In the ever-evolving startup landscape, speed is a core function of innovation. Imagine having a brilliant idea, a vision, and an unyielding drive to transform it into reality. It's an exhilarating journey, but there comes a pivotal moment: the development of your Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
The MVP is the first tangible manifestation of your idea, the bridge between idea and reality. This is where the magic happens, and it's also where the challenges intensify. As a startup founder, you understand the race against time, competition, and the ever-present need to secure vital funding. This is where low-code development platforms step onto the stage.
During our recent webinar: Fast-Track Your MVP: Leveraging Low-Code Platforms we explored the power of low-code platforms and how they can turbocharge the timeline for a startup's Minimum Viable Product (MVP).Our panel featured four individuals with diverse backgrounds in the product development arena: Niven Poleman, Founder and CEO of WorkWeek; Gary Willmott, Product Manager at Stealth Startup; Taylor Savage, Product Lead at Retool; and Nicholas Bowman, CEO of riivo.io. The event was moderated by Callum Parton, the Delivery Manager of the low-code development team, Codelight at Delta Accelerate.
In this article, we'll explore some of our favourite takeaways from the hour-long panel discussion.
1. Empowering non-developers with low-code
It's a no-brainer and a common selling point for low-code platforms, and for good reason. In the race to bring your business vision to life and in front of investors, low-code platforms empower individuals, especially those less technically savvy, to create impressive applications with minimal manual coding. This makes the development process significantly faster and more accessible.
"Low code accelerates software development, bridging the gap between business requirements and development." - Gary Willmott
2. The unmatched benefit of speed
Speed is an ultimate ally for early-stage ventures. The faster you can build, the sooner you can launch, and the quicker you can test your venture idea and secure crucial funding. Niven Poleman, Founder and CEO of WorkWeek, emphasised that low code is a secret weapon in the arsenal for speed and one that startup teams would be remiss to ignore.
WorkWeek’s rapid growth in the SMME market can be attributed in part to their decision to build the venture’s MVP on Retool. Read more about WorkWeek’s story and success here.
Niven Poleman pointed out, "Speedy development is crucial for early market validation. Low code can significantly cut down development time.."
3. Various low-code platforms to choose from
Nicholas Bowman, CEO of riivo.io, a company specialising in low-code software development, pointed out that the low-code world is like a toolbox full of various tools designed for different tasks. Your job is to pick the right tool that matches your project's specific needs. This toolbox approach helps you create scalable, budget-friendly, and quickly implementable solutions.
"Different low-code platforms suit different applications. Research and choose a platform that aligns with your project's requirements. Low code tools offer flexibility for a range of project types." - Nicholas Bowman
4. Low code is the perfect match for Agile development
Taylor explained how low code helps you pivot, shift, and adapt swiftly in response to the ever-changing startup landscape. Its flexibility enables continuous feedback and quick adjustments, essential for agile development.
"Agile development thrives on adaptability. Low code accelerates agile development cycles. Continuous feedback and quick adjustments are key." - Taylor Savage
5. Low code can sidestep budget and development barriers
Budget constraints and technical obstacles are standard challenges most founders will face. Niven highlighted how low code acts as a smart approach, streamlining the process and making the most of your limited resources. With the right low-code platform, startups can address technical challenges efficiently and cost-effectively.
"Budget constraints are common in startups. Low code helps you make the most of limited resources. Address technical challenges with the right low-code platform." - Niven Poleman
6. Low code supports customer-centricity
With years at GoDaddy, Hi-5, and other notable ventures, Gary was primely positioned to share this truth: your startup's ultimate goal is to satisfy your customers. Low code lets you concentrate on enhancing the customer experience rather than getting lost in the intricacies of coding. After all, your customers care about the quality of your product, not how it's built.
"Customer satisfaction is paramount. Low code allows you to concentrate on solving customer problems. A customer-centric approach aligns with the ethos of low-code development." - Gary Willmott
7. Low code for scalability and future-proofing
Scalability becomes a key concern as a startup expands. While the common conception is that low-code becomes limiting down the track, these platforms have become increasingly advanced, incorporating traditional software development methodologies that support scalability while remaining true to their low-code functionality. This is placed on turbocharge if you can incorporate traditional development practices into your project, such as adopting responsive design principles for better scalability.
"Startups need to prepare for future growth. Low code is not just for MVPs; it can handle scalable applications too. Incorporate traditional development practices into your low-code projects." - Taylor Savage
8. Low code adapts alongside your startup
Your startup's journey is like an ever-evolving story. There's no set "end," but an ongoing process of learning and adaptation. Gary emphasised that low code empowers you to be the storyteller, allowing you to shape your startup according to your users' evolving needs.
Gary Willmott further pointed out, “There is no end. Customers are always going to be wanting more, and it's up to you to decide what makes sense in an agile way.”
Conclusion
As we wrap up this article, we see that the future of low code and no code is as bright as ever. Integration of AI, expanding feature sets in low-code platforms, and a positive impact on developer experiences pave the way for streamlined development and automation. This future emphasises the virtues of speed, flexibility, and adaptability.
These are just a few of the valuable insights shared by our panel. If you’d like to learn more about how to leverage low-code platforms within your MVP build, watch the full recording here.
About Delta Accelerate
Delta Accelerate is the venture services arm of The Delta, a leading venture ecosystem with over 150+ venture builders. We’re passionate about helping ventures move fast and confidently, and low-code is one of the many tools in our arsenal to make that happen.
If you’d like to learn more about how we support founders kickstart, grow, and scale their ventures from pre-seed to Series A+, get in touch today. Whether you're looking to accelerate your MVP development with low code or need guidance in other aspects of your startup journey, our team is here to assist you.
