Keiboarder Develops Prototype to Secure Investment and Guide Development
Keiboarder Builds Prototype to Align Vision, Impress Investors, and Cut Dev Costs
Project Overview
A company's founder aimed to establish a network of podcast studios in Atlanta, equipped with high-end equipment for up-and-coming podcasters, with plans to expand beyond Atlanta. A development group had created an MVP using white-labeled applications, requiring clients to navigate multiple platforms. This approach resulted in a difficult user interface and sacrificed custom features. The development team struggled to understand the founder's vision, and the founder found it challenging to articulate their vision to investors. The company retained Keiboarder to determine the cost of building a custom application.
Before
- MVP built with white-labeled applications, creating a fragmented user experience.
- Difficult user interface and sacrificed custom features.
- Misalignment between the founder's vision and the development team's understanding.
- Difficulty for the founder to effectively communicate the application vision to investors.
Project Execution
The Keiboarder team, including a Fractional CTO, Project Manager, and UX/UI designer, performed the following:
- Collected all requirements for the desired application.
- Created a high-fidelity prototype of the system, including web and mobile apps with over 90 screens.
Results
- The application vision was documented and approved.
- The founder's vision was clearly communicated to the entire team.
- The prototype facilitated communication with investors.
- Engineering costs were saved by defining the project scope before development began.
Business Outcomes
- Vision Clarity: The prototype and documentation clearly defined the application's vision.
- Improved Communication: The prototype enabled effective communication of the vision to both the development team and investors.
- Cost Savings: Defining the project scope upfront through the prototype helped avoid costly rework during development.
Key Takeaways for Technology Leaders
- The Value of Prototyping: Investing in a high-fidelity prototype early in the development process can save time, money, and frustration.
- Clear Communication: A prototype facilitates clear communication of the product vision among stakeholders.
- Importance of Requirements Gathering: Thoroughly gathering and documenting requirements is essential for successful software development.
