Community is the moat (even in the age of AI)

I studied AI and machine learning before it became mainstream. Back when it was theory-heavy, data-cleaning was the main bottleneck, and no one was using generative tools to launch in a weekend.

Today, I’m still deeply optimistic about AI. At VAUNT, we use it to enhance our product and scale intelligently. I’ve built with it, shipped products with it, and watched it reduce costs and unlock incredible leverage.

But here’s the truth: AI is not a moat anymore. It’s infrastructure. Table stakes. Easy to demo. Easy to clone. Everyone’s focused on AI models. No one’s focused on building belief. In the end, people don’t scale because of code. They scale because of conviction.

We’re now in an environment where it’s never been easier to build an MVP, and never harder to build something that lasts.

I’ve watched startup after startup launch with momentum: stunning landing pages, perfect pitch decks, “AI-powered” everything, only to quietly close months later. No retention. No revenue. No reason for users to come back.

The illusion of traction is expensive. It drains capital, team morale, and time. And it’s often driven by sunk cost thinking: one more feature, one more pivot, one more press push… all without product-market fit.

Real durability doesn’t come from shipping fast. It comes from being needed.

That’s why I chose real estate. Yes, I could’ve built in fintech, gaming, e-commerce, or healthtech. I’ve worked in some of those industries. But real estate is different.

In real estate, you can’t fake it.

Tech has to perform, or you’re out. You don’t get to A/B test your way through a $4M transaction. You either help someone buy, sell, or build, or you don’t.

And that’s exactly why I believe this space matters.

Real estate is where physical and financial infrastructure meet, and the stakes are high. If you can build trust and tooling there, you’re not just enabling transactions. You’re enabling generational access and ownership. That’s a platform worth scaling.

I was once asked on a proptech podcast how I define proptech. My answer was simple:

Proptech is how we structure the world for future generations. It’s not just software. It’s the infrastructure layer for opportunity. Neighborhoods. Ownership. Value creation. Mobility.

That long-term lens is what we bring to VAUNT.

Yes, we use AI. But we also talk to our users weekly. We obsess over feedback. And we build with our customers, not just for them.

We’ve seen time and time again:

The companies that survive aren’t just the ones with the best tech, they’re the ones with communities behind them.

Not followers. Not impressions. But actual people who care.

People who:

• Stick around when the UI isn’t perfect

• Refer friends and projects

• Give you hard feedback because they want you to succeed

• Advocate for you when you’re not in the room

That kind of support is impossible to fake and extremely hard to replace. It also dramatically lowers CAC, increases retention, and improves lifetime value.

So here’s a checkpoint I often share with early-stage founders:

• Who are your first 10 real users?

• Why do they care?

• If you shut down tomorrow, would they notice, and why? - my most favorite question

If you can’t answer those clearly, you don’t have traction. You have noise.

At VAUNT, some of our best users are the ones who challenge us. Who push back. Who help us iterate. That’s community. That’s what makes a product better, and more importantly, defensible.

I know building community takes time. It’s not flashy. But it’s the only thing I’ve seen that compounds with consistency.

We talk a lot about product-market fit. But more often than not, the unlock is actually product-community fit.

Because in a world where technology is easily replicated, community is the one thing you can’t copy-paste.

So yes, I could’ve built in many verticals. I’ve had exposure to multiple markets, multiple business models. But I chose to build tech in real estate. Not because it’s simple. Not because it scales overnight. But because it’s foundational. Because it forces us to build with integrity. Because no matter how far tech evolves, someone still has to live there. Walk those halls. Make a home.

And I believe that’s worth building for.

If you’re thinking about long-term infrastructure plays or how to back technology that stays rooted in real-world outcomes, I’m always open to a conversation.

Just reply back or shoot me a DM on Socials. I do end up reading everything.

Special thanks to Razvan Mitre, Oana Modorcea for reading drafts of this.

A few words about me

I’m Irina Constantin—entrepreneur, educator, and avid reader with over a decade of experience in the tech industry. I’m the CEO and co-founder of VAUNT, a bootstrapped, profitable pro-tech startup transforming how residential developers sell properties worldwide.

I started my entrepreneurial journey at 21, founding a software development agency focused on B2B and B2C products. Today, I’m building VAUNT into the operating system of the residential industry. In 2024, over 73 developers actively use our platform to manage more than $1 billion worth of properties.

I’m passionate about leveraging technology to solve real estate challenges and committed to building solutions that create lasting impact. My work has earned me recognition, including being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2022.

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