Byteridge

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO and founder of Gift My Legacy, an online platform that helps users organize their last will and testaments.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Byteridge?

I needed developers to build the portal, paying extra attention to encryption.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a couple of initial meetings and used waterfall methodology to outline the project. After articulating the website’s goals and doing design work, we settled on the technical aspects. A cloud-based platform, the portal was built using JavaBeans, MondoDB, and Apache Spark.

Security was key. I wanted my customers to feel comfortable storing personal data on the site, so Byteridge built encryptions that prevent even our own administrators from accessing user information. They also used ethical hackers to test the strength of their security systems.

I see the site eventually hosting over 2 million users, so they also ensured that the portal’s technology was robust enough to handle high levels of traffic.

They built a template to assist users in creating their wills, and created corresponding mobile apps for both iOS and Android.

What is the team dynamic?

My primary contact is their CTO, Ujwal Parker, though I also work closely with their senior developers and designers. They communicate my needs to their internal teams.

How did you come to work with Byteridge?

Their CEO, Vinayak Sharma, is a personal friend of mine. I wanted a company I could trust, and in addition to my personal connection, Byteridge provided all the appropriate NDA forms.

They also have young, dynamic team members who are excited about creating successful products. Unlike other vendors I considered, they believed in my idea just as much as I did, which really matters to any entrepreneur of a start-up.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the initial brainstorming in February 2016, with the actual hands-on work beginning in July 2016. We did a soft launch in October 2016, and the project was officially completed in March 2017.

It's still a work in progress. Byteridge is currently implementing a significant change request.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve received a lot of positive feedback from users. They like the platform’s design, find it easy to use, and feel comfortable with the encryption. This level of customer satisfaction is one factor in our growing user base, which has increased each month.

How did Byteridge perform from a project management standpoint?

Even though I had an existing relationship with the CEO, this has not impacted the team’s professionalism. We set clear milestones in the beginning and Byteridge has met every deadline. They provide weekly updates to go over plans for the following week and have proven themselves highly capable. They also supply regular timesheets for my approval.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Any number of companies could have managed the technical requirements of the project, but Byteridge’s biggest advantage was their personable team. They connected with me and truly believed in my idea. They weren't focused solely on the deliverable; they wanted me to succeed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Although they provided regular updates, there were times when I wanted more of their attention. While we ultimately moved past the issue, communication could be improved if senior management learned to delegate tasks more effectively.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Harvesting. We are working on enabling financial inclusion for farmers in the emerging world. We help financial institutions in emerging markets so that they can provide loans and insurance products to farmers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Byteridge?

As a small startup, I was looking for people who could help me on demand and provide me engineering services at a cheaper, faster, and a better rate than finding someone in Seattle.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Over the period of many years, we have leveraged Byteridge's experience in building web services with multi-tier, highly scalable web services, websites, and mobile applications. They also have designers on board who have done a good job converting my markup diagrams into really nice and friendly user interfaces. They worked on Microsoft Azure Stack, ASP.NET, C#, and they have skill sets in Android development as well.

What is the team dynamic?

I initially was working with Vinayak [Founder & CEO, Byteridge]. In our current engagement, there are about three guys I see on a daily basis. There was Saurabh [Software Developer, Byteridge], Avinash [Full Stack Developer, Byteridge], and Ashish [Software Developer Engineer, Byteridge]. Depending on the project need and time, I’ve worked with several people on their team.

How did you come to work with Byteridge?

My relationship started with Byteridge when I was working at Microsoft, which is where their founder and CEO also used to work. When I was looking for a service provider, I had concerns about the quality and the communication. Since we had both worked at Microsoft, I felt that Byteridge had the same philosophy and understanding of how things work in the software world. I felt that their team would understand me because we came from a familiar background.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2011 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They are like an extension of the team. Most of the time, I engage with them very early on when I start my companies. When I have a business idea, I go to Byteridge instead of building my own team. They are my go-to guys. I consider them part of my team.

How did Byteridge perform from a project management standpoint?

Most project management was done by my company and we were leveraging 2-3 developers at a time. We didn’t just tell them what to do. We were highly collaborative with everyday meetings because we considered them as part of the team. They’re good at doing what they do.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re frank about what they do and what they cannot do. I also like the flexibility of working with them. As a startup, we were bootstrapping and didn't have any revenue, but Byteridge was still flexible in working with us. That’s the highlight of this relationship. We have a good sense of trust between our teams.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They have a lot of potential. I wish they had a small team here in the U.S. as well. I believe they’re working towards it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Valley Proteins, Inc. provides services for the collection, rendering, and recycling of animal processing and supermarket waste streams (fat and bone trimmings; meat/poultry waste) and restaurant used cooking oil (UCO) throughout the contiguous United States. OUr processing and conversion facilities are conveniently located to draw on the resources provided by the surrounding areas, utilizing only the freshest raw materials for the production of safe, nutritious and sustainable animal feed ingredients.

I am the IT manager of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Byteridge?

We’ve worked on multiple projects with Byteridge, every one stemming from a new business challenge. Initially, we needed to build a proof-of-service app.

We work with several restaurants and supermarkets, collect their used cooking oil and convert it into ingredients for Bio Fuel. Last year we shipped around 111 million gallons of used cooking oil to the European Union to be converted to Bio Fuel. We are truly the original recyclers.

Bigger chain restaurants and corporations require digital proofs-of-service, since they cannot go to each and every store to verify the service performed as per the guidelines.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Byteridge developed an Android-based application which is deployed on a Panasonic handheld device. Drivers can use the device to digitally create a proof-of-service, take pictures, capture geolocations and send those images to our customers.

We have also used Byteridge for enterprise application development, including our CRM system. We have also developed an iOS application with Byteridge which will be launched on the App Store soon.

The technologies used include HTML5 and jQuery on the frontend, C# and Microsoft SQL Server on the backend, and Microsoft Azure as a hosting platform. Byteridge can develop hybrid applications using a number of platforms on the market, or natively, using Swift for iOS and Java for Android.

What is the team dynamic?

During the initial phase of any project, I primarily work with Ujwal Parker [CTO, Byteridge]. His technical knowledge and insights help me shape the project, be it the selection of the right technology stack or his ideas on the user experience and user interface workflows. He brings so much to the table. On a regular basis, I prefer to talk to the developers directly so I can explain the unique cases we have in our industry.

How did you come to work with Byteridge?

I’ve known Vinayak Sharma [CEO, Byteridge] for several years since he was working for Microsoft. We met through a colleague of mine while I was part of another company, and we started working together. I’ve used them for previous employers in the past, and the collaboration worked well for me. They have good turnaround time and produce good quality.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work for the current company has been around $200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first started working with Byteridge in October 2011. The collaboration for Valley Protein started in 2014 and is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The service quality audit application we've developed allows managers to easily assess the quality of service being performed. We set very high standards for our service and Service Quality Audit app enables a process to maintain that. It has also helped us increase our productivity.

The Audit app captures the geolocation, pictures the services location, and rates the quality providing an overall score for the service.

How did Byteridge perform from a project management standpoint?

Ujwal and Vinayak have done a very good job. I can escalate any issue to them, and they will take care of it immediately. I handle project management with the developers directly, setting up my own project plans and schedules. I work in an Agile, sprint-by-sprint fashion.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They don’t hire just anyone. Byteridge is very quality-conscious and it’s what I appreciate about them. When developing an application through an external vendor, especially an offshore one, the quality can become compromised if only one developer actually knows SQL well, for example. Byteridge has had a slow and steady growth, because they hire consciously and maintain the quality standards of new members.

Are there any areas they could improve?

On the flip side, I will have urgent resource requirements, but they won't be addressed as quickly because Byteridge is growing at a slow and steady rate. We are in the commodities business, so for us, the need is now. There have been opportunities in the past for which we had to find someone else since Byteridge didn’t have enough resources. Although they are slow in growing, they ensure that they only hire the best, smartest people.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My organization is a product development and research center. We have computer science engineers that collaborate with global teams to build products and services for our computer software company.

My role is communications lead. I'm responsible for creating websites and working on applications for events that we host.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Byteridge?

We've been working with Byteridge for quite some time now. We've done a number of development projects with them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our work with Byteridge started off with having them host and roll out our very first website which we used to attract talent. We continue to have the same objective. Byteridge partnered with us in creating architecture and frameworks for the website design. They also created certain registration applications that are embedded in the website.

More recently, they have been a technology partner for an academy accelerator program that we run. They are responsible for the technology evangelism of our company's products and services when they're used in academic communities. They've supported us in getting students excited about our technology.

I've primarily worked with Byteridge in website design, applications, and IT solutions.

What is the team dynamic?

I've worked with Vinayak Sharma [Founder & CEO, Byteridge] in the past. He's my primary point of contact. There are also four people who report to him that I've worked with.

How did you come to work with Byteridge?

Byteridge was founded by Vinayak, who was a former employee at our company. We knew him from well before when he worked in compliance and guidance. After he became an independent startup, I reached out to him. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Byteridge in 2007. Our engagement with them right now is paused only because I don't have any work for them at this moment. I was working with Vinayak up until six months ago.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We track how many unique visitors we receive. As social trends have changed, our website trends have also changed. Vinayak has helped in building engagement by suggesting different ways to tweak our architecture. I don't remember the exact metrics, but it was successful engagement campaign when we launched. We got a lot of hits on the website.

For the accelerator program, it's become one of our key platforms for engaging the student community in a number of Tier 1 college campuses in India. Every year, we've had deeper engagement with the student community.

How did Byteridge perform from a project management standpoint?

Vinayak has been the single point of contact. We've had hands-on-deck support all along. They're well-trained and the developers we work with have been good, though some were better than others. Vinayak does a good job of keeping his eye on things from a distance, avoiding any escalations, and taking charge.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What impresses me about the company is seeing where it started in comparison to where it is now. Their team has grown well. Vinayak is very keen on taking care of what a client wants, but also suggesting to do things differently. He will come up with ideas I haven't considered. Their technology and expertise have helped us improve our assets.

Are there any areas they could improve?

He might need to have more senior people working with them who have a deeper level of expertise. He already has several, but he could use more. It's a common issue for startup product development companies to find the right talent. However, I always feel that Vinayak has his eye on what's happening and is always suggesting improvements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder/CEO of Aikonik dba GivAmaze

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mobile app for gifting

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Backend development for our mobile app
• Integration with fintech partner APIs

SOLUTION

How did you find Byteridge?

Referral

Why did you select Byteridge over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned
• Reliability

How many teammates from Byteridge were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Scope of Work - The Byteridge team helped us plan out the technology, built a backend to help track transactions, created a CRM style dashboard for managing users, completed all API integrations to enable us to move funds. One of the hardest thing they helped us with was the KYC requirements for the users.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We followed a strict scrum methodology and tracked progress diligently using 2-week sprints. The team shared their status and our meetings were used to move things along. To me, the success of the project was measured on the working prototypes and functioning of the mobile app.

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

There were a few minor slippages on deadlines but that had a lot to do with new requirements imposed by our banking and fintech partners. I was satisfied with Byteridge and their ability to anticipate and get things done on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Byteridge?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They treated the project as though it was their project. They cared, and the team was fantastic. They had strong technical skills but also made us feel like they wanted the project to succeed. They even researched solutions proactively and brought those topics to the meetings.

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

The interactions with our mobile app lead based in the USA needed improvement. We were able to streamline this after a few meetings.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of TASC Global

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Business Continuity, Crisis Management and Travel Risk Management services

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Develop a disruptive event response platform

SOLUTION

How did you find Byteridge?

• Referral
• Other

Why did you select Byteridge over others?

• Great culture fit
• Trust

How many teammates from Byteridge were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

Design and develop a highly available disruptive event platform as a SaaS offering.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Agile methodology with planned sprints followed by sprint reviews. Every day the team dedicates 30 minutes to measure progress and take corrective action if required.

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

When I approached ByteRidge I had no product development experience, just an idea that I believed would work. Byteridge did a great job of translating my idea into product design on Figma. They assigned a scrum master and a product manager who helps keep deliverables and deadlines on track. The Bteridge team assigned to my project feels like an extension of my team and their ideas and delivery have been on time and spot on.

What was your primary form of communication with Byteridge?

Virtual Meeting

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

The People: While contracts and project plans are undoubtedly valuable for establishing confidence, what truly stands out to me is the trust instilled by the Byteridge management team. My initial interaction with Byteridge involved sharing a somewhat half-baked idea.

However, the Byteridge team candidly expressed their reservations about its viability, emphasizing the need for further groundwork before they could provide assistance. This approach was a refreshing departure from the norm – instead of accepting my project and my money, they advised me to refine my concept. Their pragmatic guidance sent me back to the drawing board armed with sensible advice.

Fast forward six months, and my idea had evolved significantly. During this phase, Byteridge played an instrumental role in not only fine-tuning the concept but also taking charge of product development. The remarkable aspect was their earlier decision to turn down my business, demonstrating a commitment to my success rather than a mere transaction. Their genuine concern about ensuring my resources weren't squandered solidified my belief that Byteridge was the perfect partner.

In a landscape where profit often takes precedence, Byteridge's ethical stance and their dedication to fostering trust have won me over. It's evident that they prioritize long-term success over short-term gains. Working with a company that genuinely values their clients' interests and success is a privilege, and Byteridge embodies that ethos.

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

We are currently in the development phase, and I'd be more than happy to provide additional insights and input to anyone who is considering partnering with Byteridge. As we continue working together, I'm confident that any minor adjustments will be addressed, and the collaboration will only strengthen. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to learn more about my experience or discuss the aspects of Byteridge's services in more detail.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the founder and CEO of TRAVELSPICE.com. India's first opaque hotel booking platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Byteridge, and what were your goals?

We hired Byteridge to develop our eCommerce platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I knew the founder before he became an entrepreneur and started this.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We negotiated the price, had a kick off meeting, daily standups until the project is delivered and knowledge is transferred.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

2 Product engineers 1 product ux designer 1 product manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We used what Byteridge has developed as our initial version and we built on it with our internal team. We subsequently raised 2 rounds of funding.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Byteridge and us used agile KANBAN methodology with daily standups. We used Trello software to create the boards and cards.

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

Byteridge is upfront, honest, and on-time on their projects. I like their candor and their skills.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I keep telling Vinayak that Byteridge can and should be much bigger company than they are right now.