Slack Vs Hipchat: Communication Isn’t Just about Tools

“It’s a poor carpenter that blames their tools.” It may be a cliche, but that doesn’t make it any less true, for carpenters and iPad app developers alike. Most app development companies (and many non-tech companies) made the switch to Slack, Hipchat, and other chat-based workplace communication tools over the past year. As users move […]

How Much Equity Should Early Startup Team Members Get?

In a particularly emotional segment of the popular podcast Startup by Alex Blumberg, two co-founders discuss how much equity each party “deserves” based on their skills and contribution to the company — and the huge disparity in what each considers fair almost tears the team apart. The scene is particularly powerful because, rather than discussing […]

4 Ways to Guarantee Your Startup Doesn’t Get Funded

Venture capital firms, angel investors, and iPhone app development companies all have one big factor in common: they hear dozens of new startup ideas every single day. The mobile industry is only growing in 2016, and with that growth comes a rush of smart young technologists and entrepreneurs with big dreams. More often than not, […]

How to Turn Your Beta Users into Brand Evangelists

It helps to have user data when developing a high-quality mobile app, and one of the best ways to get that data is by launching a beta version to a small, understanding group of initial users. Whether the beta users are friends, associates, or simply interested consumers, beta launches provide iPhone app developers the perfect […]

Stop Calling Them Bots: The Micro-app Revolution Is Coming

“Bots. UI-free apps. SMS services.” Technologists are calling them something new every week. Here’s the bottom line for mobile app developers: the revolution will not be televised — but it might send you a timely, helpful chat message. This isn’t a bad thing for Chicago iPhone app developers. It will, however, require development companies to […]

Why Experience Is the Least Important Trait for Tech Teams

Building a team is no easy feat, especially for a scrappy startup with short industry traction and limited funding. Even at big companies like Facebook, hiring takes up an enormous part of leadership’s time. The reason for this is simple: startups are an emotional rollercoaster for early team members, so it’s critical that they are […]

Material Design Levels the Field for Android App Developers

When most mobile app developers think of cutting-edge design, we think of one brand: Apple. For years, the company’s iconic flat UI has been the touchstone for great interface design. Thanks to Google’s heavy involvement with the Android operating system, however, that association may see a challenge over the next few years. Android Lollipop has […]

How the Psychology of First Impressions Defines Startups

Making an app is, in many ways, like preparing a good meal — long hours of preparation for something consumed in the blink of an eye. Mobile app developers and UI designers labor endlessly on the home screens and initial on-boarding experience because the data shows that users judge whether or not to abandon an […]

3 Growth Hacking Tips to Grow Your Mobile App Startup

Growth hacking has quickly become a popular buzzword in the startup community. Unfortunately, it’s not necessarily become popular for all the right reasons. Before we get into our tips, let’s dispel the biggest myth many mobile app developers have about growth hacking: the idea that it’s “easy.” When an iPhone app developer hears the word […]

Surprising Startup Lessons from Con Artists & Salespeople

No matter how altruistic your startup’s goal, the only feature that ultimately matters for iPhone app developers is this: persuasion. Startup companies solve a lot of problems, but users have good reason to be resistant. “Another button on my phone?” “Another notification stream to worry about?” iPhone app developers struggle every day to overcome the […]