So you want to develop an app for your startup.
Are you ready?
Building a successful app as a startup requires careful planning, the right development approach, and a skilled team.
In this guide, we’ll explore essential app development types, the key stages in the development process, and common pitfalls to avoid, helping you bring your startup idea to life with confidence and clarity.
What is app development for startups?
App development for startups is the process of transforming a startup idea into a functional, user-centered app that addresses specific market needs. Unlike traditional app development, development for startups typically focuses on agility, rapid testing, and lean design to achieve product-market fit quickly. For new business ideas, app development enables startups to test concepts, gather feedback, and adapt the product as they learn more about their users.
A critical part of this process is selecting the right tech stack—the combination of programming languages, frameworks, and tools that best support the app’s functionality and future growth. For instance, many startups choose flexible frameworks like Laravel for web app development or React Native for cross-platform capabilities. The right tech stack can help streamline the development process, optimize costs, and ensure scalability as the app evolves.
Ultimately, app development for startups isn’t just about building an app; it’s about validating a business idea, refining it through user insights, and preparing it for scaling. This approach enables startups to maximize their resources, stay adaptable, and bring innovative solutions to the market effectively.
5 app development types to consider
These are the five main types of app development.
1. Native app development
Native app development involves building apps specifically for a single platform—either iOS or Android—using platform-specific programming languages (Swift for iOS, Kotlin or Java for Android). Native apps are known for their high performance, smooth user experience, and full access to device features.
Pros of this app type:
High performance and speed
Access to all device-specific features (camera, GPS, etc.)
Better app store optimization and discoverability
Enhanced user experience and smooth interactions
Cons of this app type:
Higher development cost and time
Separate codebases required for each platform
Longer time-to-market for both iOS and Android versions
This app is a good fit for:
Gaming companies
E-commerce businesses
Financial and banking sectors
Healthcare and telemedicine providers
Media and entertainment platforms
2. Cross-platform app development
Cross-platform app development focuses on creating a single app that can operate on multiple platforms, like iOS and Android, with shared codebases. Frameworks such as React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin allow developers to write code once, achieving a native-like experience across various operating systems.
Pros of this app type:
Faster development compared to native apps
Easier and more cost-effective maintenance
Greater reach with a single codebase covering multiple platforms
Cons of this app type:
Limited access to platform-specific features
Performance may fall short of native apps, particularly for complex interactions
Potential for inconsistencies in user interface across platforms
This app is a good fit for:
Startups targeting a broad audience
Social networking platforms
Educational tools and e-learning companies
Retail and e-commerce businesses
Small to medium-sized service providers
3. Hybrid app development
Hybrid app development combines elements of both native and web technologies. Using frameworks like Ionic and Apache Cordova, hybrid apps are built with web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and wrapped in a native shell to run on multiple platforms.
Pros of this app type:
Faster development process than full native apps
Unified codebase for multiple platforms
Web developers can adapt quickly, lowering overall development costs
Cons of this app type:
Slower performance compared to native apps
Limited user experience customization for each platform
Heavier reliance on plugins for accessing native device features
Compatibility issues with newer OS versions and platform-specific updates
This app is a good fit for:
Content-focused businesses (news, blogs)
Retail and e-commerce platforms
Small to medium-sized enterprises
On-demand service providers (food delivery, ride-sharing)
Travel and tourism companies
4. Progressive web app (PWA) development
PWA development combines web technology with mobile-friendly functionality, creating apps accessible via browsers but with features similar to native apps. PWAs provide offline access, push notifications, and the option to "install" them on the device's home screen without using an app store.
Pros of this app type:
Accessible on any device with a browser, regardless of platform
Fast and efficient, even on lower-end devices
Lower development costs than native apps
No need for app store approval, simplifying deployment and updates
Cons of this app type:
Limited access to native device features (e.g., Bluetooth, contacts)
May not fully meet app store performance and functionality expectations
Browser dependence can affect app consistency across platforms
This app is a good fit for:
Content publishers (news, blogs)
E-commerce platforms
Companies prioritizing quick updates and deployments
Businesses targeting a broad audience without app store requirements
5. Web app development
Web app development focuses on building applications that are accessed and run entirely through a web browser. Unlike PWAs, traditional web apps typically lack offline functionality and mobile app-like features, making them ideal for applications where mobile-specific features aren't a priority.
For backend support in web app development, startups often use frameworks like Laravel. Known for its scalability, intuitive syntax, and extensive features, Laravel enables teams to build secure, robust web applications quickly. Its rich ecosystem includes tools for authentication, database management, and testing, making it ideal for startups aiming to streamline development and focus on growth.
Pros of this app type:
Accessible across all devices with a browser, offering broad reach
Simplified deployment, as updates are instant and don’t require user downloads
Lower maintenance costs due to a single, unified codebase
Easier integration with other web services and APIs
Cons of this app type:
Limited offline access and mobile functionality
Inconsistent user experience across different browsers
Limited access to native device features (e.g., camera, GPS, notifications)
This app is a good fit for:
SaaS (software as a service) platforms
Productivity and project management tools
Internal business applications
Informational websites and portals
The startup app development process
Building a successful app requires more than just coding; it’s a strategic journey that ensures the app aligns with user needs and business goals. For startups, this process is especially critical, as it helps minimize risk and focus resources effectively.
Here are the five key phases of the app development process.
1. Discovery and market validation
In this stage, the goal is to define the app’s purpose, confirm its target audience, and validate its market potential. This involves research, hypothesis testing, and user feedback to ensure the app idea is viable before investing heavily in development. Activities in this stage include:
Define the problem and solution: Identify the core problem your app will solve and outline a clear, compelling solution.
Conduct competitor analysis: Research similar apps to understand their strengths, weaknesses, and market positioning.
Identify target audience and user personas: Profile the ideal users, understanding their needs, preferences, and pain points.
Validate with surveys and interviews: Gather real user feedback to refine the idea and validate demand.
Refine value proposition: Develop a concise value statement that differentiates your app in the market.
Objectives of this stage:
Confirm market demand and reduce risk
Identify initial user needs and expectations
Establish a foundation for strategic planning and feature prioritization
2. Strategic planning and roadmap creation
With a validated idea, the next step is to create a clear development roadmap and prioritize essential features. This planning phase focuses on aligning business goals with the app’s functionality, determining milestones, and allocating resources for each phase of development. Activities in this stage include:
Define core features and user stories: Translate the validated solution into a set of must-have features and user scenarios.
Develop a product roadmap: Outline major development phases, including key milestones and timelines.
Establish technical requirements: Decide on the app’s technical stack and infrastructure needs, ensuring it aligns with your growth goals.
Set budgets and allocate resources: Establish a realistic budget, and assign roles and resources based on project complexity.
Create an MVP strategy: Identify the minimum viable product (MVP) features necessary to launch, test, and iterate quickly.
Objectives of this stage:
Build a structured, achievable roadmap to guide development
Ensure alignment with business goals and user needs
Lay the groundwork for a scalable and efficient app
3. UX/UI design and clickable prototyping
The design stage is all about creating an intuitive, appealing user interface and seamless user experience. Designers start with low-fidelity layouts to establish flow and functionality, gradually refining designs into a polished prototype. This phase includes:
Sketch low-fidelity layouts: Begin with basic sketches to map out the structure and general flow of the app.
Create wireframes and app flow: Develop simple layouts for each screen, defining interactions and the user journey.
Develop high-fidelity designs: Design visually detailed screens that bring the app’s brand to life.
Build an interactive prototype: Construct a clickable prototype to simulate user interactions and gather usability feedback.
Objectives of this stage:
Refine user experience through design iterations
Ensure designs align with user needs and brand identity
Gain early feedback to validate design choices
4. Agile development and quality assurance
During this phase, the app's features are brought to life through coding, and continuous testing ensures quality and functionality. Using an agile approach, development happens in iterative cycles, allowing for regular adjustments and improvements. Activities in this stage include:
Sprint-based feature development: Build features in small, manageable sprints, prioritizing essential functionalities.
Backend and frontend integration: Develop both server-side (backend) and client-side (frontend) components, ensuring they work seamlessly together.
Automated and manual testing: Run tests throughout development to catch and resolve bugs early, using a mix of automated and manual testing approaches.
User acceptance testing (UAT): Involve a group of end-users to test the app's usability and functionality in real scenarios, gathering crucial feedback for final adjustments.
Objectives of this stage:
Deliver a functional, stable app incrementally
Identify and resolve bugs or issues early
Validate app readiness through real user testing
5. Launch, feedback, and continuous improvement
With the app complete, it’s time to launch, gather real-world feedback, and plan for ongoing enhancements. This phase involves making the app available to users, monitoring performance, and implementing feedback-driven improvements to meet evolving needs.
Prepare for app store submission: Optimize app store listings (if relevant) and ensure all requirements for submission are met.
Monitor app analytics and performance: Track user engagement, crash reports, and performance metrics to assess initial app success.
Collect and analyze user feedback: Use in-app surveys, reviews, and analytics to understand user preferences and identify areas for improvement.
Implement continuous updates: Address any issues, add requested features, and make iterative updates to enhance the app over time.
Objectives of this stage:
Successfully release a polished, user-ready app
Improve user satisfaction and engagement through responsive updates
Foster long-term app growth and adaptability
Startup app development pitfalls to avoid
As you plan to start your app development, make sure you're aware of these pitfalls to avoid.
1. Skipping early-stage market validation
For startups, one of the most common—and costly—pitfalls is jumping into development without validating product-market fit. This early-stage research is essential to confirm that there’s a real demand for the product and that it addresses genuine user pain points. Without market validation, teams risk building an app that doesn’t resonate with users. This leads to wasted resources and potential flop at launch.
Market validation involves gathering feedback directly from potential users, testing assumptions, and ensuring that the app solves a meaningful problem. Techniques like surveys, interviews, and competitor analysis help shape a strong product foundation that aligns with real user needs.
Prioritizing product-market fit from the outset greatly reduces risk, allows for a refined value proposition, and improves development decisions.
Key takeaway: Confirming market validation early helps you avoid misaligned features, pivot needs, and costly reworks later in the development process.
2. Overloading the MVP with unnecessary features
An MVP is designed to validate the app’s core idea with a lean feature set, gathering early user feedback without heavy investment.
However, many startups fall into the trap of overloading their MVP with additional features with the hopes of launching a fully equipped product. This approach can dilute the core functionality, delay development timelines, and ultimately detract from testing the app’s primary value with users.
Focusing on too many features at the MVP stage makes it harder to pinpoint what resonates with users and obscures insights into what the app truly needs. Instead, startups should prioritize the most essential features—those tied directly to the app’s unique value proposition—and save additional functionality for later iterations.
Key takeaway: A focused MVP helps you test your core concept efficiently, keeping development agile and reducing the risk of wasted resources on features that may not add value.
3. Underestimating time and budget for development
Another common pitfall for startups is underestimating the time and budget required to build, test, and launch a fully functional app. Many teams set ambitious deadlines set outside of reality. Potential delays in design, development, or testing, must be considered as well as the possible need for additional resources as the project evolves. Misjudging the scope can lead to rushed development, incomplete features, and even additional costs that strain the budget.
A realistic development plan should consider factors like feature complexity, team capacity, and the likelihood of adjustments based on user feedback. Building in time for quality assurance, unforeseen obstacles, and post-launch tweaks is also essential for a successful rollout.
Key takeaway: Planning for realistic timelines and budget needs can prevent costly overruns and ensure a smoother, more sustainable development process.
4. Failing to plan for post-launch maintenance
After an app launches, it requires ongoing support to address user feedback, fix bugs, and update features to keep pace with market changes.
To their own demise, many startups see the launch as the finish line and completely overlook the need for a dedicated post-launch plan. This results in user frustration (and abandonment) and missed opportunities for improvement.
Maintenance isn’t just about fixing problems—it’s also about ensuring the app stays relevant and responsive to user needs.
A robust post-launch strategy should include a schedule for regular updates, a system for tracking and prioritizing user feedback, and a budget for ongoing improvements.
Key takeaway: Effective post-launch planning ensures the app’s success isn’t just short-term, but an evolving product that adapts to user needs over time.
Choose the right team to help you develop your app
Hiring the right app development team is essential for transforming your startup idea into a successful product. Look for a team that goes beyond technical skills, bringing strategic insight and an agile, collaborative approach to align the app with your business goals.
Key qualities to seek include a team experienced with startups, a focus on lean, agile development, full-stack expertise, and a commitment to quality and user experience. This combination helps ensure the app can adapt quickly, scale effectively, and resonate with users.
DevSquad offers all these strengths, specializing in app development for startups. With tailored, scalable solutions, we can help you build a standout app that meets market needs and grows with your business. And, we only take on products that we can provide strategy for.
Building a startup app? Learn more about our high-performing development teams.
