Founders Approach

We Build Quality Mobile Apps & Websites for Rhode Island Businesses

Mobile app development illustration

Mobile App Development

Problem-Focused Design

We build high-quality iOS and Android applications for Providence businesses. A critical mistake many founders make is falling in love with their product instead of the problem — we are here to ensure that does not happen.

Whether you have a simple idea or an extremely complex one, our team at FA can handle it — guiding you from concept to launch on both iOS and Android.

React Native, Flutter, Swift and Kotlin logos

Web Development & Design

User-Driven Development

Your website is your digital storefront. We design and build fast, responsive websites for Providence businesses that understand the psychology behind why people use products.

Our team at FA focuses early on to ensure we keep the user as the focal point for the project — delivering fast, responsive sites that convert.

React, JavaScript, Java, Node and PHP logos
Web development illustration

Our Work

Too many times a development team never crosses the finish line because of challenges faced along the way. Our focus during development is to ensure every project of ours goes live and launches.

95+

Past Projects

100%

Launched Projects

Our Reviews

We pride ourselves on what our actual customers are saying about us. Feel free to find our past reviews on Google, Clutch, GoodFirms, or one of the many software development review websites.

I run a web development company and partnered with FA on a project. They were very professional and the quality of the work was outstanding.

Author Image: Vincent
Vincent
The BBS Agency
5.0★★★★★
25 REVIEWS
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The team consistently delivers high-quality features and fixes to the app, leading to a continued relationship. Professional and experienced, they adapt to scope changes and tight timelines with regular communication.

Claire
Napp Baby Sitting App
5.0★★★★★
10 REVIEWS
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In my mind, they are very authentic people who are open and honest and direct. The project managers do an excellent job of actually listening to what you are trying to accomplish and coming back with the best solutions.

Author Image: Alison
Alison
Knitrino Mobile App
5.0★★★★★
3 REVIEWS
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Our Story

Dave & Phil started FA in the Fall of 2016 after receiving questions about how to build mobile apps from individuals in their network.

Dave and Phil, founders of Founders Approach

As startup founders themselves, they had learned about the struggles of finding a dev team and building a product. When it came to launching their first mobile app, they quickly realized there was a huge disparity in the development world. US developers are insanely skilled but typically out of reach for most small businesses. Outsourcing abroad, on the other hand, comes with fear, stress, and anxiety around finding the right team. Because of their past experience interviewing international development teams, they realized a huge missing piece was adequate communication. By resolving those issues, they were able to identify very talented individuals abroad who shared the same passion for learning and skill development. To this day, our hybrid team of US-based project managers coupled with global developer talent helps ensure Founders Approach can bring your idea to life without compromising on quality or value.

Award-Winning Agency

Top Software Developers — Rhode Island 2025
Top Application Management & Support — Boston 2025
Top Web Developers — Providence 2025
Top App Development Company — Providence 2023
Top App Development Company — Rhode Island 2025

Providence Articles

Are you a Rhode Island business owner looking to learn about web design & mobile app development? Here are some of our best ideas to help you bring your idea to life.

Red Flags to Watch for When Hiring a Development Agency 🚩

Red Flags to Watch for When Hiring a Development Agency 🚩

Hiring a development agency? Watch for these five red flags, from vague quotes and unrealistic timelines to who owns your code [...]

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What is “The Lean Startup,” And How Will It Save You Thousands of 💸Dollars💸?

What is “The Lean Startup,” And How Will It Save You Thousands of 💸Dollars💸?

One of our top recommendations to any founders about how to get started building a mobile app or website is to read “The Lean [...]

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Non-Technical Founder? 6 Steps to Overcome the Technical Language Barrier! 🎯

Non-Technical Founder? 6 Steps to Overcome the Technical Language Barrier! 🎯

So you aren't a programmer, but that’s fine. Our guide is here to help non-technical founders bring their mobile or web app to [...]

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“Fixing Your Failures.” 😬 A System for Identifying the Critical Challenges Facing Your Startup

“Fixing Your Failures.” 😬 A System for Identifying the Critical Challenges Facing Your Startup

Learn a proven system to identify and tackle your startup's biggest threats, boost your survival rate, and increase your chances [...]

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The Ultimate Guide to Troubleshooting Mobile Apps or Website So You Can Stop Getting so Frustrated 💢😖

The Ultimate Guide to Troubleshooting Mobile Apps or Website So You Can Stop Getting so Frustrated 💢😖

Troubleshooting mobile apps take time but when you are done you usually uncover that the issue was a lot more obvious than you [...]

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FA Ranked as a Top Web Developers in Baltimore – Aww Don’t Make Us Blush 🥰

FA Ranked as a Top Web Developers in Baltimore – Aww Don’t Make Us Blush 🥰

Hearing about the recent ranking of Founders Approach as a "Top Web Developers in Baltimore" really made for some excellent news. [...]

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View All Articles

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? We've got answers. If you don't see what you're looking for, feel free to reach out to us directly.

What kinds of projects do you take on?

We take on a variety of projects including web applications, mobile apps, prototyping, and AI integration. We specialize in building custom software to address specific business problems.

Do you work with startups, small businesses, or enterprises?

We work with all of them! Our flexible engagement models allow us to build everything from minimum viable products (MVPs) for startup, custom internal tools for small businesses and scalable enterprise applications.

How long does it take to build a custom website?

The timeline depends on the complexity of the project. A standard website might take 4-8 weeks, whereas a complex web application can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months.

Do you handle website hosting and maintenance after launch?

Yes, we provide ongoing hosting and maintenance services to ensure your website remains secure, up-to-date, and performs optimally over time. We have flexible post launch agreements called "Do Not Exceeds" budgets. This allows us to set a max amount of hours per month we can work, if you need us, but there's no requirements to "use it or lose it." Any hours left will just roll over to the following month. Our Startup clients love this flexibility.

What's the difference between a custom website and a template or website builder?

A custom website is built from the foundation tailored specifically to your unique business needs and brand identity. It provides better performance, more complex features, scalability, and flexibility compared to template-based builders which often have limitations in design and functionality. Template builders, on the other hand, are excellent in scenarios where you do not need complex features and you just need a simple, informational, website.

How much does it cost to hire an app developer?

The cost ultimately will vary based on the features you need. We can tell you we've built very simple apps that take about a week up to extremely complex ones that took +6 months. Most apps we've built typically take a few hundred hours spent over the course of 3-4 months to design and build properly. We offer free consultations to understand your needs and provide a customized quote.

How long does it take to build a mobile app?

Similar to web development, it depends on complexity. On average, a mobile app can take 3 to 6 months from initial design to launching on the App Store and Google Play.

Can you takeover my existing mobile app or website?

Absolutely. We often audit existing codebases and can take over maintenance, add new features, or entirely rebuild apps or websites that are struggling with performance issues. One of the things we pride ourselves on is having launched 100% of the projects we've built. Sadly, that's not very true for most other agencies where the project will fall apart before ever going live despite the client having spent 70% of their budget already.

What's the difference between a prototype and an MVP?

A prototype is an interactive mockup of your design used for validation and testing. An MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is a functioning product with just enough features to be released to early adopters.

Can you add AI features to my existing app or website?

Yes! We can integrate AI-driven functionalities like chatbots, recommendation engines, and data analytics into your existing platforms to enhance user experience. We've done this for many of our small businesses and startups since they are typically the first groups of companies experimenting with AI features.

Which AI technologies do you work with?

We work with leading AI companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google. We typically integrate their powerful Large Language Models (LLMs) and custom machine learning solutions into our clients' products. As a company ourselves, we are also using AI to speed up the development process for all of our clients via tools like Claude Code, Github Copilot, Cursor, Codex, and Google's Antigravity.

How much do you charge?

I hate to say it but, it depends. We price ourselves based on hourly rate x how many hours we think it'll take to build. If you reach out we'd love to get you a free accurate estimation for your project.

How do you validate an app idea before building?

We start with discovery and design phases to create clickable prototypes. This allows you to test the concept with real users and gather feedback before investing in full-scale development.

Do you offer ongoing support after an app launches?

Yes, just like with our websites, we offer flexible post-launch support for mobile apps. We can set up a "Do Not Exceeds" monthly budget so you have a dedicated amount of hours available for bug fixes, updates, and new features, with any unused hours rolling over to the next month.

What technologies do you use to build websites and apps?

We work primarily with Next.js, Payload CMS, PHP/CodeIgniter, and React Native, hosted on DigitalOcean infrastructure. We favor self-hosted, open-source tools so you own your stack rather than being locked into a vendor.


Can you fix or take over an existing app?

Absolutely. We often audit existing codebases and can take over maintenance, add new features, or entirely rebuild apps that are struggling with performance issues.

Still Have Questions?

Feel free to reach out to us directly and we'll be in touch!

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