Good Gravy

Small Minneapolis development business Good Gravy plans and builds mobile and web apps for clients who want a clearer view of how their project is progressing. The company says it works from the view that building an app should involve less chaos and more care for the craft than many clients expect.

Feature planning before the build starts

The company begins by helping clients decide which features matter most. It aims to avoid what it calls black box development, in which an idea goes into a process the client cannot see and comes out at the end without the client knowing what happened along the way. Good Gravy says it wants clients to stay in control of their idea, with a process that is open and transparent from the first conversation to launch.

Mobile and web apps for phones, tablets and browsers

The business builds apps for phones and tablets as well as browser-based web apps. The company acknowledges that creating apps for mobile and the web is difficult, and that many people feel a project is a wild ride. It says it was founded on the belief that there has to be a better way to bring an app to life.

Case studies in camp registration and winery marketing

Two recent projects show the range of the work. One moved a paper-driven camp registration process onto a digital platform. The other enabled wineries to connect with their customers over text messages. The company presents both as examples of its attention to the people who will use the finished app, and of its focus on what the client actually needs.

A limited number of projects at a time

Good Gravy takes on a limited number of projects at any one time, so that each one receives more attention. The company describes its own approach as transparent, end-user focused and rigorous in its craft. Its typical clients are organizations that are new to apps or that have been disappointed by an earlier project, and the company offers an initial consultation to help a prospective client decide on a first step.