In today’s hyperconnected landscape, the idea of launching an app often floats to
the top of every startup’s to-do list. Recent statistics paint a clear picture: digital behavior across
Egypt and Gulf region is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Internet access has become
nearly universal in countries like Saudi Arabia and UAE, while Egypt has seen mobile
connections exceed its population. Most users are not only online but basically relying on their
smartphones for everything—from managing finances to shopping and accessing public
services. This digital scene often pushes startups to rush into app development.
Behind Every Successful App Is a Smarter Plan:
Before diving into development costs, UX/UI hustle, and endless updates, it’s worth taking
some time to reflect on whether an app aligns with your business strategy and adds
meaningful value to your clients’ lives. Not every business needs to go mobile but for some,
making that leap has been nothing short of a game-changer.
A standout example of this is Money Fellows, a homegrown Egyptian fintech that didn’t just
build an app. It built a bridge between a deeply rooted social practice and the digital future,
changing the way millions think about money savings and trust. Money Fellows transformed
the traditional money circles (Gam’eya) system into a mobile-powered financial service, it
unlocked access, trust, and scale that would’ve been impossible with a website alone, let alone
a physical operation. The app wasn’t just an add-on; it was the core product.
Currently, the platform boasts over 8.5 million users, many of whom had never engaged with
structured savings before. Through the app, users could track contributions in real-time and
participate in money circles beyond their immediate social network. That’s not just innovation;
that’s strategy embodied in software. However, what made this app exceptional wasn’t just
the cultural insight, it was the right execution.
In a country where trust in formal banking has been sort of inconsistent, Money Fellows has
successfully revolutionized a cultural concept; the rotating savings model Egyptians have relied
on for decades. They have managed to reach their goal quite remarkably by choosing the
optimum digital direction.
So yes, an app changed the game but only because it was planned to do exactly that.
When an App Isn’t the Answer:
Money Fellow rising-star story tempts us to believe every ambitious startup should have an
app at its center, but that belief can mislead more than it guides. Some ideas don’t live best in
your users’ pockets. Some live in workflow systems, community platforms, or accessible
websites. The true challenge isn’t building an app. It’s knowing when an app is the right
container for your value.
For instance, if your business model doesn’t require frequent customer interaction,
notifications, or mobile-native features, pushing for an app could lead to wasted resources and
poor adoption. Worse, it can become a shiny distraction from core priorities like customer
research, product-market compatibility, or infrastructure stability. Not all businesses require
apps, but every business must have good planning and clear vision.
“Digital means (smartly applied technology) in service of your business goal. App
development is not an advantage unless you have a plan”
At the core of every breakthrough is all-around business planning. It’s what separates a costly
experiment from a strategic move. Developing an app, expanding services, or going digital
must be rooted in a clear understanding of market needs, user behavior, financial capacity,
and long-term vision. Planning isn’t merely the first step; it’s the framework that holds every
step together. At Devvelopp, we believe that digital success doesn’t begin with code, it begins
with clarity.
