Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
SeaPeople, often called the “Strava for boaters”, started with a simple idea: a group of avid boaters noticed the community lacked a way to connect, share stories, and stay in touch – so they built an app to fill that gap. ⛵
In this episode of the Software Mention podcast, we speak with Jean-Michel Lemieux, co-founder of SeaPeople and former CTO of Shopify. He shares how the app came to life, the challenges they faced, and the tech decisions that shaped it.
We also discuss what it takes to collaborate effectively with a software partner – from both the client and agency perspective. So grab something to drink and tune in! 🎧
00:00-00:53 – Introduction
00:53-01:55 – SeaPeople: Strava for boaters
01:57-03:57 – Story of Jean-Michel Lemieux & working at a startup
03:59-06:25 – SeaPeople: the motivation
06:30-14:20 – Building a B2C boating app & work culture
14:20-21:30 – Tech stack in the project
21:30-29:00 – Some advice to startups
29:20–32:40 - Collaboration between SeaPeople & Software Mansion
32:40-40:45 – The recipe for a perfect collaboration with a software company
40:45-45:40 – Building travel apps in 2026
45:40-46:45 – SeaPeople's goals for the future
46:45-47:02 – Outro
SeaPeople, often called the “Strava for boaters”, started with a simple idea: a group of avid boaters noticed the community lacked a way to connect, share stories, and stay in touch – so they built an app to fill that gap. ⛵
In this episode of the Software Mention podcast, we speak with Jean-Michel Lemieux, co-founder of SeaPeople and former CTO of Shopify. He shares how the app came to life, the challenges they faced, and the tech decisions that shaped it.
We also discuss what it takes to collaborate effectively with a software partner – from both the client and agency perspective. So grab something to drink and tune in! 🎧
00:00-00:53 – Introduction
00:53-01:55 – SeaPeople: Strava for boaters
01:57-03:57 – Story of Jean-Michel Lemieux & working at a startup
03:59-06:25 – SeaPeople: the motivation
06:30-14:20 – Building a B2C boating app & work culture
14:20-21:30 – Tech stack in the project
21:30-29:00 – Some advice to startups
29:20–32:40 - Collaboration between SeaPeople & Software Mansion
32:40-40:45 – The recipe for a perfect collaboration with a software company
40:45-45:40 – Building travel apps in 2026
45:40-46:45 – SeaPeople's goals for the future
46:45-47:02 – Outro
