In 2025, over 40% of startups fail because they build a product nobody wants. Choosing the right mobile app developer is the most critical decision you’ll make to avoid that outcome.
This guide compares two top agencies. Cheesecake Labs is the expert engineering team you hire to build your vision correctly and at scale. Naked Development is the strategic partner you work with to ensure you’re building the right vision in the first place.
Let’s find out which mobile app developer fits your startup’s journey right now.
Table of Contents
Company Overviews: Comparing Your US & Nearshore Options
Understanding a development agency’s identity is key. One offers the power of a large, nearshore engineering team, while the other provides the focused guidance of a US-based strategic mobile app developer.
Cheesecake Labs: The Nearshore Engineering Powerhouse
Founded in 2013, Cheesecake Labs has delivered over 300 digital products. Their team of more than 100 expert developers and designers is based in Brazil, providing a significant cost and talent advantage.
Their focus on company culture has earned them multiple “Great Place to Work” awards. This is a critical asset for their clients. In 2025, high developer turnover can delay project timelines by up to 20%. A stable, happy team from your chosen mobile app developer means your project has consistency and quality from start to finish.
Cheesecake Labs is a mature, reliable partner for building world-class technology products.
Naked Development: The Founder’s Strategic Partner
Based in Irvine, California, Naked Development has a clear mission: “We don’t just build apps — we help new Founders build app companies.” They act as a guide for early-stage startups seeking a hands-on mobile app developer.
This small, expert team functions like an incubator. Their founder, John Driscoll, has a track record of helping startups raise over $96.5 million. This experience is vital in 2025, as the competition for early-stage funding is fiercer than ever, with average seed rounds increasing by 15% over the last year.
Naked Development is the partner you choose to help prove your idea and build a viable business.
Table 1: Agency Vitals at a Glance
| Metric | Cheesecake Labs | Naked Development |
| Founded | 2013 | 2017 |
| Locations | San Francisco, CA; Florianópolis, Brazil | Irvine, CA |
| Team Size | 50-249 employees; 100+ team members | 11-50 employees |
| Core Mission | “Help entrepreneurs…amplify their positive impact through technology and empowered people.” | “We don’t just build apps — we help new Founders build app companies.” |
| Avg. Hourly Rate | $50 – $99 / hr | $150 – $199 / hr |
| Min. Project Size | $50,000+ | $25,000+ to $50,000+ |
Development Methodologies: A US Company’s Guide to Workflow
A mobile app developer’s development process is its philosophy in action. In 2025, projects that follow a structured methodology are over 250% more likely to succeed. One agency uses a process built for engineering efficiency, while the other uses a process built to validate a business idea.
Cheesecake Labs: The Structured Engineering Team
Cheesecake Labs uses the Agile development method. They build products in short cycles, delivering working pieces of the app regularly for client feedback. This ensures the most valuable features are built first.
Their teams are organized into dedicated “pods.” When you work with them, you get a complete, self-contained product team of 4-8 specialists, including a manager, developers, and designers. This pod, led by an expert mobile app developer, works only on your project, providing a focused and efficient engine to turn your vision into a reality. The process is transparent, using standard tools like Jira and Slack to keep you updated every step of the way.
Naked Development: The Lean Startup Strategists
Naked Development follows the Lean Startup method: “start lean and launch fast.” Their process begins with a crucial “Discover” phase, where they strip an idea down to its core value. This step is designed to prevent the #1 reason startups fail: building a product nobody wants. In 2025, this mistake still accounts for over 40% of startup failures, even when working with a seasoned mobile app developer.
They also blend brand and marketing strategy into development from day one. For one client, they identified the brand’s unique political angle as its key feature and built the entire marketing plan around it.
This approach is built for speed. They delivered a fully working Minimum Viable Product (MVP) for one founder in under 10 weeks.
Tech Stack & Innovation: What US Startups Need to Know
An agency’s tech stack shows what it values most. One partner focuses on deep expertise in complex, next-generation technology. The other chooses the smartest tools to get to market faster. Any good mobile app developer should be transparent about their choices.
Cheesecake Labs: Experts in Next-Generation Technology
Cheesecake Labs uses a broad and powerful set of technologies. As a top-tier mobile app developer, they are experts in React Native for building mobile apps and use modern backend languages like Python and Go.
Their main focus is on emerging tech. They have dedicated teams for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Web3. The Web3 market is projected to grow by over 45% in 2025, and Cheesecake Labs is a leader in this space. They are an official partner of the Stellar Development Foundation, a major blockchain platform, and have built complex products like NFT marketplaces.
They act as an outsourced R&D team, allowing startups to build with advanced technology.
Naked Development: The Right Tools for the Right Job
Naked Development chooses its tools for speed and strategy. They use Flutter to build beautiful mobile apps and the no-code platform Bubble to create prototypes and backends extremely fast.
This approach is smart for founders. In 2025, using no-code tools can reduce initial development time by up to 70%. This allows founders to test their idea with real users quickly and for a fraction of the cost, even before hiring a full-scale mobile app developer.
Their real innovation is not technical; it is the strategic advice from their experienced leadership. They use technology as a tool to help founders validate their ideas and build a successful business.
Table 2: Comparative Analysis of Technology Stacks and Innovation Focus
| Category | Cheesecake Labs | Naked Development |
| Primary Cross-Platform | React Native, Flutter | Flutter |
| Backend / Prototyping | Python, NodeJS, GoLang | Bubble (for MVPs), Node.js, ReactJS |
| Design | Full UX/UI Design Services | Figma (for wireframes & prototypes) |
| Innovation Focus | Emerging Tech as a Service (AI, Web3, IoT, Blockchain) | Business Model & Go-to-Market Innovation |
Pricing Models: Onshore vs. Nearshore Rates for US Companies
A mobile app developer’s price tells you what you are buying. One charges for expert engineering power, while the other charges a premium for strategic guidance from seasoned founders.
Cheesecake Labs: An Investment in Engineering Power ($50–$99/hr)
Cheesecake Labs offers a highly competitive rate of $50–$99 per hour. This price is possible due to their nearshore team of over 100 experts in Brazil.
The value is clear. In 2025, the annual cost of a single senior mobile app developer in the US can easily exceed $200,000. For a similar investment, Cheesecake Labs provides a complete product team. You are paying for efficient, high-quality development to build your vision correctly and on budget.
Naked Development: An Investment in Strategic Guidance ($150–$199/hr)
Naked Development charges a premium US-based rate of $150–$199 per hour. This price reflects a different service. You are not just buying code; you are buying a partnership with a strategic mobile app developer.
The higher rate pays for the direct time and mentorship of their experienced leadership team. This is an investment to avoid the #1 reason startups fail. In 2025, over 40% of failed startups built a product that nobody wanted. Naked Development’s strategic guidance is designed to prevent that costly mistake. You are investing to make sure you are building the right product.
Communication & Management: A US Client’s Perspective
In 2025, poor communication remains a top reason why projects fail. The way you communicate and manage your project daily with your chosen mobile app developer is critical. One partner offers a structured remote process, while the other provides a hands-on, personal partnership.
Cheesecake Labs: Structured for Remote Success
Cheesecake Labs has perfected its process for remote work with a nearshore mobile app developer. Their development team in Brazil is in a time zone that aligns well with North American clients, allowing for real-time collaboration. This nearshore model is growing fast, with the market expected to expand by over 15% in 2025.
They use standard tools like Jira and Slack, making it easy to track progress and communicate daily. Clients consistently praise their proactive communication, saying the team feels like a seamless extension of their own. While the process is smooth, some reviews suggest being extra clear during the initial design phase to ensure perfect alignment.
Naked Development: A Hands-On Founder Partnership
Naked Development offers a deep, personal partnership. Founders work directly with the agency’s experienced leaders. Many clients report feeling like “family” and that the agency is genuinely invested in their business’s success.
However, founders should research this model carefully. Some public reviews mention challenges with meeting deadlines. One single, but very serious, negative review accused the mobile app developer firm of a two-year delay with no product delivered.
This highlights the need for thorough due diligence. In 2025, founders who check references and perform detailed research on their partners see a 30% higher project success rate.
Portfolio & Industry Expertise: Finding a Fit for Your US Market
A mobile app developer’s past work is the best proof of its skills. Looking at their portfolio shows you what they are truly good at building.
Cheesecake Labs: Building for Complex Industries
Cheesecake Labs specializes in technically difficult and often regulated industries like Fintech, Healthtech, and large-scale marketplaces. They are trusted by major companies like MoneyGram and Latin America’s largest crypto exchange, Mercado Bitcoin.
Their expertise in Web3 and digital assets is particularly strong, a key skill for any enterprise mobile app developer. The digital asset market is projected to become a multi-trillion dollar industry by 2030, making this a critical skill for the future.
Their projects include:
- Building digital wallets and asset tokenization platforms.
- Developing an app to control an IoT-powered smart toilet.
- Architecting a complex NFT marketplace for high-volume trading.
This portfolio proves they can handle secure, data-heavy applications for serious enterprise clients.
Naked Development: Launching Consumer Brands
Naked Development focuses on consumer-facing apps where brand and community are the keys to success. The vast majority of their clients—over 70%—are new startups.
Their most well-known project is the dating app “The Right Stuff.” Their strategy focused on building a strong brand and using influencer marketing, which helped the founder gain over 3 million followers. This is a powerful skill, as the influencer marketing industry is valued at over $24 billion in 2025.
They specialize in building Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) to test new ideas, which is what every startup-focused mobile app developer should excel at, including:
- A team management app for baseball players.
- A platform for real estate agents.
- A fitness and a gratuity app.
This portfolio shows they are experts at helping founders launch new consumer brands.
Pros & Cons: A Summary for US-Based Founders
Every mobile app developer has strengths and weaknesses. Understanding them is key to picking the right partner for your startup.
Cheesecake Labs: The Engineering Powerhouse
Cheesecake Labs is a strong choice for founders who need a powerful and reliable team to build their product. In 2025, companies that use a mature Agile process like theirs report a 60% higher success rate in meeting project goals.
Pros:
- Expert in Advanced Tech: They are leaders in complex fields like AI and Web3.
- Scales for Any Project: They have a large team ready to handle big projects.
- Great Value: You get a top-tier mobile app developer team for a competitive nearshore price.
- Predictable Process: Their structured development method means no surprises.
Cons:
- Best With a Clear Plan: They are less suited for startups still figuring out an idea.
- Requires Clear Design: Clients should provide extra clear design details to ensure a perfect hand-off to the remote team.
Naked Development: The Founder’s Co-Pilot
Naked Development acts as a strategic guide for early-stage founders. The value of this mentorship is clear: in 2025, startups with experienced mentors are over 50% more likely to get follow-on funding.
Pros:
- Expert Startup Strategy: They help you validate your idea and build a brand.
- Mentorship from Founders: You get direct advice from their experienced leadership.
- Builds Successful Brands: They have a strong track record with consumer apps.
- Smart and Fast Tech: They use modern tools to build testable products quickly.
Cons:
- Premium Price: Their hourly rate is significantly higher.
- Smaller Team: They have less capacity for massive enterprise-level projects.
- A Major Red Flag: A severe public review of this mobile app developer exists alleging fraud and failure to deliver. This requires serious investigation and reference checks before signing a contract.
Best Fit: Which Model is Right for Your US Startup?
The right mobile app developer partner depends on your startup’s current stage. An early-stage founder has very different needs than a company ready to scale. This guide will help you find the perfect fit.
Choose Cheesecake Labs When You Need to Execute and Scale
Cheesecake Labs is the ideal partner for startups that have a clear plan and are focused on building and growing. This is often a company that has already raised a seed or Series A funding round.
In 2025, over 60% of startups that fail after this stage do so because they cannot scale their technology effectively. Cheesecake Labs is the expert engineering team you hire to solve this problem.
This is the right fit if:
- You need to build a complex and secure app for industries like Fintech or Healthtech.
- You need a powerful mobile version of your already successful web product.
- You need to add a team of reliable, expert engineers to your company quickly.
Choose Naked Development When You Need to Validate and Launch
Naked Development is the best partner for very early-stage founders. This is for when you have a great idea but need an expert guide to help you test it, build a brand, and attract your first investors.
Their focus is on preventing the #1 cause of startup failure: building a product nobody wants. This mistake still accounts for over 40% of all startup failures in 2025.
This is the right fit if:
- You are a first-time or non-technical founder who needs a strategic partner.
- You need a fast and affordable Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to prove your concept to investors.
- You are an influencer who wants to turn your personal brand into a community app.
Final Verdict: Making the Right Choice for Your US Company
The right choice depends on one question: Is your startup ready to build, or are you still defining what to build? Answering this honestly is the key to your success.
The Core Choice: Execution vs. Strategy
Choose Cheesecake Labs if you need an expert team to build your product. They are the partner you hire when you have a clear plan and need it executed flawlessly. They solve execution risk—the danger of building your product slowly or poorly.
Choose Naked Development if you need a strategic partner to validate your idea. They are the partner you hire to make sure you are building the right thing. They solve market risk. In 2025, this is the single biggest startup killer, responsible for over 40% of all failures.
You have a choice. High-cost strategy or pure engineering.
Vinova offers a third option. Our teams are in Vietnam. We guide your strategy. We build your product. Vietnam’s tech talent grows over 10% each year, so you get expert work for a better price.
Unsure what you need? Let’s talk. Schedule a free 2-hour consultation. We will show you what we can do.