Leigh Hunt
Leigh Hunt

A number of startup companies are looking to make it painless for companies to build and manage mobile applications across various platforms, from the iPhone to Android to Windows Phone 7. But AppsJack, a Bellevue startup led by Leigh Hunt, thinks it can make a mark despite competition from the likes of Red Foundry, iSites, Swebapps and others. We chatted with Hunt, who previously ran retail stores for AT&T, about what makes his startup different.

Explain what you do so our moms can understand it: We build apps for all mobile platforms.

Inspiration hit us when: We wanted to build an iPhone and Android app and was quoted $100,000.

VC, Angel or Bootstrap: Booststrap.

Our ‘secret sauce’ is: A technology that generates 90 percent of the native code for us.

The smartest move we’ve made so far: Hiring local developers and designers instead of outsourcing.

The biggest mistake we’ve made so far: We haven’t made one yet, but we will.

Would you rather have Gates, Jobs, Zuckerberg or Bezos in your corner: Bezos. He has been the go to guy since he started his company.

Our world domination strategy starts when: Business and consumers realize the cost to deliver them an app across multiple mobile platforms has been brought down to a realistic price. Remember when the cost to develop a kick ass website was $100,000 to $200,000? Nowadays you can get the same website for $15,000 to $25,000. We feel apps are in that same space.

Rivals should fear us because: Middleware is dead and traditional App developers will not be able to compete against us on price. We deliver the same beautiful app for half the price. Who wants to pay $50,000 to $100,000 to develop an app for one platform? Who wants to pay a monthly price for an app forever?

We are truly unique because: We build in the cloud. If technology or platforms shift so can we. We have the tech and the talent to change with the technology and the platforms in a heartbeat.

The biggest hurdle we’ve overcome is: Getting the first customer. The first is always the hardest.

What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to other entrepreneurs just starting out: Just do it. A lot of people talk about what they want to do. I see a lot of the same people going to events to launch a company or get advice. You can only go to so many events and at some point you just have to start.

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