Have A Healthcare App Idea? Here’s What You Should Do Next

Key Takeaways:

1. If you have a great idea for a healthcare application, look for resources which are very specific and actionable, which are meant for the training of a healthcare app entrepreneur, and which talk in the language of mobile apps.
2. Focus on healthcare-specific startup events that will help you develop a healthcare mobile application.
3. As a healthcare app entrepreneur you would need someone to turn around and help you. So, foster relationships with those people who can and are ready to mentor you.
4. App ideas, even great ones, can take some time to launch, and if you want to meet your deadlines or accelerate the process, it’s worthwhile to call in healthcare mobile app experts to get the job done.
5. When you’re designing your app, think about how your target audience will interact with it. Consider whether or not they will need additional assistance in using the app.

“I have a healthcare app idea, but where do I start?”

Here’s a suggestion, start by learning what you’ll be getting into.

Many HealthTech entrepreneurs with great ideas for mHealth apps have no experience or expertise in developing them. So, the first and foremost step can be your induction into the healthcare app world.

Think of it as going to college again, because you want to learn and specialize in a subject. So, why not?

If you are a non-technical founder, most people will suggest you start with a book (or an eBook), an online course, or a mentorship program.

Our suggestion would be – “you can do all that, but with a little caution.” Here are some tips on what to do if you’ve a healthcare app idea:

#1 Choose a resource wisely to take your healthcare app idea forward

Entrepreneur Vs App Entrepreneur or Appreneur

Entrepreneurship Vs Appreneurship

Is there a difference?

Yes, and this difference is called ‘mobile apps’.

There are resources for entrepreneurs and then there are resources for appreneurs (newly-coined term for entrepreneurs building apps).

Some of the broad resource categories for HealthTech entrepreneurs are healthcare app development, learning to code, app marketing, starting your business, launching your healthcare product, etc.

These resources must be great but will they solve your purpose?

If you have a healthcare app idea and are a non-technical founder, you probably don’t want to learn to code. Learning directly to market your mHealth app will skip the steps of the development process, and ‘launching a business’ type of resources are way too broad if you’re specifically building a healthcare mobile app startup.

If you have a great idea for a healthcare application, look for resources which are very specific and actionable, which are meant for the training of a healthcare app entrepreneur, and which talk in the language of mobile apps.

Simply put, when you finish an online course or an eBook you should be a better appreneur. There are many courses that will take your healthcare app idea through to launch.

Here are a few tips for choosing the right resource:

1. Check the specifications: Skip the courses which offer general entrepreneurial knowledge and motivational tips. When checking the content of the course or an eBook, look for healthcare app development process and marketing knowledge for a non-technical founder.
2. Use right keywords to find the right resource: Sometimes we get carried away by the most popular searches. Your keywords can be: appreneurship, HealthTech entrepreneurs, successful healthcare mobile apps, million-dollar medical app business, etc.
3. Check testimonials and reviews: If I have a healthcare app idea and I tell you my product is great, that’s kind of obvious. But if ten of my customers testify for my app idea and say that it is great, you buy it. Similarly, look for the reviews and testimonials attached with every resource.
4. Check author credibility: Who is this person who created this resource? Check that person’s (or team’s) credibility. What is their expertise and authority on this subject. You can get some cues from their profile, social media followers, and blog posts they have written.

#2 Network at HealthTech startup events

Focus on healthcare specific startup events that will help you develop a healthcare mobile application.

Mark Suster, a prominent blogger in the startup venture capital world and mentor at Techstars, said in his popular blog, “It’s smart to selectively go to a few events here and there — particularly those that you’re likely to have the highest hit rates of connecting with people who can change your business.”

Here’s a solid tip from Neil Patel which will help you filter HealthTech startup events:

“Look at attendee lists before you register for conferences or networking events. Make sure there are either potential clients or people who are a lot smarter than you are at these events. If you are the one teaching the room on how to run a company, something is off. You can only learn if people who are smarter than you are at the event.”

Neil further adds, “If you want to attend good networking events, look for the ones that are intimate and invite only. It’s hard to get into those events, but when you do, it will be worth it. Those are the type of events that will allow you to create new friendships and business partnerships.”

#3 Connect with awesome mentors

No matter how much you study, read, or network with people there always be a moment of, “Why didn’t anyone warn me about this?”

Here’s when mentors come in picture, when you need someone to talk to about your problem. Mentors don’t tell you the rules, they help you tackle situations and disasters. They can be a huge part of your growth.

According to Alex Turnbull, CEO of Groove, “Networking events prioritize quantity. But I’d rather spend an hour making a meaningful connection with one person over coffee than spending that hour shaking five hundred hands.”

Not everyone requires a mentor at an initial stage, but then, there are hiccups in every business. As a healthcare app entrepreneur you would need someone to turn around and help you.

Remember, relationships are your best investment. Invest time identifying some of the best experts in healthcare app industry, build a relationship with them by following them, subscribing to them, or even commenting on their content.

Here’s a great picture from Groove’s blog which summarizes the whole process for finding a right mentor:

Quick tip: Apart from social media, AMAs (Ask me anything sessions) are a great place to find experts. You can throw your valid questions and even find great names to follow. Just use the right keyword such as mhealth app developers, HealthTech CTOs/CIOs, healthcare app development CEOs, etc.

#4 Know when it’s time to call healthcare app experts

As an appreneur, you don’t have to understand how to code and create your healthcare mobile app from the ground up, even with app builders like Buildfire.

App ideas, even great ones, can take some time to launch, and if you want to meet your deadlines or accelerate the process, it’s worthwhile to call in healthcare mobile app experts to get the job done. Instead of hiring a full in-house team, you can rely on the expertise of healthcare app development companies to keep expenses low.

They’ll have the years of experience and knowledge to help fine-tune any errors or issues you may have with your mHealth app. For example, you can outsource your healthcare app prototyping stage to a reliable mobile app team who can help you create and test your product.

This saves you time and money, especially if you lack the technical skills for creating the prototype to your app. Just consider beyond the cost of developers as low-cost mobile app development doesn’t typically mean high-quality results. Think about your needs and consider healthcare mobile app development teams that can deliver the expertise you need.

#5 Prototype your healthcare app

When you use mobile app prototyping, you can test your healthcare app idea out and help demonstrate how your app works to your target audience. The goal here is to map out your idea screen-by-screen using a wireframe or mockup to get an idea of how your application interacts and functions as users navigate to different features within the healthcare app.

A prototype helps bring your app to life with clickable content.

Prototypes also make it easier to determine if the user is ready to buy your product. You don’t have to create every feature that will be available on the finished product. Just include the core features to test your product such as sign-in, dashboard, online consultations, chat box, medical history, etc.

#6 Think about the app user

Your healthcare app idea has to keep your target audience in mind. So, when you’re designing your app, think about how your target audience will interact with it. Consider whether or not they will need additional assistance in using the app or if using the app will be “natural” for them.

For example, if you’re creating a health-based app enhanced with virtual reality (VR) features for a Baby Boomer or Post-War generational audience, they may require some level of training to use your VR-enhanced healthcare mobile app.

Thus, it’s critical to think about the user interaction and experience that your healthcare mobile app will bring to your audience. Design your features based on their needs, such as large buttons for elderly users to click or high contrast colors for the visually impaired.

#7 Have a plan for marketing your healthcare application

“I have a great idea for a healthcare app, but no one is downloading it!” I hear that too often. Before your app is ready for use, you have to get the word out. It’s important to market your mHealth app before its launch, so people know where to get it and know when it’s available to download.

There are several ways you can do this, including via push notification and social media marketing and advertising. For example, you can run social media ads on Instagram, Facebook or whichever social media platform your target audience uses the most to drive awareness for your healthcare mobile app.

You can also use product marketing or social media to get the word out about your medical app and even raise funds. For instance, you can build a community of social media followers on YouTube or Facebook using the community tools within the platforms and direct users to donate to your Patreon account as a way to continue funding the project. Just identify the marketing channel that works best for you and your audience.

#8 Build an MVP

When you build a Minimum Viable Product or MVP, you help improve the success of your mHealth app idea. An MVP helps you test your app idea before you produce the full product. Your MVP should give users a taste of your concept just with the minimum features to deliver your product’s core values, and get your audience hooked.

So, it’s crucial to create an MVP that is quick to launch, simple to create and focuses on addressing at least one core issue for a specific audience. The user experience should also be designed well. Map out the user’s journey, and design features that your target audience will find most valuable, such as a task automation feature for a patient management app.