Through hundreds of client engagements across nearly a decade, we noticed founders and business leaders had the same questions, concerns, and problems when staring down a software development project. We hatched ENO8 Answers to offer our decades of software development experience and expertise to anyone thinking about building, updating, or redesigning a software product.
The bottom line is that ENO8 Answers helps you make sense of software development. It’s free, it’s informative, and it isn’t stuffy.
You can find our catalog of prior sessions below. Have a question you’d like answered in a future ENO8 Answers? Reach out anytime!
If you’ve been wondering whether “AI-native product development” is just hype or an actual competitive advantage, this episode will reset your expectations. Jeff Francis (Founder & CEO of ENO8) sits down with veteran architect Craig Mertens and senior AI developer Maximus to talk about what it really looks like to build software in an AI-native […]
In this episode of ENO8 Answers, we are addressing a slightly different market than usual. We’re still talking to CIOs and CTOs (and even CEOs) — but not those who are running software companies. Because the 2025 reality is that non-software companies need custom software too. Whether they’re building custom operational software or an app […]
…But Maybe Not How You Think In this episode of ENO8 Answers, founder Jeff Francis sits down with co-host Andrew Stern to break down specifically how AI is reshaping software product development right now — from instant prototyping to agentic-assisted coding workflows — and where it’s likely headed next. There’s no question AI-driven software development […]
There’s a danger in sticking to rigid rules around building a product team — especially when common misconceptions abound, e.g. hiring the most expensive player first (a CTO). In this month’s ENO8 Answers, ENO8 founder Jeff Francis sat down with fractional CTO Scott Bush to talk through one of the most misunderstood roles in early-stage […]
If you’re leading product development, you’ve probably hit this problem: You need to move fast, but your internal team is already at capacity. Staff Augmentation: When and How to Deploy it Effectively Hiring full-time engineers takes months (if you even find the right people). By the time they’re onboarded, your competitor may have already shipped […]
In this video, ENO8 founder Jeff Francis dives into one of the biggest challenges in software development communication — the dreaded “black box” — and how you can avoid it by embracing radical transparency. We’ve helped more than 200 project teams and companies launch successful software products, and one of the main tenets of our […]
In this episode of ENO8 Answers, Jeff sat down with Craig Mertens, one of the brilliant Solutions Architects at ENO8 to discuss the bevy of product management problems software teams must dodge. Craig has a wealth of experience building custom software for companies of all shapes and sizes. This makes him excellently suited to discuss […]
We’re pulling back the curtain to share the entire software project management tools stack we use at ENO8. As a 2x Inc. 5000 company that has built successful digital products for 200+ partners, you could say we’ve refined our tools and processes over the years. The tech stack we have now is the result of […]
What is a Practical Founder? In this episode of ENO8 Answers, Your Software Startup Doesn’t Need External Funding, ENO8 founder Jeff Francis sat down with Greg Head to get underneath common misconceptions around startup funding. Greg and Jeff have been in the startup game long enough to have seen its many evolutions, and their wisdom […]
Welcome back to another exciting episode of ENO8 Answers with our founder Jeff Francis. You are in for a special treat, because this presentation is normally a one-time annual deal. Every year, Jeff is asked by Dallas Startup Week to present this topic. And every year, the room is packed to the brim with startup […]
Who Should Your First Software Startup Hire When You’re Building A Software Product? In this episode of ENO8 Answers, we dive deep into the crucial decision every early-stage software startup faces: Who should be your first in-house hire? Follow this advice and you’ll be one step closer to becoming a “unicorn.” And It’s Not Even […]
Welcome back to another exciting episode of ENO8 Answers. We’re doing things a little differently this time. Instead of a recorded webinar, we thought our audience might like to hear some insight and wisdom from a serial entrepreneur intimately familiar with the founders’ journey. From bootstrapping to seed funding, Brenda Stoner has seen it all. […]
Do you know who is truly mission-critical to software development? What product development leaders do you need? Not the nice-to-haves, or you’d-love-to-haves, but those you cannot succeed without? We’ve built hundreds of innovative digital products over the last decade. Through engagement after engagement, we see the same pattern emerge. If you nail down these THREE […]
Join us as we delve into the surefire software design framework embraced by industry leaders for its efficacy and innovation. We’re thrilled to have Emily Holmes on this episode, sharing her insights on one of the most transformative concepts in software design and problem-solving. Emily takes us on a journey through the Double Diamond framework, […]
The biggest obstacle to software innovation might not be what you think. It’s fear. Fear of failure, fear of the product flopping, fear of missing the mark with users, and ultimately, fear of losing one’s job (CIOs/Engineering Leaders) or one’s organization (startup founders). All this fear can compound into paralysis or can constrict a software […]
Jeff Francis shares strategic insights on why iteration is not innovation, why that matters, and how to think about both. Here’s a sneak peek into the key areas we’ll delve into: 🧐 Necessary vs. Sufficient for sustained success⏳ Difference in time horizons🔭 What you’re focused on (features vs. the problem)⚖️ What’s the scale of the […]
Jeff Francis shares strategic insights on how you can build software fast – without it costing a fortune. Yes, the reality is you really can improve your product team’s velocity without exceeding the budget. It’s not easy, but it’s possible. We do it all the time for our clients, and now we’re going to teach […]
Companies want their products to last forever. But the reality is that software and apps are only as good as the platform they were first built on – no matter how skilled the development team is at updates. Eventually, it’ll be time for a full rebuild. The key is finding the perfect time to start […]
Whether or not we’re technically in (or entering) a down economy, headlines around the country certainly show that things are worsening… Layoffs across industries, belt tightening for corporate budgets, and a tight labor market make it a tough environment for business leaders. So how do you continue to drive digital innovation in this climate? One […]
As an engineering leader, you know that small issues can quickly snowball during software development. If the timeline is already getting stretched or spending is set to exceed the budget, there’s no time to waste in rectifying things. So how do you get your software project back on track? A Common Issue with Uncommon Solutions […]
If you’re developing software — any kind of software — there’s an element of second guessing. There has to be, right? You’re putting a lot of time, money and resources behind something. So how do you know if your money is being well spent on your current team? If you’re not super technical yourself, but […]
The true answer is “not yet” not no. Keep reading to learn why Chief Technical Officers don’t like working with startups and why startups don’t need a CTO…yet. CTOs are often the backbone of a company’s software development, so why would we suggest not hiring one? Let’s be clear, CTOs are a vital and necessary […]
Sad Fact: If your developers are under-appreciated, unhappy, or stagnant, your software product may suffer. Happy Fact: Happier developers build better products on shorter timelines at lower cost. How to Keep Software Developers Happy So how do you help your developers feel happy, fulfilled, and engaged? If your developers seem unhappy, dissatisfied or just like […]
After more than 100 software startup projects, I’ve seen the product landscape significantly change during development many times. Luckily, there’s an effective way to pivot. Unfortunately, there are about 50 ways to UNsuccessfully try to pivot. We’ve worked through this with countless clients, and created a Guaranteed Formula for Pivoting Software in Times of Change. […]
Everyone wants to build a successful mobile app or software product, and nobody wants to fail! But did you know most companies won’t fail entirely? It’s true. The graveyard of digital products is littered with those that were just…good. Take it from the the leaders in Dallas custom software development, good is the enemy of […]
This is one of our most frequently asked questions: How do I properly utilize onshore and offshore resources to stretch my product budget without sacrificing quality or missing deadlines? Boy howdy, do I have answers for you! Join me in this ENO8 Answers episode to get behind the scenes software development insights to effectively navigate […]
