Blue Whale Apps

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a doctor of physical therapy and the owner of two independent orthopedic physical therapy practices in New Jersey. I serve patients with orthopedic sports injuries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps?

I needed support to build my website and a mobile application. When I opened my practice, I knew that having a website was important so my clients would find me online. However, I didn’t know how to attract clients or how to let people know about my services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Whale Apps designed and developed a website and a mobile app for my business. The app was available on Android and iOS, and the site allowed patients to book appointments and write reviews. Users could also see our Google reviews on the site. I told Blue Whale Apps what I wanted, and they built everything from scratch, being responsible for UI prototypes, development, and A/B testing.

What is the team composition?

I worked with an entire team, including a project manager, a team leader, and a solution architect.

How did you come to work with Blue Whale Apps?

Blue Whale Apps was recommended by a friend who opened a practice in Virginia. She recommended a couple of companies, and I also found Blue Whale Apps through Google and LinkedIn. I looked at their website and saw they had great reviews. I decided to hire the team based on their experience and what other clients said about the team.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $200,000–$300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Blue Whale Apps from February 2023–April 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After working with Blue Whale Apps, more users looked at my website. When patients call, we always ask them how they heard about us. Many say they found us through our website and saw our information and Google reviews. The website was very important for our small business.

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We were highly impressed by Blue Whale Apps' project management. The team consistently met deadlines and addressed my concerns and questions quickly. Blue Whale Apps delivered solutions based on our needs, and their communication was seamless via email and Google Meet.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Blue Whale Apps' ability to understand our challenges deeply was impressive. The team delivered a product that aligned perfectly with my business goals. Blue Whale Apps helped me as a small business owner. The team did a great job and helped us in every aspect.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I didn't have any specific concerns. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clearly define the project scope and provide detailed instructions when engaging with Blue Whale Apps. This will help ensure a smooth development process and help the team deliver the best results.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the co-founder of Social Circle App.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps?

My friend and I wanted to create an app that we ideated, but we needed someone to help us accomplish it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Whale Apps has helped us with every aspect of developing our mobile app, from UI/UX design to the actual app development. Initially, their team listened to every part of our idea to help us bring it to reality. I had a couple of conversations with Pathik (CEO) and Nirali (Project Manager), who listened to everything we wanted to accomplish.

After that, we storyboarded the app on Figma and went through a lot of different ideas. Blue Whale Apps talked to us about the color scheme, the branding, and all the different avenues this app could go. Although this initial process took a while, we had the app completely planned out after going through it.

Currently, Blue Whale Apps is still working on the backend development. This app is being built for both iOS and Android devices.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with Pathik and Nirali, but there have been a couple of other teammates who have been in and out of the project during the UI/UX design process. Additionally, there are others working on the app development side with whom we don't have much contact.

How did you come to work with Blue Whale Apps?

I found them through a Google search.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent around $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working together since March 2024.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Blue Whale Apps has been incredible every step of the way, and they've helped us accomplish everything that we've needed. We don't have any metrics yet because we haven't finished the app, but the quality of their work has been fantastic.

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

Blue Whale Apps has delivered on time and on budget, and they communicate well with us. One of my favorite things about them is that they do a check-in at the end of every week to show us what has been accomplished and what's yet to be done. The team is great at keeping on top of the finances, and they're fantastic at delivering things on time.

We use Basecamp for everything we need to share. During the early stages of UI/UX design, we did a lot of Google Meet calls as well. Now that we're in the development stage, the process is a bit more hands-off for me. Occasionally, I get a call from Nirali to check in and pass information along. For the most part, we've leveraged Basecamp.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Nirali has been incredible every step of the way.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Blue Whale Apps' team has guided us through every aspect of the design and development process. This is the first project of this kind we've ever done, and they've explained the hows and whys of everything.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything they need to improve on; they've been fantastic!

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Know that the project won't happen overnight. When I started this project, I thought it would take about three months, but it has taken longer than that. Still, this has nothing to do with Blue Whale Apps, as this timeline isn't unusual for these projects. Be prepared because there's a lot to consider.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the executive assistant to secretaries of motor at the Kansas Department of Corrections.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps?

We needed help with web development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Whale Apps has redesigned and updated our public-facing website and our employee-facing intranet. Although we already had a website, they've designed and developed the new one from scratch using WordPress.

Initially, we had meetings to discuss what we wanted to see on our new website, what we wanted it to do, and how we wanted to improve what we currently had. Since then, Blue Whale Apps' work has included creating articles, adding photos, reformating our site, and making it more functional and intuitive. Basically, they've guided us throughout the entire process.

Our website has a disability feature that users can turn on if they have dyslexia, colorblindness, or simply need a larger font; this feature helps them with all of that and makes our website more user-friendly.

What is the team composition?

Nirali (Project Manager) is our main point of contact, and she's responsible for telling the rest of her team what we want and what they need to design. She has been very helpful. We've also worked with Pathik (CEO), who oversees the entire project. Moreover, there are four or five teammates working underneath Nirali who have been in charge of the actual migration, design, and development work.

How did you come to work with Blue Whale Apps?

Although I wasn't part of the hiring process, I know that we put out bids for new contractors, and Blue Whale Apps was the one chosen by our leadership.

How much have you invested with them?

Although I'm not part of the financial side of my company, I estimate that we've spent around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in October 2023, and our engagement is ongoing. We're about to go live with the public-facing website within the next 2–3 weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we don't have metrics yet, Blue Whale Apps' work has met our expectations.

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We've met weekly with Blue Whale Apps since October 2023. Although I help them as much as I can, the final decisions come from our executive management team. Therefore, we've had a couple of meetings with our entire executive team to gather their input. Nirali has made anything our team has wanted to change or correct happen in a very fantastic way. Moreover, they've delivered on time and on budget. We collaborate via Google Meet, Basecamp, phone, and email.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Nirali has been absolutely amazing. I'm not an IT person, but my supervisor has left, and I've been in charge of overseeing this project since then. Nirali has been a complete joy to work with. She has explained things in a language that I can understand, has been very sympathetic to what we're trying to do, and has come up with solutions to our issues. I couldn't have asked for a better assistant than her.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I love how well Blue Whale Apps listens to us. They always try hard to understand what we want. Whenever we have a meeting and need changes, I share my screen with them to tell them what we want to change, and they've always been very receptive. Additionally, whenever I accept something but my executive team doesn't like it, Blue Whale Apps goes back and changes it. Overall, they've been fantastic to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything Blue Whale Apps could improve on; they've been more than accommodating.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Do your homework beforehand, know what you want, see what you don't like about your current website, and take notes. Nirali relies heavily on that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am an executive for My Tutor ICPC LLC. The company was initially built to host language tutorials, but it primarily functions as a peer-to-peer platform for college students.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps?

We hired Blue Whale Apps for mobile app development and marketing. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We discussed our goals with Blue Whale Apps before beginning the design. The team was responsible for the application development and designing the UX/UI. The app was built for iOS and Android. Blue Whale Apps also provided maintenance and marketing services. 

What is the team composition?

We primarily worked with three individuals from Blue Whale Apps. 

How did you come to work with Blue Whale Apps?

We found Blue Whale Apps online. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $125,000–$150,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together between January 2019–January 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team achieved all our goals, and we had a wonderful experience working together. They are an effective company and have been quite helpful. 

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was delivered on time and within budget. We met regularly and communicated via phone calls. 

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

We’d like to highlight Pathik (CEO); he was extremely helpful and worked with us when anything came up. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team was flexible with their schedule and ensured they kept up with changes that were made along the way. The purpose of the application changed during the middle of the engagement, and Blue Whale Apps was extremely accommodating with that. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing we can come up with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ensure you have enough time to work with them and are available. Schedule everything ahead of time so that you have a set cadence. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of iPass Technologies, a software development company that develops technology to automate and streamline the passport application process.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps?

We needed a partner to help us develop our technology.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Whale is our development partner. We initially provided them with a blueprint of what we wanted. Taking our input, they’ve built our website and our product prototype from scratch. Currently, they’re developing our full mobile app.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with various people from Blue Whale, including designers, developers, a product manager, a business analyst, and the CEO.

How did you come to work with Blue Whale Apps?

We found them online, reviewed their work, and saw some of their online reviews. Then, we met with their CEO, who also provided us with samples of their work. Based on our research and analysis, we found out that Blue Whale had the experience and expertise needed to develop our technology, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

Blue Whale’s budget for the entire project is over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around December 2020, and our engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re very satisfied with the quality of Blue Whales’ work, as well as with their professionalism and patience. They’ve ensured to deliver everything to our satisfaction. Basically, they took my vision and brought it to life.

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

Blue Whale is very timely, and they’ve even completed tasks before the deadlines. Additionally, they’ve provided me with feedback and updates throughout the entire process.

Blue Whale’s communication is great. They use Basecamp for project management and communication, where we can communicate directly with the product manager to ask questions and know the status of the project. Moreover, they’re readily available to jump on a call to discuss things in detail if needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Everything Blue Whale has done has been remarkably well done. Their deliverables have been on point — they’ve basically provided me with what I wanted. Additionally, they’ve always ensured to address issues and make changes per our requirements, so their overall service has been top-notch all around.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everyone can improve; no one is perfect. As for Blue Whale, it would be good for them to assign the right number of project managers and analysts for each project, depending on the scope. Still, their service has been outstanding, and they’ve brought in extra resources when needed.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear idea of what you want, and they will help bring your idea to life. If you don’t have a clear idea yet, be open and communicative about what you want to accomplish, and they’ll find a way to make it happen for you.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a personalized video app company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps?

We needed to develop our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

After I presented my ideas, Blue Whale Apps drafted them. Their team designed and developed the app for iOS and Android. We collaboratively analyzed and changed the platform until it satisfied our vision. A few of the features include in-app purchases as well as PayPal and Stripe integrations. The platform allows users to request personalized video messages from celebrities who also use it to send them.

What is the team composition?

We worked with four people including Pathik (CEO) and a project manager.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $100,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began the engagement around March 2019, and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As the platform’s not live, we don’t have statistics yet. However, it’s been a smooth process. Blue Whale Apps promptly handles any issues. They’ve done a great job.

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate via Basecamp. Their team provides us with weekly progress reports. They’re available and responsive. Their project management’s great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They take care of us 100%, so their customer service is excellent. If there’s ever an issue, their team responds within hours. They’re great, and I’ll stick with them for any further development.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of any ways for them to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them feedback to keep the project on track. It should run smoothly. They’re a great partner.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and CEO of Birds of My Feather, a company created to help jumpstart and accelerate friendships. Our first phase is targeted at connecting moms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps?

I was looking to create a mobile app to help connect people with the purpose of starting a friendship. I had worked with a previous company on the design and needed someone to pick up where they left off.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Blue Whale Apps developed a native iOS app. Their team started off with the rough draft of the design that was left from my previous engagement. Our teams had to finalize the design and the business logic for how the app was going to work.

We started with an in-person kickoff meeting with the project manager, the head of sales, and their lead programmer. I gave them an overview of my company and what my business goals were. Blue Whale Apps created a use case and a user stories document detailing all of the functionality that the app is supposed to have. Reviewing that was actually very helpful because it made sure we were thinking through the process from start to finish from a user standpoint. They ensured the requirements were written in a specific way that ensured both of our teams had the same understanding of the app.

I originally thought the designs were 90% done but realized after working with Blue Whale Apps that changes as well as additions were needed and, in hindsight, they were only 50% complete. Their team recreated the look and feel of the app, changing the colors and the menu. Their team designed the inner workings of the database structure and everything needed to bring the app from a design to a functioning platform.  

What is the team composition?

I worked directly with a project manager, who was my main point of contact at Blue Whale Apps. I also worked with a UI/UX designer, a frontend developer, a backend developer, and a QA team. 

How did you come to work with Blue Whale Apps?

When I went to look for different companies, I found Blue Whale Apps on Clutch and read through their reviews. It was nice to know that they were real reviews with honest opinions that I could trust. 

I interviewed several companies, all with positive reviews on Clutch, and Blue Whale Apps stood out for their attention to detail, understanding my vision, and asking me relevant and thought-provoking questions.

What is the status of this engagement?

My ongoing engagement with Blue Whale Apps began in February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While the app has not yet launched, we are about to have beta testers on the app for the next 2–3 weeks. 

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated in-person, over the phone, and using Basecamp. I appreciated the opportunity to meet them face to face because it gave me a sense of confidence in the team. They understood my vision and what I wanted to accomplish. They brought ideas to the table that I hadn’t thought of before, making the app better and stronger.

I spoke with our project manager once a week over the phone. We also exchanged emails constantly between those weekly meetings. She communicates clearly and minimized the opportunity for anything being vague or confusing. She was very timely in getting back to me, and the whole team was responsive. They developed a project plan that outlined key milestones, which they were good about hitting.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their attention to detail gave me confidence in their experience. For example, the user stories document was something I didn’t know I needed, but it made a real difference. They also have a high level of communication and keep the project plan on schedule.

Blue Whale Apps also brings their own ideas to the table. They made it into a collaborative process. The app became fuller and richer because of that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. The key is to have strong communication when things come up. They have a really strong problem-solving approach.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend having an in-person kickoff. Having the user stories document was really helpful as well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a hearing device company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps?

We wanted to develop an affordable and efficient testing option for people who had hearing loss. Ideally, it would be a self-administered hearing test that someone could do on an iPad.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

No one had ever created a hearing test that could be done by the patient on an iPad. However, Blue Whale Apps helped us create a piece of medical testing equipment that incorporates instructional videos and guides to walk patients through the test protocol. Additionally, it’s also a calibrated system, able to create digital audio at a known level and maintain that level. The product is only for iPad devices, and Blue Whale Apps wrote all of the code and did all subsequent enhancements and revisions.

What is the team composition? 

We interacted with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Blue Whale Apps?

We searched for a variety of app developers and interviewed many of them. We asked for quotes from a few, and Blue Whale Apps seemed like the best fit, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent just under $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from March 2016–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We tracked the progress through various releases and tests. As we identified opportunities for improvement, Blue Whale Apps implemented those enhancements.

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We were definitely satisfied with their project management. We developed the specs and had regular phone conferences with them. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their top-level management frequently engaged with our project, addressing any concerns or problems that the project manager couldn’t resolve.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. They worked through problems well.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should be clear about what they want and give good instructions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I’m the founder of a new social media app that’s like a combination of Instagram and Venmo. Users can post whatever they want without limits, so it’s definitely not safe for work. It's for people who, like me, have been blocked and banned from other apps.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps? 

I can't code or do any of the technical things, so I had to find someone to actually build my app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

I drew how I wanted the app to look, including all the buttons, the color scheme, and the logo. I gave that to Blue Whale Apps and then they did everything else. They developed the app in iOS due to my budget limitations, but I’d like to develop it in Android if I have more money.

Blue Whale Apps created the app so that users can post pictures and send each other direct messages. Users can also send money back and forth, and write a note to indicate what the money’s for. There are filters for posting photos and users can draw on the picture or write a caption. They included many different fonts to choose from. We don't have hashtags right now—that will be in the next version—but users can search different categories. Users can also sort their news feed by most recent or what's trending. 

What is the team composition?

I talk mostly to Kim (Project Manager, Blue Whale Apps). I communicate everything to her, and then she relays everything back to the coders and developers.

How did you come to work with Blue Whale Apps? 

The first company I spoke to had done some really big apps, like PayPal and Uber. They wanted $200,000 and I only had a certain amount of money. Then I talked to some other companies in Florida and I liked Blue Whale Apps the most. I thought they were a better fit and more trustworthy. 

How much have you invested with them? 

I’ve spent between $50,000–$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Currently the app is in post-production. I had my friends and family serve as beta testers and they seemed to really like it. My friend's dad made an app years ago. He said that my app is well-made and something people can easily use every day. My friend told me it's addictive, so that's good.

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

They're timely and responsive. I can just send Kim an email or text and she’s usually very quick to respond. We use email, phone calls, and texts to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is great in terms of character, timeliness, and skills. They're easy to talk to. I don't like talking to people that are so stiff that you're scared to talk to them. I can be myself around them. The app is edgy and they understand that. They're super helpful because I didn't know anything about what goes into making an app. I play with apps all the time but I didn't know how much goes in the making of one. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

Not for them. If anything went wrong it was probably my fault. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Know what you want to build and your goals. In the beginning, you’ll be all over the place. They’ll help you think things through as you go through the process. If you have an idea, they can actually turn it into something tangible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a mobile medical device developer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Blue Whale Apps?

We worked with them on two projects. Both were for iOS and needed to be HIPAA compliant.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided wireframes and all the information for them, and they helped us develop two medical devices that met script standards. We had some very complicated requirements, but they fulfilled all of them and enhanced some beyond our initial requests.

The strict standards we needed to meet revolved around acoustic measurements and could not be deviated from. They accomplished all of our goals and made sure we were compliant.

What is the team composition?

I had two or three primary contacts, but I’m not sure of the exact extent of the other resources they used.

How did you come to work with Blue Whale Apps?

A colleague recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

We worked on two projects with them. Each cost a little over $60,000, so our total spend was around $120,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in late spring 2018 and completed the app around December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our outcomes had to comply with ANSI standards, which they did. Without that compliance, we wouldn’t have moved forward with the FDA or other regulatory entities. They interacted with us through conference calls each week, and everyone on our side stayed updated and satisfied with the results.

How did Blue Whale Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

They were excellent project managers and very well organized. We primarily communicated via phone and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I initially had reservations about whether they could achieve the acoustic measurements we needed, but we were pleasantly surprised by how well they did as an unknown entity in a specialized market.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We don’t have any specific improvements for them. This is an ongoing project, and there will likely be future enhancements, updates, and spinoff products.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear scope of what you want to do so Blue Whale can give you accurate time and cost estimates.