#4 - Tommy Thomas - The $50K Vibe Coding Playbook

Tommy Thomas beat 130,000 developers to win $50K—here's his exact playbook.

His approach to vibe coding: product strategy, systematic iteration, and knowing when to pivot. We dive into how he built Keyhaven (an API key manager with analytics) after scrapping two other apps, why he starts every project with a PRD, and his framework for picking ideas that actually make money.

Plus: running a tech incubator in Kuala Lumpur, the marathon that traumatized him, and why UBI might be inevitable when everyone becomes a builder.

Key topics

• Why vibe coding is easier but not easy
• The PRD-first approach to building apps
• Monetization strategy from day one
• Choosing the right platform (Bolt vs. Lovable vs. others)

Takeaways

• Start with a PRD: let AI help you think through requirements before you build
• MVP or bust: focus on one feature, add incrementally
• Would you pay for it? brutal honesty about your own willingness to subscribe
• Build for distribution: plan your marketing strategy before you write code
• Prioritize monetization: cost-benefit analysis beats cool features