Top Software Development Companies for Startups

After assessing hundreds of agencies based on their history, services, awards and recognitions, pricing, and customer reviews, we have compiled this list of top software development companies. Read on to learn more about their specific software development services for startups and case studies that can help you find an ideal partner.

The Number 1 Node.js Development Company as Selected by DesignRush Is...

1. Vention

• Best for: Overall
• Average hourly rate: $50
• Minimum budget: $25,000-$50,000
• Founded: 2002
• Size: 1,000 and up
• Location: New York City, NY
• Notable clients: Coca-Cola, Paypal, Slice, GrubHub, Bevi

Vention has decades-long expertise providing IT services for startups of various stages and industries. It offers cost-efficient CTO-as-a-Service (CaaS), minimum viable product (MVP) and custom software development, and advisory and consulting services that have saved clients an average of $600,000 annually. The agency also offers flexible partnership models, ranging from staff augmentation to project-based deliveries, that accommodate diverse project requirements and budgets.

Success Story

• Challenge: New York-based startup Slice tapped Vention to help develop its pizza delivery app. Despite increasing customer demand, the company faced stiff competition from more established players like Domino’s and Pizza Hut and needed to improve its technology and customer experience.
• Solution: Vention set up a team of 15 developers, including highly experienced iOS, Android, Ruby, and Python specialists. The team worked closely with Slice’s in-house developers to build mobile platforms for both internal and customer use.
• Results: The apps helped Slice expand its network to 19,000 restaurants and save more than $250 million in delivery costs. This partly led to the company raising $40 million in investment funding.

Check Vention Agency Profile

2. Computools

• Best for: Product research and validation
• Average hourly rate: $40
• Minimum budget: $25,000-$50,000
• Founded: 2013
• Size: 250-499
• Location: New York City, NY
• Notable clients: VISA, Epson, IBM, Dior, Yrgent, Kencharts

Computools offers various software development services that help startups quickly bring high-quality digital products to the market. From concept ideation and MVP development to software testing and scaling, the agency aims to turn clients' ideas into successful products. It also offers in-depth market research and analytics to ensure the final product meets the desired level of market fit.

Success Story

• Challenge: Kencharts, a financial exchange startup, partnered with Computools to develop the Android version of its equity monitoring iOS app. The Android version also needed to incorporate the features of the existing app and improve libraries to ensure long-term scalability.
• Solution: After a thorough review, Computools recommended adopting a CaaS model to streamline the app roadmap. It implemented the React Native framework and MPAndroidChart library to facilitate code reuse and allow the integration of various charts and graphical displays.
• Results: Computools’ CaaS and tech stack recommendations led to significant improvements, including a 54% increase in user throughput and a 67% increase in overall productivity. The app enabled Kencharts to expand its user base to the Android platform and potentially bring in fresh sources of revenue.

Check Computools Agency Profile

3. Glorium Technologies

• Best for: Healthcare app development
• Average hourly rate: $50
• Minimum budget: $25,000-$50,000
• Founded: 2010
• Size: 250-499
• Location: Princeton, NJ
• Notable clients: TurtleHealth, Softhread, BodyO, Exponential Health, Astarte Medical

Glorium Technologies provides custom-made cutting-edge software solutions for startups and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Its core services include software design and development, growth strategy development, and consulting. The agency also has 14 years of experience developing digital healthcare solutions like telehealth apps and electronic medical record (EMR) systems that are 100% compliant with HIPAA, HL7/FHIR, GDPR, and other industry regulations.

Success Story

• Challenge: Health and wellness startup BodyO partnered with Glorium Technologies to develop several healthcare apps that check users' key health indicators and identify conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. The apps needed to integrate high-level security measures and comply with HIPAA guidelines.
• Solution: The startup software development company focused on in-depth health analysis as a core feature of the apps, using user data to provide an overview of their overall health. It also included a feature that connects users with health professionals and integrates with wearable devices.
• Results: The Glorium team built the BodyO platform with a visually appealing and user-friendly interface that made it easy for users to understand body health metrics. The solution can also monitor heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital health parameters.

Check Glorium Technologies Agency Profile

4. DashDevs

• Best for: Fintech software development
• Average hourly rate: $80
• Minimum budget: $10,000-$25,000
• Founded: 2011
• Size: 100-249
• Location: Wilmington, DE
• Notable clients: PI1, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, NatWest, Veriff, Rakbank

DashDevs is a full-service software development company specializing in custom solutions for fintech businesses. With 13+ years of development experience, it offers startups a wide range of services, including web, mobile, and backend development, white label solutions, UI/UX design, quality assurance, and MVP solutions that launch in less than a month. The startup software development company has extensive expertise building specialized fintech solutions such as e-wallets and neo-banking apps.

Success Story

• Challenge: Banking services startup PI1 tasked DashDevs with creating a white-label banking platform within 9 months. In addition to the severely restricted project timeline, the software development company for startups had to meet several complex regulatory requirements and integrate 30+ vendors into the system.
• Solution: Based on the client’s requirements, DashDevs built a cloud-based BaaS platform based on Kotlin and the React framework. This enabled the platform to support multiple banking solutions and advanced built-in analytics. Customers could review their lifecycle data from more than 30 data sources.
• Results: Once completed, DashDev’s banking platform brought in an estimated £100,000 monthly active users and over £2 million in monthly cash flow volume. The app's success was instrumental in helping PI1 raise a total of £20 million in additional funding from investors.

Check DashDevs Agency Profile

5. Finoit

• Best for: Sales-as-a-service (SaaS) application development
• Average hourly rate: $25
• Minimum budget: Inquire
• Founded: 2009
• Size: 100-249
• Location: Irving, TX
• Notable clients: Budgyt, Ambivista LLC, Remotii, Sirved, Smart Card Marketing Systems

Finoit is a software development company for startups specializing in building and scaling digital products that drive scalable growth for companies from over a dozen industries. It has built 100+ innovative startup products that have saved millions in development costs and helped emerging businesses raise over $75 million in funding. The agency is also an expert in building and managing custom SaaS platforms optimized for efficiency and seamless user experience.

Success Story

• Challenge: Budgyt hired Finoit to develop its cloud-based SaaS platform for chief financial officers (CFOs). The client already had a non-functional prototype, and it was up to the agency to rebuild it according to the project’s requirements.
• Solution: Finoit restructured the Budgyt app from the ground up to ensure its stability. It implemented and tested key features that align with the user base’s needs, such as centralized document storage, secure gateway, and multi-user access.
• Results: Finoit’s efforts resulted in a robust platform for streamlining complex budgeting processes. The app has also been a popular choice for restaurant and retail market chains.

Check Finoit Agency Profile

6. You Are Launched

• Best for: App monetization services
• Average hourly rate: $40
• Minimum budget: $10,000-$25,000
• Founded: 2016
• Size: Under 49
• Location: Limassol, Cyprus
• Notable clients: FoodFuels, Ecorial, YogiBirth, Arkuri, Toolsy

You Are Launched specializes in end-to-end software development services for startups. It offers various service packages, including prototype and MVP app development, UI/UX design, and publishing. It also provides consulting services on app monetization to help clients identify and implement effective app monetization structures.

Success Story

• Challenge: YogiBirth, an online yoga studio, partnered with You Are Launched to create a custom yoga app for pregnant women. Unable to accommodate its growing number of customers, the client needed a digital platform to host yoga and meditation classes and provide educational resources.
• Solution: Software developers for startups worked closely with YogiBirth to develop an MVP app, including determining the project’s scope, finalizing the design and features, and planning the launch strategy. The agency also integrated a subscription-based monetization system for the app to generate long-term revenue.
• Results: YogiBirth was successfully launched on the Apple AppStore after a substantial development process. It was later followed by an iPad and Android version and continues to be supported by the agency.

Check You Are Launched Agency Profile

7. Inoxoft

• Best for: Development staff augmentation services
• Average hourly rate: $35
• Minimum budget: $50,000 and up
• Founded: 2014
• Size: 100-249
• Location: Lviv, Ukraine
• Notable clients: Toshiba, Nivea, Vestel, UC San Diego, APA Insurance

Inoxoft delivers cutting-edge software solutions custom-made for startups in healthcare, fintech, education, logistics, real estate, and other industries. It specializes in helping startups with zero experience in software development turn their vision into a productive business solution. It also offers team extension services that help internal teams create, optimize, and deliver ongoing development projects more efficiently.

Success Story

• Challenge: A UK-based HR provider teamed up with Inoxoft to develop a comprehensive HR management platform for the construction industry. The agency had to create a web and mobile application for HR managers to oversee workers and other personnel at construction sites more efficiently and reduce their dependence on third-party recruitment agencies.
• Solution: Inoxoft designed the web portal and mobile app to make it easy for workers and managers to track their time on-site and submit timesheets. The software could also provide access to gates, barriers, and turnstiles for faster check-in/check-out processes at construction sites.
• Results: All the project’s objectives were successfully achieved, resulting in a multifunctional app ecosystem that greatly improved operational efficiency on construction sites. The client also praised the access control features in the mobile app, which further enhanced security on site.

Check Inoxoft Agency Profile

8. Sigma Software

• Best for: Turnkey application development
• Average hourly rate: $40
• Minimum budget: $1,000-$10,000
• Founded: 2002
• Size: 1,000 and up
• Location: Lviv, Ukraine
• Notable clients: SAS, Siemens, AOL, Formpipe, Ridesum

Sigma Software offers turnkey web, mobile, cloud, and IoT software development for startups, focusing on efficiency and scalability. With over two decades of software development experience, Sigma’s dedicated teams can deliver high-quality and fully functioning MVPs to startups at minimum cost in terms of time and resources. The agency also offers application migration, support, and maintenance services to ensure the app’s long-term growth and adaptability to evolving markets.

Success Story

• Challenge: Horsetech startup Ridesum assigned Sigma Software to develop a mobile rider training app. The app would enable equestrians to access training sessions and connect with professional coaches through livestreaming.
• Solution: Sigma worked with Ridesum to develop the product idea into a feasible scope and identify the best architecture for its product. It built a prototype that included all the critical UI/UX elements and integrations and tested it to ensure stable performance. The agency also partnered with a major live video streaming provider to reduce streaming costs and speed up development times.
• Results: Sigma released an MVP version within 6 months of the project's start. The app quickly found its market fit and connected thousands of beginners and Olympic-level riders to over 900 experts worldwide.

Check Sigma Software Agency Profile

9. Softkraft

• Best for: MVP software development
• Average hourly rate: $49
• Minimum budget: $1,000 - $10,000
• Founded: 2015
• Size: Under 49
• Location: Bielsko-Biala, Poland
• Notable clients: Trike, Kloopify, Stratify Solutions, Nuetopia, TMC Group

Softkraft provides bespoke software design, development, and consulting services for startups, focusing on faster time to market. Its specialty is rapid MVP development, with functional applications ready in just a few weeks. Softkraft also offers product launch and support services to help streamline testing and deployment cycles.

Success Story

• Challenge: Softkraft was tapped by Trike to create a mobile MVP of its learning experience portal for convenience stores. The app had to incorporate the platform's core functions and include a robust SaaS backend.
• Solution: After an exhaustive brainstorming and QA session, Softkraft rolled out an iOS and Android app with learning paths navigation and fulfillment, progress reporting, and deployment and publishing functionality. It also built a back-office management platform and a content management system to make it easier for users to access learning tracks and other relevant content.
• Results: The MVP learning app was successfully launched on the Google Play and Apple App Store and has since acquired its first customers. The client also praised Softkraft’s efforts in ensuring the app meets all of the key deliverables and can adapt to changes in project requirements.

Check Softkraft Agency Profile

10. Emphasoft

• Best for: Pre-seed and Series A startup software development
• Average hourly rate: $150
• Minimum budget: $1,000-$10,000
• Founded: 2016
• Size: 100-249
• Location: Riga, Latvia
• Notable clients: Constrafor, Tensomark, Park Place, Spaced, Recomposer

Emphasoft specializes in helping pre-seed and Series A startups launch their digital products to grow their businesses and secure new investments. It utilizes the latest technologies to create user-friendly web and mobile applications for fintech, real estate, healthcare, entertainment, and other industries. It also offers bespoke mentorship services to help startups establish robust development teams.

Success Story

• Challenge: Fintech startup Contrafor hired Emphasoft to manage the development of its procurement platform for construction companies. After an unsatisfactory experience with a previous contractor, the client looked for a steady but flexible development partner to help it secure its next round of funding.
• Solution: Emphasoft divided the project into two stages to increase efficiency. In the first stage, a custom software development company for startups built several platform prototypes with varying degrees of functionality. This was followed by rounds of refinement based on user requests and feedback to ensure the platform’s core functions effectively addressed users' needs.
• Results: Emphasoft successfully launched the client’s MVP with various modules and functionalities per the project’s key objectives. The app was later credited for helping Contrafor secure its funding round.

Check Emphasoft Agency Profile

How We Picked the Startup Software Development Companies

We compiled the list of software development companies for startups based on several factors, including client portfolios, areas of expertise, industry reputation, and leadership capabilities. We also assessed client reviews to determine the developer’s ability to adapt to evolving project requirements, their attention to detail, and how they manage projects of varying complexities.

The criteria that our agency experts used to evaluate agency performance include:

• Client feedback: Testimonials of previous clients on their partnership with the agency
• Portfolio: Experience and technical capability in delivering software solutions
• Awards and certifications: The competency and contributions of the agency to the general software development community
• Team bios: Individual credentials of team members that highlight their experience, skillset, and unique specializations
• Startup software development expertise: Expertise in various programming languages, frameworks, and libraries, as well as knowledge of the startup app ecosystem

To learn more, visit our DesignRush Agency Ranking Methodology page, which explains how we review and rank agencies in detail.

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