How To Raise Funds For Your Startup App

07 Jul 2017
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Execution is everything

Mobile apps are the newest trend in startups. There are so many startup entrepreneurs who think they have the most original mobile app idea yet. They just wish they could raise funds to pursue its development. But a majority of them have no idea of how to get investors for an app to raise funds. As well they forget the fact that the end users have no knowledge of their startup app idea. They just care about the final product, iOS or Android mobile application, and how it will benefit them.

Recommended Reading: “What to do if your idea is ahead of time”

Some factors will prevent mobile app startups from ever reaching their full potential. For instance, if you have just a mere app idea, you will never get funding from investors. There is a lot of work that goes into turning a great idea into something that will be a popular product. You need to build a mobile application that is worth paying for.

Being a startup entrepreneur in the field of mobile apps is both exciting and risky. There is no set formula for how to be successful in this field of business as a startup. Nevertheless, there are some great strategies which can increase your chances of raising funds for your startup app idea

Situations that occur with startup mobile apps.

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Investors are given ideas and not experiments.

If you only have an idea for your mobile application and you have not created any prototypes, there is very little you can predict at this point. Investors receive thousands of working models from startup entrepreneurs. If you are only approaching investors with ideas, they don’t care. They want to see what that app idea looks like in real life. So it’s good to create MVP app that you can show investors or at least some prototype. It will raise your chances of getting funds for your app 10 times minimum

Competition

It is always possible that some variation of your mobile app idea has already been developed by another person or company. It may have a few differences or developed for the different platform. But nothing that will make your app stand out separately. You must have unique interactive features in your app to make it look different than all the other apps out there.

The Pitch is Everything

When you approach an investor about your idea to raise funds for your mobile application, the amount of time that you will normally have available to pitch it will be between 15 and 20 minutes. You need to manage your time wisely during the pitch and be able to encourage investors within the given timeframe. And again, if you have an MVP app that you can show during the pitch your chances of getting funding for your app raise really high.

Recommended Reading: “What is Minimum Viable Product and how to build it right”

Understand the Basics of Investing

Now that you are a startup entrepreneur, you should learn the investment terminology. This will make you look like a smart startup owner. Otherwise, you will not seem too impressive to investors. Not a good strategy if you want to raise funds.

A Co-founder is Necessary

If you get a co-founder, they will share the burden of the startup app costs and risks with you. They may even be technically gifted which means they can handle more of the technical aspects of the mobile app business. For example communication with mobile development agency.

Be Nice When You Say “No”

“No” is a word that will be heard a lot as you try to raise funds for your startup mobile app. Either the investor will say “no” if they don’t like your app idea or you will say “no” if you don’t like their offer or terms. Regardless of who says the word “no,” it should always be said in a polite and comfortable manner. The disagreements usually have to do with money, such as when you get it, how much you get, and where you get it.

Have an Attack Plan Ready

You need to have a vision for the mobile app and then execute that vision by building an MVP app. This model will show all the problems of the app which you have to improve. You also need to have an app monetization model and understand the mobile app market opportunity, growth rate, trend, and competition.

Recommended Reading: “Secrets behind the most successful app launches”

Use Resources to Find an Investment Source

It can be difficult to get investors for an app. But there are certain resources available to help you with this. You may not become as rich and successful as other tech entrepreneurs like Mark Zuckerberg or Jeff Weiner, but you can still make your app successful too with some hard work and determination.

Ways to raise funds for your startup mobile app.

Angel Funding. Despite the importance of developing an idea into a prototype, angel investors are willing to invest money into mobile apps which only have an idea for a product. If they like the idea, you will get funding to develop the idea into a mobile application. This is a harder type of funding to get. You would need a truly great idea for your startup app to have success here.

Bootstrapping. When it comes to bootstrapping in order to raise funds for your startup app idea, it means you are using other sources of money from investments, job income, other business ventures, and savings.

Saving. You might have a certain amount of money saved right now, but you should aim to save 50% more of your total savings. This will help you make enhances to your mobile app or release an upgraded version of it.

App Contests. Business incubators like to run app contests. The prizes of these contests usually offer funding for a contestant’s app idea. If you can provide a good presentation about your startup app idea and then show off your skills, then you have good chances to get funding for your app

Your Own Social Network. You can request a loan from friends, family members, colleagues, coworkers, and/or partners. Have a business plan ready to show them. This way they can see what you’re planning to do with the mobile app.

Loans. If you have complete confidence in your startup mobile app, then there is no risk that you are taking. But when it comes to satisfying potential lenders, you need a high-quality business plan ready which you can show them. This plan must outline the revenue projects, market research, mission statement, app monetization model and so on. If you can prove that your business mobile app will create a positive change, then it will be easier to get approved for a small business loan by a bank.

Credit Cards. Finally, credit cards are an emergency source of funding your startup app if you really need them. This can become quite expensive with all the interest charges, but it is an easy and fast way to get your mobile app startup started. As you improve on it and develop prototypes, you can raise funds for startup app from other sources to complete the app.

Now Just Tweak the App

If you have made it to this point, you have a scalable app that is well funded. Do not lose focus on your objective, though. You need to build an MVP app and allow it to gain traction. Then you can get additional funding to turn that Minimum Viable Product into the app of your dreams.

Feedback

When you have users test your MVP app, ask them to give you feedback on the experience of using it. This is how you will be able to improve on the app until it is just the way you want it to be.

If you want to create an MVP app that will have high chances to attract investors contact us!

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Oksana Kovalchuk
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Got Questions? 

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answers:
What is a UX audit and why is it important for SaaS businesses?

A UX audit is a comprehensive evaluation of a product’s user experience aimed at identifying usability issues, gaps in the user journey, and friction points in the interface. For SaaS companies, a ux audit service plays a crucial role in improving conversion rates, reducing churn, and aligning user experience with business objectives. A thorough UX audit not only uncovers where your product fails to meet user expectations, but also highlights areas where UX design can actively drive revenue. SaaS platforms that invest in regular ux audits report higher user satisfaction, improved feature adoption, and lower ux audit cost in the long run.

What does the UX audit process include?

The ux audit process typically begins with competitor analysis and user research, followed by a heuristic evaluation of the current interface. We review behavioral data, conduct usability testing, and evaluate the product’s information architecture, visual design, and interaction flow. At ANODA, our ux audit agency also includes a ui audit to assess layout consistency and clarity. The final deliverable is a detailed report with actionable insights and recommendations tailored to your product’s goals and your target audience. Every phase is designed to reveal issues that hinder user satisfaction and limit the success of your digital product.

How do I know if I need a UX audit service?

If your users struggle to complete key tasks, drop off during onboarding, or if your digital product generates more support tickets than conversions — it’s a clear sign you need a UX audit service. Common symptoms of poor user experience include low engagement, usability issues, and high bounce rates. Our user experience audit service helps pinpoint friction points in your interface and reveals how to optimize the user flow for better performance. Even minor adjustments discovered through a UX UI audit can significantly improve both user satisfaction and business outcomes.

What’s the difference between a UX audit and a usability audit?

A usability audit is often a subset of a full ux audit service, focusing mainly on whether users can accomplish tasks effectively and efficiently. A ux audit, however, is broader. It includes analysis of user behavior, competitor analysis, alignment with business objectives, and sometimes even technical performance like load times. While a usability audit might only look at task flows, a ux audit report will offer a holistic view of your product’s entire user experience, including emotional response, clarity, and visual appeal. ANODA’s ux audit service combines both perspectives into a single, comprehensive report.

How does a UX audit improve customer satisfaction and retention?

When a product aligns with how users interact, it naturally leads to greater customer retention and better user satisfaction. Through user testing, we identify friction points, optimize the user flow, and redesign confusing or overwhelming components. A user experience audit service helps reduce the cognitive load, making interfaces intuitive and predictable. By addressing key pain points, improving the user interface, and testing with real users, ANODA’s ux audit agency helps transform frustrating user journeys into a seamless user experience — which is critical to turning freemium users into paid customers.

What deliverables do I get after the UX audit is complete?

After completing the ux audit, clients receive a structured ux audit report that includes a heuristic evaluation, audit findings, user feedback analysis, heatmap interpretations, and a prioritized strategic roadmap for implementation. This comprehensive report also outlines issues in visual design, information architecture, and user flow, with recommendations supported by user research and real data. The final step is a call with our UX team to walk you through the audit insights and show you how to begin implementing improvements.

How much does a UX audit service cost?

The ux audit service cost varies depending on the size and complexity of your digital product, the number of platforms (web, mobile), and the depth of user research and testing required. While a basic ui ux audit service for a landing page or web page might start around a few thousand dollars, a full user experience audit for a large enterprise software platform with multiple roles and flows can range significantly higher. That said, the average ROI from a ux audit service is reported to be over 1700%, making it one of the most cost-effective design process investments you can make.

Why choose ANODA as your UX audit company?

ANODA is not just a ux audit company — we’re a team of full-time, product-focused experts with extensive experience in transforming SaaS platforms. Our ux design audit services go beyond generic checklists. We tailor every ux ui audit to your target audience, product stage, and growth goals. With certified compliance (GDPR, HIPAA, WCAG), deep SaaS background, and proven results in boosting customer satisfaction and business performance, we provide more than just evaluations — we deliver actionable recommendations that drive outcomes. Our ux audit agency is trusted by startups and enterprises alike.

What role does user feedback play in a UX design audit?

User feedback is central to any effective ux design audit. It reveals how real users perceive your product, where they hesitate, what they enjoy, and what they ignore. In our ux audit process, we combine user feedback with data from user behavior tracking tools, interviews, and usability testing to ensure a 360° view of your product. This leads to a thorough ux audit service that not only highlights flaws in your current user interface, but also provides valuable insights on how to enhance satisfaction, engagement, and clarity for your target audience.

How long does a UX audit take and what happens after?

A full ux audit service typically takes between 2 to 4 weeks, depending on project complexity and the number of platforms evaluated. After delivering your detailed report, we offer ongoing support and can assist your team during the redesign project to ensure that changes align with the business analysis and audit findings. Our ultimate goal is to optimize your product’s user experience while maintaining design feasibility, implementation speed, and maximum ROI. With ANODA, the audit is just the beginning of strategic, measurable ux analysis.

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