Common Mistakes With Vibe Coded Websites

Schaad says purple gradients, scroll-triggered fades, and decorative hover effects have become common on startup sites. A pattern can look good on its own but feel generic when many companies use it. He and the host review submitted YC company websites to discuss what works and what distracts.

On newnew.ai, Schaad finds a line that follows the visitor distracting, while the animated cards help explain multiplayer gaming. He recommends hover effects that make controls feel clickable, and warns against hiding important features behind hover because mobile users may not discover them. On Rosebud AI, a playable game engages visitors, but unclear navigation makes its purpose harder to understand.

The Get Crocs review flags scroll hijacking, a moving button, blurry imagery, and inconsistent visual styles as distractions. For Sphinx, Schaad questions extra text styles and shifting controls that muddy the page’s hierarchy. He says the Sphinx headline clearly explains the product and audience, even though its animated section draws attention away from the content.

The Build Zero and Zarna reviews identify familiar gradients, generic layouts, confusing interactions, and weak messaging. Schaad says AI tools free founders to focus on what they are building, for whom, and why it matters, but people still need to edit and QA the result. He recommends starting with the intended brand and palette, then using AI to express them.

Schaad says founders should use AI to bring original ideas and useful interactions to the web without outsourcing their judgment. The host adds that founders need to test interactions and ensure the site represents the company distinctively. Both frame a startup landing page as a way to acquire customers.