Why Mobile-First Development is Essential for Startups in 2025

Mobile-first is a digital product design strategy that prioritizes mobile devices from the outset. Unlike mobile-friendly or responsive approaches, it treats the mobile version as the core experience – not a simplified version of the desktop. This shifts the design logic, content priorities, and the structure of navigation. 

Why does it matter today?

According to DataReportal, as of early 2025, Ukraine had 56.4 million active mobile connections. The number of internet users reached 31.5 million — that’s 82.4% of the population. Additionally, there were 21.6 million active social media users, representing 56.4% of all residents. These figures show the high level of digital engagement and the deep integration of mobile technologies into everyday life in Ukraine in 2025.

Users are increasingly favoring mobile apps over web versions. The reasons include speed, personalization, offline access, and easy navigation. Apps retain activity history, use push notifications and biometric authentication, and integrate with third-party services.

In mobile commerce, most purchases are now made through apps. For example, users open e-commerce apps on average three times more often than they visit websites. The same trend is seen in FinTech, where mobile apps from banks, neobanks, and P2P transfer services have become the primary access point for services. 

Users are more likely to download apps for everyday tasks, such as ordering food, making doctor appointments, learning, navigation, time management, or mental well-being. An app becomes both the entry point to a service and a tool for building long-term engagement.

For startups, this means considering not just interface adaptation, but also the interaction logic. If the product is not available as an app or has limited mobile functionality, it reduces competitiveness and makes scaling more challenging.

What to consider when launching a startup?

Product format

The choice depends on goals, budget, and functional requirements. If high performance, full device integration, and push notifications are needed, it's worth creating a native app. If browser accessibility is important while maintaining a mobile-friendly interface, a progressive web app (PWA) is a solid option. An adaptive website might be a compromise at the start, but it falls short in speed and UX.

Development technologies

Flutter, React Native, and Kotlin Multiplatform are popular cross-platform frameworks for building mobile apps. They help reduce development time and costs while ensuring high performance. For PWAs, JavaScript frameworks like React or Vue, combined with service workers for offline mode and fast loading, are effective choices.

UI/UX design

The interface should be simple, intuitive, and easy to navigate. Users expect clear workflows, engaging elements, logical interactions, and time-saving features. It's important to consider the limited screen space, avoiding unnecessary transitions and content overload.

Testing and feedback

Interface, responsiveness, performance, and stability testing across various devices is essential. During the MVP phase, it’s crucial to establish a feedback channel – this helps validate hypotheses and refine the product based on user needs.

Optimizing for mobile devices from the outset helps focus on product interaction simplicity and quick user engagement. If you’ve been dreaming of launching your project, leave your contact details in the form. We’ll bring your ideas to life and create an app that aligns with your business goals.