Best App Dev Agencies for Startups

Finding the right app development agency is one of the most consequential decisions a startup founder makes. Pick the wrong partner and you burn months of runway on code that doesn't work. Pick the right one and you ship a product that wins customers and attracts investors.

Here are 8 app development agencies that specialize in working with startup founders — ranked by how well they serve early-stage companies.

1. Eight Bit Studios

Location: Chicago & Dallas, USA

Best for: Non-technical founders who need a full product team — strategy, design, and development — that ships production-ready apps.

Eight Bit Studios is a product studio that builds mobile and web apps using Flutter and Ruby on Rails. Founded in 2009, the studio has shipped 100+ apps and made the Inc. 5000 list four consecutive years. Co-founder Don Bora brings 35+ years of software experience including AI research at Northwestern and senior roles at Bank of America and UBS.

What makes Eight Bit different for startup founders: they offer fractional CTO services alongside development. So you get both a technical leader who guides your strategy and a team that builds the product. They also specialize in rescuing apps built with AI coding tools (Cursor, Bolt, Lovable) that have hit a wall.

• Stack: Flutter (mobile), Ruby on Rails (backend), AWS
• Startup services: MVP development, product strategy, fractional CTO, UI/UX design
• Notable clients: Vivid Seats, Allstate, Cars.com, Field Museum, BenchPrep
• Pricing: Project-based, typically $30K-$75K for MVPs

Learn more about our MVP development services

2. Thoughtbot

Location: Boston, MA (fully remote)

Best for: Startups that want a deeply technical team with strong design thinking and a track record of shipping real products.

Thoughtbot has been building software since 2003 — one of the longest track records on this list. They're known for their Product Design Sprint methodology, open-source contributions, and a genuinely developer-centric culture. They build what they design, which means fewer handoff problems.

• Stack: Ruby on Rails, React, React Native, Elixir
• Startup services: Product design sprints, MVP development, team augmentation
• Notable clients: GitHub, Vimeo, Etsy, MoMA, Disney, DigitalOcean
• Tradeoffs: Premium pricing ($50K+ for most projects). Primarily Rails/React — not a Flutter shop.
• Pricing: $50K+ for most projects

3. Goji Labs

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Best for: Funded startups looking for an agency with a strong track record of helping clients raise money and scale.

Goji Labs has launched 400+ digital products and their clients have collectively raised over $1 billion in funding. They combine product strategy with design and development, making them a full-service partner for founders who need help from idea through launch and growth.

• Stack: React Native, Node.js, Python, Swift, Kotlin
• Startup services: Product strategy, MVP development, ongoing development
• Notable clients: Huupe (Shark Tank), Pocket ($11M raised), The Word App (Apple Top 10)
• Tradeoffs: $25K minimum engagement. LA pricing.
• Pricing: $25K+, $100-$149/hr

4. Fueled

Location: New York City (offices in London, Chicago, LA)

Best for: Consumer-facing mobile apps where polished design and brand experience are critical to success.

Fueled is one of the most recognized mobile app agencies globally, with 300+ employees and a deep portfolio of consumer products. They also run Fueled Collective, a coworking space for startups, which keeps them close to the founder ecosystem.

• Stack: Native iOS/Android, React Native, Flutter
• Startup services: Digital strategy, design, engineering, AI integration
• Notable clients: Warby Parker, The New York Times, Harvard, Mayo Clinic
• Tradeoffs: $75K minimum. Large agency — you may not always get the senior team.
• Pricing: $75K minimum, $150-$200/hr

5. Designli

Location: Greenville, South Carolina

Best for: First-time founders on tighter budgets who want a dedicated team that feels more like a co-founder than a vendor.

Designli was founded by startup founders and focuses specifically on early-stage companies. They assign full-time, dedicated teams (no freelancers) and offer a 2-week "solution lab" that's the most accessible entry point on this list. Ranked #1650 on the Inc. 5000.

• Stack: React Native, Node.js, Swift, Kotlin
• Startup services: Solution labs, MVP development, dedicated teams
• Tradeoffs: Smaller agency with less name recognition. Client portfolio skews SMB.
• Pricing: Starting at $13.8K for a solution lab

6. Savvy Apps

Location: Washington, D.C.

Best for: Startups and organizations in the D.C. area that need quality mobile app development with a focus on user experience.

Savvy Apps specializes in iOS, Android, and web application development with strong UX design capabilities. They focus on fewer, deeper client relationships rather than running dozens of projects simultaneously.

• Stack: Swift, Kotlin, React, Node.js
• Startup services: Mobile app development, UX design, product consulting
• Tradeoffs: Smaller team means limited capacity. D.C. focused.
• Pricing: Custom — contact for quote

7. Miquido

Location: Krakow, Poland

Best for: Mid-market and enterprise startups that want a Google-certified Flutter partner at European pricing.

Miquido is a Google Certified Partner with 100+ Flutter apps shipped. They combine mobile development with AI/ML services and work with both startups and large enterprises. European pricing makes them more affordable than most US agencies with comparable output.

• Stack: Flutter, Kotlin, Swift, React Native, Python (AI/ML)
• Startup services: Mobile development, AI integration, product design
• Notable clients: Warner Bros., Dolby, Skyscanner, TUI, DHL
• Tradeoffs: Enterprise pricing by European standards. May be over-scoped for seed-stage startups. Timezone offset from US.
• Pricing: Custom — European rates, lower than US equivalents

8. Lemon.io

Location: Remote (global talent marketplace)

Best for: Budget-conscious founders who need individual developers fast and can manage them independently.

Lemon.io is a talent marketplace that matches startups with vetted developers. They're not an agency — you're hiring individuals — but they handle contracts, payments, and vetting. 24-hour matching SLA makes them one of the fastest options for getting started.

• Stack: Full range — matches based on your requirements
• Startup services: Developer matching, contract management
• Tradeoffs: You're managing individual developers, not a product team. No product strategy, design, or architecture guidance included. Best if you have a technical co-founder overseeing the work.
• Pricing: Custom — developer rates vary by specialization

How to Choose the Right App Development Agency

Red Flags When Evaluating Agencies

• They say yes to everything. A good agency pushes back on features and scope. If they agree with every request, they're optimizing for billing hours, not your success.
• They can't show startup work. Enterprise projects look great in portfolios but don't prove an agency can work at startup speed and budget.
• They won't introduce you to past clients. References matter. If they dodge this request, ask why.
• The proposal is vague. "Phase 1: Discovery. Phase 2: Development. Phase 3: Launch" with no specifics is a red flag. You should know what you're getting and when.
• They don't ask about your business. An agency that jumps straight to features without understanding your market, users, and business model will build the wrong thing beautifully.

Looking for a development partner for your startup? Tell us about your project and we'll give you an honest assessment — even if we're not the best fit.