This piece was co-written with David Meiborg.

We created this deep dive as part of a research process with a very experienced tech executive who wants to build a venture in the “AI will fix tech debt”-space. He is still looking for team members for his new venture — reach out if you are interested!

Defining technical debt

Technical debt, as defined by Gartner, is the accumulated work “owed” to an IT system due to shortcuts and sacrifices made during software development. These compromises are often necessary to meet delivery deadlines but can lead to deviations from the software’s nonfunctional requirements, eventually impacting performance, scalability, and resilience.

Gartner also highlights that legacy applications, though based on outdated technologies, are often critical to day-to-day operations. When these systems fail, the consequences can be severe, posing challenges such as code complexity, high development costs, and the risk of security vulnerabilities, which can paralyze even the most innovative companies.

Technical debt can be intentionally generated when leaders prioritize quick progress over optimal…