What are some great strategies to launch a successful mobile dev shop?

So here are two strategies:

Follow the money
You need to go where the money is spent on developing/design. I would approach startups at WeWork and also get in contact with the MBA programs of the universities in NY. Instead of giving a better price (finders fee) to actual projects build the relationships with those that will start startups. If you build their first project successfully then you would have started a long term relationship with someone that will have many years in front of them needing development work.

I will also approach Angels/VC and let them know you will give a good price to portfolio companies that get referral by them

Follow the volume
Accelerators/Incubators: Go to where the volume is: remember that the conversion rate on leads is small. Focus in the places where many projects will be built and where you can find those guys that don't have the technical skills.

PS: This are not strategies I did but I would if I was in your situation. :)

It's always good to establish a partner ecosystem to be able to tap the market for potential business opportunities. The ecosystem could be a blend of the established shops, marketing process organizations, sales enablers et al. In any of the scenarios, you'd be required to establish your credibility and earn trust. To you it may look like just a marginal project, but for the established shops you're actually asking them to hinge their brand value on your team. Because, for anything that may go wrong it's them at the forefront with customer.

Secondly, all those marginal projects could only be helpful if you're catering them under your banner and not working as a sub-contractors. You may end up making money via subcontracting, but may not end up building an organization. Tomorrow, it would be easier for someone to jeopardize your position by just doing the same at lower price than yours. Remember, the market out there is too flat and you definitely aren't based out of a low-cost region.

I would advise you to plan your business, design your business model, utilize contemporary technology to build your go-to-market process, adopt appropriate tactics, and deliver the tactics through pragmatic strategy. In my more than a decade experience I've seen businesses either taking a wrong turn or not turning at the bend early on. Don't fall in the trap called money, but raise your business around values.

Do feel free to reach out to me for any specific input that you may be looking at. I am just a buzz away. All the best!!

First thing you need to get your portfolio completed, and make sure there is something recognizable.

Get some experience from sites like
odesk
Guru
Freelancer

these sites are full of outsourced teams that do the same work cheaper - but at a rubbish quality

Freelancers from the US are regarded as premium rate and premium quality simply from being from the US. Another Option would be to partner with a quality outsourced company that has a strong portfolio ie making apps for companies like Mc Donalds - and have them be the source behind your development. I have a couple of contacts that would probably be perfect for that actually - they don't cost the same as typical outsourced companies but the quality speaks for itself.

Once you have the portfolio, a small design team working on Mock Ups is all you need to get your sales.

You have mentioned in your question that you have the developer/design talent available and you already have your first contract and have some leads for the next, so I believe that setting up an online shop will be the best one. To create an awesome mobile dev online store, keep the following points in mind.
1. Engaging Web Design
According to a Kissmetrics study, 93% of buyers consider visual appearance to be the most important factor when making a purchase. To create a profitable online store, you can either pay a pretty penny to a web designer or take it upon yourself to learn to code.

2. An Awesome “About Us” Page
If a visitor goes to your “About Us” page, that means they are already interested in you and are giving you a chance to prove to him or her that your product is the best. All testimonials, achievements, and any kind of social proof is welcome there. Some online stores, like Tens in the example below, opt for a minimalist design to keep information clear and easily comprehensible.

3. Offer Excellent Online Support
Your consumers need to know they will have support after they make a purchase, if needed. Guaranteeing troubleshooting after the purchase and consulting before the purchase can convert potential buyers into loyal, returning customers. The company keeps the chat feature easily accessible, yet unobtrusive to buyers in the bottom left-hand corner.

4. Provide Popular Payment Options
No online store can exist without payments. Offer a wide variety of popular payment options for your customers so they can always easily make a purchase.

5. Advertise on Social Media
Advertising on social media channels is a powerful way to connect with lots of potential customers in creative, fun ways. Use tools, like Google Analytics, to track which channels your target customers are using most and focus your marketing efforts on these platforms. Here are a few actionable tips for advertising on social media.

6. Make Your Site SEO-Friendly
Your online store must receive traffic in order for purchases to happen. By incorporating SEO keywords into your product titles and descriptions, your site is more likely to rank higher in search engine results.

7. Ensure Your Store is Mobile-Responsive
Mobile shopping accounted for 30% of online purchases last year. With the growing use of phones for online shopping, merchants must ensure that their site design is mobile-friendly to make sure buyers can make purchases, no matter what device they're using. Merchants can also use online store design templates that are already set to be mobile-responsive to make their site device-friendly.

8. Track Analytics and Iterate
Online store owners cannot improve their growth strategies without monitoring their progress. You can easily set up Analytics for your online store by following these instructions. Merchants who need help setting up Analytics or are unsure about how to form data-based insights should check out our guide to using the tool with your online store.
Besides if you do have any questions give me a call: https://clarity.fm/joy-brotonath