Would you hire a "Vibe" coder for your startup?
We’ve all heard about (or encountered) those engineers who may not be traditional full-stack wizards or algorithm experts, but they bring an incredible sense of product intuition, aesthetic feel, and energy to a team. They're fast, creative, and can spin up delightful MVPs or prototypes that just feel right. Think: indie hacker meets front-end flow state.
I’m wondering:
Has anyone here tried building with a vibe-first mindset or brought on someone like that early on?
What worked, what didn’t?
What were the blockers if you didn’t go down that road?
Would you consider hiring someone primarily for their product “feel” or creative energy rather than traditional credentials?
Are there specific projects or stages of a startup where a Vibe coder really shines?
Would love to hear stories, experiences, and even counterpoints. Not just hypotheticals — actual attempts, wins, or regrets.
Let’s discuss. 👇
Replies
Great topic, Sarthak! I’ve worked with “vibe” coders early on in a couple of startups, and my experience has been mostly positive. Their intuitive sense for product flow and user experience can accelerate MVP development and help create a polished feel that resonates with users. Especially in the ideation and prototyping stages, having someone who can quickly turn ideas into tangible, delightful interfaces is invaluable.
That said, it’s important to complement them with more technically rigorous engineers as the product scales, since “vibe” coders sometimes struggle with maintainability and complex backend challenges. In my view, the ideal approach is a balanced team where vibe coders lead the frontend/product feel, while others focus on architecture and scalability.
Would love to hear if others have found ways to integrate these strengths seamlessly!