As an Associate at 500 Emerging Europe, a €70 million fund investing in startups across Central and Eastern Europe, I've witnessed firsthand the booming ecosystem for developer tools in this region. The fund's investment thesis is built on the belief that as "software eats the world," there is a huge opening for tools that empower developers to build better software more efficiently. To succeed in this space, DevTool founders must obsess over the end user, leveraging open source and gathering deep insights into developer workflows, to find a sticky core use case and cater to that segment. Effective telemetry and usage metrics are also critical, as capturing data helps gauge product-market fit rather than relying on vanity metrics like GitHub stars. Additionally, identifying and focusing on the economic buyer is crucial, as the individual user is often mistaken for the economic buyer who will bring the tool into the enterprise and developer workflows. By leveraging investor networks for growth, founders can gain insights into potential enterprise needs and validate their product's future enterprise features, ultimately positioning themselves to turn traction into an enduring, scalable business in the DevTools landscape.