Pierre Benz, Engineering Manager at Headspace, brings a unique blend of experience in mobile development, agency work, and mental health tech. Before joining Headspace, he held roles at design agency AKQA and in multiple startups spanning IoT and consumer apps. He began his career focused on game development and human-computer interaction at the University of Cape Town, blending technical depth with a keen interest in user psychology.

In this episode, Pierre shares how his team at Headspace transitioned from fragmented native codebases to a unified Flutter architecture. He details the cultural, technical, and organizational hurdles of managing a high-stakes migration, balancing performance, feature parity, and developer sentiment. Pierre also reflects on parenting, leadership, and what it means to ship value fast when people’s mental well-being is on the line.

Key Takeaways:

(03:33) Early agency and startup work shaped Pierre’s engineering values.

(04:10) Headspace’s merger sparked major architectural challenges.

(16:00) Two legacy apps were integrated under intense deadlines.

(21:00) Flutter helped achieve cross-platform feature parity.

(26:27) Engineers were given time to upskill, but not all stayed.

(33:57) Flutter UI quality exceeded expectations, even for designers.

(40:23) A centralized migration team sped up execution.

(48:00) Trust, failure, and growth as leadership pillars.

Pierre Benz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/pierrebenz/

Headspace | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/headspace-meditation-limited/

Headspace | Website

https://www.headspace.com

Flutter

https://flutter.dev

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment

On today’s episode, we’re joined by David Goldman, whose career journey includes roles in investment banking and diversified investing before becoming a Partner at Celesta Capital. David shares insights into deep tech investing, the realities of venture capital, and strategies for navigating technological change in dynamic markets. He also reflects on the role of conviction in startups, the evolving impact of AI, and the traits he sees in successful founders and companies.



Key Takeaways:

(03:16) Celesta Capital’s focus on early-stage deep tech companies with differentiated technology.

(05:04) Technology VC ranges from quick, high-volume investing to deep, conviction-based partnerships.

(10:01) Venture capital requires long-term commitments, unlike the quick moves of public market investing.

(17:40) Improving productivity in health care, housing and education can make these essentials more accessible and affordable.

(23:03) Most AI investment today focuses on foundation models and infrastructure.

(30:27) Companies should anchor decisions in their core value to customers before reacting to external changes.

(34:54) Startups benefit from being small, enabling tighter collaboration across teams.

(41:27) Deep tech investments often require years of R&D before reaching the market.

Resources Mentioned:

David Goldman

https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-goldman-a72895a5/

Celesta Capital | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/celestacapital/

Celesta Capital | Website

https://www.celesta.vc/

Mech robots of Dexterity

https://www.dexterity.ai/

OpenAI

https://openai.com/

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment

Brian Abston, Senior Director of Digital Technology at The Wendy’s Company, brings over two decades of experience in software development, platform architecture and IT leadership. Before joining Wendy’s, he spent four years as IT Director and Platform Architect at SONIC Drive-In, leading digital initiatives in QSR. His background includes roles as a Java Developer at MSCI Inc. and Power Costs, Inc., where he honed his expertise in scalable software solutions and enterprise technology.

In this episode, Brian shares how he led the mobile transformation of Wendy’s, replacing fragmented native apps with a unified Flutter-based platform. He discusses the importance of automation, feature flagging and staggered rollouts in ensuring fast, reliable updates for millions of customers. He also explains how engineering decisions can drive business success, particularly in high-demand moments like March Madness promotions.

Key Takeaways:

(03:43) Custom-built technology supports QSR’s mobile, web and e-commerce platforms.

(08:08) Why maintaining separate native apps became unsustainable.

(11:23) Flutter delivered features twice as fast as native development.

(15:35) Product decisions flow from marketing to engineering for implementation.

(21:40) A centralized design system ensures consistency across all UI components.

(24:01) A critical integration deadline forced a fast technology transition.

(25:39) Managing web, iOS and Android separately created inconsistencies.

(27:54) How to run big digital promotion events with real-time app updates.

(31:52) A unified codebase doubled productivity without increasing team size.

(35:05) Transitioning 40 million users required careful planning.

(39:56) Software engineering remains an art, requiring human creativity.

(41:29) AI’s limitations stem from vague human requirements.

Resources Mentioned:

Brian Abston

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianpabston/

The Wendy’s Company | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/wendys-international/

The Wendy’s Company | Website

https://www.wendys.com

Launch Darkly

https://launchdarkly.com

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/.

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment

Michael Gyarmathy, Staff Software Engineer at PGA of America, brings a wealth of experience in full-stack development, cloud-native technologies and DevOps. At PGA of America, Michael leads engineering efforts to enhance the golf experience through digital products like PGA Coach, which helps golf professionals streamline their businesses.



In this episode, Michael shares how customer obsession, iterative development and engineering culture drive innovation at PGA of America. He also discusses how Flutter enables scalable app development, how his consulting background shaped his product mindset and why self-immersion in the customer journey is key to building great software.

Key Takeaways:

(02:06) Software engineering is a craft that evolves.

(04:05) Consulting builds a strong foundation, but ownership fuels growth.

(09:07) Digital tools can streamline operations for service professionals.

(11:34) Personal experience with a product’s domain improves development.

(15:30) Embedding products into business programs drives adoption.

(17:35) The product triad (PM, designer, engineer) guides development.

(24:06) Understanding the customer journey leads to better product decisions.

(28:24) Technology can enhance remote learning and coaching experiences.

(31:42) Modular architectures support scalability and multiple teams.

(38:43) Enabling professionals to work efficiently creates lasting impact.

Resources Mentioned:

Michael Gyarmathy

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-gyarmathy-87ba3364/

PGA of America LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pga-of-america/

PGA of America Website

https://www.pga.com/

Michael Gyarmathy on X

https://x.com/mgyarmathy_

PGA Coach

https://pga.coach/

Find a Golf Coach Near You

https://www.pga.com/coach

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment

Dan Hou, Founder and Partner at Eskridge, joins us to discuss how companies can effectively integrate AI into their operations and digital products. With a career spanning Microsoft, Motorola, Huge and Amazon, Dan has spent years identifying paradigm shifts in technology. Now, at Eskridge, he helps mid-market businesses deploy AI strategies that drive real impact.

Key Takeaways:

(07:08) AI in businesses falls into two categories: internal efficiency and product innovation.

(08:51) High-impact AI use cases are those that meaningfully affect cost, revenue or productivity.

(12:48) AI use cases vary — what works for one company may not fit another.

(17:01) It’s better to start with AI now than to over-optimize later.

(20:08) AI-native workflows drive more impact than simply adding AI to existing processes.

(24:39) A chat interface often leads to poor UX due to unclear user expectations.

(29:49) AI-powered search is reshaping how users find and interact with information.

(35:27) AI model selection is becoming more specialized, with different models excelling at different tasks.

(38:02) AI governance and legal concerns remain key barriers to enterprise adoption.

(42:23) AI isn’t going away — businesses must get comfortable with it.

Resources Mentioned:

Dan Hou -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danhou/

Eskridge | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/eskridge-ai/

Eskridge | Website -

https://eskridge.co

AI For Everyone -

https://www.deeplearning.ai/courses/ai-for-everyone/

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results.

Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/.



#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Thiago Ghisi, Director of Engineering at Nubank. With nearly two decades of experience in the software industry, Thiago has held roles such as Senior Software Engineering Manager at Apple, Engineering Director, Mobile Engineering at American Express and Senior Quality Assurance Consultant at Thoughtworks.

Thiago shares his evolution from hands-on engineering to leadership, insights into building Canonical platforms and the transformative journey of adopting server-driven UI at Nubank.

Key Takeaways:

(02:39) The importance of being a “glue person” in engineering teams.

(07:59) Lessons learned from effective delegation and giving actionable feedback.

(14:42) Nubank’s innovative adoption of Flutter to streamline mobile development.

(17:20) Gradual migration without overhauling the entire system immediately.

(20:46) Why server-driven UI took years to perfect and how it revolutionized Nubank’s processes.

(28:19) Server-driven UI enables continuous delivery for faster iteration cycles.

(35:07) End-to-end product ownership means solving problems, not forcing solutions.

(39:10) Company culture plays a critical role in driving success.

(43:49) Governance is critical for managing server-driven UI effectively.

(48:13) Avoiding attachment to technologies enables innovation and adaptability.

Resources Mentioned:

Thiago Ghisi -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/thiagoghisi/

Nubank | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nubank/

Nubank | Website -

https://www.nubank.com.br/

Apple -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/apple/

American Express -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-express/

Thoughtworks -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/thoughtworks/

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment

On this episode, we’re joined by Jorge Coca, Head of Engineering at Very Good Ventures, whose career spans over a decade of innovative contributions to the Flutter ecosystem and mobile engineering. Jorge’s journey includes pivotal roles at BMW, where he spearheaded Android and Flutter development, and SPR, where he led impactful consulting projects.

Jorge discusses the evolution of scalable and user-friendly engineering practices, the importance of aligning technology with business goals and fostering innovation within engineering teams. He also shares insights into balancing complexity with simplicity in solutions, the role of Flutter in transforming mobile app development, and the emerging frontier of augmented reality and wearable technologies.



Key Takeaways:

(01:12) The parallels between cooking, music and coding.

(02:21) Jorge’s journey from Spain to the US through the Erasmus program.

(04:31) User experience clicked, inspiring interest in website development.

(08:19) First Android hire at BMW, tasked with rapid delivery.

(13:06) BMW apps serve multiple brands and regional variations globally.

(17:34) Past engineering mistakes taught lessons on balancing complexity.

(25:14) Data-driven decisions led to adopting Flutter across engineering.

(28:06) Engineering leaders must foster cultures where failure drives learning.

(31:34) Scalable solutions require critical, focused ideas with broad impact.

(34:21) Avoid over-engineering by focusing on practical, impactful changes.

(36:43) Success means delivering value without compromising business stability.

(42:26) Wearables may introduce new platforms complementing tools like Flutter.

Resources Mentioned:

Jorge Coca -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgecocaramos/

Very Good Ventures | LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/very-good-ventures

Very Good Ventures | Website -

https://verygood.ventures/

BMW Group -

https://www.bmwgroup.com/

Flutter by Google -

https://flutter.dev/

Firebase -

https://firebase.google.com/

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Chris Synan, Vice President of Engineering at Keller Williams Realty, Inc. Chris has been with Keller Williams since just before the COVID lockdown and has played a critical role in driving the company’s technology transformation. With experience managing large teams and overhauling systems at companies such as Dell, AMD, CA Technologies, and General Motors, Chris has valuable insights on large-scale innovation, team culture transformation and technological development.

Key Takeaways:

(04:42) Investing in technology to drive business forward.

(06:37) The importance of simplifying tech processes.

(10:55) Transitioning to React Native for scalability.

(12:33) Building a culture of trust in the team.

(15:48) The importance of strong leadership during difficult times.

(17:50) Expert knowledge is critical to building great tech.

(23:33) Starting fresh with expert guidance boosts efficiency.

(31:10) Scaling the tech stack to support rapid growth.

Resources Mentioned:

Chris Synan -

https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissynan/

Keller Williams Realty, Inc.| LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/keller-williams-realty-inc/

Keller Williams Realty | Website -

https://kw.com/

React Native -

https://reactnative.dev/

Very Good Ventures designs and builds world-class digital experiences for any screen, with the best tools and engineering approaches for consistent, scalable results. Find out how VGV helps you hit the mark at: https://verygood.ventures/.

#Apps #Flutter #AppDevelopment