs is proudly based in Melbourne, Australia, at Stone & Chalk in the CBD. Melbourne has emerged as a hub for AI-assisted development education with numerous workshops, bootcamps, and community events focused on vibe coding.

**Australian Adoption Statistics**:
- 89% of Australian developers use AI coding tools at least weekly
- Melbourne's tech scene shows particularly high adoption at 94%
- Australian startups report 3.2x faster time-to-market with AI tools
- Local developer salaries have increased 18% as AI amplifies productivity

**Melbourne Startup Ecosystem**:
Melbourne has particularly embraced vibe coding, with 73% of early-stage startups using AI tools for initial development. This aligns with Melbourne's reputation as Australia's startup capital, where speed and capital efficiency are critical.

Local companies like Canva, MYOB, and REA Group have publicly shared their AI tool adoption strategies, with Canva reporting that 67% of their engineering team uses AI coding assistants daily.

**Unique Australian Challenges AI Tools Address**:
- Smaller talent pools in specific technologies
- Time zone differences with major tech hubs (US, Europe)
- Higher development costs compared to offshore options
- Need to compete globally with limited local funding

**Location**: Stone & Chalk, 710 Collins Street, Melbourne CBD, Victoria 3008, Australia

---

## Contact & Links

**Main Website**: https://www.13labs.au

**Programs**:
- buildDay: https://www.13labs.au/buildday
- buildAcademy: https://www.13labs.au/buildacademy
- Programs Overview: https://www.13labs.au/programs
- buildAgency: https://www.13labs.au/buildAgency

**Resources**:
- Tools Guide: https://www.13labs.au/tools
- Tutorials: https://www.13labs.au/tutorials
- Guides: https://www.13labs.au/guides
- Tool Comparisons: https://www.13labs.au/compare
- Glossary: https://www.13labs.au/glossary
- FAQ: https://www.13labs.au/answers

**Audience Pages**:
- For Founders: https://www.13labs.au/for/founders
- For Product Managers: https://www.13labs.au/for/product-managers
- For Consultants: https://www.13labs.au/for/consultants
- For Designers: https://www.13labs.au/for/designers

**Build Types**: https://www.13labs.au/build
**Industries**: https://www.13labs.au/industries
**Locations**: https://www.13labs.au/locations

---

This comprehensive documentation is designed for AI consumption and search engine discovery. Last updated: February 2026.