How to Build a Software MVP with a $5k-30k Budget as a Startup Founder

Do you Need a Design Engineer? (Yes. But Why Do You Need One?)

You might not have heard of a Design Engineer before. It’s not the most common role… yet. But Laureano tells us that big players like Google, Spotify, and Vercel are already making room for these experts in their dev teams—and for good reason.

Design and tech are inseparable. It’s not just about building something that works; it’s about creating something that’s intuitive, easy to use, and desirable. A great designer links UI/UX design with software development, syncing user-centric design with agile coding processes—no more “design it now, build it later” nonsense. Everything happens together, so the product works and looks amazing right from the start.

Scenario: You Have $15k – How Should You Spend It?

Let’s say you’re a startup founder, and you only have $15k in the bank to build your MVP. You’ve got two options:

Option A

Throw all your cash into coding an MVP that works, but looks like sh*t. Think of the classic Silicon Valley/Y Combinator’s MVP approach: Build something that gets the job done but looks like it was made in a rush. Users can log in, download the app, and (hopefully) start paying for it.

Option B

Skip the code (for now) and spend your budget on a high-fidelity, no-code mockup in Figma or Adobe XD. This mockup won’t have “real” functionality but will feel like the real product. This design would only have a very clear and developed brand that you can show to potential users and investors to gather feedback and additional funds to then go on to the coding/product development stages.

Laureano’s Take: Go with Option B

These days, design is the way to go. With thousands of apps competing for attention, a polished, professional design helps you stand out from hundreds of pitch decks that investors see every day. Plus, online communities like Twitter, Reddit, and Discord make it easier than ever to gather feedback from real users before you even write a line of code.

Laureano points to Airbnb as the perfect example. He believes that without their design approach, they would have 99% likely failed. Airbnb’s co-founder, Brian Chesky, was a designer himself. His team created a platform that felt warm, personal, and trustworthy—everything you need when you’re asking people to sleep in strangers’ homes. Without that design-first mindset, Airbnb probably wouldn’t have made it.

Compare that to the outdated, outdated and unattractive design of hotel booking sites back then—or worse, finding underground places to couch-surf using Craigslist — you see how good design creates trust and sets you apart.

Why Invest in UX UI Design Before Coding?

Laureano offers three solid reasons why hiring a UI UX Figma designer makes more sense than rushing to code:

1. It’s Cheaper.
   A Figma mockup can cost you $5-10k, while coding a full MVP will easily run you $30-60k.
2. Design is Easier to Change.
   With design, tweaks are fast and cheap. You can switch layouts, colors, or entire features with just a few clicks. In contrast, once something is coded, changing it could take weeks—or even months.
3. No-Code Platforms are Great
   Tools like Bubble and Webflow allow you to import designs directly from Figma and build functional products without writing code. This lets you test your ideas faster and cheaper than ever before.

Why Investors Prefer a Strong Design Over a Crappy MVP

Unlike the old days of Silicon Valley, where investors would throw money at rough prototypes, today’s VCs are a lot more selective. They see dozens of “Uber for X” pitches every day, and a polished design gives you a huge edge.

Think about it—if you’re asking for $100k to build a platform, an ugly MVP slapped together in React won’t inspire much confidence. A high-quality, clickable prototype, on the other hand, shows investors you’re serious. It communicates professionalism and potential, even before a single line of code is written.

What Makes a Great MVP Design?

According to Laureano, there are three things that separate an average design from an outstanding one:

1. It’s Intuitive.
   Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Users should know exactly where to click and how to navigate. Familiar patterns—like the hamburger menu on mobile—exist for a reason.

    

2. It’s Authentic.
   Too many apps look identical these days, thanks to AI-generated designs. A great design has a human touch that makes it memorable.

    

3. It Speaks to the Right Audience.
   Your design must resonate with your users. A kids’ app with a dark theme? Not a good idea. Your design should match the vibe and expectations of your audience.

    

TL;DR: It is better to spend on high-quality design than on low-quality coding. Design must be authentic and represent your brand and your users — that’s it.