Context: Software startups face significant challenges in building minimum viable products, particularly in the early stages, when resources are limited and expertise in user experience is scarce. Objective: Introduce StartFlow, a structured method that helps non-specialized professionals create MVP prototypes using the wireflow technique, a combination of wireframes and user flows. StartFlow consists of three steps: (i) organizing features; (ii) building wireflows; and (iii) verifying and refining them based on usability heuristics. Method: To assess the method Startflow, we first conducted a focus group with researchers in Software Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, and Software Startups. Afterwards, we conducted a proof-of-concept study, which consisted of an experiment and a heuristic evaluation with experts. Results: The qualitative analysis of the focus group revealed that participants found the method straightforward, flexible, and helpful in structuring user flows and identifying visual components. However, they also pointed out the need to improve its presentation, clarify its iterative nature, and strengthen its connection to broader UX principles. The results of the proof-of-concept indicate that participants who used StartFlow created clearer prototypes, adhered to the proposed user stories and business rules, and presented fewer usability defects. Furthermore, the method was well evaluated for its ease of use and intended future adoption. Conclusion: The study reinforces the potential of StartFlow as an accessible tool to support user-centered development in software startups from the earliest stages of their product development.

Arboviruses such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya remain a serious public health challenge in Brazil and other Latin American countries. Effective surveillance and vector control require integrated information systems to support planning and monitoring efforts. This study presents a heuristic evaluation of a web-based system developed for arbovirus control coordinators in Brazil, aiming to identify interface limitations and propose improvements based on user experience. The Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) guided the study, and a structured questionnaire grounded in Nielsen’s Heuristics was applied. A total of 72 undergraduate students from technology-related programs participated in the evaluation. Each participant performed guided tasks within the system and provided feedback through both closed and open-ended questions. Results indicated positive perceptions regarding interface consistency and organization, while usability issues were identified in areas such as error prevention, flexibility, and feedback mechanisms. Statistical analysis revealed differences among participant groups, highlighting the influence of user profiles on perceived usability. The findings underscore the value of heuristic evaluation in improving public health digital tools and demonstrate the potential for adapting such systems to similar regional contexts across Latin America.

User experience (UX) techniques have been widely used in the software industry. However, in some contexts, such as software startups, carrying out UX work can be more challenging for several reasons, such as lack of resources and time. Nevertheless, another factor has challenged this work: the lack of UX specialists on the team. In this sense, scientific literature has dedicated efforts to understanding how non-UX professionals (e.g., developers) perceive the value of UX work and techniques. Therefore, this paper investigates non- UX professionals' perceptions of using the UX wireflow technique (a combination of wireframes with a user flow map). Through a case study involving eight professionals from a software startup in the agribusiness sector, we analyzed the participants' perceptions. We qualitatively examined the data obtained from a post-study interview. Our paper enhances the scientific literature understanding of integrating UX techniques into software development processes by non- UX professionals. It offers insights from these professionals, identifies potential benefits and challenges, highlights the importance of standards development and quality management, and acknowledges the paradigm shift occurring within development teams.

Educational environment settings have a finite number of resources distributed or shared between staff, professors, and students. It is essential to build efficient tools to manage these resources timely so they can be allocated where needed. This paper shows the process comprising distinct steps that went into redesigning a legacy classroom, lab, and equipment reservation system for a public university, going from a previously unwieldy system to a more modern and user-friendly implementation that practically utilizes design thinking and user-centered design principles. The first phase utilized a quantitative survey approach to hone in on specific pain points and create well-structured requirements, which were followed by the development phase that used software engineering and architecture to build an application more attuned to the sensibilities of the contemporaneous mobile-focused software landscape. An evaluation study then tested the application through a qualitative approach, conducting interviews with the professors to define its user base and when the tool would eventually be deployed. This paper contributes to the literature by providing a practical case study of design thinking and user-centered design principles to provide a better user experience.

Startup companies are seeking for a business model by means of innovative products and need external investments until they can stabilize this product in the market and then start to grow to become a mature company. Nevertheless, many of these companies fail before the growth phase, emerging the need to seek for methods that help these companies to achieve their goals. This paper intends to identify the techniques, practices and tools used in software development on startups and from the results present a knowledge base that can be transferable to the industry. A systematic mapping study was conducted using a classification schema to attest the primary studies quality as well as a exclusion and inclusion criteria to select them. A total of 112 studies are found at the end of the searches and 19 of them were selected to form the mapping study. From these studies a total of 24 techniques, 31 practices and 37 tools were found. As a result the mapping study presents a technical knowledge base that seeks to fill the research gap and that can also be used as a starting point for both researchers and startups' practitioners.