I'm losing software contracts right now, and I want to tell you why. Business owners who would've paid me $10,000 to build them something are telling me they'll just build it themselves with AI. That sounds like bad news for a guy who makes his living writing software, but in this episode I get into why I actually think it's a gift, and what it's telling me about where the real opportunity is heading.

I break down the pricing models I think are dead and the ones I think are about to take off. I talk about why selling software to businesses for $500 a month is a much harder game than it used to be, and why selling to regular people for $5 a month might be where the real money is hiding over the next five years. I also get into why paid advertising falls apart at those low price points, and what you have to do instead.

I share the actual marketing plan I'm using for the app I'm building right now (it starts with my neighborhood group chat), why I think your wife or your neighbor is probably a better customer than a business owner, and the one metric you should be watching instead of listening to what your friends say about your product. If you've been sitting on a software idea and wondering whether it's worth building, this one's for you.

Topics covered:

• Why business owners are canceling software subscriptions and building their own with AI
• The pricing model I think is dead, and the two replacing it
• Why selling software to businesses is suddenly a much harder game
• The consumer market opportunity that was a bad bet for years and is suddenly wide open
• Why paid advertising falls apart at $5 a month price points
• How virality can replace advertising when your product actually solves a real problem
• The baby sleep app thought experiment that explains consumer virality
• My actual marketing plan for the app I'm building (hint: it starts at school pickup)
• Why you should never trust your friends' compliments about your product
• The one metric that matters more than anything anyone says out loud

Chapters:

00:00 Intro
00:25 Why I'm losing contracts to AI
05:16 How to compete on extreme automation
07:17 Charging by outcome instead of per-seat
14:29 The case for consumer software over business software
27:40 Why paid ads won't save a $5-a-month product
32:18 Virality: how the right product markets itself
38:40 My actual marketing plan (starting with my neighborhood)
46:37 Build apps you actually use yourself
49:27 Don't trust compliments, watch the usage data

Questions or thoughts? Email me at trevor@coderscampus.com

It's been over a year since my last episode, and I owe you an update. In this episode, I get real about what happened with the Coders Campus coding bootcamp — why we had to shut down new admissions, and what led to that decision.

But it's not all bad news. I also share what I've been doing since then: going all-in on AI-powered software development, landing the highest-paying contract of my entire career, and building 15+ applications in about 12 months — including a platform that generated nearly half a million dollars in revenue.

I break down exactly how I'm building software today using Claude Code and Codex, why your opinion about AI-generated code might be wrong if you haven't used these tools, and why I believe the role of a software developer has fundamentally changed.

Topics covered:

• Why the Coders Campus bootcamp shut down
• How AI transformed my development workflow
• The WinningAds platform: one developer, half a million in sales, 99.99% uptime
• Claude Code vs ChatGPT: why they're not the same thing
• Why software developers are now project managers, product owners, and QA engineers
• The apps I've built: TimeTrackr, CaptureOS, a family management app, a fitness tracker, and more
• What's next for the Coders Campus brand
• Why learning AI is the safest career bet right now

Questions or thoughts? Email me at trevor@coderscampus.com

Episode Summary

In this episode, Trevor Page delves into the challenges aspiring software developers face when trying to land their first job. Drawing from his 15 years of programming experience and 12 years of teaching, Trevor offers a unique perspective on the realities of breaking into the tech industry. He discusses the common misconceptions new developers have, the difficulties of finding a job, and why having coding skills alone isn't enough to secure a position.

Trevor also introduces Coders Campus's new Guaranteed Internship Program, designed to provide real-world coding experience in a team environment while working on software projects for actual customers. This innovative program offers a profit-sharing model, allowing participants to earn money based on the success of the projects they work on. He shares insights into the structure of the internship, the roles participants will play, and the long-term benefits of gaining practical experience.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The Reality of Getting a Coding Job: Understanding that having the skills does not mean you are guaranteed a job.
• Common Pathways to Employment: Exploring traditional methods like open source contributions, volunteering, and unpaid internships, and why they might not be sufficient.
• Introducing the Guaranteed Internship Program: A detailed overview of Coders Campus's new initiative to help aspiring developers gain real-world experience while working in a team and potentially earning income through profit-sharing.
• The Importance of Real-World Experience: How hands-on coding in a collaborative environment can significantly improve job prospects.
• Case Study - JP's Success: A real-life example of a Coders Campus student who secured a job after participating in the internship program.
• Opportunities for Non-Bootcamp Participants: Trevor hints at a future program for those who already have coding skills but need certification and experience.

Call to Action: If you're ready to take your coding career to the next level and join a program that offers real-world experience, visit coderscampus.com/bootcamp to apply for the next cohort. For those interested in the upcoming certification program, email Trevor directly at trevor@coderscampus.com.

Quotes:

• "Just because you have the skills does not mean you are owed the job."
• "If you and any other entry-level developer are applying to the same position, but you have real-world experience on your resume, guess who they're going to look at first?"

Links and Resources:

• Coders Campus Bootcamp
• Email Trevor: trevor@coderscampus.com