Startups & Rapid Prototypes

We work with a wide range of clients, from startups to corporate clients to non-profits. For seed-funded web application startups, we recommend rapid prototyping for important advantages it has over traditional web development.

What is a Rapid Prototype?

A rapid prototype is a version of your website with core functionality and a finished front end that allows you to have a functioning early adopter platform. Once you have a user base, you will be able to let those users shape your site’s future development.

Startups can acquire users early with rapid prototyping, and this has two main benefits:

   • Users can participate in the development of your site, thus reducing your investment risk by building a site that users will be more likely to enjoy and use.

   • If your funding structure has a payment milestone for user acquisition, this will arrive sooner, again, before you’ve bet the farm on a feature set that may or may not be a user magnet.

We work with a wide range of clients, from startups to corporate clients to non-profits. For seed-funded web application startups, we recommend rapid prototyping for important advantages it has over traditional web development.

What is a Rapid Prototype?

A rapid prototype is a version of your website with core functionality and a finished front end that allows you to have a functioning early adopter platform. Once you have a user base, you will be able to let those users shape your site’s future development.

Startups can acquire users early with rapid prototyping, and this has three main benefits:

   • You have a massive waste reduction in time, money and code left on the floor.

   • Users can participate in the development of your site, thus reducing your investment risk by building a site that users will be more likely to enjoy and use.

   • If your funding structure has a payment milestone for user acquisition, this will arrive sooner, again, before you’ve bet the farm on a feature set that may or may not be a user magnet.

Unleash the Energy of Early Adopters

Having a small group of early adopters allows you to identify evangelists early and build them the tools to spread the word about your startup. You can:

   • Perform A / B testing;

   • Get valuable input and suggestions from “real” users;

   • Take the guesswork out of prioritizing future feature development.

Creating Customers and Community

Early adopters are a special breed who are juiced by being part of an internet startup, are very generous and forgiving of mistakes, and love to engage with the growing of the site. These visionary customers will guide your feature development until you’re profitable.

As they see their input acknowledged and realized, they are likely to take pride in ownership, as well as crow about your site to anyone who will listen. Within the day to day of building a site, it’s extremely helpful to have users early to connect with, even if it’s just to remind you why you’re going to all this trouble. They’re guaranteed to surprise you and make you smile.

We have found time and time again that early adopters are fundamentally different from the casual users who come across your site after it has launched and matured. These users are delighted that you ask their opinion and feel rewarded for being part of something new. Perhaps because they feel this is a privilege, they are generous with their opinions and helpful to you and each other. They’re special, your new tribe.

Doing a good job of nurturing the community at this crucial stage will bring lasting rewards. Treat them with kindness and extra special customer care. Nurture them, feed them and get to know them. Step up and guide this new culture. The beginnings will inform the tone of the site for as long as it’s around.

Development Costs

In the end, the cost of a finished site built using rapid prototyping is frequently the same as a site developed by traditional processes, but with several key differences:

   • The end product is likely to be better because you will have users involved in site development decisions.

   • It’s also possible to use the rapid prototype as a proof of concept. This prevents wasted effort, time and money on a final product that is not going to fly with users or investors.

Rapid prototyping will sometimes mean leaving out features that you’ve fallen in love with in favor of getting at the core of your project and getting it perfect. It’s not a process for the faint of heart or the undisciplined, but the rewards for using this kind of process are many.