More context. What I have built goes for 1600 lifetime access on a desktop. I have successfully built an application for Android that does everything the field guys want.
It turns out...that's may be the easiest part. Google has successfully gatekept that last 10 percent of launching.
There's a bit more steps than that for someone who hasn't yet launched a Play Store app. When I launched a hobby app I had to find and maintain 20 unique testers (they have since reduced it to 12, I think? it was 20 back in 2024) willing to test the app for 2 weeks before Google let me list it on the Play Store.
Though even this wasn't that hard... I easily found more volunteer testers than I needed on a relevant subreddit (the app is a PvP stat tracking app for a videogame, and I found plenty of people willing to sign up to test my app on a subreddit dedicated to that videogame).
That said, because of the unique testers requirement it was a much bigger pain in the ass to get listed on the Play Store than the Apple App Store (my app is written with kotlin multiplatform and supports Android/iOS/Windows/WASM).
I'm a new Android developer, it does require the 14 beta testers, at least as of last week when I tried to get it published. So far I've printed flyers and asked friends, but I'm definitely struggling to get enough testers. Almost everyone I know has iPhones and the few people with Android (apart from myself) don't collect Orchids so my app doesn't have relevance to them.
Apple was much easier, pay $99 and 1 week later it was published.
Wow it changed a lot since the last time I did it. I wonder it if has to do with the type of app or permissions it requests. Back then(10 years ago so way back then), payment was all that was required. You had to wait for some automated reviews and tests and potentially a manual one which could flag issues depending on the permissions you request but it was straight forward. Apple, on the other hand, always had a manual review and was quite strict in what they would accept.
It is a requirement for all apps (my app just uses the most basic permissions for internet access and nothing else) if it is the first listing a new developer account is putting up on the store.
I think Google did it this way to put some sort of filter on the amount of submissions without having to spend much time manually reviewing everything, foisting things on to the developer.
This is actually a pretty big hurdle for me. I don't use social media and the I have tried to post on Reddit but it's impossible to post with new account filter these days.
That's the exact approach I want to take though, kotlin multiplatform.
I have a working apk. I do not know what needs to be done to get testers, trademark a name, advice on pricing, advertising. All the things you want for a good launch to market.
"Fair" or "insane" ideas on price vary a lot between people. See also "competitive" salary on job posts.
You might think $10 an hour is fair. Or you might think $1000 an hour is fair. If the developers you're trying to contact can't guess where you are on pricing, they'll probably ignore you.
India or Pakistan. No technical lead wants to work for $10/hr with an "ideas guy" that has their head in the cloud. Pay the market price, or see what happens.
So what do you need then? Your posts are a bit confusing. You asked for solo senior developers but then you say you need help with pricing and trademarks and also say you don't need a technical lead.
I would suggest you organize your thoughts and write down the list of what you think you need and then either pay for a consult with a senior developer or chat with a trusted technical person.
From your posts, it sounds like you need more than one role and/or the services of an agency. If money is the issue and you think you have a good idea, then I suggest you seek funding.
I would love a chat with a seasoned senior developer that's what I'm looking for. Someone who has expirence with a sucesssfull launch. I would pay for even a 30 minute chat and demo of my app.
I'm confident my product is worth it's salt in my industry, but lack the expirence for a proper deployment. If it issuccessful, a iphone port would come next. I do not have the hardware to properly test like I would want to and would want a professional to be in charge of capturing all the functionality of the android varient.
I suggest having a look at the monthly freelancer/seeking-freelancer threads here then and contact one or more to start the conversation. 30 mins is barely enough for an introduction but that's one avenue. I would still suggest you only do that after you've narrowed down and specified your needs.
And if I may offer some more advice, it sounds like you need a technical co-founder as you're describing multiple roles and skills.
I think thousands to get me past testing and on the app store would be fair. I really don't know a fair market price for this step. It's a brand new developer account.
I have to say I'm weirdly curious, but you don't even have an email on your profile?
More context. What I have built goes for 1600 lifetime access on a desktop. I have successfully built an application for Android that does everything the field guys want.
It turns out...that's may be the easiest part. Google has successfully gatekept that last 10 percent of launching.
Pay your $25, upload an APK, and it's launched. What's left?
There's a bit more steps than that for someone who hasn't yet launched a Play Store app. When I launched a hobby app I had to find and maintain 20 unique testers (they have since reduced it to 12, I think? it was 20 back in 2024) willing to test the app for 2 weeks before Google let me list it on the Play Store.
Though even this wasn't that hard... I easily found more volunteer testers than I needed on a relevant subreddit (the app is a PvP stat tracking app for a videogame, and I found plenty of people willing to sign up to test my app on a subreddit dedicated to that videogame).
That said, because of the unique testers requirement it was a much bigger pain in the ass to get listed on the Play Store than the Apple App Store (my app is written with kotlin multiplatform and supports Android/iOS/Windows/WASM).
I'm a new Android developer, it does require the 14 beta testers, at least as of last week when I tried to get it published. So far I've printed flyers and asked friends, but I'm definitely struggling to get enough testers. Almost everyone I know has iPhones and the few people with Android (apart from myself) don't collect Orchids so my app doesn't have relevance to them.
Apple was much easier, pay $99 and 1 week later it was published.
Wow it changed a lot since the last time I did it. I wonder it if has to do with the type of app or permissions it requests. Back then(10 years ago so way back then), payment was all that was required. You had to wait for some automated reviews and tests and potentially a manual one which could flag issues depending on the permissions you request but it was straight forward. Apple, on the other hand, always had a manual review and was quite strict in what they would accept.
It is a requirement for all apps (my app just uses the most basic permissions for internet access and nothing else) if it is the first listing a new developer account is putting up on the store.
I think Google did it this way to put some sort of filter on the amount of submissions without having to spend much time manually reviewing everything, foisting things on to the developer.
This is actually a pretty big hurdle for me. I don't use social media and the I have tried to post on Reddit but it's impossible to post with new account filter these days.
That's the exact approach I want to take though, kotlin multiplatform.
What’s exactly the issue? What’s left to do?
I have a working apk. I do not know what needs to be done to get testers, trademark a name, advice on pricing, advertising. All the things you want for a good launch to market.
It sounds like you need a marketing agency, not a developer.
I don't see how a marketing agency can help me deploy a app. Marketing comes right after that.
I was trying to find a blog post that beautifully explains it but cannot at the moment.
In one sentence, no one (with skill) will work for you for free.
I am willing to pay a totally fair price...still where are these people?
"Fair" or "insane" ideas on price vary a lot between people. See also "competitive" salary on job posts.
You might think $10 an hour is fair. Or you might think $1000 an hour is fair. If the developers you're trying to contact can't guess where you are on pricing, they'll probably ignore you.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47219667
Read this: https://www.pellsoftware.com/the-best-places-to-find-the-rig... It should be enlightening.
India or Pakistan. No technical lead wants to work for $10/hr with an "ideas guy" that has their head in the cloud. Pay the market price, or see what happens.
I would pay a lot to launch what I have. Who has captured this market?
I don't really need a technical lead...they would have no understanding of what I made or why it would be useful.
I've tested it in the field and I know it works for exactly what I want it to do.
So what do you need then? Your posts are a bit confusing. You asked for solo senior developers but then you say you need help with pricing and trademarks and also say you don't need a technical lead.
I would suggest you organize your thoughts and write down the list of what you think you need and then either pay for a consult with a senior developer or chat with a trusted technical person.
From your posts, it sounds like you need more than one role and/or the services of an agency. If money is the issue and you think you have a good idea, then I suggest you seek funding.
I would love a chat with a seasoned senior developer that's what I'm looking for. Someone who has expirence with a sucesssfull launch. I would pay for even a 30 minute chat and demo of my app.
I'm confident my product is worth it's salt in my industry, but lack the expirence for a proper deployment. If it issuccessful, a iphone port would come next. I do not have the hardware to properly test like I would want to and would want a professional to be in charge of capturing all the functionality of the android varient.
I suggest having a look at the monthly freelancer/seeking-freelancer threads here then and contact one or more to start the conversation. 30 mins is barely enough for an introduction but that's one avenue. I would still suggest you only do that after you've narrowed down and specified your needs.
And if I may offer some more advice, it sounds like you need a technical co-founder as you're describing multiple roles and skills.
How much/ What exactly are you willing to pay?
And what exactly do you want from the person, do you want them to build their app?
I think thousands to get me past testing and on the app store would be fair. I really don't know a fair market price for this step. It's a brand new developer account.
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