In this episode, Robert breaks down the real reason he hired Vertise Labs: his interpreter services business needed a business-purpose iOS + Android app to replace a messy website workflow and tighten day-to-day communication with interpreters.
They walk through the early execution details—shipping fast, staying inside scope, and getting a private/non-public app approved (including the “you may need a call with Apple” moment).
Then it moves into what actually made the project work: clear deliverables, consistent feedback loops, low politics, and a practical Slack-based workflow. The conversation closes with broader operator lessons: why “happy decks” don’t fix ops problems, when an app creates efficiency leverage, and how communication has to evolve as a business becomes more remote.
Takeaways
- The initial goal: a mobile app for interpreters to centralize workflows.
- The app is business-purpose and not meant for the general public to download.
- Private distribution can require extra App Store approval steps (including an Apple call).
- Staying on track came down to clear scope + clear expectations early.
- A smooth build needs fast feedback—waiting until the end slows everything down.
- “Happy slides” don’t help—execution in the trenches does.
- Slack + regular check-ins created momentum and reduced friction.
- Stripe comes up as part of the payments stack discussion.
- Rob references Boostlingo as a comparable point in the space.
- Best fit: businesses around $1M+ revenue that need efficiency without hiring more people.
- As teams go remote, communication must get more explicit (less hallway clarity).
Chapters
- 00:00 The problem to solve: why the app mattered
- 00:40 What the first build phase delivered (and what’s next)
- 00:59 Getting a business-purpose app approved (Apple call + non-public distribution)
- 01:39 Why “now” was the right time to build
- 01:59 On-time / on-budget execution basics
- 06:19 How Robert found the team (Instagram) + why the message landed
- 13:56 “No happy slides”: execution vs fluff
- 15:30 Payments stack notes (Stripe)
- 16:03 Who Vertise Labs is best for (when an app creates leverage)
- 19:41 Feedback loops + why speed of response matters
- 25:21 Recommendation: the ideal company profile ($1M+ revenue, efficiency gaps)
- 34:30 Remote growth lesson: communication has to level up
- 36:18 Wrap-up
Tags
#VertiseLabs #BusinessApps #Operations #ProcessAutomation #InternalTools #iOSApp #AndroidApp #AppStore #StartupExecution #ClientSuccess #SlackWorkflow #ProductBuild #Stripe #InterpreterServices #Boostlingo #RemoteTeams #BusinessSystems #SmallBusiness #SMB #ScalingOperations
