How we saved a failing project and turned it into a scalable IoT product - at a fraction of the original cost

A Dutch IoT start-up was left with an unfinished web and mobile app after burning most of its funding with a previous supplier. We stepped in with a bold plan that saved the project and turned it into a profitable platform in no time.

50%
Development costs cut
Weeks
Demo version ready
Restored
Operating profit

The rescue mission

Client

Tentacles IoT is a Dutch start-up building wireless soil sensors for growers and gardeners. Their sensors send real-time data to the cloud, helping users monitor soil health, optimise water usage, and make smarter decisions.

Challenge

Funding was nearly gone. The web and mobile apps were unfinished. The pressure was high - we had to "finish" the product at a fraction of the original cost.

Solution

Rapid development of a presentable demo, then a structured rebuild with a single codebase (Flutter), Bluetooth pairing, on-device updates and third-party access via BlockBax.

Outcome

A stable, scalable product with lower development costs, faster delivery, operating profit, and new industry contracts.

A client failed by a previous tech supplier

Tentacles IoT had solid hardware but no reliable software to manage devices and data. The previous partner left behind incomplete code. The investors were impatient. The stakes were extremely high.

What we had to work with:

Unfinished mobile and web app
Nearly exhausted budget
Duplicated costs and delays

Pressure, chaos and no time for mistakes

The task was not easy - launch something credible now, while building a foundation for future upgrades. This meant creating a demo app with a scalable architecture - FAST.

What the client wanted:

Cost-effective demo version that wouldn't burn the budget
Reliable connectivity between sensors and platforms
Clear and readable dashboards for operations

A bold rebuild that actually saved the product

We executed a two-step strategy. First, we had to fix the mess left behind by a previous supplier and launch a demo. Second, a complete rebuild. We chose Flutter - a pioneering move at the time - to maximize velocity and minimize cost with one single codebase across platforms.

Technical Audit and Rescue

Emergency fixes to make the product demo-ready, followed by code analysis, architecture, and a realistic rescue plan.

Software Development and Scaling

We rebuilt the entire mobile app in Flutter - the smartest way to cut costs, speed up delivery, and ship to both iOS and Android at once. The app now handles reliable Bluetooth pairing, real-time data reads, and over-the-air firmware updates. All sensor data flows directly into the web app, while BlockBax enables clean data access for partners. New web dashboards give operators a clear overview of installed sensors, configurations, and measured values.

The behind-the-scenes magic

Audit
Hotfix
Demo build
Flutter architecture
Mobile dev
Bluetooth connectivity
Web dashboard
BlockBax integrations
Testing
Launch

How we turned a sinking ship into a revenue-ready platform

We didn't just take over the failing project. We reversed the entire trajectory. The business went from stuck to operating profit, with initial investments finally starting to return. And when the product hit the market, new industry contracts followed, leading the way for further sensor development and sustainable growth, and even becoming a key supplier for a global leader in growing substrates, Klasmann-Deilmann.

What we delivered:

Fully functioning web and mobile app
Control over all sensors, including settings and performance stats
Support for advanced technologies like Sigfox and the Helium network
Development at a fraction of the original cost thanks to Flutter
Demo in weeks, not months, improving credibility with investors
Operating profit restored and new contracts signed

The data that tells the real story

	Before GrownApps	After GrownApps
Mobile delivery	Unfinished and delayed	Cost-effective single codebase
Time-to-demo	Not usable	Ready in weeks
Real-time updates	Unreliable	Stable wireframe via Bluetooth
Data visibility	Not developed	Clear dashboards
Partner data access	Manual	BlockBax with third-party access