An increasing number of entrepreneurial-minded professionals are waking up to the potential of technology to fill gaps in nearly every market, with everyone seemingly on the hunt for the next big breakthrough. But an idea, no matter how groundbreaking, is just an idea until it’s brought to life with help of development experts who can transform that pie-in-the-sky concept into a fully-fledged start-up venture—hopefully swiftly enough to beat the competition to market.
It's this very scenario that Andrew Cachia, Founder of NightOwl Studios, is addressing with his company’s recent pivot. With nearly a decade of experience working in various startups, during which he also completed a master's degree in AI, Andrew originally founded NightOwl Studios three years ago, with a vision to break into game development. He went on to find success in developing custom gamification features for apps in the finance and health tech sectors, making their products more engaging and intuitive for users.
Now, with a refined focus on helping start-ups develop their ideas from the ground up, NightOwl Studios is doubling down on its mission to turn innovative concepts into market-ready web, mobile, or desktop app products faster than ever before. The studio's core product is a comprehensive package that includes everything a start-up needs to get their product to launch: from technical and product consultancy to UX/UI design, software development, AI integration, analytics and metrics, and even security and real-time alerting. But what sparked this shift in direction?
“While I think it’s true that it’s easier than ever to develop software ideas, the reality is that unless you’re an expert in the tech and solutions out there, it’s tough to get far on your own,” says Andrew. “Then there’s another issue which I’ve encountered from experience. When you rely on multiple third parties, timelines are often not met, and costs can quickly spiral out of control.
“So, we thought—what if we took on that risk and responsibility for start-ups? They come to us with an idea, and we act as their go-to tech partner from the start. We help them develop the concept, guide them on what’s realistic, and get them to launch an MVP based on our two central promises: delivery within a three-month timeline and completely transparent pricing.”
Andrew is certainly putting his money where his mouth is. Not only does NightOwl commit to delivering a product in just three months, but if, for any reason, the team misses that deadline, they’ll continue working for free until the project is launched.
“It’s certainly a risky promise,” Andrew admits with a chuckle, “but we know our clients are also taking big risks too. So, if they trust us to deliver, we believe it’s only fair that they shouldn’t suffer if we fail. What ultimately gives me confidence that we won’t fall short is that we’re a young, dynamic team who are experts in our tech stack. We’ve built our own set of tools that allow us to develop with incredible efficiency. That’s why we can promise results.”
Another factor driving NightOwl’s efficiency is Andrew’s decision to adopt a fully-remote, work-from-anywhere policy for his team. This approach has not only enabled him and his team to connect with contacts across the globe but has also allowed them to take an almost relay-style approach to development, where at times, one person is working while another is asleep, ensuring that each project progresses steadily around the clock.
Andrew explains that he takes a very personal approach with each client, guiding them from the very first step. When clients reach out, the process begins with complete confidentiality to protect their idea. From there, Andrew and his team dive into the details, helping clients validate their concept, conducting thorough research to see if existing products or services can help get the project off the ground, or whether a custom build is necessary.
“We spec the project out in full detail to ensure there are no surprises and we all know exactly what we’re building,” Andrew explains. “Our focus is on identifying what’s unique and beneficial about the product. We leave out the nice-to-haves and concentrate on what’s crucial to get the app up and running. Once the wireframes are approved, the team moves into the development phase.”
The results appear to be speaking for themselves. In the past few years, NightOwl Studios has successfully helped four start-up products get off the ground and is continuing to attract growing interest from clients, both in Malta and internationally who are appreciating the speed, dedication, and youthful energy that NightOwl brings to the table.
Another key innovation in NightOwl Studios’ approach is its approach to truly transparent pricing. Beyond the core packages for app development, NightOwl also offers additional packages for branding, marketing, and AI customisations, ensuring that clients have access to all the tools they need to launch their start-up successfully.
“Whenever we’re building a new start-up, the first questions clients ask are usually about cost and timeline,” Andrew explains. “So, to speed things up we wanted to be fully transparent in our pricing so that clients know exactly what they’re getting into with realistic expectations of the budget required to get their start-up off the ground. That’s why we’ve made all our pricing immediately available on our website, so they can see it right away.”
In addition to one-off packages, NightOwl also offers flexible retainers that can scale up or down as needed. “We’ve moved to this model with our existing clients, and it’s worked really well. We reassess priorities month by month to see what needs to be done. This approach not only helps clients manage their budgets more effectively but also allows us to stay agile and shift our focus to clients who most need our help.”
Now, with the launch of a brand-new website, anyone can easily access all the details they need about pricing and what the studio has to offer. Andrew is particularly excited about the positive feedback they’ve been receiving from clients regarding this updated approach.
“Since starting NightOwl, we’ve had a few turning points and pivots,” Andrew shares. “But we’ve finally hit our stride. With a focus on specialising in bringing start-up projects to life, we’re able to draw from all our experience and expertise we’ve developed over the past decade and deliver our best work. It’s also exciting for us to work on new innovative ideas with clients and see them come to life.”
He concludes: “I invite anyone with an idea to get in touch with me for a free consultation. Just book an appointment through the website and let’s get the ball rolling. I can’t wait to help you take your concept from just an idea to a fully-fledged product in three months.”
