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7 Powerful Tips to Speed Up Software Development for Startups

By: Prince Osinachi Nchiba
When we think of speeding up software development for a startup, what do we think about?
-Do we think about the ability to ship features faster?
-Do we think about the growth of the team members?
-Or do we think about the speed of the software itself?
There are so many answers to these questions. However, as an expert in this field, I would state my position. Here is what I think:
Software development is quite important to a startup. Speeding up software development entails building the entire framework that will guarantee the prompt delivery of features that will ensure product success. This is inclusive of team development and resource management.
Before we continue to dig deeper, it is important we access the software development life cycle of a product.
To speed up software development, it is important to access the components of the software development lifecycle and improve it from there.
Analysis:
This is the point where the research is carried out on product feasibility. At this point, all the critical stakeholders are consulted. The requirements are gathered and prioritized by the team, and features in the backlog are also re-ordered. The critical stakeholder on this stage are the users.
How can this process be developed:
Since analysis is part of the development cycle, to speed it up, we need to look at the following:
● Allow the requirement gathering process to happen in parallel with other sprints so that the engineering process need not be stopped when the analysis is being carried.
● Use the voting or card system to manage the preferences of stakeholders. Without this being done, there could be chaos as a result of the clash of preferences among stakeholders.
● Prioritise the requirements that will be fed into the engineering process. This speeds up the time required for software development by 50%.
Design
This design stage involves the process of building the flows, high-fidelity wireframes and the architecture design that are required for the engineering sprint. The critical stakeholder at this stage is the solutions architect. The design stage is an input to the core of software engineering process and it help prevent a lot of errors.
How can this process be developed:
To drive software development speed, the following needs to be considered at the design stage:
- The precise architectural design tools should be used. This saves the software development time by a large margin.
- There should be proper documentation of this process, so that it can be re-used as a template in the future
- The input required for the design process should be readily available (e.g Product Requirement Document).
Development
This is the most crucial of all the stages as it involves the active coding process. At this point, the frontend engineers collaborate in converting the user interface into actual screens. The backend engineers also work on the server side of the project, they build the endpoints and APIs required for the product to function well.
How can this process be developed:
For effective time management, the following needs to be done at this stage:
-There should be a project management tool for effort estimation, task execution and roadmapping. This will help keep the team organized.
-There needs to be a DevOps engineer that helps to manage the infrastructural needs of the developers. This will help save the engineering development time by 35%.
Testing
At this stage, the testing of what has been developed commences. The most important stakeholder here are the QA testers. The software is tested for bugs, latency, among many other things.
The product manager also tests the platform to be sure that what was intended is what is built based on the requirements document. The product manager also tests the flow end-to-end.
How can this process be developed:
- The use of testing tools can help speed up this phase (as the testing tool serves as a documenter and analysis tool).
- When testing, the core MVP capabilities need to be prioritised.
- There should be a standby set of user testers.
Deployment & Maintenance
These stages involve the release of the software to a live or test environment. It also involves the refining and maintenance of the product after it has been released. All the stakeholders play a role at this stage. This is also the stage of final approval where what has been developed is reviewed and shipped.
How can this process be developed:
For speed, the following options can be leveraged:
The stakeholders should be consulted before the deployment stage, the stakeholder buy-in is very crucial to the eventual release of the product. If they are consulted, the engineering time would be reduced by a large margin.
What other tips are there?
Beyond the software development cycle, there are some other external-related factors that can be crucial to the speed of software development and delivery. They are highlighted below:
The diagram above shows some other activities that are central to achieving the milestones of speeding up the software development processes.
1) Technical agility: It is important for the software development cycle to be agile and iterative.
2) Project management: Development speed is also attained when there is effective task management. I have seen this work over the years of experience of my work.
3) MVP definition: Another critical aspect is defining the Minimum Valuable Product features from the get-go. Having a focus improves speed.
4) Solutions architecture: When architecture is properly built, it is easy to build on it.
5) Analytics: Keeping track and measuring all the segments within the engineering process is quite important. It helps in knowing what to optimise.
6) Code review: It is important to review the codes often, to prevent latency. Also, using platforms like Github allows you to see the code merges and resolve conflicts if it arises.
7) Outsourcing & Recruitment: Finally, when there is low human capital on the ground, it is crucial to either hire more or outsource to external people. This is a sure way to speed up engineering timing.
Broadcasting
FXTM Academy Hosts Charity Cycling Event, Pedal for Progress

FXTM Academy recently hosted the Pedal for Progress charity cycling event, bringing together 200 participants from cities across Nigeria, including Port Harcourt, Ilorin, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Lagos.
Held on Saturday, April 19, the competition featured six race categories—Professional Male, Professional Female, Junior Male, Junior Female, Veteran Male, and Veteran Female—allowing cyclists of all skill levels to compete.
The race began at 8:00 a.m., with Juniors completing 10 laps, Veterans tackling 14 laps, and Professionals racing 20 laps, each lap spanning 2.8 kilometers.
Participants competed for significant cash prizes, with winners in the Professional categories receiving ₦800,000, ₦500,000, ₦300,000, and ₦200,000, while those finishing 5th to 15th place earned ₦50,000 each. Junior and Veteran winners also received substantial rewards.
Spectators and participants praised FXTM Academy for fostering unity, sportsmanship, and talent development, with many eagerly anticipating future events.
The academy emphasized its commitment to empowering communities and promoting values such as perseverance, discipline, endurance, and continuous improvement.
FXTM Academy’s Country Representative, Kelechi Ehibudu, highlighted the academy’s dedication to blending sport, charity, and empowerment, setting a new benchmark for community-focused initiatives in Nigeria.
Broadcasting
Davido Unites Superfans in Lagos for Exclusive 5IVE Album Experience, Powered by Spotify

To celebrate the release of his fifth studio album, 5IVE Davido hosted a select group of superfans and media at Ona Restaurant in Lagos for an exclusive meet-and-greet, presented by Spotify.
The event offered a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the Afrobeats superstar, with 50 lucky fans and 5 media partners given the chance to connect with the artist in an intimate setting.
Rather than handing out invitations, Spotify put fans to the test, requiring them to pass a five-question quiz on Davido’s music to earn a spot at the roundtable. Once inside, attendees were treated to an afternoon of music, conversation, and surprises. The event was hosted by Ireculture, who set the tone with her infectious energy, while SmallztheDJ kept the vibe going with smooth, Afrobeats-driven selections.
In true Davido fashion, a playful twist took centre stage: after teasing his absence, the artist made a dramatic, surprise entrance, sending fans into a frenzy. The moment was a perfect reflection of Davido’s personality – engaging, unpredictable, and larger-than-life.
Victor Okapala, Spotify’s Artist and Label Partnerships lead for West Africa, noted, “This event is a testament to the power of music to bring fans and artists closer together. Working with Davido on the release of 5IVE highlights the energy surrounding Afrobeats globally, and the deep connection we see between the artist and his fans.”
The event’s highlight was a close-knit roundtable conversation, where fans shared their love for 5IVE, with “10 Kilo” emerging as an early favourite. Each guest left with a gift box featuring five fashion items from Nigerian streetwear brand Severe Nature, who also designed the official 5IVE merch.
Reflecting on his journey, Davido shared, “When you see artists like Beyoncé, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Rihanna, you realise the work it takes to get there. This time, I wanted to go all out, and I’m seeing the results.”
Spotify data underscores Davido’s growing global influence. In the past 12 months, his music has been added to over 12 million playlists worldwide.
The artist’s reach spans key markets including Nigeria, the U.S., U.K., South Africa, and France, with 34% of his listeners aged 18-24 and 41% aged 25-34.
As 5IVE continues to captivate listeners, this intimate event further solidified Davido’s position as one of Afrobeats’ leading voices, fostering a deeper connection between him and his dedicated fanbase.
Broadcasting
How Sen. Hope Uzodinma Is Transforming Imo State Through Digital Innovation

By Chimezie Orisakwe
It is often wise to be sceptical when politicians promise heaven on earth because, more often than not, they have shown Nigerians that their grand declarations frequently lack corresponding action. Like many Nigerians, I have learned to take such a political promise with a grain of salt. But in Imo State, the Eastern Heartland, a remarkable transformation is taking place.
During a recent visit to Owerri for the 4th Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Summit organized by the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), I had the rare opportunity to witness firsthand the executive governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma’s, unwavering commitment to positioning Imo as Nigeria’s premier digital economy. Far from merely paying lip service to innovation, the governor was actively engaging with young innovators, demonstrating his administration’s genuine dedication to digitalizing Imo State.
Governor Uzodinma didn’t just deliver a speech at the NCS event; he laid out a blueprint. His administration’s vision is clear: to make Imo State a global player in AI, robotics, and digital innovation. And he is not waiting.
At the centre of Governor Uzodinma’s digital revolution stands the Imo Digital City — a groundbreaking initiative poised to catapult the state onto the global technology stage. This ambitious project is not just another government white elephant; it’s already taking shape as a comprehensive ecosystem designed to nurture innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Imo Digital City features cutting-edge facilities, including high-tech classrooms, innovation hubs, and co-working spaces equipped with state-of-the-art tech tools. These resources are strategically designed to cultivate the next generation of digital entrepreneurs and position Imo as a formidable player in the global digital economy.
While his administration is doing its part, he understands the importance of partnership with the private sector. In March 2025, the governor signed a landmark agreement with the US Market Access Centre (US-MAC) to fully realize the potential of the Imo Digital City. This collaboration aims to replicate the success of Silicon Valley by fostering local tech talent, accelerating startup growth, and attracting global investment.
Beyond US-Mac, the administration has fostered partnerships with global tech giants including Microsoft, Zinox Technologies, Cisco, Konga Group, and the European Union Digital SME Alliance. These strategic alliances are structured to provide training, infrastructure, and funding that will establish Imo as Nigeria’s premier technology hub.
The governor’s digital initiatives extend beyond infrastructure to human capital development. The Skill-Up Imo Programme has already trained and empowered 40,000 youths, many of whom are now gainfully employed. This initiative forms part of a broader strategy to create over 300,000 jobs through various digital economy programs.
What sets this initiative apart is its focus on entrepreneurship. As Governor Uzodinma stated during his address at the NCS summit, “We don’t just want to create jobs; we want to create those who will create jobs.” This philosophy underscores his administration’s forward-thinking approach to governance and economic development.
He even added that his administration is rolling out fibre optic infrastructure across all 27 Local Government Areas to bridge the digital divide. Additionally, the soon-to-be-launched “My Imo App” will democratize access to government services, while an automated Land Information System will ensure efficiency and transparency in land administration.
Vision without execution is a hallucination. Fortunately, Governor Uzodinma has assembled a dynamic team to ensure these projects do not remain on paper. Leading the charge is Dr. Chimezie Amadi, the Honourable Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, whose expertise and enthusiasm have been instrumental in fast-tracking these initiatives.
While many Nigerian leaders pay lip service to youth empowerment and tech innovation, Governor Uzodinma is putting Imo on the map as a model for digital governance. If he maintains this momentum, Imo won’t just be the pride of the South-East, it will be Nigeria’s business and technology hub.
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