Experienced Designer, Manager,
and Successfully Exited Founder
© 2024 David Adkin. All rights reserved
Before launching Adalo, we ran a fast-paced app development agency where we sold, designed, and built custom apps for businesses and startups. Starting with projects in the hundreds and scaling up to over $10,000 per app, we delivered 12 apps in 12 weeks — a hands-on approach that provided invaluable insights for building the Adalo platform. I sold, designed, and built each app directly on Adalo (pre-release), while our technical co-founder added essential features, making it a live testing ground for what would become a no-code powerhouse.
My role in the app development agency covered everything from sales to design and development. I pitched our services to businesses and startups, securing projects and building client relationships. For each app, I handled the entire design process and used Adalo’s early platform to bring these ideas to life.
As I built, I identified essential features we needed, collaborating with our technical co-founder to expand Adalo’s capabilities in real time. This experience not only honed my skills in app creation but also provided the foundation for our vision of a no-code future.
Here’s a look at the key design insights I gained from running an app development agency and creating custom apps for clients — lessons that would go on to shape the foundation of Adalo.
We designed and built 12 apps in just 12 weeks, tackling a wide range of use cases. The apps spanned various industries and purposes — from startups and small businesses to internal tools for established companies — each crafted to address unique business needs and demonstrate the versatility of Adalo’s platform.
The BuzzerBeater app was designed as a simple, intuitive platform for barbers visiting a new town to list their profiles and connect with potential clients. Users could log in and see which barbers were available nearby, with straightforward navigation that made browsing easy. Creating a profile with photos and personalized details was key, giving the app an Airbnb-like feel that set it apart from standard big-box haircut apps and made it approachable for both barbers and clients.
Lifetime Performance is an elite gym for golf and tennis professionals, and we designed their app to give trainers a flexible way to send custom workouts to clients on the go. The system had to be adaptable, supporting everything from individual workout days to circuits, sets, and reps, with workout videos and photos pulled directly from the database for easy access. Unlike clunky spreadsheets on a phone, the app provided a sleek, user-friendly experience where clients could even chat with trainers for real-time guidance. (Fun fact: tennis legend Venus Williams used the app!)
Tavolo is a dining app designed to streamline the in-person restaurant experience by allowing users to find a restaurant, order their meal in advance, and book a reservation. This unique approach made dining out easier, with features for splitting checks and ensuring orders were ready for the restaurant staff upon arrival. I designed a custom solution for handling complex formulas and payments, creating a seamless experience for users. Additionally, we developed two versions: a customer-facing app for ordering and a separate back-of-house app for restaurant staff to manage orders and reservations efficiently. (Fun fact: the startup got an investment from Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary and won a competition in Minnesota!)
The Beyond Boundaries app for Washington University transformed a previously messy process — tracking event attendance and points via emails and spreadsheets — into a streamlined, enjoyable experience. Designed for students in the Beyond Boundaries program, who earn points by attending events to graduate with an extra distinction, the app made tracking simple and engaging. I focused on gamification and visual appeal, creating an interface with clear point values and an easy photo submission process for proof of attendance. This project highlighted how thoughtful design can motivate and engage users, fostering active participation and simplifying campus-wide programs.
At the end of this journey, I had the honor of speaking at the No-Code Conference in front of packed crowd, sharing the insights I gained from selling and building apps as the founder of the first no-code dev agency. I spoke about the evolution of no-code, lessons learned from hands-on client work, and how this early agency experience shaped the vision for Adalo’s platform.