Case Study: Rapid Validation and Launch of a Two-Sided Gig-Economy Platform

Executive Summary

A national startup in the gig-economy aimed to disrupt the hospitality sector by creating a marketplace for short-notice staffing. As a greenfield venture, the client needed to build a highly scalable platform immediately, validate market fit with limited resources, and launch a complex two-sided system (businesses and workers) in the shortest possible timeframe.

Softy partnered with the startup to design and build the entire platform’s Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Using a phased, agile approach and a modern AWS-based technology stack, we ensured the core business offering was delivered and successfully launched, immediately unblocking the client's crucial marketing and scaling efforts.

The Challenge: Navigating Complexity and Capital Constraints

Launching a two-sided marketplace presents unique technical and business risks, which were compounded by the client’s status as a startup operating with known restrictions on budget and resources:

• Market Risk

  The necessity of rapidly defining and building a core product that would successfully validate the business opportunity and achieve market traction.

• Platform Complexity

  There was no suitable off-the-shelf software; the client needed a bespoke system to manage complex interactions - staff profiles, shift applications, scheduling, and business setup - across both mobile and web interfaces.

• Time Sensitivity

  The business needed the earliest possible go-to-market to commence revenue generation and attract further investment.

The Softy Solution: Agile, Focused MVP Delivery

Softy embedded with the client's internal team, translating their market knowledge and requirements into a fully functional marketplace platform. We adopted a disciplined approach, ensuring the final product delivered maximum business utility from its very first release.

Strategic Architecture and Process Control

The focus was on delivering a fixed, high-quality product in the shortest possible time while integrating seamlessly with the client’s structure:

• Fixed Price Assurance

  By spending extra time upfront refining, scoping, and structuring the project, we ensured there were no major unknowns, allowing us to deliver a fixed-priced project on time and providing essential budgetary control for the startup.

• Accelerated Launch

  We used a phased delivery schedule focusing exclusively on the core business offering and features, ensuring the MVP was ready in the shortest time possible to unblock marketing efforts early.

• Zero Technical Debt

  We worked directly within the client's codebase, ensuring 100% control and IP ownership at all times. Our collaboration with the in-house developers ensured their established QA procedures and coding standards were followed, leading to client expectations being met.

• Scalability Assurance

  Built on AWS and utilising up-to-date technologies like Node.js and NextJs, the solution achieved scalability well beyond their initial requirements, future-proofing the platform for rapid growth.

Core Platform Capabilities

The development resulted in a cohesive, bespoke suite of software that addressed the needs of both sides of the marketplace:

• Cross-Platform Mobile Application

  A native-feeling application for workers (developed for Android and iOS) to manage their profiles, apply for short-notice work, and control their schedules.

• Business Web Dashboard

  A dedicated web interface allowing businesses in the hospitality sector to set up, post, and manage their available shifts instantly.

• Data Security

  All work was completed under a strict Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), with all software and cloud environments designed to be secure and adhere to GDPR standards.

The Impact: Business Validation and Unblocked Growth

The successful delivery of the bespoke platform suite was a direct catalyst for establishing the business and accelerating its growth trajectory.

• Significantly Reduced Time and Cost

  The platform delivered instant access to a pool of pre-qualified resources ready on short notice, which significantly reduced the time and cost associated with manual staffing efforts in the hospitality sector.

• Successful Validation

  The bespoke suite of software specifically addressed the unique needs of the business model, allowing for the successful validation of the offering and the establishment of the business opportunity.

• Unblocked Scaling

  The robust, scalable platform delivered unblocked the client’s marketing and future scaling efforts, readying the business for subsequent investment and expansion.

• Client Insight

  Working within the in-house team's systems and resources ensured they had constant visibility and insight into the project's progress at all times.