Comment by matt_s

You mentioned 37 Signals so I think its appropriate to mention the scaffolding in Rails has been there for a long time. If you can carefully articulate the data models and data types, anyone can build a base MVP structure with `rails generate scaffold`. I've asked AI to generate code and honestly, the quality from the Rails scaffold is more consistent (for now). You're better off asking AI to help you craft the scaffold commands these days than having it generate the code itself.

I would suggest getting started on the client side of things with your 3-4 people first. Clients will have problems that need solving and in solving those you may find yourself building something over and over and that would be a good candidate for an open source tool. The technical side of a digital business isn't the hard part for developers.

This may sound cynical but there is probably a need for an agency type that can take "no code" and/or AI generated apps/solutions and take them beyond what no-code or AI platforms can do. Like small companies that have some AI generated stuff and don't have staff to take that to the next level. Charge them a monthly retainer for X hours of maintenance per month so they don't have to deal with it. Quote them for projects to take their AI generated app/solution to the next level or to make changes, etc. Again, you may find patterns once you have a few clients.