How long did it actually take to clone your startup?

About 3 hours of active work with Claude Code while watching The Marriage Story with my fiancee. The result was roughly 80% of Recapped's core functionality—deal rooms, mutual action plans, CRM integration, dashboards, and more.

Could someone with no product knowledge do this?

No. The key insight is that I already knew what to build from 6 years of customer discovery. AI handles the building, but you still need to understand the problem deeply. That product knowledge is the real moat.

What should I do if I work at a startup?

Learn these tools now. Whether you're building, selling, or operating—understanding what's possible with AI will separate you from everyone who's still "trying ChatGPT." The gap is widening every month.

Is Claude Code really that different from ChatGPT?

Yes. ChatGPT gives you text to copy. Claude Code actually reads your files, writes code, and builds things autonomously. It's the difference between a consultant who writes recommendations and a contractor who builds the house. Read more in What is Claude Code?

Do I need to learn to code?

No. Claude Code writes all the code. You describe what you want in plain English. But you do need to understand the tools and develop the instincts for what's possible. That's what MasteringAI teaches.

I Spent $6M and 6 Years on My Startup. AI Cloned It in 3 Hours.

A founder's firsthand account of watching AI rebuild his $6M startup in 3 hours—and what it means for the future of software, startups, and the workforce.

Mark Fershteyn

January 12, 2026

10 min read

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50+ Mind-Blowing Things People Are Using Claude Code For (That Have Nothing to Do With Coding)

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