I remember getting a frantic call a few years back. It was from the founder of a startup I’d invested in – a really promising B2B SaaS company. They had just closed a seed round, their user growth was off the charts, and everything seemed to be going perfectly. Until it wasn’t.
Their entire backend was built on a popular Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform. And that platform had just been acquired by a tech giant. The acquirer announced they were shutting down the service in six months. Six months to migrate a complex application, with thousands of active users, to a completely new infrastructure. It was a nightmare. They ended up burning through half their seed round just on the migration. They survived, but it was a close call. This experience taught me a valuable lesson: the tools you choose can make or break your company, but not for the reasons you think.
This isn’t a rare story. I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count. And it’s the fatal flaw that nobody talks about when they’re comparing the latest and greatest SaaS tools. They get lost in the feature-by-feature comparisons, the pricing tiers, the fancy UI. But they forget to ask the most important question: will this company even be around in a year?
This brings me to the topic of this article: Bubble vs. Height. On the surface, it seems like a strange comparison. Bubble is a no-code app builder. Height is a project management tool. But I’m not here to compare their features. I’m here to talk about a much more important difference between them. A difference that could make or break your startup.
The No-Code Dream and My $100k Bet
Let’s be clear, I’m a huge fan of the no-code and low-code movement. I’ve invested in over 20 companies in this space, including unicorns like Webflow and Retool. I’ve seen firsthand how it can empower entrepreneurs to build and launch products faster than ever before. The ability to create a fully functional web app without writing a single line of code is nothing short of revolutionary.
Bubble is a prime example of this. It’s a powerful platform that allows you to build complex web applications with a drag-and-drop interface. I first came across Bubble in 2015. A founder I was mentoring, who had no technical background, showed me a fully functional marketplace he had built in just two weeks. I was blown away. I invested $100k in his company on the spot. That company, which was built entirely on Bubble, was acquired two years later for $12 million.
I’ve seen some of my portfolio companies build their entire businesses on Bubble. It’s a fantastic tool for building MVPs, internal tools, and even full-fledged products. It’s not perfect, of course. It has a learning curve, and it can be a bit clunky at times. But for the right use case, it’s a game-changer. The key is that Bubble has been around for over a decade. They’re profitable, and they have a massive user base. They’re not going anywhere.
The All-Too-Common Project Management Trap
Then there’s Height. Height was a beautiful project management tool. It was sleek, fast, and had a ton of powerful features. I even considered using it for my own team at one point. It was a darling of the productivity space, and it seemed like they were on a roll. They had a great product, a passionate user base, and a ton of buzz.
But here’s the thing about project management tools: there are a million of them. It’s an incredibly crowded market. And while Height was a great product, it was competing with giants like Jira, Asana, and Trello. It’s a tough market to crack, and even with a great product, it’s hard to stand out. I get pitched a new project management tool at least once a week. They all promise to be the “Jira killer” or the “Asana killer.” But the reality is, most of them will be dead in a year or two.
The Fatal Flaw Revealed: A Tale of Two Startups
And that brings us to the fatal flaw. The one that nobody talks about. The one that can kill your startup overnight.
Height is shutting down.
That’s right. After raising over $18 million in funding, they’re throwing in the towel. And all of their users are now left scrambling to find a new project management tool. They have to migrate all of their data, retrain their teams, and disrupt their entire workflow. It’s a nightmare.
And this is the fatal flaw that I’m talking about. It’s not about the features. It’s not about the pricing. It’s about the long-term viability of the platform. When you build your business on a platform, you’re not just a customer. You’re a partner. And you need to be able to trust that your partner will be there for you in the long run.
So, when you’re comparing Bubble vs. Height, you’re not really comparing a no-code app builder to a project management tool. You’re comparing a company that has a sustainable business model to one that didn’t. You’re comparing a company that has a clear path to profitability to one that was burning through cash.
Bubble has been around for over a decade. They’re profitable, and they have a massive user base. They’re not going anywhere. When you build on Bubble, you can be confident that they’ll be around to support you for years to come. I have a few of my portfolio companies that have been using Bubble for years, and they’ve never had to worry about the platform disappearing overnight.
Height, on the other hand, was a classic venture-backed startup. They raised a ton of money, grew as fast as they could, and hoped for a big exit. But when the market turned, and the funding dried up, they were left with no other choice but to shut down. It’s a story that we’ve seen play out time and time again in Silicon Valley.
My 5-Point Checklist for Vetting SaaS Partners
So, how do you avoid the Height situation? How do you choose a platform that you can trust? Here are a few things I tell my portfolio companies to look for:
- Profitability: Is the company profitable? Or are they burning through cash? A profitable company is a sustainable company. Don’t be afraid to ask them directly. If they’re not profitable, ask them about their path to profitability. If they don’t have a clear answer, that’s a huge red flag.
- Age & History: How long has the company been around? A company that has been around for a while has a proven track record. Look for companies that have been around for at least 5 years. That’s usually enough time to see if they have a sustainable business model.
- Funding: How is the company funded? Are they bootstrapped? Or are they venture-backed? A bootstrapped company is more likely to be focused on long-term sustainability. If they are venture-backed, look at who their investors are. Are they top-tier investors with a good track record? Or are they a bunch of no-name funds?
- Customer Base & Lock-in: How big is the customer base? A large and active customer base is a good sign that the company is doing something right. But also, how easy is it to leave? If a platform makes it impossible to export your data, that’s a form of lock-in you should be wary of.
- Community & Ecosystem: Is there a strong community around the product? A strong community can be a valuable resource for support and advice. Look for active forums, a vibrant marketplace for templates and plugins, and a healthy ecosystem of agencies and freelancers.
I want to add a sixth, more subtle point: the team's vision. I once met with a founder who had built an amazing tool for designers. The product was slick, and the tech was impressive. But when I asked him about his long-term vision, he just talked about getting acquired by Adobe. That was his entire endgame. I passed on the investment. A team that is only focused on an exit is a team that will take shortcuts. They won't be there for you when things get tough. Look for founders who are passionate about the problem they're solving, not just the potential payday.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Build on a Sinking Ship
At the end of the day, the most important thing is to do your homework. Don’t just look at the features and the pricing. Look at the company behind the product. Look at their business model. Look at their track record. And choose a partner that you can trust.
Because the last thing you want is to wake up one day and find out that your entire business has been built on a sinking ship. It’s a fatal flaw that nobody talks about. But it’s the one that can kill your startup. Don’t let it happen to you. I’ve seen it happen too many times. And it’s a mistake that’s easily avoidable if you just ask the right questions. The right tool should feel like a foundation, not a liability. Choose wisely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What factors matter most in this comparison?
For most founders, the three factors that matter most are: total cost of ownership, ease of implementation, and how well it integrates with your existing workflow. Features are important but often overweighted in decision-making.
Which option is best for startups?
It depends on your stage, budget, and specific needs. Early-stage startups should prioritize flexibility and low cost. Growth-stage companies can afford to optimize for performance and scalability. There's no universal answer.
Can I switch later if I make the wrong choice?
In most cases, yes. The switching cost is usually lower than people fear. The bigger risk is analysis paralysis, spending months evaluating options instead of picking one and learning from real usage.