Industry Lecture: Hoowla (LegalTech Company)
Many thanks to Adam Curtis (CEO of Hoowla) & Edd Turtle (Senior Software Developer at Hoowla) for recently visiting UWTSD’s School of Applied Computing to share industry insights, emerging trends and many top enterprising tips. The talk was thoroughly enjoyed by staff and students alike.
Hoowla is a Legal Technology (LegalTech) Company based in Swansea, UK. And provides case management software for Solicitors, Conveyancers & HR.
Adam shared the story behind Hoowla, showing how a real software business grows from an initial idea into a profitable, scalable company. Adam highlighted that students often focus on finding the perfect idea, but experience shows that execution matters far more. Adam went on to emphasise that the most important step is to begin. Most progress comes from breaking work into smaller tasks, documenting processes, and being comfortable with mistakes along the way. Entrepreneurship and software development are learning processes, not linear paths.
Adam concluded with practical advice drawn from experience: start with a real problem, price products based on usage rather than people, invest in building a good team and accept that sales is always critical, even in technical businesses. Ultimately, he encouraged students to enjoy the journey of building something meaningful, recognising that while outcomes matter, most of the value comes from what you learn and build along the way.
“We’re proud to be based in Swansea while supporting businesses across the UK. Engaging with students is something we genuinely value, as it provides a real-world perspective on building and running a software business after graduation. We’re also passionate about supporting the local employment landscape, and we regularly recruit graduates from UWTSD who bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and a strong drive to learn and grow within the business.”
– Adam Curtis
Edd focused on the realities of turning software ideas into working, real‑world products. A central message was that developers must always consider who the software is for, where it runs (web, embedded devices, client vs server), how quickly it needs to respond, and how it will be deployed and supported.
Edd went on to discuss technology choices and stressed that ‘Proven tools’ such as relational databases, established backend languages, and stable front‑end frameworks save time and money and reduce risk. He highlighted popular programming languages (drawing on TIOBE rankings) and showed how trends change, reinforcing the idea that fundamentals matter more than chasing the latest tools.
A significant part of the presentation explored modern development practices, including rapid prototyping and the growing role of AI in software development. Edd noted that a substantial portion of code is now AI‑generated, which changes how developers work but does not remove the need for understanding, testing, and responsibility. He also outlined the typical structure of a web application, introducing concepts from the Twelve‑Factor App approach and emphasising scalable infrastructure that can start small but grow over time.
Finally, Edd highlighted the importance of teamwork and community in professional software development. Practices such as pair programming, code reviews, and automation (for testing, security, deployment, and documentation) are crucial for quality and maintainability. He encouraged students to seek support through online communities and local software groups, and ended with a coding puzzle to reinforce careful reading, logical thinking, and attention to detail, core skills for any developer.
“It was a real pleasure meeting the students and talking about what we do. Their curiosity, questions, and new ideas make these sessions incredibly motivating and reinforce why sharing real experiences matters.” – Edd Turtle
The Academic staff at UWTSD’s School of Applied Computing would like to thank Adam & Edd for taking the time to speak with our students and share their valuable experience, industry knowledge and insights. 👏🙂 Diolch yn fawr iawn.
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