Diving into Development and Overcoming Early Challenges

In the previous post , we explored our pivot to developing a SaaS solution for audits and inspections, the creation of our Proof of Concept (PoC), and securing seed funding. Now, let's delve deeper into the heart of our development phase, the roadblocks we encountered, and the significant milestones that brought us closer to launching Pulse.

Building the MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

With initial funding secured and validating feedback from early customers, the next critical step was to build our Minimum Viable Product (MVP). We wanted an MVP that didn’t just meet the immediate needs of our users but also set the stage for future scalability and adaptability.

Working Remotely: Adaptation and Collaboration

The COVID-19 pandemic had forced us to shut down our office space, and like many companies, we had to rapidly adjust to remote work. The core team, dispersed across different locations, relied heavily on digital collaboration tools. Zoom, Slack, and Trello became our virtual office, fostering continuous communication and coordination.

Going Global: Establishing a Delaware Corporation

Realizing our vision to scale globally, we established a Delaware corporation in the USA. This strategic move was complemented by setting up a subsidiary in India. The dual structure allowed us to leverage the best of both worlds—access to global markets and the rich pool of technical talent in India.

Embracing New Technologies

Our previous platform was built using Java technologies, but we saw an opportunity to innovate and opted to learn new technologies to build Pulse from scratch. We decided on a tech stack that included Python Django for the backend, AngularJS for the frontend, and PostgreSQL for our database. This modern stack ensured enhanced performance, scalability, and a more streamlined development process.

Leveraging Cloud Credibility

We were fortunate to receive credits from AWS, Microsoft, and Google, thanks to our earlier association with Blume Ventures. Blume Ventures had invested in our previous company and continued to support us through their Blume Founders Fund, which provides small checks to back their entrepreneurs. These credits were immensely valuable, allowing us to utilize robust cloud services without a significant impact on our budget.

Iterative Development: Rapid Prototyping and Feedback

One of our core principles during development was to maintain a close feedback loop with our customers. We adopted an iterative approach, learning quickly and continuously improving. Weekly sprints and regular prototype reviews ensured that we were always aligned with user needs.

Within a matter of weeks, we had a more developed version of our product. Features were added, refined, or sometimes even removed based on real-world user feedback. This agility was crucial in helping us meet the specific requirements highlighted during our PoC phase.

Security First: Achieving SOC 2 Certification

Understanding the critical importance of data security and compliance, we prioritized achieving SOC 2 certification early in our development process. This certification not only assured our customers of our commitment to data security but also set a robust foundation for trust and credibility in the market.

Key Milestones

1. MVP Completion: Our MVP featured key functionalities that addressed the core needs of audits and inspections, including real-time data access, streamlined processes, and an intuitive user interface.

2. Successful Pilot Programs: We rolled out the MVP to a select group of early adopters. Their positive feedback and the success of these pilot programs further validated our approach and motivated us to push harder.

3. Team Expansion: With additional seed funding, we expanded our team, bringing in additional developers and industry experts to accelerate our progress and enhance our product offerings.

4. SOC 2 Certification: Achieving this early-stage certification was a significant milestone, underscoring our commitment to data security and regulatory compliance.

In this part of our series, we've covered our transition to remote work, the establishment of our global corporate structure, our new tech stack choices, and our iterative development process leading to the MVP completion. In the next article, we'll dive into our go-to-market strategies, the challenges we faced during the initial launch, and how we navigated the initial customer acquisition phase.        

Stay tuned for Part 3 of our journey. Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing more of our story with you!