Developing Flahmingo – A Fintech App

Company: Flahmingo Investments
Category: Fintech
Website: www.flahmingo.com

Introduction

In my role as a Product Manager at Flahmingo, a Canadian fintech startup, I had the unique opportunity to contribute to a product that broke new ground in the market. We facilitated fractional share investments, making investing accessible to a larger demographic.


Challenges

Navigating my journey, I faced two main challenges:

  • Cross-Functional Team Management: The teams were globally dispersed, with distinct native languages and residing in different time zones. This setup required careful management to ensure efficient collaboration.

  • End-to-End Development: Orchestrating the complex and innovative development of the app, from conception to execution, required attention to detail and precise planning.

    • Strategy and Execution

    To address these challenges, I adopted a strategic approach which included:

  • Agile Project Management: I utilized Agile methodologies (Scrum) for the entire product development lifecycle. This involved initiating, planning, executing, and monitoring the project, maintaining clear and constant communication with all teams.

  • Vendor API Exploration: I delved into various vendor APIs, including Alpaca, IEX, Polygon, among others, to identify which API would best solve our needs and yield the desired results.

  • Quality Assurance & Backend Development: I was deeply involved in backend development, troubleshooting APIs, and serving as the app's Quality Assurance officer. My diverse role allowed me to ensure that all elements of the app performed as expected.

  • Resource Planning and Reporting: Resource allocation, creating timelines, and generating SQL reports for the compliance team were vital parts of my role. This helped maintain transparency, track progress, and ensured that the project milestones were met on time.


    • Conclusion

    Navigating through unique challenges at Flahmingo, we successfully developed Canada's pioneering fractional share investment app. Though not without its hurdles, this journey was a testament to the power of effective product management, resilience, and cross-cultural collaboration. The experience, embodying both the triumphs and tribulations of a startup journey, provided invaluable lessons and insights that will continue to inspire my future endeavors.