Why Startups Need Experienced iOS Mobile App Developers?

• By Mitchell Carnegie
• 16-04-2025
• Mobile App Development

When you’re building a startup business, every single decision counts. Take your mobile app, for instance. You need to decide between Android and iOS mobile app developers. While Android has a larger global market share(71.9%), iOS users tend to spend more on apps and in-app purchases. Ultimately, thiscan leadto greater revenue for your startup.

However, when developing that shiny new iOS app, don’t settle for just “any” developer. That’s right - you need an experienced iOS app developer who brings more than just Swift and Xcode to the table.

In this blog, we will break down why startups should partner with expert iOS mobile app developers. But first, let’s find out how building intuitive iOS apps can propel success for your startup.

Why iOS forStartups? A Match Made in Heaven

Attracting more than 650 million weekly active users worldwide, Apple’s App Store dominates the mobile app market. In fact, it is home to nearly 2 million mobile applications, making it a valuable market to launch your startup app.
Below are a few good reasons behind the growing demand for iOS app development among startup businesses:

• Wide Market Reach

First things first, Apple has a large user base, always curious about new technologies and updates. Startups can leverage this opportunity to build lasting business relationships with millions of Apple users worldwide.
Furthermore, these users are willing to spend on quality apps and services, helping you attract a high-value audience in return.

• Smooth Apple Ecosystem

When it comes to the Apple ecosystem, you can enjoy seamless integration between different Apple devices – whether it’s an iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad.

Your startup business can use this interconnected and diverse ecosystem by investing in reliable iOS app development services. Be sure to buildmobile apps that can function smoothly across different Apple devices.

• High Revenue Potential

iOS generates more revenue than Android apps. This is because of the willingness of its loyal users to spend more on in-app purchases and premium apps.

Consequently, thiscreates opportunities for startups looking to apply different monetization techniques to maximize earnings. A few good examples include Uber and Instagram apps that have outperformed in their niche.

• Robust Security and Monetization

Security is non-negotiable for any mobile user. And iOS is world-renowned for its military-grade security measures, including strict app review processes and data encryptions.

In fact, the App Store saved $7+ billion in potentially fraudulent transactions in the last four years. Thus, startups can offer a reliablesolution to interact with their brand, building trust over time.

• Easy Access to Advanced Technologies

Lastly, iOS devices are well-integrated with cutting-edge technologies. Whether you want to incorporate AR features into your app or leverage ML algorithms for personalized recommendations, iOS is a creative and innovative playground for startups.

By building a feature-rich iOS mobile application, you can harness these advanced technologies andcreate interactive mobile experiences for aloyalglobal user base.

Why Hire Professional iOS Mobile App Developers? The Startup Angle

While the App Store is a fruitful place to launch your startup app, partnering with an experienced iOS app developer is not an option; it’sa must! The main advantages of iOS mobile app development services include:

1. Strategic Product Thinking

Experienced iOS developers do more than write code. They help shape your software product. They are well-versed in Apple’s ecosystem, including its design principles and development trends. Furthermore, they are also familiar with frameworks like Core Data and UIKit of Objective-C and Swift, helping you:

• Understand what features matter at the MVP stage.
• Avoid feature bloat and guide toward user-centric functionality.
• Provide input on app architecture and help you scale faster later.

“A great developer isn’t just a coder—they’re a product thinker.” — Ryan Singer, former Head of Strategy at Basecamp

2. Faster Time-to-Market

While new developers might unknowingly introduce bugs that haunt your iOS app for months, senior iOS developers know Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines insideout. This eventually reduces the time-to-market and lets your startup gain a competitive edge in the market by:

• Following clean mobile app architecture patterns (MVC, MVVM, VIPER).
• Reducing time spent on debugging or rewriting code while saving thousands in burn rate.
• Accelerating revenue creation and return on investment (ROI).

3. Cost-Effective Development

Theinitial cost might appear high, but a dedicated iOS app developer can speed up time-to-market by streamlining the development process. For instance, fixing bugs post-launch can cost 5x more than preventing them. This is where professional iOS app development servicescan help avoid post-launch bugs and costs by:

• Relying onprogrammatic UI for easier scalability.
• Incorporating instruments to optimizeperformance.
• Implementing secure key management to avoid post-launch bugs.

4. Security and Privacy

66% of consumers would not trust a business following a data or security breach. So, if your iOS app is handling user data, security is not optional. Know how to work with Keychain, Secure Enclave, and biometrics (Face ID, Touch ID). Ensure compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and Apple’s privacy mandates. Your iOS mobile app developers should be skilled in:

• Biometric authenticationto prevent unauthorized access.
• SSL Pinning to stop hackers from intercepting data.
• Data encryption so that user data stays protected.

5. Agile Development Approach

Adaptability and agility are key for startups. Agile approaches are embraced by a committed development team, allowing for quick feedback loops, rapid iterations, and the flexibility tochange course in response to user and market feedback. This guarantees that your app is secure, functional, and current in the constantly changing mobile market.

• Break down development into manageable sprints for faster iteration.
• Enable real-time feedback loops so you can pivot based on user input.
• Enhance transparency, so you’ll always know what’s being worked on.
• Prioritize a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) mindset.

What to look for in an Experienced iOS Mobile App Developer?

When hiring an iOS app developer, startups should look out for a few important things to ensure they get the best professional for the task. The major skills to look out for include:

1) Technical Skills

Naturally, the abilities ofyour iOS developers need to be the first thing to think about. Inquire specifically about the technology they are experienced with and how they would respond to specific project-related difficulties.

For example, the developer should have a strong command of Swift (and SwiftUI). Swift is Apple’s official programming language. Here, a deep understanding of Swift syntax, generics, and closures matters a lot. Comfort with legacy Objective-C is a bonus, especially for older codebases.

Some additional technical skills to look out for include:

• Knowledge of iOS frameworks: Frameworks like UIKit, Core Data, and CloudKit.
• Xcode and debugging: Advanced debugging (LLDB, instruments for memory leaks).
• Performance optimization: Reduce app size and improve battery efficiency.
• Architecture patterns: MVVM (Modern best practice) or VIPER (for complex apps).
• Backend and API Integration:REST/GraphQL APIs (with Alamofire or URLSession).

2) Proven Domain Expertise

When selecting a developer, look at their past domain expertise in creating apps similar to your domain.Examine their portfolio closely and inquire about any recent work that was especially pertinent. This gives you some idea of how capable they are of handling challenging projects.

Below is a cheat sheet of questions to identify a strong iOS developer:

• Show me a similar app you’ve built - what was your role?
• How do you structure your iOS projects and why?
• How do you optimize mobile app performance?
• Have you ever had an app rejected by Apple?
• What’s the most challenging feature you’ve built?

3) UI/UX Design Experience

A skilled iPhone app developer should be aware of the nuances of the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of mobile. This means designing the visual appearance, layout, and interactive elements of an iOS mobile application. Developers with UI/UX design experience can build intuitive and immersive app interfaces that resonate with users.

Keep these points inmind when hiring iOS mobile app developers for yourstartup:

• Model-view-controller:MVC defines how the information is being stored, presented, and updated in response to the latest user interactions.
• Delegate pattern:It is used for passing information among objects in a framework or from one location to another location.

4) Problem-Solving Abilities

Great developers aren’t just builders, but problem solvers. So, give them a problem and see how they think. They need to be able to troubleshoot issues and find effective app development solutions. An experienced iOS app developer should have a keen eye for detail to ensure the app works perfectly on different iOS devices.

What else to look for?

• How they troubleshoot issues or approach challenges
• Are they proactive and passionate about thoughtful solutions
• Know how they follow WWDC updates and experiment with Swift features

5) Clear Communication for Collaboration

Effective communication aligns your developer’s technical expertise with your business goals. It ensures that everyone involved in the project is on the same page – whether it’s a designer, developer, or QA engineer.

78% of business leaders suggest that too many meetings, too much peer feedback, and unclear decision-making processes hinder cross-functional collaboration. Thus, your iOS developershould be able to mediate effectively across different teams. They should be good at understanding your business requirements better and addressing challenges quickly.

5 Common Mistakes Startups Make When Hiring iOS Developers

Ready to hire perfect-fit iOS developers for your startup project? Wait, there are some common mistakesmany startups make. Below are the top pitfalls youshould be aware of (and how you can avoid them):

1. Not Recognizing Your Requirements

There are times when startups make costly decisionswhen developing iOS apps. This is because they often failtodefine their project requirements clearly. Without enough clarity on the project goal, you may not be able toidentifythe right skill gap for your teams, miscalculating the project scope and duration.

So, avoid such a situation. Identify your competitors, their attributes, demographics, and pain points. Have a clear discussion with your designer about how you want your iOS app to look. This will help you better understand the exact needs of your iOS development project.

2. Falling forCheaper iOS App Development Services

Never (ever) get caught in the trap of lower development prices for hiring iOS developers. It may sound like a pocket-friendly option, but you will realize this mistake when you receive anapp solution loaded with glitches. It can also lead to higher maintenance costs.

Instead of hunting for the cheapest option, hire skilled iOS developers. Considertheir talent and potential to create the right application for your business.Remember, a slightly higher investment in hiring skilled developers for startups can save headaches later.

3. Underestimating the Power of AppTesting

It’s true that 56% of users uninstall apps within 7 days of installation. This simply means that businesses are at a high risk of customer churn. Thus, you need to ensure seamless iOS app performance to retain users.

Here, testing plays a pivotal role innullifying bugs and other performance issues before launch. Hire app developers skilled in iOS testing nuances, so that your application works optimally across all Apple devices.

4. Unawareness of Different Hiring Models

If you think that you only have the option to hire full-time in-house professionals, you are wrong! There are plenty of hiring model options available to choose from, empowering every startup owner to access the right tech talent as per their needs. These models include:

• Staff Augmentation: Hire iPhone app developers on a project-by-project basis by outsourcing top-tier experts from an IT staff augmentation agency.
• In-House Hiring: This hiring model refers to getting full-time professionals on board and paying for their in-office expenses, training, salaries, and benefits.
• Freelancers:It involves engaging independent contractors (freelancers) for specific projects or tasks, rather than traditional full-time employment.

5. Skipping IT Background Research and Verification

Startups looking to hire experienced iOS app developers often fail to research and verify their IT background. This could result in potential losses like wasted development time and efforts, misaligned vision, and escalating technical debt.

To avoid this, conduct thorough research on potential candidates and evaluate their expertise for the current requirement. Consider outsourcing these candidates from a credible IT staff augmentation agency with a proven track record of delivering quality iOS app development services.

Bottom Line: Don’t Gamble with Your iOS App’s Future!

With the continuing advancements in mobile app development, the demand for iOS mobile app developers is set to rise among startups. By partnering with the right iPhone developer, you’re investing in a strong foundation for the long-term success of your app. Remember, your mobile app is the gateway to your business, so make it count. Happy iOS app development!