Understanding the importance of quality isn’t really an issue for startups. The issue is finding the resources to properly test the product to ensure its quality.
In our recent webinar, Igor Kovalenko, Michael Tomara, and Bruce Mason shared practical approaches that help startups maintain product quality without increasing team size or budget.
Check out the highlights from the discussion and watch the full recording to get even more insights.
QA Needs a Strategy, Even in Small Teams
One of the most common mistakes is treating QA as something that “just happens” during development.
However, even with limited resources, teams need a basic QA strategy: what to test, when to test, and how to track results. Without it, issues accumulate quietly until they start affecting users.
As Igor Kovalenko put it, small teams should define a QA strategy and include testing in their SDLC. Otherwise, it can have painful consequences and bad feedback. This doesn’t require complex tools from the get-go — even a shared document or spreadsheet can be enough to bring structure.
Start Simple: Checklists Are Better Than No Process at All
Many teams delay QA improvements because they assume they need a full testing process with detailed test cases and tools.
In reality, starting small is far more effective.
A simple checklist of critical scenarios or a shared document with known issues can already bring structure and clarity. The goal here is consistency, not perfection.
You Can’t Test Everything; Prioritize by Risk
Startups often aim for full coverage but don’t have the capacity to achieve it. This creates tension between expectations and reality.
A more effective approach is risk-based testing — focusing on the parts of the product where failures would have the biggest impact.
Payment flows, orders, and core user journeys should always come first. Less critical functionality can be tested more lightly.
Michael Tomara made an important point: “If QA is underfunded, we cannot aim for 100% coverage. We need to understand risk areas and focus on those.”
Lack of Regression Testing Is a Silent Risk
One of the most overlooked issues in startups is regression. As new features are added and bugs are fixed, previously working functionality can break, especially without systematic checks. Even a basic regression testing routine can significantly reduce this risk.
Developer-Driven Testing Works, But Has Limits
In early stages, it’s normal for developers to take on testing responsibilities. Unit tests and basic checks can provide initial coverage.
However, relying solely on developers introduces bias — it’s difficult to objectively test something you’ve just built.
Bruce Mason argues: “Developers don’t make great testers, especially on their own projects. They know how the system is built, which makes it harder to approach it from a quality perspective.”
AI Can Support QA, But Not Replace It
AI tools are becoming increasingly useful in early QA stages, especially for:
- Generating test cases
- Creating documentation
- Suggesting testing strategies
AI testing can save time and help teams move faster, particularly when there’s no QA expertise in-house. However, outputs still require validation and adjustment.
When to Introduce a Dedicated QA Role
At some point, relying on shared responsibility for testing stops working. A key signal is when developers and the broader team start spending too much time on testing activities instead of building.
Growth is another indicator: as the product becomes more complex, the need for structured QA increases. At this stage, options can include hiring internally, bringing in part-time QA, or conducting an external QA audit.
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Watch the Full Webinar
If you want to explore these topics in more detail and hear practical examples from real projects, you can watch the full webinar right here:
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