13 Custom App Development Service Success Stories [2024]

Updated: November 19th, 2023
Start A Custom App Development Service

Here are some real life success stories of starting a custom app development service:

1. Imaginovation ($1.2M/year)

Imaginovation has grown an average of over 40% in revenue every year since its founding in 2011. They have won several credible tech awards and have been featured in top publications. The company has a strong local presence and a focus on building SEO-optimized websites to establish an online presence. The future looks bright for Imaginovation as they continue to attract and retain customers with their client-centered approach and innovative technology solutions.

How much they make: $1.2M/year
Current team size: 35

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How I Started A $150K/Month App Agency That Works With The Fortune 500

Imaginovation, a technology and app development company in Raleigh, NC, was recently named one of the Top Technology Companies in North Carolina by Clutch and has grown an average of over 40% in revenue every year since it was founded in 2011 by co-founders Michael Georgiou and Pete Peranzo.

About
Michael started Imaginovation over 12 years ago
Revenue
Michael grew the business to $100K/month
Read by 5,114 founders

2. Jelvix ($3.6M/year)

Sasha Andrieiev, the CEO of Jelvix, came from an entrepreneurial background and saw the potential in the IT industry in Ukraine. He took a risk and launched Jelvix as a web and mobile development organization in 2011. Through careful planning, strategic positioning, and a people-centered approach, Jelvix has grown to become a global leader in software development and consulting services, working with renowned companies such as Samsung, Canon, and Louis Vuitton.

How much they make: $3.6M/year
Current team size: 250

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I Built A $3.6M/Year Software Dev Agency From Scratch [From Ukraine]

This case study is about a CEO who built Jelvix, a software development and consulting agency specializing in digital transformation, into a $3.6M/year business with clients including Samsung and Louis Vuitton.

About
Oleksandr started Jelvix almost 13 years ago
Revenue
Oleksandr grew the business to $300K/month
Read by 4,621 founders

So... can you actually make money with a custom app development service?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

3. Appscrip ($3M/year)

Rahul Sharma started Appscrip after identifying the lack of a specialized technology provider for startups in the on-demand services, social eCommerce, Fintech, and messaging platforms. With a focus on delivering cost-effective solutions in a shorter timeframe, Appscrip has grown to become a globally-acclaimed company with over 350 apps delivered per year and an in-house team of 150+ developers. Their success is evident through their numerous awards, recognitions, and contracts with renowned companies.

How much they make: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $150K
Current team size: 185

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I Earn $3M/Year Developing Clone Apps For Startups

Appscrip is a globally-acclaimed service-based app and web development company that has delivered over 350+ apps/year globally with an in-house team of 150+ developers, at an average of 45 days/app that otherwise would take almost 6-9 months to develop, generating an average monthly revenue of $2,50,000 and garnering recognition from Deloitte, Clutch, Good firms, while also encouraging women entrepreneurs.

About
RAHUL started Appscrip almost 10 years ago
Revenue
RAHUL grew the business to $250K/month
Costs
It cost RAHUL $150000 to start the business
Read by 4,666 founders

4. Appetiser ($8.4M/year)

Jamie Shostak, the co-founder of Appetiser App Development, came up with the idea for the business when he met Michael MacRae, who had apps with millions of users but was looking for a new challenge. They both shared a passion for building and growing tech products, and saw a need for speed, data-driven insights, and top-level quality in the industry. After landing two great clients, they realized the importance of setting up predictable growth systems and started reaching out to prospective companies through outbound sales tactics. They are now on track to make over $8,000,000 annually with over 200 employees worldwide.

How much they make: $8.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $0
Current team size: 175

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We Started An $8.4M/Year App Development Agency [With $0]

Appetiser App Development grew from a startup with $0 to now making over $8,000,000 annually with over 200 employees across the globe, serving clients that have billions in valuations like Pointsbet and Good Empire, by helping startups succeed with their app development needs.

About
Jamie started Appetiser over 7 years ago
Revenue
Jamie grew the business to $700K/month
Read by 3,745 founders

So... can you actually make money with a custom app development service?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

5. TRIARE ($300K/year)

Boris, the founder of TRIARE, came up with the idea for his software development company after working as a project manager for a German startup. When the company closed down, Boris decided to keep the team and build a business together. With just a $500 investment, they started providing software development services and eventually evolved into a full-cycle service provider. Through word of mouth and various marketing tools, TRIARE has attracted and retained customers, with their website receiving 22,000 unique visitors and generating dozens of leads.

How much they make: $300K/year
Current team size: 60

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Building A $500K/Year Software Development Business With A $500 Investment [Ukraine]

Ukrainian software development company TRIARE, with a current annual turnover of $500,000, shares how personal and collective responsibility, paired with patience and consistency, can help build a profitable business.

Revenue
Boris grew the business to $25K/month
Read by 4,276 founders

6. Mobapp Creator ($120K/year)

Leonardo, Germán, and Sebastian, the three co-founders of a No-code app builder solution called MobAppCreator, came up with the idea after years of working on various projects in the tech industry. They saw the potential of mobile apps after the launch of the original iPhone and noticed the similarities in their customers' requirements. They built a framework to develop no-code mobile apps and received a grant of 100K after participating in a product competition for entrepreneurs, which allowed them to dedicate all their time to the project and launch their business.

How much they make: $120K/year
How much did it cost to start: $50K
Current team size: 2

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Our No Code App Builder Makes $120K/Year

This case study features a team of three co-founders who provide a No-code app builder solution for small businesses and resellers, generating $120k per year while their running costs are only 10% of their overall COGS.

About
Sebastian started Mobapp Creator over 10 years ago
Revenue
Sebastian grew the business to $10K/month
Costs
It cost Sebastian $50000 to start the business
Read by 2,844 founders

So... can you actually make money with a custom app development service?

Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.

But how?

  1. Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
  2. Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
  3. Take action, because now you have the roadmap.

Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:

Start Now

7. Dreamonkey ($360K/year)

Federico Schianchi and his four partners started Dreamonkey after their first project, Check Your Life, failed to take off. With their expertise in web app development and industrial IoT, they shifted their focus to selling their services to enterprise-level customers, leading to a constant growth of 50% per year and revenue of $300K.

How much they make: $360K/year
How much did it cost to start: $40K
Current team size: 2

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How We Started A $360K/Year Software House [From Italy]

Italian software company Dreamonkey grew from $90k to $300k in revenue with a constant growth rate of 50% per year, thanks to their focus on high-quality web development, industrial IoT, and open-source software development for web developers.

About
Federico started Dreamonkey over 6 years ago
Revenue
Federico grew the business to $30K/month
Costs
It cost Federico $40000 to start the business
Read by 1,911 founders

8. Materialize ($1.5M/year)

Alex Nordlinger, the founder of Materialize, came up with the idea for his business while working on side projects as a software engineer. Realizing he could take on more projects by hiring a team, he decided to start Materialize, a software development studio that provides web and mobile app development services. The business has grown to 18 employees, with a revenue of $125k per month.

How much they make: $1.5M/year
How much did it cost to start: $3K
Current team size: 8

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How This Self-Taught Developer Started A $125K/Month Software Agency

How a self-taught engineer built a software development studio, Materialize, into a 18-person team with a revenue of $125k per month, by leveraging his technical expertise and establishing well-defined processes to build products efficiently and cost-effectively.

About
Alex started Materialize about 6 years ago
Revenue
Alex grew the business to $125K/month
Costs
It cost Alex $3000 to start the business
Read by 8,350 founders

9. SemiDot Infotech ($2.4M/year)

The founder of SemiDot Infotech came up with the idea for their business while working in London and realizing the issues faced by global clients in IT outsourcing. Recognizing the opportunity to provide solutions, they returned to India and established SemiDot Infotech in 2011, focusing on delivering efficient and effective IT solutions to businesses worldwide. Today, they have achieved significant success, earning over 2 million dollars annually and aiming to double their revenues in the coming years.

How much they make: $2.4M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 52

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How We Built A $2M/Year Software Agency From India

SemiDot Infotech has earned massive recognition across the world with its highly scalable, unique, and responsive web apps and mobile apps, earning over 2 million dollars annually and aiming to double revenues in the next few years.

About
Jitu started SemiDot Infotech about 13 years ago
Revenue
Jitu grew the business to $200K/month
Costs
It cost Jitu $5000 to start the business
Read by 2,676 founders