This document summarizes a presentation on lean startup principles for mobile app development. It discusses how most apps get low download numbers and user engagement. It emphasizes building Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and prototypes to test assumptions through user experiments and feedback, rather than fully developing apps without validation. Specific tips include using paper mockups and photos to quickly prototype apps; gathering blind user feedback; testing in different countries before major launches; and focusing on loops that drive user invite, content creation, and purchases. The document encourages questions and provides contact details.

1. Lean Startup - Mobile App
Development
Arvi Krishnaswamy
@twitortat
arvi@alumni.iastate.edu

2. Presented At
Lean Startup Machine, Bangalore on May 31, 2014

3. Hello
Hands-on Entrepreneur and Tech Executive.
Now: Building fun, engaging apps at Levitum.
Past: Multiple startups. One Valley IPO. One exit.
Polyglot. Android + iOS + Python.
Program Chair, Droidcon India (2011-13).
Built apps with > 2 million downloads, 4+ ratings.

5. Not all Flappy Endings
The average app expends 9-12 man months of effort. #fact
The average app gets < 1000 downloads. #fact
~22% of downloaded apps are opened just once. #fact

6. Seriously, WTF?

7. We keep building apps
that nobody wants

8. We keep building apps
that nobody wants to
solve problems that no
one has

12. A Prototype is an
Experiment that helps
Validate Assumptions

19. What makes a prototype
effective? 0

20. If it answers the right
question

25. How do you prototype
experience?

26. The POP app.
Use pen and paper to quickly sketch mockups
Use the POP app to take snaps of the sketches
Stitch the snaps together with a navigational heirarchy.
Share your demo with users for feedback.

33. How would you build an
Ola Cabs app MVP?

34. Do Things
That
Don't Scale
Yes, you read that right. Counter intuitive?

35. Accrue technical debt, and assess
the importance as a hypothesis
requiring validation.

36. Choosing a Platform
iOS has more early adopters
iOS has a paying community.
Android has no review process
Android has smoother alpha/beta distribution
mechanics.
iOS users expect a better user experience.
Android apps require testing on more devices.

37. Get Out Of The Building!
Blind test users using your app.
Get their permission to screen record their interactions.
Review it with them, and probe to understand their
thought process.
If you have competitors, have the users blind test your
app and theirs.

40. Important Anti-Patterns
Consider launching your experiments under different code
names on the app store.
Once the experiment is over, direct those users to your
new MVP with a new code name.
Users of the new MVP will not see the old app and its
ratings.
This greatly derisks your 'big bang' app launch.

41. Launch in a different
country
Another possible idea - launch your app in a
representative country
(Australia, for instance) before publishing it in the U.S.

43. Test These Loops
These are critical user actions that make you successful
What makes the user invite others
What makes the user create new content (or post
reviews/comments)
What makes the user buy things

46. Ask Me Anything
arvi@alumni.iastate.edu
Follow me
@twitortat
www.arg0s.in