Mobile app development

About Us - We are building a human connection platform currently in Beta testing with a live iOS application already deployed and actively evolving. The product sits in the social discovery / real-world connection space and is designed around helping people meet and connect in real life (through the use of technology). We are now preparing for Android development and future scale-up as we move toward broader user adoption. Our belief is simple: Technology is important, but product-market fit and user adoption ultimately determine success. The platform is already operational, has real users, and has undergone extensive testing, QA, and scalability review. We are now looking for the right technical partner to help us take the next step. The Opportunity - We are looking for a highly capable "Lone Wolf" React Native developer. This is not a traditional agency engagement. This is for an experienced engineer who enjoys ownership, autonomy, and building meaningful products. You will work directly with the founder and the exec team (and become a key part of the journey). The immediate objective is to create the Android application while establishing a unified React Native codebase that can ultimately support both Android and iOS moving forward. We are specifically interested in developers who embrace AI-assisted development and modern engineering workflows. If you use tools such as: Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Windsurf, GitHub Copilot, Custom AI coding agents, then that's a major advantage. Current Environment - The existing platform consists of: Live iOS application; Laravel backend; AWS infrastructure; Real-time social interaction workflows; Existing beta user base; Ongoing QA and load testing program. A recent independent reviews identified that the overall architecture is fundamentally sound, with several areas of strong engineering already in place, and ongoing work to strengthen identified fixes and next phase of scaling needs. The next stage is about platform evolution + optimisation, and Android expansion. What You'll Be Doing. Phase 1 - Review existing architecture and product workflows. NOTE - Remember that the existing backend will remain with the existing dev-team. Understand - User journey wireframes, Core app logic, API architecture, Existing iOS implementation framework. Phase 2 - Build Android application using React Native. We are keen on an AI-assisted approach. Phase 3 - Evaluate migration path toward a shared React Native codebase capable of supporting both Android and iOS long-term. Phase 4 - Build your knowledge of what the existing backend / maintenance team is doing. Get involved more as the platform scales (after you’ve deployed the Android build). Who We're Looking For - Must Have: Strong React Native experience; Production mobile app experience; AI-assisted development workflows; AWS familiarity; API integration experience; Excellent communication; Ability to work independently; Strong ownership mindset Highly Desirable: Startup experience; Founder mentality; Experience migrating native applications into React Native; Scalability and performance optimisation experience; Understanding of real-world user growth challenges What Makes This Different - This is not a corporate maintenance role. This is an opportunity to join an ambitious startup at a pivotal moment. The iOS product is already built. The beta is already running. Users are already testing. Now we need the right technical partner to help shape the Android phase (and bring over the iOS framework from Swift, into React Native). If you're excited by - Building products people actually use, Working directly with the founder + exec team, Leveraging AI to move faster, Making meaningful technical decisions, Having genuine ownership - then we'd love to hear from you. To Apply. Please include: 1). Your commercial brief - Term/Conditions. Hourly/Fixed-price. Estimated time to build. 2). Submit a video. In the video please – introduce yourself, why this opportunity interests you, outline your React Native experience, and briefly showcase 1-3 mobile apps you have personally built. Please explain how you currently use AI tools (Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, Copilot, etc.) in your development workflow and provide a practical example of how AI has helped accelerate delivery or improve code quality. Finally, explain how you would approach – (a) reviewing an existing iOS product (and migrating it over to React Native) and (b) creating a React Native Android version while balancing speed, quality, scalability, and startup budget constraints. The future - We are currently seeking a freelance engagement. However, for the right person who demonstrates strong technical capability, ownership, reliability, and alignment with our vision, there may be an opportunity to become a longer-term part of the journey. We are building for the long term and value people who think beyond individual tasks. As the platform grows, there may be opportunities for expanded responsibility, ongoing engagement, and a deeper role in shaping the future of the product. We're looking for someone excited not only by coding, but by helping build something meaningful from an early stage. We are looking for capability, speed, ownership, and pragmatism. If that sounds like you, let's talk. [end].