Choose by workflow
Startups should choose tools by jobs-to-be-done: writing, coding, research, support, sales, design, automation, document review, or reporting.
Keep the stack small
A practical starting stack might include one general assistant, one research tool, one automation tool, one coding assistant, and one approved creative workflow. Vendor documentation is the fastest way to confirm what each tool actually supports before committing.
Source notes: OpenAI platform documentation, Anthropic Claude documentation
Avoid shelfware
A tool is only useful when it becomes part of a weekly workflow. Assign an owner and a measurable use case before buying seats.
Check security before scale
Know what data goes into each tool, how retention works, whether admin controls exist, and whether sensitive client data needs a local, redacted, or sandboxed workflow. The Australian Cyber Security Centre publishes practical baselines for small business security.
Source notes: Australian Cyber Security Centre
Review the stack monthly
Tool pricing, features, and policies change. Keep what is being used, remove what is idle, and document the workflows that are actually saving time.