Native Mobile Social Platforms for Disaster Preparations
CLIENT
Ready.fm
Ready.fm: Native Mobile Social Platforms for Disaster Preparations
"Learn how Waverley developed iOS & Android versions of a social network for disaster preppers: secure CMS, offline mapping, social and shopping features."
Ready.fm, founded in 2012, created the first social network for disaster preppers—a community of individuals actively preparing for possible disruptions. Waverley developed native iOS and Android applications from scratch, built a secure backend CMS, implemented offline mapping capabilities, and delivered social networking features including messaging, content subscriptions, and in-app purchases. The app launched in summer 2014 and became a featured social platform for emergency preparedness communities.
Ready.fm
Ready.fm, founded in 2012 and based in Santa Clara, California, was created by Brian Venneman, a Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur, to address an underserved market: preppers (individuals actively preparing for possible disruptions) who wanted to socialize and share knowledge. While numerous emergency-related apps existed (wilderness guides, SOS generators), there was no social platform where preppers could discuss strategies, share advice, ask questions, and shop for supplies. Ready.fm filled this gap by creating a dedicated community network with commerce capabilities.
Project Analysis and Challenges
Ready.fm faced a complex technical challenge: building a greenfield mobile social platform for an emerging community. The requirements included:
Native iOS and Android applications for reliability and platform-specific user experience
Secure backend infrastructure and content management system (CMS)
Offline mapping functionality for users in areas with intermittent connectivity
Full social networking features: profiles, following, commenting, messaging
Messaging with location and priority tags for emergency coordination
Commerce: in-app purchases for emergency supplies and content subscriptions
Content management: survival-related feeds on security, shelter, hydration, and preparedness
The client initially engaged design partner COG1 for UX and visual design, then needed a technical execution partner who could build all functionality from scratch.
Waverley Solution
Waverley became Ready.fm's development arm, working alongside COG1's design team to translate visual designs into production mobile apps. The engagement evolved from a fixed-bid model to a dedicated team arrangement—a shift that proved far more effective for an emerging product requiring rapid iteration and feedback.
Dedicated team structure: Waverley's Kharkiv office in Ukraine established a full-time team of developers responsible for iOS, Android, and backend development, working continuously on Ready's product roadmap.
What We Delivered
Core features delivered:
- iOS and Android apps: Native development for each platform, launching simultaneously
- Emergency kit management: Tools for users to document and organize emergency supplies
- Offline mapping: Route planning and critical location mapping without internet connectivity
- Social networking: User profiles, following/followers, public commenting and discussions
- Messaging: Private messaging with priority ratings and location sharing for coordinated responses
- Content subscriptions: Curated feeds on survival topics (security, shelter, water, food, medical, skills)
- Commerce platform: In-app purchases for emergency supplies and premium content
- Secure backend: Reliable CMS and API architecture supporting social, messaging, and transaction features
Technology Stack
Native Objective-C for iOS, native Java/Android for Android platform, .NET backend for CMS and APIs, geopositioning and offline mapping libraries, messaging infrastructure with priority handling.
Development Process
Initial fixed-bid engagement transitioned to dedicated team model—a critical decision that enabled agile iteration. Early user feedback drove redesigns of key features. The team worked continuously on feature refinement and user experience optimization based on community feedback and usage patterns.
Outcomes & Impact
Launch success: Ready.fm iPhone app launched on the App Store in summer 2014 with full feature parity to Android version
Market first: Became one of the first dedicated social networks for the disaster preparedness community
User-driven iteration: Initial feedback drove key feature redesigns, improving user experience and engagement
Media attention: Featured in numerous technology and preparedness publications
Community growth: Established a vibrant platform connecting preppers globally for knowledge sharing and community coordination
Ongoing development: Dedicated team model proved sustainable for continuous feature development and maintenance
Conclusion
Ready.fm's case demonstrates Waverley's ability to execute complex mobile social platforms from scratch. The engagement highlights an important lesson: fixed-bid contracts don't work well for emerging products where user feedback drives iteration. By transitioning to a dedicated team model, Waverley and Ready.fm created a sustainable partnership that could respond to community needs and market feedback. The platform's success as one of the first social networks for preppers shows how the right technical execution partners can help founders capture emerging market opportunities.
Let's Build Something Great.
Tell us about your project — we'll find the right path forward.