Independo - Interview with the developer of a fantastic app

Did you have any prior development or coding experience?

Yes. I have decades of software development experience and run a digital consultancy in Denmark that delivers software solutions to some of the largest organizations in the country. The idea for 'Independo' derived from my wife Anne, who has no prior development experience. She has a degree in Sociology and hence a great knowledge of human behavior. Thus, our different competencies are a great match for 'Independo'.

What was the most challenging aspect of developing mobile app?

The most challenging aspect of developing 'Independo' has been and still is to obtain a great number of downloads based on organic traffic, face the right users and detect their needs.

_{Ole Brockhuus}

Ole Brockhaus is the CEO and founder of the digital consultancy - Linkfactory, which is located in Denmark. He has several years of software development experience and has been in the app business for quite some time.

Name a few of your favorite apps and reason you love them.

One of the apps we find quite inspiring from a business perspective is 'Endomondo'. The company managed to grow from “nothing” to a profitable business, which is very admirable. Otherwise, we are huge fans of 'Airbnb', because it's simplifying your life and saving you time when you are on the go. We also have to mention our other app 'SpotTheSpy', which is a security app alerting the users about any suspicious activity on their accounts.

How long have you been working on this app?

We have been working on 'Independo' for approximately half a year - not full-time, but besides all of our other projects. We also used a lot of the components and knowledge we gained from when developing 'SpotTheSpy'.

What need of the user did you have in mind when developing this app?

'Independo' was born from the personal ache of being hacked. A few years ago, Anne experienced that the chairman of the board of a child care center kept sending her mysterious emails. We realized that individuals do not know how to handle this or don’t even recognize they are being hacked. This gave us the idea for a security app that alerts the users about any weak spots on their online accounts. We know that no matter how good the front-line security is, hackers will find a way to circumvent it and get into private accounts. Instead of building yet another antivirus system, we developed an app that continuously scans the user's account for weak spots and lets them know what they can do to enhance their online security. The user will be informed 24/7 about their recent security events: when they changed their password, whether they have applied 2-step verification and the app lets them review their latest security-related activities on their account. Hence, they can make sure their settings across their accounts are up-to-date to safeguard their accounts even more.

In what way do you think your app is better than similar apps on the market? Please describe in detail what innovation you think you bring and what you are proud of in your app.

We believe that our app is rethinking online security. We are not only trying to keep hackers out, but the app is informing the users about their accounts' security limitations that may make them a potential hacker victim. We give the users the power to take action. Compared to competitors, 'Independo' is gathering all of the users’ digital accounts and enables them to distinguish where they need to boost their security. Hence, the user will only need one app to stay informed about their security settings.

What are your future plans and expected features of the coming new versions of this app?

The initial version of 'Independo' can monitor your Gmail, LinkedIn and Facebook account, but eventually, 'Independo' will be able to monitor your other social media profiles and e-mail providers, so you will be able to stay in control across all of your online accounts. However, our next step is first and foremost to launch the iOS version of the app.

Assuming new users of your app are reading this page. What do you want to ask them to do (contact you about X, Share the app, etc.)?

Of course, we will encourage everyone to download 'Independo' and make sure their security settings across their accounts are up-to-date. We love getting feedback or suggestions, and if you choose to download 'Independo' we would appreciate hearing your input! Moreover, you are always more than welcome to share 'Independo' with others who might need to boost their digital security in an easy and seamless way. Stay safe!