Ep 15: Dan Hafner: No-Code Dev, AI in App Building, and Wine Making

Dan Hafner never set out to be an entrepreneur, but his winding path through teaching aspirations, software QA, and remote work led him to create Dapper No-Code — a company that helps founders build and launch software without writing code. In this episode, we explore how Dan turned a personal fitness app idea into a full-fledged business, what most people get wrong about no-code, and how white-labeling platforms can fuel your launch.

We also talk about wine making (yes, really), podcasting, dogs, and the future of AI-powered development.

What You’ll Learn

• Why Dan pivoted from helpdesk support to founding a no-code company
• The difference between “having an idea” and building a business
• What people misunderstand about no-code tools in 2025
• Dan’s process for validating app ideas (hint: it started at Planet Fitness)
• The role of white labeling in scaling Dapper No-Code
• How Dan's "Fast Track" offering takes apps from idea to launch in 90 days
• Where AI is supercharging app creation—and where it’s falling short
• The evolution of podcasting and how Dan's show Tech Bytes became a key growth lever
• Dan’s episode with Alex Sanfilippo
• Dan’s journey into winemaking, how he does it at home, and what flavors he’s experimenting with
• The surprising impact of mentorship and what Dan teaches the next generation of no-code developers
• Big thoughts on saturation, technical debt, and what enterprise adoption of no-code could look like

Mentions & Resources

• Dapper No-Code
• Bubble
• Zapier
• PodMatch
• Dan’s episode with Alex Sanfilippo
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
• Backendless

Rapid Fire Favorites

• Favorite quote: “Done is better than perfect.”
• Most gifted book: High Performance Habits
• Favorite investment: “Continually investing in myself”
• Best thing he’s been gifted: A bartered coaching program
• Billboard message: “Your focus determines your reality.”
• Something he changed his mind on recently: The idea of contentment vs constant hustle

Fun Extras

• Dan brews wine in his basement — his latest batch? Peach.
• He has three dogs, including a golden retriever-aussie mix with blue eyes
• Shubho and Dan swap stories on podcasting, dogs, and why “apps aren’t the business”

Follow & Connect

• Dapper No-Code Website
• Dan’s LinkedIn
• Dear Tech on Instagram
• Dear Tech on LinkedIn
• Dear Tech Website