Having an app built as a startup? Do not forget these things

You have a fantastic idea for an app and cannot wait to have it built. But be careful. Many startups come unstuck here. We have seen far too many startups have an expensive app built, only to be disappointed by the results. Want to avoid that? Then take these steps first:

1. Validate your idea without an app first

Having an app built is not cheap. Even a simple app will quickly cost you €10,000. It would be a shame to spend that money for nothing. So try to find out first whether people are actually waiting for your app. How do you do that? A few ideas:

• Build a simple landing page, explain the concept of the app and ask people to sign up for a waiting list.
• Make a video demonstrating how the app would work.
• Use tools such as Figma or Adobe XD to build an interactive mockup.

Or better still: see whether you can build a working version of your idea, but far simpler and cheaper. Use Whatsapp or Excel to set up your process, for instance.

Do you notice that people are not enthusiastic? Then there is a good chance your app will not be a success either. An app is not a magic wand. If you do not have product-market fit, or if your business model does not add up, an app is not going to fix that. Time for an adjusted or completely new idea, then.

Are they enthusiastic? Then by all means move on to point 2.

2. Work out which technology suits you

Do you have a validated idea and a rough sense of what the app has to be able to do? Then you can start looking at which technology fits best. Are you going for low-code or for traditional development? With low-code your app is largely assembled from standard building blocks; with traditional development your application is built using programming languages. Both methods have their own pros and cons, and a combination is possible too.

What is best for you depends entirely on your requirements and wishes. On how many users the app will get, for example, what security requirements it has and what the revenue model will be. Get properly informed about this by a supplier that is not tied to one method. That way you avoid getting biased advice. We wrote an extensive article about this subject earlier.

3. Consider whether you need a mobile app at all

Perhaps you do not need a mobile app (an app you install) at all and can manage perfectly well with a web app (an app you use in the browser). A mobile app sounds attractive, but it is not always the best option for a startup. A mobile app requires extra development, maintenance and marketing. It also has to be hosted in app stores, which brings extra costs and work with it. A well-designed web app is often a perfectly good solution. They are far cheaper and easier to maintain.

4. Think carefully about hiring developers

Do you take developers on yourself, or do you leave the development of your app to an external supplier? An important choice to make.

An in-house developer is cheaper initially, but comes with drawbacks too:

• You become dependent on one person.
• Is there less to do for a while? You still pay a monthly salary.
• If someone is ill or on holiday, nothing happens.
• You tie yourself to one person for a long time.

Outsourcing is sometimes more expensive, but it has advantages too:

• You have access to a whole team of people, with different skills.
• Does a developer drop out? Then another developer takes over.
• You can scale the hours up and down more easily.

You can also start by outsourcing and build up your own in-house team step by step in the meantime. What matters most is that you think carefully about what best suits your situation.

5. Have a POC or MVP built

Many startups make the mistake of wanting to work all of their ideas into the app straight away. That leads to complex, expensive projects that are hard to manage. On top of that, you have no idea yet what your application will deliver. You should already have validated your idea cheaply and easily (see point 1), but that does not tell you everything. People reacting enthusiastically does not mean they will pay for your app.

So start with a Proof of Concept (POC) or a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) instead. Only add the functionality that is genuinely needed and keep it simple. That way you can generate your first income with a minimal investment and prove that your idea works.

Later, once your app catches on and the first income comes in, you can always extend it with extra functionality.

6. Allow for further development and maintenance

Hooray, your app is live! But watch out: this is not the moment to sit back contentedly.

Once the app is live, new requirements are guaranteed to come up. You get feedback from users, the market changes, or you spot ways to make processes even more efficient. So take into account from the start that you will be developing your app further.

Your app also needs maintenance. The code of your app stays the same, but everything around it changes. Operating systems are updated, cybercriminals develop new ways to attack your app and laws and regulations change. To prevent digital problems, your app has to be monitored and updated continuously. You have to set aside budget for that too.

In this article you can read more about the phase after go-live.

7. Do not forget to arrange your support

Does your app suddenly become a runaway success? Wonderful, of course, but it can also ask quite a lot of your organisation. Because the more users you have, the more questions you get. Prepare yourself for that. By writing help articles and setting up good support processes, for instance. We have seen some clients get seriously stuck because they did not have this in order.

Take a look at this page for more information about Maintenance & support at JAM-IT.

We have helped plenty of startups already. Fancy a chat?

Do you have an idea for an app and would you like to talk through the points above? Then do get in touch. We will be glad to help.