Arounda

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of an early-stage startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arounda?

Initially, we needed a partner for UX/UI design work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

During the first project, Arounda designed the UX/UI of our tool using Sigma. In the next project, their team provided input on marketing strategy and UI design. They researched similar tools, best practices, and how to optimize our visibility in the market. 

What is the team composition?

The team includes a project manager and two main designers. Occasionally, another designer works with us too.

How did you come to work with Arounda?

We found them on Instagram. We liked their portfolio and reached out to them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent roughly $70,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in September 2019, and our engagement’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m satisfied with Arounda's performance. They use the latest technologies to create quality designs. Their team works well with the developers.

How did Arounda perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via Slack. They’re responsive, so projects run smoothly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They use the latest technologies, which are exactly what our product needs. The value of their work is good — an improvement from that of past vendors

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t areas for improvement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to their marketing suggestions; they're valuable. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a startup with an on-demand delivery platform. I'm the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arounda?

We hired them to help with design and general business strategies.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We discussed our strategy, they gave us some guidance, and we started on first drafts of our UI/UX designs. They built the entire framework of our app, and they've done brand guidelines, vision, and brand books. The whole app was designed in Sketch.

After the app was finished, they created marketing materials, icons, and stationery design. They created newsletters, flyers, business cards, and other small print materials.

What is the team composition?

We're in contact with one or two individuals, but there were also two or three designers and one or two people who worked on our brand guidelines.

How did you come to work with Arounda?

We found them on Upwork. We looked at their portfolio, and we liked their style. We reached out to them, and they were very easy to communicate with. They were willing to take the lead, which we liked.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent €150,000-€200,000 (approximately $167,000-$223,000 USD) over the course of our engagement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in January 2018, and they finished the big project in September 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We receive good reviews from our userbase, and the design is modern, fluid, and self-explanatory. They realized our vision, and we love the results. They have high standards, and they always delivered excellent work. They help us stand out from our competition.

How did Arounda perform from a project management standpoint?

We really liked their project management, and they sent us regular updates with explanations of the decisions they made. They offered a lot of transparency, and they met most of our deadlines. They used InVision to share prototypes, and we worked a lot via Google Drive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They often took the lead, and their designs are very on-trend. They always tried to make us the best in our field.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because they expanded so rapidly, we didn't always know who to contact. After a few days, we expressed our concerns and they assigned a fixed account manager. They could still work to manage their scaling a little better.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They have high-quality standards, so be prepared for them to take their time. If you are looking for a fast solution, look elsewhere. They take their work very seriously, and they dedicate time to their projects.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the director of marketing at Metricly before it was acquired by Virtana. We were a SaaS IT company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arounda?

We were looking for a partner to lead the design and user experience of our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Arounda provided us with UI strategy, design, and development. They also created graphics for us. We were building on WordPress at the time. Arounda used Bootstrap to create the frontend frameworks and designs that we’d then implement on WordPress.

For each task, we came to Arounda with an idea for a new page on the site and an outline of the content we wanted. Arounda came back with some light UI sketches that we modified or improved. After that, they gave us high fidelity mockups. Once we gave our approval, they moved into the development phase to build and publish the page.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 people, including a UI designer, a UI developer, and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Arounda?

I originally worked with them on some personal projects. I brought them in to work on our company’s UI.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $10,000–$20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The collaboration ran from June 2018 to May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Arounda delivered enterprise-grade work that outperformed anything we’d had before in terms of design and functionality. The blog they built as part of our site directly contributed to a 400% increase in SEO traffic (combined with our own content strategy). They brought our site and aesthetic to a new level that we couldn’t have achieved on our own.

How did Arounda perform from a project management standpoint?

They were highly organized and paid very close attention to detail. They provided us with a project management system where we could log in and view progress for each task.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Arounda was extremely flexible and quick to pick up a product’s requirements. In many cases, we gave them minimal direction, and they’d take that and turn around something that fully matched our vision.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had to collaborate with them at first to work out some issues in project management. We wanted more precise expectations about costs and timelines for specific pages. Overall, however, it was good.

Any advice for potential customers?

Absolutely work with Arounda. You won’t be disappointed.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of the app, which purpose is to help people develop mental strength, boost motivation, make better decisions and improve performance.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Arounda?

Mobile app UX/UI development. Landing page UX/UI and development.

What were your goals for this project?

Design user attractive yet intuitive mobile app. The challenge was to organize right structure of many sections that app has, so the user won't be lost.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I made a search on Upwork and saw high rating for this agency and affordable price.

Describe the project in detail.

I gave them design from the previous company which I did not like that much and also made my own iteration based on it suing Sketch. Decribed to Arounda the whole idea and asked to improve it. After they gave some thinking to it they proposed to start from scratch and work on the prototype screens and focus first on UX, test them, iterate and then work on the UI.

After many iterations, we have agreed on the final prototype and started to work on it, which also had quit many iterations. Some of them I did not asked for and they were coming up with new ideas and always trying to look with fresh eyes and challenge it. This obviously made design much better.

What was the team composition?

Project manager, designers and developer

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The app is now in the final stages of development. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Super effective. Arounda Project manager always in contact with me and patiently answered my requests and came proactively with some proposals.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Ability to challenge me, my ideas, think proactively, test assumptions. This is quite a rare skill. Most would do what is asked. They focus on delivery of great quality work.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing that comes to mind

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We're an adult video on-demand company. I'm the co-founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arounda?

We didn't have a set team of designers, and we outsourced various parts of our design to separate individuals. As a result, we didn't have a uniform image. We wanted a team that could join us, understand our products and our brand, and create a more professional, consistent brand.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They do all of our website design. That includes the backend and our admin area, email design, and various offline assets like flyers and event materials. They also do some code work for us. We have our own in-house development team, and they work along with our staff. They do some of the frontend code of their designs, and our developers work on the backend elements that go along with them. They fully realize the designs they provide, and they often take on entire tasks from start to finish.

They use InVision and Sketch, but I'm not sure of the other technologies they use. InVision is helpful to share those designs with our team. We recently sponsored a film festival, and they did all the design for those related materials. They also do some animation, and we've added their graphic work to some of our videos.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact, but I was originally onboarded by one of their directors. They have various departments, so we also work directly with a UX lead and a traditional branding team for logo design.

How did you come to work with Arounda?

I found them on Dribbble, along with a few other possible agencies. Because of the nature of our business, we're fairly restricted. They were willing to work with us, and we had a few conversations with them. We started with some low-level tasks, and we went from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We pay for features as they arise, and we work anywhere between 10-40 hours a week with them. Our most recent contract was about $8,000 at a rate of $28 per hour. I'd estimate we've spent somewhere between $50,000-$200,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February or March 2018. The collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have a very modern approach for an affordable price. Their quality is comparable to UX firms that charge more than double their hourly rate. They never compromise, and their work is cutting edge. They've helped us improve our conversion rates, but I don't have any solid metrics to share offhand.

How did Arounda perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a Trello board set up, and we create tickets for them in their incoming task list. Our main contact then assigns tasks to the designers on their team. We also communicate regularly via phone or Skype about anything outside the brief or anything that is unclear. In general, their project management and availability are major strengths. I never wait longer than an hour for a response, and our product manager fully understands our products and our needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I've worked with other design firms, but this is definitely my most positive experience. Their turnaround is quick and efficient, and we rarely need to change much. We can usually trust them to come back with something we'll like, and they often go beyond what we initially had in mind. They have knowledge our team doesn't have, and they come up with good solutions. Their initial results are almost always what we want, and we never get locked into endless iteration.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They're not as comfortable on the phone as they are via text. That may be due to a lack of confidence in their language skills and might be an area of improvement for them. There is also occasionally a lack of communication in the design process. The rare misunderstandings could be avoided with a little extra clarification. That's only happened once or twice, and there's very little they could improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you're looking for a designer, look over their portfolio. Everything they present is as it seems, and they're a very good team. Their process is straightforward and self-explanatory.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the General Partner of EVOLVIA

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a venture capital syndicate investing in Series A+ startups building solutions of exponential impact in Mobility, Materials, Health and Energy that we first have an advisory relationship with, and can unlock growth and exits through our track record of closing $400 million in acquisition deals. Our Mission: In the next 20 years, create 20 unicorns that reduce 20 gigatons of CO2 emissions annually, remove 20 million tons of toxic waste annually and add 20 years to human life expectancy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Arounda to accomplish?

• We needed a website that could clearly articulate complex ideas while still feeling accessible and compelling. At the same time, we were preparing for increased visibility and deal flow, so it was important that the user journey was intuitive and that visitors could quickly understand who we are, what we invest in, and why we are different.

SOLUTION

How did you find Arounda?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Arounda over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Arounda were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

AROUNDA approached the project with a structured and thoughtful process that went far beyond aesthetics. They began with a deep discovery phase, engaging directly with our team to understand our vision, audience, and positioning. This included workshops and detailed discussions that helped uncover gaps in how we were communicating our story.

From there, they reworked the entire information architecture of the website. They simplified the navigation, reorganized our content into a more logical flow, and ensured that each section of the site had a clear purpose. Their UX strategy made it easier for different audiences whether founders or investors to find relevant information without friction.

On the design side, they created a clean and modern interface that balanced professionalism with innovation. The UI designs were delivered in high fidelity across multiple screen sizes, ensuring consistency between desktop and mobile experiences. They also developed interactive prototypes, which allowed us to visualize the user journey before moving into development.

Key deliverables included a fully restructured sitemap, wireframes, polished UI designs, a cohesive visual identity aligned with our mission, and clickable prototypes. One of the most valuable aspects of their work was how they refined our messaging through design, helping us present our investment thesis and impact goals in a way that felt both clear and compelling.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The outcomes of the project were evident shortly after launch. We began receiving more relevant and thoughtful inbound inquiries, particularly from founders who clearly understood our focus areas before even speaking with us. Conversations became more productive because the website had already done a significant part of the introduction. Internally, our team also found it easier to use the site as a reference point when explaining our model to partners and stakeholders. The platform now feels like a true extension of our brand rather than just a digital placeholder.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

AROUNDA’s project management was consistent and reliable throughout the engagement. They maintained clear communication, set realistic timelines, and followed through on commitments. Whenever we had evolving requirements or needed to revisit certain elements, they responded quickly and with a solutions-oriented mindset. Their ability to stay organized while accommodating our feedback made the entire process smooth and collaborative.

What was your primary form of communication with Arounda?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What stood out most was their ability to think strategically, not just visually. They didn’t limit themselves to executing what we asked for—they actively challenged us when necessary and предложили better ways to present our story. Their understanding of how design influences perception, especially in a trust-driven industry like venture capital, made a significant difference. It felt like working with a partner who genuinely cared about the outcome, not just the deliverables.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Arounda could have done differently?

If there is one area where improvements could be made, it would be in structuring feedback cycles more tightly during key phases. Given that our organization involves multiple decision-makers, having more predefined checkpoints might have helped streamline internal alignment. That said, AROUNDA remained flexible and supportive throughout, and this did not impact the overall success of the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of design at a gaming company. We develop innovative social gaming solutions, aiming to captivate users and set new industry benchmarks through fresh approaches and continuous product innovation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Arounda?

We needed help with the large-scale production of assets for our site and with defining our brand's visual identity.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Arounda has delivered 2,000 game tiles for our site, templates for marketing assets, and a new and improved visual style for our brand.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 2–5 teammates from Arounda.

How did you come to work with Arounda?

A colleague recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2025, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Arounda has produced 200 game tiles daily on average. We’ve also seen improvements in our color palettes, typography, and visual language.

How did Arounda perform from a project management standpoint?

Arounda delivers on time. Our communication has been great and proactive via email and messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Arounda’s patience, skills, and efficiency are impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there aren’t any.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a manager at PlanPop, a mobile app that helps users easily share ideas, coordinate schedules, and make plans with friends, turning intentions into real activities.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Arounda to accomplish for the PlanPop app?

We hired Arounda for UX improvement.

SOLUTION

Can you describe the scope of work Arounda handled for PlanPop?

Arounda has been working on our UX design. The team has redesigned specific screens, created user flows, and delivered prototypes.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with 2–5 teammates from Arounda.

How did you come to work with Arounda?

We found Arounda through an online search. We chose them because they had high ratings, and their pricing fit our budget.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Arounda in January 2026, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to Arounda's work, we've seen an improvement in our user satisfaction, which we've measured through interviews.

How did Arounda perform from a project management standpoint?

Arounda's project management has been organized. We communicate via virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Arounda's technical expertise is impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There's nothing they need to improve.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Partner of Estately Wealth Planning

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

At Estately Wealth, we specialize in estate planning and wealth preservation, offering personalized financial strategies to protect and grow your legacy. Serving clients across Ontario and BC, we focus on minimizing taxes and ensuring your wealth is efficiently passed to future generations. Let us guide you through the crucial steps of planning for your family’s future.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Arounda to accomplish?

• our main objective was to create a website that accurately reflected the level of trust, professionalism, and clarity that our clients expect from a financial planning firm. At Estately Wealth Planning, our work revolves around estate planning and wealth preservation, and we needed a digital presence that communicated those services in a clear and reassuring way to families across Ontario and British Columbia.

SOLUTION

How did you find Arounda?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Arounda over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Arounda were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

AROUNDA approached the project with a very structured and thoughtful process. The scope of work began with discovery sessions where their team took the time to understand our services, target audience, and the types of conversations we regularly have with clients. They asked detailed questions about estate planning, wealth preservation strategies, and the typical concerns families bring to us when they begin planning their financial future.

From there, they moved into the design and development phase. The team created a completely redesigned website that focused heavily on clarity and user experience. One of the key deliverables was a modern and highly organized website structure that made it easier for visitors to navigate between our core services, including estate planning, tax-efficient wealth strategies, and legacy protection.

They also redesigned the visual identity of the site so that it aligned better with the level of professionalism associated with financial services. The typography, layout, and visual hierarchy were carefully crafted to make complex financial topics easier to digest. Each section of the website was built with a clear purpose, guiding visitors from learning about our services to scheduling a consultation.

Another important part of the scope was improving the overall usability of the website. AROUNDA designed the platform to work seamlessly across different devices, ensuring that clients could access information comfortably whether they were on a desktop computer, tablet, or smartphone. They also helped us structure our content in a way that explained estate planning in a more approachable and educational format.

In addition to the design work, their team handled the development side of the project, implementing the designs into a fully functional website that loads smoothly and performs reliably. They paid attention to details such as page flow, contact forms, and consultation booking elements to make the entire experience feel effortless for visitors.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Since launching the new website, the difference has been very noticeable. Prospective clients now arrive at consultations with a much clearer understanding of what we do and how we help families plan their financial future. Many have mentioned that the website made complex estate planning concepts easier to understand, which helps create more productive conversations during our initial meetings.

We have also seen stronger engagement with the site itself. Visitors spend more time exploring the service pages, and we are receiving more inquiries through the website than before. The structure and messaging now reflect the professionalism of our firm, and it has become a valuable introduction to our services for individuals researching estate planning solutions.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

AROUNDA’s project management was very organized and transparent. They kept us informed throughout every stage of the process, from early design drafts to the final development stages. Deliverables were consistently shared when expected, and the team was responsive whenever we had feedback or questions. Their communication style made the collaboration smooth, even when we needed to refine certain sections of the content.

What was your primary form of communication with Arounda?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What stood out most about AROUNDA was their ability to truly understand the nature of our business. Estate planning and wealth preservation involve sensitive and complex topics, yet they managed to translate those ideas into a website experience that feels both professional and approachable. Their design decisions were clearly guided by an understanding of how potential clients think and what information they are looking for when planning their financial future.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Arounda could have done differently?

If there is one area where additional support could be helpful, it would be continued guidance after the website launch in terms of long-term content strategy or ongoing optimization. However, the core work they delivered was executed with great attention to detail and professionalism.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder & CEO of Kleva

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Transform your collections with AI agents that never quit, never burn out, and speak perfect Spanish and Portuguese. Proven across 900,000+ minutes monthly in Latin America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Arounda to accomplish?

Our main objective was to redesign the user experience so that complex automation processes such as managing AI agents that operate continuously across thousands of customer interactions would feel intuitive for financial teams using the platform daily.

SOLUTION

How did you find Arounda?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Arounda over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Arounda were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

Arounda approached the project with a level of structure and research that immediately gave us confidence. The engagement started with a deep discovery phase where their team conducted interviews with several of our internal stakeholders, including product managers, engineers, customer success specialists, and a few long-term clients who regularly used our system to manage large-scale debt recovery operations.

From there, they mapped the entire user journey of our platform—from onboarding and AI agent setup to monitoring conversations and analyzing collection performance. One of the most valuable deliverables early in the process was a comprehensive UX audit that clearly highlighted where friction existed in the product. In several cases, the issues were not obvious to our internal team because we had become accustomed to the complexity over time.

The scope of work covered a full redesign of multiple product areas. Arounda created new information architecture for the dashboard environment so users could easily track active AI agents, view conversation summaries, and monitor collection performance across different regions. 
They redesigned the workflow builder used to configure automated collection strategies, ensuring it visually reflected how AI agents interact with customers across different channels and languages.

Another key deliverable was a set of redesigned analytics dashboards that made it easier for financial teams to understand how the AI agents were performing in real time. These dashboards presented conversation outcomes, payment commitments, and operational insights in a much clearer format than our previous reporting system.

Arounda also delivered an extensive design system that became the foundation for all future product updates. This system standardized typography, interaction states, UI components, and design rules, which significantly improved collaboration between our design and engineering teams. By the end of the project, we had not only a redesigned product interface but also a structured framework that allowed our internal teams to scale the product consistently.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The impact of the redesign became visible almost immediately after the first major release. Clients who had previously required training sessions to understand the platform began navigating the system much more confidently. One of our enterprise clients in Brazil commented during a quarterly review that their operations team could now monitor AI collection agents and adjust strategies without needing assistance from our support team.

Internally, the customer success team noticed a clear reduction in onboarding friction. New clients were able to set up their automated collection workflows far more quickly because the workflow builder designed by Arounda mirrored the way teams actually think about collection processes rather than the way engineers originally structured the system.

Another outcome was improved visibility across our operations. The redesigned dashboards gave leadership teams a clearer view of how AI-driven conversations were progressing across different markets. Since our platform handles an enormous volume of automated interactions every month, having this level of clarity made a meaningful difference in how we evaluated performance and optimized strategies.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

From a project management standpoint, Arounda ran the engagement with impressive consistency over the two-year collaboration. Communication was structured but never rigid. We had regular design reviews, progress updates, and collaborative workshops that ensured both sides remained aligned throughout the process. Deliverables were presented clearly, and whenever new requirements emerged from our internal product roadmap, their team adapted quickly without creating disruption.

What was your primary form of communication with Arounda?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What stood out most about Arounda was their ability to combine strategic thinking with practical execution. Many design agencies are strong in visual design but struggle to understand complex SaaS products. Arounda demonstrated a genuine ability to grasp the operational realities of a platform like ours, where automation, financial workflows, and multilingual AI agents all intersect.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Arounda could have done differently?

If there is one area that could have been improved, it would be the initial onboarding phase of the collaboration. Because our platform has many moving parts and a large number of internal stakeholders, the first few weeks required significant alignment to ensure everyone shared the same vision for the redesign. Once that phase passed, however, the collaboration became very smooth and productive.

Looking back, the partnership with Arounda played a significant role in helping us transform Kleva from a technically strong platform into a product that genuinely feels accessible to the teams who rely on it daily. Their work continues to influence how we approach product design today, and the design system they created remains central to how we expand the platform.