How we help SaaS start-ups build, grow, and transition to in-house development teams
At 10 Degrees, we’ve had the privilege of working with numerous SaaS start-ups, helping them evolve from idea to fully-fledged platforms with their own in-house development teams. It’s an exciting journey full of growth, learning, and sometimes challenges, but we’ve been there to guide our clients through each stage. One of our standout success stories is Psychology Tools, who grew their revenue by a factor of ten over four years with our support before transitioning to their own in-house development team.
The start-up journey: From idea to scale
Every SaaS start-up begins with an idea. But an idea needs a solid platform to thrive and grow. Building a robust digital platform, whether it’s a web app, a website, or both, takes more than just good coding. It requires strategic thinking, architecture that can scale, and deep experience in choosing the right tech stack.
For start-ups, partnering with a development agency like 10 Degrees can make all the difference in this early phase. Our team helps lay the groundwork by building a scalable, user-friendly platform that supports your growth ambitions, while ensuring it’s flexible enough to adapt to future needs.
We worked closely with Psychology Tools, for example, to build their platform using WordPress and Laravel. These technologies were chosen specifically for their ability to provide a custom yet scalable solution that fit their needs in the mental health space, allowing them to focus on what mattered most – delivering value to their customers.
Common pitfalls start-ups face and how agencies help overcome them
Start-ups often face several hurdles on the path to growth. The key challenges include:
1. Lack of technical expertise
Founders and early-stage teams often have a strong vision for their product but may lack the technical know-how to bring it to life. An agency bridges that gap, bringing immediate access to a pool of experts with experience in everything from user experience (UX) design to back-end development.
2. Scaling issues
A common mistake is building a platform that works well for a hundred users but starts breaking down when you reach thousands more. By choosing scalable frameworks and best practices, 10 Degrees ensures that your platform grows with you, avoiding the costly refactors that can slow you down later.
3. Budget and resource constraints
Start-ups need to allocate resources efficiently. Building an in-house team too early can be both expensive and time-consuming. Working with an agency allows you to tap into a full team of experienced developers, designers, and project managers without the overhead of hiring internally right away.
4. Maintaining focus
Start-ups need to stay focused on business strategy and customer needs. Dealing with technical issues can become a distraction. 10 Degrees takes on the responsibility of ensuring your platform is running smoothly, freeing you up to concentrate on growth.
Growing your platform with 10 Degrees
As your start-up evolves, so does your platform. Our approach at 10 Degrees is not just to build and hand over a product, but to work as your partner. As your business grows, so do your requirements. You may need new features, improved performance, or even a complete re-architecture. We are there to support you through these phases, ensuring your platform continues to deliver as your user base expands.
For Psychology Tools, we didn’t just build the platform and walk away. We worked alongside them for several years, adding new features, improving scalability, and refining the user experience as their business grew.
Transitioning to your own development team
Eventually, as your SaaS business matures, you’ll want to bring development in-house to gain full control over your platform. This is a critical milestone in your company’s journey, but it’s also one that requires careful planning. Rushing into this transition can lead to setbacks, including knowledge gaps and slower development speeds.
At 10 Degrees, we’ve helped several clients successfully make this shift. In the case of Psychology Tools, we were actively involved in transitioning our work to their in-house team. This included:
1. Knowledge transfer
Ensuring their team understood the architecture and nuances of the platform we built, including hands-on training sessions.
2. Documentation
Providing detailed technical documentation and operational guidelines to make the handover smooth.
3. Support during transition
Offering ongoing support during the first months of the in-house team’s work to ensure a seamless handoff and help troubleshoot any issues that arose.
A partnership that grows with you
For SaaS start-ups, partnering with a development agency like 10 Degrees offers the flexibility, technical expertise, and strategic insight needed to grow from an idea to a thriving business. We understand that our role isn’t permanent, and our aim is to help you reach the stage where you can build your own in-house team to take over.
With a deep understanding of the journey, from early-stage platform development to scaling and transitioning, we’re here to help you avoid common pitfalls and navigate the complexities of growing your SaaS business.
If you’re a SaaS start-up looking to build a platform that can grow with you, let’s talk about how 10 Degrees can help you succeed.
By sharing stories like that of Psychology Tools, we hope to highlight how the right partnership at the right time can set your start-up on the path to success. Let’s build something incredible together.
The Author
Jonny Vaughan
Founder & Technical Director of 10 Degrees. Jonny's day to day focus is on determining the best technical solutions for our clients, driving technical innovation and leading our sustainability agenda.
The 10 Degrees Team