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How to finance the development of a mobile application using a grant, what to look out for and what is the subject of the final review? As we have successfully implemented several mobile applications financed from subsidies and grants in the past, in the below text we will share our findings. These applications concerned various areas: sales support, brand promotion, digital content sales, IoT data collection and processing. The scope of the projects reached up to 50 thousand euro and most often the solution materialized within 6 months.
Subsidy programs
These programs are continuously announced and the current overview can be obtained on the website of experts who specialize in subsidies and grants ( https://dotace.celkom.cz/aktualni-vyzvy/ or https://www.enovation.cz/eu-dotace/). It is possible to utilize European or Czech programs. The parameters vary and offers change over time. Using the services of grant advisors will significantly increase the chances of obtaining funds while avoiding unexpected surprises.
Things to watch out for: prices including / excluding VAT.
Selected grant programs:
- Prague voucher: https://prazskyvoucher.cz
- Hradec Králové region: https://www.proinovace.cz/cs/vouchery/kreativnivouchery
- Plzeň region: https://dotace.plzensky-kraj.cz/verejnost
- South Bohemia region: https://www.kraj-jihocesky.cz/dotace-fondy-eu/programove-dotace-jihoceskeho-kraje
Prague voucher and creatives whitelisting
The Prague voucher is a subsidy program aimed at supporting small and medium-sized businesses in Prague. One of the areas that can be financed with its help is also the development of mobile applications. The offered price of 500 thousand is sufficient for the preparation of the concept, graphic design and subsequent implementation of the mobile application and server backend, including administration and database. The supplier must be selected from the so-called whitelist of creatives; without being listed it is not possible to execute the project. INITED Solutions s.r.o. can be of course found among the creatives 🙂
Define an achievable goal
Whatever project goals you write in the tender documentation, you really have to meet them. Consult the programmer about what is and is not technically possible. Example of unattainable goals:
- The application is downloaded million times
- The application shows stores in Europe on Google maps and works offline (Google maps in applications do not work offline)
- Payment for goods through in-app purchases (it is forbidden to pay for physical goods through in-app purchases)
- The betting application is published on Google Play (Google Play does not allow the publication of gambling and betting applications)
More on the rules of individual stores can be found here:
- Apple: https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/
- Google: https://play.google.com/about/developer-content-policy/ , https://developer.android.com/distribute/best-practices/launch/launch-checklist
- Huawei: https://developer.huawei.com/consumer/en/doc/30202
Do not change the assignment in the process
Our experience shows that the development of a mobile application takes an average of 3 to 4 months if the assignment is clear and does not change. This makes you feel there is enough time. It’s not! It’s the right amount. Do not put anything off unnecessarily. Every week is needed. Overcome your temptation to change assignments during projects. It is natural that if you watch the application coming to life, ideas emerge and “it’s just a little detail”. Appetite comes with eating.
What worked for us was dividing the development into several stages so that it starts with the most important things and gradually more, less substantial, less visible ones, are added. The agile approach has also proven successful, with intensive communication between programmers and the client within defined timeframes throughout the project.
Even the best methodology can save time and use it economically but it cannot add it.
Beware of synergies and dependencies
Build a project without unnecessary dependencies on anything else. So that it makes sense and works independently without dependence on another system or project. If you are submitting several grant applications, do not rely on them all being approved or being approved at the same time. If you are applying for a grant for a new website and a new mobile application, you need to design projects so that the website can work without a mobile application and a mobile application without a website.
Review
The final review is a formal act during which the correctness of the project documentation and the completeness of the submitted documents are checked. No one clicks on the application according to the test scenarios. It is checked whether the project objectives have been met. Most things are validated through screenshots, a video or web links. Numbers must be absolutely accurate.
What to prepare for:
- Insisting on nonsensical details
- Discrepancies in the grant provider’s terms and conditions
In some cases, a review takes place at the applicant’s premises. This is always announced and there is enough time for the preparation of documentation and mandatory publicity (EU logo on the door of the establishment).
Surprise
Prepare for a situation where a grant will be awarded to you with a long delay, two years are no exception. This is a very long time in a dynamic world of technology during which many changes can take place. The original supplier may no longer be available or has changed its field of activity or is no longer interested in it for the money.
Final summary
- Write an achievable assignment
- Do not put anything off unnecessarily
- Do not make changes to the project during implementation
