The decision between building or buying an API proxy is influenced by a company's stage and needs, with each stage presenting unique challenges and considerations. In the early stage, startups often grapple with limited resources, making the decision to build an API proxy a learning opportunity, though buying a solution could be more efficient to quickly prove concepts and achieve product-market fit. During accelerated growth, the focus shifts to scalability, reliability, and security, often necessitating a blend of purchased solutions and internal tools, ensuring the API proxy doesn't hinder business deals. For established companies, consolidating API consumption into a single, reliable proxy bought from mature companies can optimize costs, improve security, and foster innovation by allowing teams to focus on core business rather than infrastructure maintenance. Regardless of the phase, the decision-making process should factor in cost, flexibility, community support, and the ability to seamlessly integrate with existing systems, with Lunar.dev offering a streamlined solution tailored to managing third-party API interactions across all stages.