This article is written by Paulyn Ompico, full-stack developer with experience in co-founding a startup and pitching to potential investors and at incubators.
Building a tech startup today can feel like a race against time. With so many ideas taking shape, founders need something tangible to attract early adopters and to stand out when pitching to investors or incubators. With speed being crucial, especially in the early stages of a venture, Ruby on Rails has become a go-to for startups looking to create fast, scalable MVPs (minimum viable products). It offers advantages that lets developers skip unnecessary steps, dive straight into building features, and launch products quickly.
In this article, we’ll explore why speed is crucial for today’s startups, why Rails continues to stand out for MVPs, and why it remains a great training tool for new developers who aspire to be future founders.
If there’s one thing startups need today, it’s agility. The landscape has never been more competitive, with AI breakthroughs, rapidly shifting user demands, and evolving markets. Startups today are racing against time and each other, often with limited resources. The faster a startup can validate its concept, the quicker it can secure feedback, iterate, and pivot if necessary. Speed is vital, not just for capturing early users, but also for catching investors’ eyes before they turn to the next promising idea.
This means startups are hunting for tools and frameworks that will allow them to build fast and scale quickly. As a framework designed with rapid development in mind, Rails makes an ideal option for building MVPs that are lean but fully functional.
Ruby on Rails has earned its place as a favorite for founders and developers eager to launch quickly and scale flexibly. But what makes it so effective?
Rails’ philosophy of “convention over configuration” means developers spend less time setting things up and more time building features. Unlike frameworks that demand extensive configuration to get going, Rails has built-in structures that make creating a basic project almost instantaneous. This feature is a lifesaver for developers just getting started, as it lets them dive straight into building.
Additionally, Rails boasts a rich ecosystem of open source libraries, known as “gems”, that cover everything from user authentication to image uploads, and even AI features. These gems, backed by a vibrant community, offer Rails users a fast track to functionality without reinventing the wheel every time they need a new feature.
Rails’ adherence to the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern also helps developers keep their code clean and well-organized. This is particularly helpful for new developers, as it offers a clear separation of concerns in their applications, making it easier to maintain and scale. For web development students at Le Wagon, for instance, MVC becomes a backbone on how to organize code in a way that’s professional and ready to grow alongside a product’s user base.
Want proof that Rails can drive success? Let’s look at a few notable startups that launched with it:
These stories are testaments to Rails’ ability to turn ideas into products fast, then evolve those products as needs and audiences grow. Rails doesn’t just support startups in getting started. It is flexible enough to handle growth as well.
As a teaching tool, Rails lays a solid foundation in full-stack development, helping students master essential skills from backend logic to frontend interfaces. At Le Wagon, Rails is central to the web development curriculum, guiding students through the process of transforming their own ideas into working MVPs in just a few days. This approach immerses them in real-world startup scenarios, giving them hands-on experience in prototyping, pitching, and adapting under tight deadlines.
By the end, students don’t just learn to code. They gain a practical understanding of the startup lifecycle and build the confidence to potentially launch ventures of their own. In fact, many Le Wagon alumni go on to join startups and even create their own.
Even as technology evolves, Rails remains an amazing option for building MVPs. Some companies may eventually move beyond Rails as they grow, but its simplicity and productivity-driven design make it hard to beat in the early stages. For anyone looking to bring a business idea to life quickly, Rails is a framework that lets you build, test, and iterate at remarkable speed.
It continues to stand out for startups and new developers alike. Its ease of use, speed, and supportive community make it perfect for turning ideas into products without delay. Whether you’re just getting started in tech or planning to launch your own startup, Rails provides the tools you need to make your vision a reality — fast.
Grzybowska, K. (2024). 12 leading companies that use Ruby on rails in 2024. Monterail. https://www.monterail.com/blog/companies-that-use-ruby-on-rails
Coding can lead to very different careers in tech. Ellen, who did Le Wagon with
There are many fears at the beginning of learning about the tech world. But guess
Our part-time bootcamp is our most flexible online learning programme, designed for individuals juggling full-time
Michaël discovered Web Development while working as an e-shop manager. He then decided to learn
Nathan is an alumni from Le Wagon Lausanne. Originally from Brussel he was a Cook
Le Wagon’s world-class curriculum is all about learning new tech skills while joining one of
