A cross-platform mobile application making pensions, investments and financial planning fun and accessible through bite-sized learning and competitive gameplay.
View siteWhat We Did
- iOS and Android app development using Framework7
- Custom content management system integration with Expression Engine
- Three unique word game mechanics designed for financial education
- Personalised leaderboard and streak tracking system
- Novel storyboard article format for engaging content delivery
- REST API architecture with secure OAuth authentication
- Push notification system for engagement and retention
- Admin portal for content and user management
About the Project
Financial education in the UK faces a persistent challenge: over 70% of employees don't understand their pensions or benefits, leading to millions of lost working hours due to financial stress. MicroFact approached Tinderhouse to develop 2mins, a mobile application that transforms complex financial concepts into engaging, bite-sized learning experiences.
The project required a sophisticated blend of educational content delivery and gamification mechanics. Users needed to learn about traditionally dry subjects like pensions, investments, savings and property through an experience that felt more like entertainment than education. The solution had to work seamlessly across both iOS and Android platforms whilst maintaining the flexibility for MicroFact's team to continuously update content and manage the growing user community.
Tinderhouse delivered a hybrid app development solution that combined the performance benefits of native features with the efficiency of cross-platform code. The app features a distinctive visual identity with playful animal characters that users unlock as they progress from beginners to 'Money Genius' and 'Pensions Guru' status, creating a progression system that keeps users returning.
The Challenge
Making Complex Topics Engaging
Financial concepts like pensions and compound interest are notoriously difficult to make interesting. The app needed to educate users without feeling like a textbook or creating cognitive overload.
Building Habit-Forming Mechanics
Simply providing information wouldn't drive behaviour change. The solution required psychological hooks to encourage daily engagement and knowledge retention over time.
Cross-Platform Consistency
The experience needed to feel native and performant on both iOS and Android, despite budget and timeline constraints that made separate native builds impractical.
Content Management Flexibility
MicroFact's internal team needed the ability to create, schedule and publish new educational content and games without developer involvement for each update.
Competitive Differentiation
The financial education space is crowded with boring quizzes and corporate training modules. The app needed to stand out with genuinely entertaining mechanics.
Our Solution
Hybrid Application Architecture
We selected Framework7 as the foundation for a minimum viable product strategy that would allow rapid iteration based on user feedback. This approach enabled us to develop simultaneously for iOS and Android whilst maintaining a single codebase, significantly reducing development time and ongoing maintenance costs. The framework provided native-feeling UI components and smooth animations that users expect from modern mobile applications.
The hybrid approach proved particularly valuable for this financial app development project, as it allowed MicroFact to test different content formats and game mechanics quickly. Rather than committing to extensive native development upfront, we could validate what resonated with users and refine the experience before investing in platform-specific optimisations.
Three-Game Learning System
Instead of traditional multiple-choice quizzes, we designed three distinct word games that test comprehension in engaging ways. After reading a storyboard article, users play games that require them to recall and apply what they've learned. Each game type offers different cognitive challenges, preventing repetition fatigue whilst reinforcing the educational content through varied interaction patterns.
The games award experience points and contribute to daily streaks, creating immediate feedback loops that encourage consistent usage. This gamification layer transforms what could be passive reading into active learning with clear progression markers.
Expression Engine Content Platform
We integrated the app with Expression Engine to create a flexible content management system tailored to MicroFact's editorial workflow. Admin staff can manage user accounts, schedule daily content releases, create and publish new games, and monitor engagement metrics through a custom-built dashboard.
The integration uses a REST API architecture that separates content creation from app functionality. This means the editorial team can experiment with different topics, article formats and game types without requiring app updates or developer intervention. OAuth authentication ensures secure access whilst push notifications alert users to new content.
Storyboard Article Format
Rather than lengthy text articles, we developed a novel storyboard presentation that breaks information into digestible chunks. Each frame presents a single concept with supporting visuals, making it easy for users to absorb information in the titular two-minute sessions. This format proved particularly effective for the iOS app development and Android platforms, as it's optimised for mobile screen sizes and thumb-friendly navigation.
Personalised Progression
The app creates individual profiles that track each user's knowledge journey. Personalised leaderboards let users compare progress with friends, whilst achievement badges and character unlocks provide satisfying milestones. The streak system encourages daily engagement, with users receiving notifications if they're at risk of breaking their learning momentum.
The Results
Accessible Financial Education - The app successfully transformed complex financial topics into engaging content that users describe as "the first time I've been excited to learn about finance" and makes pensions "not nearly as scary as I thought."
Cross-Platform Reach - By leveraging hybrid development, we delivered native-feeling apps for both iOS and Android within a single development cycle, making the app accessible to the widest possible audience.
Self-Service Content Management - MicroFact's team gained complete autonomy over content creation and publishing, enabling them to respond quickly to user feedback and seasonal financial topics without development bottlenecks.
Proven User Engagement - The gamification mechanics successfully drive behaviour change, with users reporting they "think a lot more about pensions" after using the app and find it "exactly what I needed" for understanding financial jargon.
Scalable Foundation - The architecture laid the groundwork for MicroFact's business model of creating custom branded versions for corporate clients, demonstrating the commercial viability of the approach.
Technical Highlights
Frontend Framework - Framework7 for cross-platform mobile development with native-feeling UI components and smooth animations.
Backend Infrastructure - PHP and MySQL providing robust, scalable server architecture with proven reliability for content-heavy applications.
Content Management - Expression Engine CMS customised for financial education content workflows with scheduling and versioning capabilities.
API Architecture - RESTful API design enabling clean separation between content management and app functionality with JSON data exchange.
Authentication - OAuth 2.0 implementation providing secure user authentication and authorisation across platforms.
Engagement Systems - Push notification infrastructure for content alerts, streak reminders and personalised engagement prompts.
Data Management - MySQL database architecture optimised for user progress tracking, leaderboard calculations and content delivery.
Transform Your Business Idea Into Reality
Looking to create a mobile app that drives real user engagement? Whether you're in financial services, education, healthcare or any sector requiring behaviour change, our team combines technical excellence with user-centred design. We specialise in mobile app development that delivers measurable results for UK businesses.