Airdev

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the sole member and founder of a startup. We have a website that caters to farmers and landowners looking to lease land for farming.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

I needed to have a website built with a very limited budget. Although I knew what I wanted to have built, I didn’t know how to do it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In the beginning, Vladimir (Co-CEO) helped with thinking through the business plan and making sure that everything I was talking about made sense and that the layout worked properly. Once we finalized that, I began working with Lucien (Partner). 

He helped with the actual development through three different phases. At each phase, he would check with me and make sure that everything was how I wanted to be. The team used Bubble to build the website. 

They added functionality that allows users to search geographically, filter by keyword, list properties, look at properties, transfer and received credit card or ACH payments, and send messages. Additionally, the team built an iOS and Android mobile app to go along with the website. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with three different teammates throughout the process, including Vladimir, Lucien, and one of their developers.

How did you come to work with AirDev?

After searching for the right company, I came across AirDev and they seemed like the right fit for the company. Additionally, the reviews on their website were very compelling.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from December 2019–April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

In the beginning, when I was working with Vladimir, the team would send screenshots of how the website would look when it was built. If something looked different than I wanted, I told them and they changed it very quickly.

Upon completion, they asked me to run through and do heavy testing, which they did as well. There were very small bugs, as anyone would expect, but they fixed them promptly.

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

Vladimir was very patient even though we went back and forth many times. Their project management was excellent. Initially, we communicated by email. Once we decided to proceed, there was a portal on their website that was dedicated to this project. 

They met all of the deadlines. Additionally, AirDev worked very well from their location all while the Coronavirus pandemic was going on. None of that stopped them from meeting every deadline that we had discussed. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to do whatever I wanted them to do was impressive. When I gave Vladimir all of my different requests, he told me that they could build anything I wanted as long as it didn’t cost me too much. Their strength is in not being just developers, but truly being partners throughout the entire process, helping to think through problems and solve them, and then build it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions. They were very patient with me as a non-technical person. AirDev answered all of my questions and went out of their way to go back and fix elements that they could’ve charged me for. The team was always accommodating. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Speak to Vladimir or the project manager to think about how everything will work, what will work, and why it’ll work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for a company called Consenna in the UK. We’re a sales promotion and training company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

We landed a large project from a multinational IT company to effectively relaunch their sales promotion strategy in the UK. As part of that, we needed software development services.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We created the initial designs for AirDev but they also contributed their own designs around complex workflows in the product. Their team provided expertise to make sure the logic was sound.

They built a web-based tool with Bubble that allows schools to trade in old equipment and receive discounts on new equipment. The tool also acts as a repository for material related to pedagogy and best practices. Their team also built functions for schools to link up and draw on the company’s information services. We work with AirDev on our other clients' projects too.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two full-time developers, a project manager, and another teammate.

How did you come to work with AirDev?

We researched low code development and AirDev’s name came up. From that, we did further research and opened up conversations with them. We initially engaged them to do a small piece of work. They did well, so we engaged them for this larger project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’re spending around $40,000 a month on average.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around April 2019 and we’re still working together. We picked up more work after this project ended and AirDev was the obvious partner.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

Our client gave great feedback on the product, which led to us picking up more work. The client provided direct quotes that we use in materials to say how delighted they were with our work. The feedback was terrific.

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a weekly catch-up with them that’s dynamic. I’ll book additional meetings during the week if required. They’re responsive. We do change control activities that our clients often want to be turned around quickly. Their team’s great at meeting that need. They use Bubble, which makes them more agile. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to synthesize customer requirements distinguishes them from other agencies. Customer requirements are often nebulous, open questions. Their team’s great at digging down and coming back with a product that the customer wants.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m not looking to change. We operate on different clocks and that’s not ideal, but we make it work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open and honest about what you need. I have no problem in recommending them to anyone else.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a media company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

I’m starting a cooking content and tool business. I had built a backend database but I needed help building an MVP that I could use to start getting in front of customers. 

I had a core feature that I knew I wanted to build the product around, but I needed help with getting it off the ground. The baseline idea of the app is that users can input multiple ingredients and the app will then recommend recipes.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After providing a full scoping document with sketches and wireframes, AirDev built the MVP for me on Bubble. The team used a template that they had built to develop the app. They built a new Bubble plug-in that handled the recipe and ingredient recommendations. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a relationship manager and a developer. They had other people working behind the scenes but I primarily worked with those two teammates.

How did you come to work with AirDev?

I had heard about Bubble and did some investigation of my own. What appealed to me about the platform was that I could build on it without needing an engineer. 

AirDev kept coming to the top of the list of potential companies when I was looking on the Bubble website. The team seemed to have what I needed. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $5,500.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from February–April 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

From a success metric standpoint, they completed the MVP. Now that the team has built the framework, I’m able to build on top of it and do what I need to do. The two teammates I worked with were incredibly friendly and helpful.

However, when they delivered the product to me, there were some elements that were leftover from the template that weren’t relevant to my app. So I had to sift through to find the elements that were important to me.

Overall, the app functions well, and the team did a lot of work to help me get it up and running. They answered questions and provided a lot of guidance. We’ve received positive feedback, and although there were a few bugs, the team managed to fix them.

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

They performed quite well. They could’ve done better from an expectation management standpoint as far as timelines. On their website, they billed the project as a one-week turnaround. However, we spent 2–3 weeks agreeing on the scope, and there was a delay in terms of starting the development because they booked it after the scoping was done. 

So, what I thought was going to be a couple of weeks ended up being more like a month and a half. I wasn’t on a time crunch, so it wasn’t too much of a problem. That said, they could’ve done a better job of clearly stating the timeline because it was frustrating not knowing.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Putting aside the project management side of the project, the team was actually able to deliver an app in a week, which was really nice. They were also very responsive. I put a lot of feedback into their system and they answered all of my questions.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m probably at the lower end of their client scale because I’m sure they’re trying to deal the economy right now. At certain points throughout the project, it was a little hard to know what the next step was and what we were supposed to be doing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I had a really clear scope for the project and a rough idea for the development. So, a lot of our interactions involved problem-solving different features. Coming in and knowing what I wanted made for a very smooth experience. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a coaching management platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

We needed to create a software product quickly and affordably. We wanted to collect data from the MVP to inform which features to add later.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AirDev created a workable software product using the Bubble.io platform to code. They provided the scoping documents with wireframes and then the actual MVP, which is a coaching management software. The product allows coaches to manage their clients, adding goals and creating notes at the end of sessions for their lients. AirDev integrated the software with Calendly so users can schedule sessions.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two people including a product manager and an engineer.

How did you come to work with AirDev?

When I came up with this idea a few years ago, I searched Google for affordable software engineering teams that could build MVPs quickly. I found AirDev and completed the scoping project with them. Then, I decided to hold off on the project.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent around $5,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the contract in December 2019 and AirDev sent the MVP later that month for review. Their team fixed any issues but we have an ongoing support relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

AirDev offered an affordable and quick service, which was important. We’re taking a data-driven approach and didn’t want to spend money on traditional software development. That’s the beauty of Bubble.io and the products that their team provides. They mastered a platform that doesn’t require hardcore engineering but there is backend development. AirDev offered a product quickly to leverage and grow.

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via the app that AirDev created. Their team was attentive to my comments. They were always on time from a deliverable standpoint.

What did you find most impressive about them?

AirDev has the ability to turn around a product really quickly. They also spent time making sure that they were aligned with my vision, which helped to meet my goals.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything’s been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you communicate your vision clearly. Also, ensure that you’re aligned on the deliverables.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The company is called MyPerfectfFnancialAdvisor.com. We use deep data and artificial intelligence to match investors and financial advisors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

We’ve worked with AirDev on a few projects; we first connected to create an MVP so we could get consumer feedback about our site. Obviously, we wanted to get that done as quickly as possible.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I gave them a list of things I wanted the MVP to include. What’s terrific about AirDev, was that they told me what was and wasn’t reasonable for an MVP, but offered alternate ways to accomplish the goal without diminishing the product.

There’s also data about the financial advisers and investors that we needed to collect and store in a relational database. Then I needed the algorithm to match the two parties. So they used PHP. Then I hired them to develop the full product.

What is the team composition?

I work with a point person and one other.

How did you come to work with AirDev?

I searched on Google and met with several development shops in our area. I found AirDev and they’ve written some papers about building MVPs. Based on that, I decided they’d be the best fit.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started work together in April 2017–May 2019.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

We’ve yet to find a substantive bug or hiccup with the product at all. There have been a few minor things that haven’t posed huge problems. It has never gone down either, which is quite significant.

Their support and responsiveness are excellent. When I’ve had requests for updates, they’ve let us know if it’s practical and have come up with alternative ways to do things. They’ve added tremendous value to our project. So, we plan to work with them for future upgrades.

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

Very well, they have an internal project management platform that works very well. They assign tasks to different people. I just go into the portal and issue a new request, and pretty quickly, they reply back and I get an email. As a customer, I’m pretty happy. They’re responsive, clear, and accurate.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

When they say they’re going to deliver, they do it. Over the course of our time together, they’ve always hit deadlines. When they can’t do something, they come up with another solution. A lot of firs can’t do that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing that comes to mind is that the internal project management tool they used was difficult to use for certain things. Like, scrolling into the pages wasn’t as intuitive as it could have been. Their comments were also hard to navigate.

It would also be nice to hear from them more often. I don’t want them to change anything about their core function, but it would be nice to hear what they’re up to through blog posts or a newsletter. They don’t promote themselves as much as they could.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear on your requirements and take the time to make sure they’re as buttoned-up as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our goal is to make it easier for customers to find assisted living and eldercare options that align with needs. We’ve organized resources into a comprehensive, searchable database.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

They helped us build our database that could assess product-market fit in a fast, affordable, and scalable way.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The backend of our database contains information on all kinds of different eldercare resources in the Maryland market. When users enter the app, they can search by location and type of business. Results can be displayed either in a list format or an interactive map.

When the results are showing, customers can see the quantity of in-app “likes” each business has. This helps establish credibility and trust in a non-bias way. We’re in the process of curating feedback and endorsements for the businesses from eldercare physicians to create that sense of trust. The final product is a web app that’s built on Bubble. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with Lucien (Co-Founder) and Eli (Developer).

How did you come to work with AirDev?

I’ve been tinkering with Bubble for several years, so I started trying to build the product out myself. There were tons of things I didn’t know how to do, and I found myself looking through user forums to learn. Very often, some of the best answers to questions on those forums came from AirDev.

I started seeing their name and brand everywhere in conjunction with their effective responses. Their explanations showcased a level of expertise that made me feel confident in their ability to take Bubble to the max. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $8,000 on the project. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2020, and the app went live in March 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Because I haven’t marketed the app to any users yet, I don’t have any metrics. Everyone who sees and hears about it has indicated that it’s a much-needed product.  

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

In the beginning, they took the time to understand the problem I was trying to solve. When working with other developers in the past, their level of understanding was the main issue while collaborating.

Here, AirDev totally understood me. If they had questions, they asked them to clarify any confusion. They didn’t want to move forward to development until they understood our problem and proposed solution thoroughly. Their ability to make suggestions and provide insight from their past experiences was key.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

During development phases, issues come up that couldn’t be anticipated previously. There’s always some degree of scope modification that’s needed. Despite the adaptations, they didn’t nickel and dime me at all. They evolved the requirements as we moved along in an amazing way.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were receptive to everything I told them. I can’t think of anything.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do as much homework and critical thinking as possible before engaging with the developers. This will help you determine what you want your app to look like and save everyone time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of an online platform that connects brick-and-mortar businesses that want to host events with different event creators and brands that want to do activities, like popups, panels, or workshops. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

I was looking to build an MVP to get my idea to market and test it, and that’s how I found AirDev.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AirDev developed the platform’s backend with Bubble. I came in with a high-level idea, and then continued to add more features and functionality as we started building. Initially, I was looking to create a platform that allowed for simple functionality: for users to be able to create profiles, to search and discover one another, and to message back and forth. That was the basic MVP, and we’ve added a few more features as we’ve gone along. We’re going onto our third scoping document for new features in the next few days. 

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with two people: a project manager who scoped everything with me, and then an implementation manager who did all of the work and building the platform. 

How did you come to work with AirDev?

I found Bubble first and then saw that AirDev’s team were experts in Bubble. That was really enticing to me, because I could learn the Bubble part of it at a high-level so that AirDev could build the nitty-gritty. Then, I knew that if I needed to make changes or little updates or iterations, I’d be able to do that through the no-code software that is Bubble.

I did a lot of research and looked at feedback. What was most important to me was having a team that was comfortable working with a non-technical entrepreneur, so they needed to have a willingness to guide me in some things. A lot of the reviews for AirDev were from other first-time or non-technical entrepreneurs, and that made me feel comfortable working with their team. Once I had an initial call with the project manager, I knew it would be a great fit.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent between $10,000–$25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I committed to a detailed scoping document from AirDev in October 2019. The work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They’ve been so fantastic; I can’t say enough good things about them. We’re still working together, and I want to work with them for as long as possible, so that I can continue adding more features. It is the perfect marriage, where AirDev created the platform, and I can iterate on it going forward.

The key success metric for me was that after we scoped out the original document and they priced everything, AirDev allowed me to provide feedback and make changes within the scope of the original document. They didn’t try to one-up and charge me for every little change that I wanted to add or tweak. I knew that I could trust them to say what it was going to cost, and they meant it. That was the absolute best and the reason I wanted to continue working with them. The price was great for what they did. Also, their responsiveness was impeccable. They were on top of it. 

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

They were fantastic. They provided really detailed wireframes, which was helpful. I felt complete clarity throughout their whole process, from the initial scoping conversation to the wireframes to the build. I always knew what the next steps were because everything was so detailed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Having worked with them as an entrepreneur, the best thing for me was that they were willing to take my feedback but also provide helpful guidance. They proposed other ways of doing things. I don’t know if other providers would have been as invested in my success in the way that I feel the team at AirDev was. They wanted me to be happy with the product, and I truly am.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’m so grateful for their team, and part of the reason I wanted to leave a review is that they provide a fantastic service. I wish I had some kind of feedback for them, but I don’t. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Just be super communicative upfront about what you’re looking to do; the sooner you figure out the details, the better. They were super accommodating to some of the changes I wanted to make, but now, I’m much better about going into it and thinking through every little thing as early as possible, just because it’s a pain to make changes after something is already built. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder of an Agile performance management platform that will be web- and mobile-based.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

We needed to build an MVP but had a problem with scope creep. We needed outside eyes to cut down the project and then build the platform for market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

AirDev worked with us across a few different phases of the project. During the first phase, we talked about what we wanted to build to establish the scope. From there, their team scoped the development and its timeline. Over a month, they delivered the basic functionalities that we needed.

For example, they enabled us, as platform owners, to manage users and accounts. Their team built an admin dashboard for our clients' project managers as well as a user dashboard that allows users to set and manage goals. Users can also follow different workflows for feedback, which are peer assessments, one-on-ones, self-assessments, and performance assessments.

Their Canva templates eliminated the need for us to build components from scratch. We filled in a template and then customized parts of the platform. While the main functionality of the website was templatized, we manipulated the branding.

What is the team composition?

I worked with three different individuals. I scoped the project with Vladimir (Founder and Co-CEO). And then, I worked with Kevin (Project Manager) who managed the project. Another team member from AirDev developed the platform.

How did you come to work with AirDev?

AirDev specializes in Bubble, which is the platform that we wanted to use. I saw many of the plug-ins that their team built throughout the community. Then, I identified and researched a number of consultants but AirDev was most professional.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2019 and completed this iteration of the platform in February 2020. We’ll reengage AirDev to develop future functionalities.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

I was unable to produce what their team turned out in a month, in a year. Their team significantly decreased the platform’s time to market. AirDev saved us a lot of time and money. From scope to a working product, their work was incredibly fast and impactful.

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

AirDev delivered the milestones according to the established schedule, which wasn’t an easy feat considering the number of scheduling conflicts such as holidays and vacations. Their team was responsive throughout the process. They did everything that we needed them to do.

What did you find most impressive about them?

AirDev has a well-defined process. They had software enabled that made it easy for us to identify issues for them to correct. Their team gave us access to a portal that made working together easy. We were able to give feedback and ask questions, which was great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They probably work with more B2C customers from their Canva templates. It would be useful to adapt the template to fit B2B companies. Also, their team organizes the platform too. It was built as a one-page app, which made it difficult to find specific elements.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you have a vision for your product, don’t be afraid to sketch the idea and provide it to AirDev. They’ll take you through guiding principles for developing the software but speak up for what you want. If you don’t, you’ll end up with someone else’s design.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m building a reverse marketplace for tickets. So, we’re creating a place where buyers who are interested in purchasing tickets on the secondary resale market to create bids that indicate where they want to sit and what they’d like they’d like to pay. That enables sellers to sell their tickets instantly by finding a matching bid. We’re creating value for buyers by giving them the opportunity to find tickets for less. The platform also allows sellers to sell at their convenience.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

AirDev helped us figure out how to build the MVP.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re great at determining the minimum features to go into the first version of the product. The team is able to scale an idea down to its essentials, which allowed us to build a foundational app together. From there, they can develop the product fast, within a few weeks. 

The final platform is a web-based application that is mobile-responsive. They built the platform on Bubble. At this point, we’re continuing to develop new updates on the app, but the initial version of the solution has been delivered. Buyers can enter the app to see recent sales and bids as well as view open seats. They confirm the bid by inputting the payments and expiration date. Sellers can filter active bids, accept one, and put in their information to recieve payments.  

What is the team composition?

We communicated with Vlad (Founder & Co-CEO) prior to the build and then were passed off to two development leads. 

How did you come to work with AirDev?

I was referred to them by someone within my network. Their CEO spoke on the phone with me to recap the idea. The next step was to create a scope of work that detailed wireframes and the overall process. That included the scope of the project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $11,500 on the MVP.

What is the status of this engagement?

We proceeded with the project in December 2019, and the project was complete in January 2020. It was a two-week build.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The effect has been huge for our business because they created our entire product. Before working with them, we collaborated with another team to make designs for an iOS app. However, without any development behind it, it was difficult to understand how the app would function for users. They were able to provide us with a solution that enabled us to test out our product idea. We went from having a concept and prototype to having a functioning MVP. We’ve seen an immense amount of growth.  

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated solely online with all of their teammates, which was challenging at times. However, they know when there’s a significant issue that needs a quick response. Vlad was able to make decisions faster than anyone else on the team, so I contacted him in urgent situations.

They have their own, nicely-designed communications portal. I can screenshot anything from my site, write or comment on it, and create a task. From there, we can move the task through their backend as they work on and complete it. That was easy to use.   

What did you find most impressive about them?

They build robust products at a speed I haven’t seen from any other company. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

They focus much of their attention on functionality, so I’d love for them to place more emphasis on the design aspect of the build. Overall, they do good work. 

It is important to review the scope document closely because they will charge for small additional features that don’t appear on that initial form. That can be difficult, so it would’ve been best to have another conversation surrounding need a little further into the build. I think it’s necessary to be able to reach on the phone. There wasn’t a lack of communication, we just would’ve benefitted from a more direct system for interaction. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have an understanding of everything you need from the scope before moving into development because adding additional features will cost you. No matter which company you’re working with, outsourcing can be a challenge with communications and speed.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the cofounder and CEO of an early-stage startup that’s building a skill-based job application platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with AirDev?

We’re a non-technical founding team, and we decided to build the MVP of our product on Bubble, a visual programming service. As we scaled and brought on paying customers, we realized that working with experts in Bubble would allow us to be a lot more efficient and build better than we could be if we did it ourselves.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first time we ever worked with AirDev was a sprint engagement. Basically, they made the UI of our product look a little bit better right before we launched the first MVP. We had built all the workflows and logic, but seeing how they were able to execute what we were looking for in a pretty fast timeframe gave us some confidence. Down the road, when we wanted to build out more features and functionality into the product, we went directly to them.

That progressed into a more formal relationship where they’re our primary developers. We scope projects and figure out what we want to build and how we're looking to developing the product. Then, they'll tell us how much it will cost and build it for us. On an ongoing basis, they’re the people we go to to resolve bumps or issues in the product.

When things are more open-ended, we explain to Andrew (Co-Founder, AirDev) what we would like to achieve and he comes back with examples of what we could do or a mockup of what it would look like in Bubble using our standard templates. There are other times when we've done more extensive wireframing and designing on our own and then come to them with exactly what we want to build. They’ve replicated our work in those cases.

What is the team composition?

We don’t have any full-time engineers on our staff. There have been periods of time where we've had contract developers on our team building Bubble things, but, by and large, it's been all of us non-technical folks in-house and AirDev helping us build.

We've interacted with four or five people from AirDev over the course of our two years of working together, but by and large, Andrew is our main point of contact. There are a couple of team members who have gotten to know our product pretty intimately as well. One is a little bit more design and frontend focused, another is more of a project manager, and then there’s one who's more of a backend and workload builder.

How did you come to work with AirDev?

Bubble credits were being offered as a benefit of one of the coworking spaces or accelerator programs we were in when we first started, and so we decided to try learning Bubble. Then, as we were familiarizing ourselves with Bubble, we were offered a free consultation call with AirDev as a part of the associated credit package.

We had one call with Andrew, which was really just him advising us on how to use Bubble to build the MVP ourselves. We hadn't paid him anything or worked with him at all. As we were getting closer to launch, it didn't quite look the way we wanted it to, so we reached out to Andrew and asked if he would be able to help us. That was the starting point of us realizing we could go to them for a lot more.

How much have you invested with them?

We pay them a monthly support fee for bug resolution and everything else. But, we’ll also pay scoped contracts for new features when we reserve capacity to execute on specific things. To this point, we've spent between $30,000–$40,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

That first sprint engagement was August 2017, and we’re still working with them. The full commercial solution launched in April 2018, and it’s been support and continuing feature builds since then.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? 

As a non-technical team, the fact that we’ve been able to create a commercially viable product on Bubble that enterprise customers are using is a testament to AirDev’s help and reliability. We've had very few bugs or crashes of downtime issues since the launch, and customers are certainly happy every time we roll out a new feature. AirDev has helped us be responsive and integrate requested features from customers.

They are some technical limitations of Bubble as a platform, but that's not a reflection of AirDev's development capability. They’ve done a good job of helping us understand what's feasible in Bubble versus not. I'm very happy with what they've done.

How did AirDev perform from a project management standpoint?

One of the nicest things about having a longer-term relationship is the iteration of communication. I feel like Andrew, in particular, is very responsive. When I've needed things, if I haven't always heard from the team or anything like that, I can reach out to him and he will be very quick to respond and get on top of it.

There are sometimes challenges or complexities in using their project management portal as opposed to email or other tools, but they’ve invested a lot in making that better and smoother. Not that our team has gotten used to their way of work, it's all worked well. They have a project management portal that all customers under a certain tier should use. If you pay them above a certain tier, they'll work within your Asana or other things like that. But otherwise, you log, request, and track the project in the area of the portal. I totally understand why they do that, and our team has adjusted to that. They've continued to invest in that as well, to the point where they rolled out a feature where we could easily go into test mode and screenshot and comment on issues or bugs that we find. Those are automatically dropped into the portal on our behalf so we don't have to screenshot and copy and paste and all these things that we had to do initially.

When they say something will take a certain amount of time, it’s generally on time. I think the things that are more unpredictable are those that required testing when iteration and feedback can stretch out. Their initial estimates for the first versions are always very accurate, and any delays are normally because of business considerations on our side. Overall, they’re responsive in meeting our needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They a good job of understanding what our business needs are and what we're trying to solve for. This helps them be a proactive partner in our work. Andrew actually understands my company and my business well enough to offer suggestions on how some things could work. Along with junior members who have joined the team, they keep senior members on as well to maintain the relationship support. This is a strong value-add for an early startup.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, they’ve been great partners. I think they are still iterating a bit on their business model, in terms of how things are priced though. It’s ranged from one-off project budgets to purchasing capacity on a dedicated team for a specific amount of time. Therefore, more predictability on pricing would be nice, but we understand that, as an early company, they’re always iterating.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I think there are two ways you can work with AirDev. One way is going to them with just an idea and asking them to help you build an MVP. I feel confident that they can do that, based on what I've seen. If you’re doing that, make sure you know what you want to get out of the MVP.

If you then evolve into a long-term development relationship like we now have, it’s important to set clear expectations around deadlines and prioritizations. If you ask for 50 things, be clear about what the most important five are. This will help them balance their capacity.