When Growth Bites: The Brutal Truth of Building .

When Growth Bites: The Brutal Truth of Building Developia’s 200+ Dev Empire

Jun 23, 2025

Last October, I kicked off Developia — a community for devs to code, vibe, and build dope AI tools like DevelopiaAi aidevelopia.com. I’m a Naija-UK coder with a CS degree, grinding Laravel , Ai and Vue, dreaming of a hub for African tech hustlers. Eight months later, we’re 200+ strong: 120+ on Discord, 219 Substack subs, and 8 founders waitlisted for our AI app demo. Feels like a win, right? But here’s the tea: growth’s a beast. Vision clashes, petty complaints, and team exits hit me hard. I’ve had to say “no” to distractions, watch OGs walk, and keep the mission tight. This ain’t a glossy startup tale — it’s the raw, ugly fight of founding. Here’s my story, lessons from founders who’ve bled the same, and the truth that’ll make you rethink the hustle.

When Visions Clash—It Hurts

Developia grew fast, pulling in Laravel nerds, Web3 dreamers, and AI coders since October 2024. I posted X threads on #NaijaTech, dropped Substack guides, and ran Discord projects. But fast growth showed cracks. Some devs wanted full AI integrations for DevelopiaAi—a bot that trains in 60 seconds—while others pushed for fun hackathons or crypto side gigs. One guy, let’s call him Kola, demanded a blockchain token to “scale clout.” Another, Amaka, kept delaying demos with random UI tweaks that nobody asked for. Stream calls turned into battlegrounds—folks nitpicking APIs that worked fine, derailing our vibe.

Harvard’s Noam Wasserman says 65% of startups crash from co-founder conflict, often over misaligned visions (HBR, 2022,). A 2018 ScienceDirect study backs this: “vision incongruence” in equal-status teams—like Developia’s early crew—breeds friction. Look at Zipcar: founders Robin Chase and Antje Danielson split over workload and vision disputes, nearly tanking the biz. I felt that pain, watching my shared dream splinter.

Saying “No” Isn’t Just Okay—It’s Survival

I had to step up. Kola’s token push? I shut it down—DevelopiaAi’s for empowering biz owners, not chasing crypto hype. Amaka’s UI rants? I said, “Not our path.” Saying “no” sucked, but it saved the mission. As a dev and founder, I learned:

Focus is your foundation: Every distraction’s a crack in your dream.
Letting go is growth: Some ain’t built for the long haul. If they don’t align, they dip.

This ain’t ego—it’s leadership. Julius Bachmann calls conflict a founder’s daily grind (Medium, 2023,). Vestd warns friction’s guaranteed without clear communication (Vestd, 2024,). I chose the mission over drama, even if it meant uncomfortable calls.

My “no” cost me. Kola left, taking Discord members. Amaka bounced, griping about “slow” progress, ignoring our 8 demo waitlisters hyped for DevelopiaAi .

“leaves you wondering did they ever share the. same dream ?“.

Calls got toxic—folks moaned about font sizes or meeting slots, stuff that was never a problem. I felt like I was failing, watching my crew shrink.

A 2025 ScienceDirect study on team resilience says exits trigger “adversity” that tests your grit. Teams that move on—like I did—rebuild; others spiral. Wasserman’s data shows 65% of startups fail from founder fights, like Quincy Apparel, where vision clashes killed it (HBR, 2022). I told my team,
“If you don’t vibe with Developia’s African-first AI mission, find your lane.”
It hurt, but those who left weren’t meant for the endgame.

Rebuilding: New Crew, Same Dream

Replacing leavers is a grind. I’m scouting devs on X, Laracasts (https://laracasts.com), and Developia’s hackathons, hunting coders who get our vibe. Our 8 demo waitlisters keep me locked in—DevelopiaAi’s bot is live, and they’re ready to test it. But distractions persist: newbies still push “NFT pivots” or “faster scaling.” My response? “We’re building for devs, not clout.” It’s lonely, but McKinsey’s 2024 research says leaders must “remove obstacles” to stay focused.

Other founders show the path. Suning’s CEO pivoted to e-commerce, ditching doubters for a clear model (PMC, 2025,). Room & Board’s John Gabbert stuck to his vision, avoiding investor coups (HBR, 2022,). I’m doing the same—coding DevelopiaAi’s APIs, running Q2 hackathons, and vetting new crew. My backup builder list is ready: if someone dips, we fill the seat.

Managing the Madness: My Playbook

Here’s how I keep the chaos in check:

Regular check-ins: One-on-one calls to cut through noise and hear what’s real.
Recalibrate roles: Not leading demos? Let’s find your spot or step aside.
Rewrite expectations: “Here’s the dream, here’s the work—align or bounce.”
Backup builders: Someone leaves? We’ve got devs ready to jump in.

No drama, just transparency. A “founder prenup”—clear equity and role rules—could’ve saved me headaches, per Vestd (2024,). Next time, I’m locking that down.

Growth’s Double Edge: The Highs and Lows

Founder life’s a wild ride. The highs? 200+ devs, 8 demo waitlisters, a live DevelopiaAi app, and a buzzing Discord. The lows? Vision beefs, toxic calls, and the loneliness of 2 AM doubts. A 2024 Sifted survey found 61% of founders considered quitting from conflict or burnout. I’ve stared at Discord, wondering if I’m enough. But those 120+ devs still riding, the Substack claps, the waitlisters—they’re my fuel.

Growth means clashing definitions. Some want polished SaaS; I’m guerrilla, building for African devs. I lead by example—vision first. Who’s with me stays; who’s not, peace.

Final Word: Founders Are Forged in Fire

Founders, listen up: growth’s messy, but your mission’s the anchor. My toolkit:

Own your vision
Stay laser-focused
Let go or lock in
Refill your squad

Developia’s not just tech—it’s for devs who go the distance. Got a founder story—vision fights, exits, or saying “no”?

Drop it below, best one wins ₦5,000.

When Growth Bites: The Brutal Truth of Building .