Do we build products for ourselves first?

I believe a project can only succeed if one deeply loves the problem they are trying to solve.
This idea, often repeated in the world of entrepreneurship, truly makes sense over time: it is the obsession with the problem that allows one to stay on course, much more than a simple task list leading to an “ideal” version of the product.

However, focusing on the problem must not make us forget the other half of the equation: making users want to adopt the solution.
This is the entire complexity of a project: finding the balance between passion for the problem, love for the product, and above all, understanding its target audience.

The Oko Shop Example

When we launched Arkone in 2021, our very first project was Oko Shop.
An application aimed at helping everyone make informed choices in supermarkets.
The idea was simple, useful, and above all, we truly believed in it.
I personally rated over 1,800 products, and I use it regularly.
The result? An application that is still running without any major bugs since 2021, with no updates.

On paper, everything seemed perfect.
But in hindsight, we realized we had neglected a crucial aspect: the attractive, emotional side of the product.
We had solved the problem, but not necessarily made people want to experience this solution.

Some say you have to choose between loving your problem or loving your product.
I believe we need to combine both… and add a third ingredient: understanding your target audience.
Understanding how they think, what motivates them, and how they perceive the value of what we build.

The Redesign of Oko Shop: A New Chapter

It is in this spirit that we are currently preparing a complete redesign of Oko Shop.
This new version, more modern and more human, will be something of our emblematic project at Arkone — both a return to our roots and a showcase of our evolution.
Because, even if the 2021 version remains a great reference, we have grown tremendously since then: over 100 projects completed, successes, failures, and above all, an experience that now allows us to support our clients with greater perspective and clarity.

But what hasn’t changed is the energy and curiosity inherent to our young team.
We continue to learn, test, and explore.

In conclusion…

There’s a line from a movie I really like:

“You can be like you, young in years and old in hours.”

This is exactly what we want to offer with Arkone:
youth in spirit, experience in hours spent,
and the constant desire to build useful, beautiful, and sincere products.