There are 3 realistic places to find an experienced software developer: independent studios, referrals, and vetted freelance networks. The strongest sign of real experience isn’t years on a resume. It’s software they built years ago that still runs today. Look for that, not a client list.
Where should I actually look?
Start with these three places, roughly in order of how reliable they are:
- Independent studios. A senior team owns the whole build, end to end. You can usually see live products they still maintain.
- Referrals. Ask other business owners who built something similar. A happy client who paid real money is a strong signal.
- Vetted freelance networks. Sites that check work history and reviews before listing someone. Slower to filter, but the reviews help.
Job boards and cold DMs work too. You’ll just do more of the checking yourself.
What counts as “experienced”?
Years matter less than what someone built and kept alive. Look for 5+ years and at least one product they still run and update today. A developer who abandoned every project after launch hasn’t proven the hard part: keeping software working.
How do I spot real experience in a first conversation?
Ask to see something live, not a slide deck. Then ask what went wrong after launch, and how they fixed it. Real experience sounds like specific answers about bugs and outages, not smooth talk about “process.”
| Signal | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Live product still maintained | They can ship and keep it running |
| 5+ years building | Enough time to hit real problems |
| Clear answer about a past failure | Honesty, not just a sales pitch |
| Referral from a paying client | Someone already tested the outcome |
| Owns the whole build | One point of contact, no handoffs |
Is Givore a good example of this?
Givore is a studio: one senior team that designs, builds, and keeps your software running, with one clear point of contact throughout. If you want to compare that against hiring a freelancer or an agency, read freelancer vs agency vs studio or how to choose who builds your app. If you’d rather just talk about your project, reach out and tell us about it.