How to Find App Developers for a Startup

Last Updated on 2024-10-11

Application development is challenging. Not only do you have to find the best technologies to create your app, but you’ll also need to find the experts who can leverage those technologies. Read on to get some tips on app development and how to find app developers for your project.  

For startups to thrive in a highly volatile industry, they have to go where the people are. And in the modern world, the marketplace is digital. Gone are the days that you can only do business in your area. The Internet has turned the world into a much smaller place, paving the way for all businesses to expand their reach. But as the opportunities grow, the competition also stiffens.

So, how do you get your startup to stand out in the sea of other businesses? Simple, you put yourself on your audience’s radar.

With everyone spending most of their waking hours browsing the Internet, you have to make your presence felt online. And you can do that by creating a progressive application for your business.

A web or mobile app will represent your brand to consumers. It will serve as a portal for them to access your services. But to convince them to use it, your business app has to provide value. You have to consider its purpose and functionality. Likewise, you need to find app developers who can help you realize your vision.

Before you start your search for the best app developers, you must first learn how app development works to get a better idea of what candidates you should be looking for.  

Startup App Development

So, what is app development?

Application development refers to the practice of creating a software solution that makes a specific task or process easier. Depending on the type of app, it would require certain tools to host and support the system. And this is called a tech stack. A tech stack is the list of technologies used in creating the app, such as frameworks, servers, language, etc.

When it comes to the actual development process, there are also several steps involved. App development consists of interface designing, programming, alpha, and beta testing, and deployment. These phases follow the Software Development Life Cycle.

Creating an app generally follows these steps:

1.    Planning – Plotting the timeline and organizing the process  

2.    Analysis – Deciding on the functionalities of the app

3.    Design – Creating the look and feel

4.    Programing – Writing code

5.    Testing – Checking the app for bugs and errors

6.    Deployment – Launching the app for public use

7.    Support – Maintenance of the app features and functionality

As you can see, software development is a collaborative and iterative project that would require various experts. To get the best results for your app, you need to consider hiring designers, QA specialists, and a project manager. But of course, these are all optional.

Creating your Business App

Now that we have an idea of how app development generally works, it’s time to narrow it down to what project you plan to take on. Which platform should you adopt for your digital service, mobile app, or the web?

People use their devices for a lot of reasons. Some browse websites while others use messaging apps. And depending on who you’re targeting, you’ll need to create an app that ensures their utility. Additionally, you need to consider if you have the resources to create and support the said app once it’s deployed.  

To help you weigh in your choices, let’s break down the difference between mobile vs web applications.

App Development: Mobile vs Web

Mobile applications are built for a specific platform, either iOS or Android. These types of applications are downloaded through the app store and they run on the device itself. Think of the most popular apps such as Instagram and Facebook Messenger; these are apps that you have to install on your phones.   

On the other hand, web applications are accessed through a browser and their display will adapt to whatever device you’re using. These are the types that you won’t need to download and you can view them on all sorts of screens. Their responsive nature allows them to function similarly to mobile apps.

Although it’s ideal for businesses to be available on both web and mobile, it isn’t necessary to have both. It would largely depend on where your target market spends the most time. For example, if you’re targeting adults in their early to late 20s, they’re mostly on their phones.

How are these apps built?

Mobile app development is platform-specific; hence it needs a language and an Integrated Development Environments (IDE) that can run on its intended operating system. The most common languages used for mobile apps are Objective-C and Java. 

Keep in mind that when you’re creating a mobile app for every platform, it usually means starting from scratch in terms of design and development. Hence, it can be time-consuming if you launch it across multiple platforms.  

In hindsight, web app development follows a more straightforward approach. App developers have access to frameworks that makes the entire process easier and faster. They tend to build web apps using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML.

One last thing to note about creating these apps is that the skills required for mobile and web are different. A mobile developer has to be familiar with certain frameworks and libraries for their mobile system while web developers have more flexible skills.     

How to Find App Developers

Once you’ve determined the type of app you want to create, you can then start your search for the experts to create them.

1. Freelance websites

The advantage of hiring freelancers is that you get to negotiate a deal for your project. Web sites like Toptal and Hired are popular choices for hiring freelancers. Sites like these will filter the most qualified candidates and save you a lot of time looking.  

2. Tech sites

Tech blogs such as Wired, The Verge, and TechCrunch are great platforms when you’re looking to hire an app developer. They’ll typically have articles about app development and a community that can lead you to find tech talent.

3. Recruitment agencies

Doing the whole recruitment process can be exhausting. You can leave it to HR agencies to pick out qualified candidates instead. They can scour your local areas and provide you with a list of talent to contact.

Looking for developers in the US, in general, is challenging. The more specific the skills you’re looking for, the less likely you’ll find qualified candidates. Given that there’s already a talent shortage in IT, you’ll have an even smaller selection pool. 

Consider looking into other options like hiring remote programmers or outsourcing software development. These alternatives not only give you access to a larger talent pool, but they’re also cost-efficient.

Hire from Full Scale

Whether you’re looking for mobile or web developers, the whole recruitment process can be too time-consuming. As a startup, it’s better to invest more time into developing your core competencies. You can leave the recruitment to tech experts who can find you better candidates.

Full Scale is a software development company that can help you build your software team. We have top-notch tech that can help you design and develop your application. From developers, project managers, and QA specialists; we have all the top talent ready for deployment. We specialize in helping startups scale their system.

Ready to get started? Get your FREE Consultation today!