Cruxlab, Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The company was developing a self-balancing unicycle, which is like a hoverboard or a Segway with one wheel. It’s an alternative mode of quick transportation for use in paved, urban areas. I was in charge of the whole project and lead the design team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cruxlab?

I needed an iOS development company that was familiar with the Bluetooth protocol or coding for iOS and Android to create our application for the device.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Cruxlab’s scope initially started off as only doing the phone apps for the unicycle. We subcontracted the Bluetooth development to another team, but the process was slow and the developers at Crux were waiting for us to update the Bluetooth protocol so it was compatible with the app. We decided to use Crux and their expertise in embedded hardware to help us with the app and the Bluetooth protocol.

We tried to build both the iOS and Android app in parallel at the beginning. However, we paused the Android because there were a lot of changes and because most of the people in our company use an iPhone. When all the changes solidified, we resumed the Android app development. It’s easier to port it over rather than developing two things at the same time.

The app displays all the statistics about the unicycle. It shows the user their speed, distance traveled, and status of the device. It tells the user how much charge is left and how far they could go and includes an interactive map showing the presumed range. The user can configure the device from the app by turning features off, changing characteristics to make it faster, turning lights off and on, etc.

What is the team dynamic?

There were four or five people working on the app. I worked most with Kos and Phillip. When we changed the hardware developers from the external party to Cruxlab, I worked for a week and a half from their office to transfer the knowledge in person. We felt it would be useful for them to be on board with all the changes. They were really accommodating when I was there.

How did you come to work with Cruxlab?

One of my colleagues found them through online research and by speaking to different companies doing iOS development. They were helpful and quick to respond to our questions. Their knowledge of Bluetooth, as well as the price they quoted, helped us make our decision. Based on their level of support, their knowledge, and their value adds, we chose to go with Cruxlab.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in November 2015, and the project was completed in February 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was never launched because we ran out of money, but the app was really good. We wanted to carry on the development to incorporate a social aspect into it.

How did Cruxlab perform from a project management standpoint?

They managed the project well and kept me updated on the development. We had weekly meetings, which worked well. We used Jira, which allowed us to quickly report issues and manage problems. They closed each issue as it was completed. At the end of the week, we reviewed what issues were still open and what needed to happen to close them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were willing to try something new. They had some experience with hardware development, but it wasn’t as in-depth as what we were trying to do because we were using nonstandard coding language and hardware. They hadn’t used it before but were keen on helping us, which was really valued at the time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I was very satisfied with their services. I was happy with how they received me in Ukraine and how they showed me around and hosted me. From an investor point of view, the process could’ve been streamlined a little bit, but that was more of a problem with an external company not delivering what we wanted. The process lasted too long.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our primary product is a website that helps families manage and plan for the care of elderly relatives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cruxlab?

We were a startup needing a website, mobile apps, and an API. We brought in Cruxlab to write the code.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We developed the desktop app first. Using an Agile development process, we did a number of two-week sprints in which they’d push builds to staging, we’d test for bugs, they’d fix them, and we’d push to the builds to live. They also used our requirements and mockups to do a fair amount of design work.

We’re working on native mobile apps now, starting with iOS. We’re doing the design and they’re writing the code. They started with the API, which enabled the mobile app to talk to our website’s backend. Soon, they’ll start coding the mobile frontend, and once that’s done, they’ll build the Android native app.

The app’s key feature is the user’s action plan, which incorporates user survey functionality that feeds into a complex task delegation, communication, and collaboration algorithm. It’s somewhat like a lightweight version of Asana or other project management apps.

What is the team dynamic?

We had a dedicated project manager and a developer or two, depending on the workload.

How did you come to work with Cruxlab?

My co-founder (a computer scientist and the app’s architect) used them in the past and was confident in their abilities. We gave them a try liked their work, so we kept them on board. We didn’t explore other options.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we have spent between $80,000 and $140,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2016, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our conversion rate is high, and we’ve received very positive reviews from users, industry professionals, potential partners, and investors.

How did Cruxlab perform from a project management standpoint?

We use JIRA to manage tickets remotely, since they’re located in Ukraine. Based on what I’ve heard from my co-founder and what I see through our email and JIRA correspondence, they’ve done an excellent job.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their level of communication and quality of code they deliver is robust and scalable. We had no problems fixing bugs or building on top of it when needed.

They also work well independently and have the ability to make creative and design decisions without supervision. For example, they designed a lot of UI that doesn’t typically come with Agile development, while also making good decisions in fleshing that out and filling in gaps.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be more efficient if they did at least some of the testing in-house. When we’ve discovered bugs, there can be a lag of up to 12 hours because of the time zone difference.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

At Urbn, we create real-time parking solutions. The hardware and software support is providing drivers with real-time knowledge on where they can park on city streets. I am founder and CEO. I’ve been here for two and a half years.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cruxlab?

We needed an Android and iOS mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our platform is Android and iOS mobile only. We wanted somebody that shared our vision of a clean, modern, simple, effective, and elegant solution for a problem that doesn’t need to be complicated.

We built and went to live iterations that were not in the negotiated service agreement that we most likely should have been charged a lot of extra money for, but we were not. We agreed it could be something we could work on forever, but you have to call it good at some point, so we reached that point about a month ago. Then Cruxlab worked on testing. We’re not releasing this version of the app because we made a modification to the density of the data that we collect which will require it to be presented in a different way. We’re going to keep approximately 90% of the app, but in a couple of months after we finish this next development cycle, we’re going to contract them again to make some modifications that make it ready for launch.

What is the team dynamic?

One of our VPs interacted with them daily. I worked with Constantine [CEO, Cruxlab] frequently, mostly on product updates, larger decisions, and some directional points. I exchanged multiple emails with him over the past three months. We approved the timeline and what needs to be on the apps. We had project reviews periodically.

How did you come to work with Cruxlab?

We worked with 4–5 other companies to get quotes and stumbled across Cruxlab in the very last phase of that research. Some were online and some were based here in L.A. We had a lot of meetings before we settled on Cruxlab. I looked for very particular things. If I can’t get a company on the phone that’s going to charge me between $100,000–$250,000, I’m not interested. After the first ring, Cruxlab answered the phone. They were knowledgeable and knew exactly how to build what I was asking them to build. They were confident enough with the somewhat vague description that I offered on day one. After a few days, they came back to me with a proposed direction, budget, and timeline. Their price was very competitive and we seemed to mesh well. One of my employees went up to meet them in person in Santa Monica. She had nothing but great things to say. I’ve never met Constantine in person, but my employee’s stamp of approval is good enough for me. That’s why we committed to them.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested approximately $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from April 2017 until July 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As far as the quality and what they’ve done, I’m really happy with the app. I’m two builds behind on my phone but even the earlier version is still super stable and I show it off. I added 20–30 people onto a test team for the latest iteration of this app and they have nothing but positive things to say about it. They did a great job. We are going back to them in a couple of months to do another version.

How did Cruxlab perform from a project management standpoint?

I received a weekly update from Constantine. If my guys had a question that they weren’t comfortable answering or approving, it would get passed up to me. There wasn’t a lot of interaction on my level. Constantine checked in every once in a while. I’m satisfied. I haven’t heard a single complaint from my guys about timeliness. Their development office is in Ukraine. There’s a slight time difference so things aren’t always super punctual, but in terms of getting work done, I was pretty impressed with how quickly a new iteration would be released. There was never a point in the development that my team or I had any issue with communication or timeliness. I can only say good things.

What did you find most impressive about them?

For me, it’s a big deal how easy it is to get a hold of them. Anytime I had a question, the lady would answer. I remember calling at 8:00 at night and she’d answer with no problem. That’s a huge reason why we went with Cruxlab. It’s nice to have that reassurance that your project is under control and your money is being handled well and you’re going to be on time. Both Constantine and his CTO are super knowledgeable guys. There are a lot of things in mobile app development that we don’t know the terminology for and they were really helpful walking us through. They take the time to work with me and help me to understand so that I can make these informed decisions, which was great.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t see any from my end. If I was to say one thing, it is nice to be able to work in person occasionally and that was impossible since Constantine is in Ukraine.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business or organization and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an early stage software-as-a-service company that provides small and medium size businesses with an end-to-end marketing solution that turns live video into direct leads, customer contact info, and sales.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Cruxlab?

We needed to develop a working prototype of our application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The scope expanded to turn a prototype concept into a market ready revenue generating application. They implemented the programming, dev ops, and portions of product development to achieve our goal.

How large was the team assigned to this engagement? 

The team was anywhere from 3–6 people. It was assembled based on agreed upon, written requirements; ability to program in specific frameworks, manage developers, and create scaling reliable infrastructure.

How did you come to work with Cruxlab?

We were introduced through a mutual colleague. There were at least 3 other firms we considered. We went with Cruxlab because of flexibility, professionalism, and quality.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in April 2016, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

In software, the proof is in the pudding. Even with changed goals, scope, and requirements, we’re still in business together.

How did Cruxlab perform from a project management standpoint?

Very hands on. The principals of the company are central to organizing SOWs and agreements between the parties. We used Jira, Slack, Email, Zoom, and Trello.

What did you find most impressive about Cruxlab?

I think here, it’s the flexibility and eagerness to succeed. Cruxlab is proactive when handling agreed-upon principles of a market and of specific business goals.

Are there any areas Cruxlab could improve?

No.

Can you share any tips or recommendations with inexperienced buyers who might be considering an engagement like yours?

Nothing specific to Cruxlab, but in software, if you don’t have a written plan, then there will be variability.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Hooke Audio is the world's first Bluetooth binaural microphone. We produce wearable 3-D microphones. Our first product, the Hooke Verse, consists of a wireless pair of Bluetooth headphones with built-in binaural mics in each earpiece. When connected to a phone and hooked up with the Hooke smartphone app, users can capture 3-D audio to their device via Bluetooth.

What is your position?

I'm the founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Cruxlab?

I needed help developing apps for my product.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail.

Cruxlab has worked with our company from the beginning, working on both Android and iOS app development. Our apps are meant to work in conjunction with the headset made by the company.

How did you come to work with Cruxlab?

One of my business partners had worked on two mobile apps in the past using Cruxlab. We brought them on based on that previous relationship.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The total development cost so far has been less than $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them at the beginning of January 2015. The app is expected to launch in the summer of 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Cruxlab did a good job. What we are working on is completely groundbreaking. Nothing of this sort has been done before. We've created a custom Bluetooth audio codec. The apps have had to cooperate with it, so they are unlike any others in this respect.

How did Cruxlab perform from a project management standpoint?

I work very closely with their owner [Kostiantyn Zamiesov], who acts as our project manager. This relationship has been crucial, given that they're located halfway across the world. Any time I need to get on the phone with him, he will be available. His English level is substantial enough to have elaborate conversations. I can relay what I'm looking for properly, and he will, in turn, get his team to put it to life. We mostly communicate through Skype, email, phone, and GitHub, and TestFlight for project tracking.

What distinguishes Cruxlab from other providers?

Cruxlab' team has made a good effort in terms of estimates, workflow, and communication. They've been resourceful and found solutions to every problem. Cruxlab has been a team player. Every week, we encounter something different, but they've rolled with the punches.

Is there anything Cruxlab could have improved or done differently?

There have been times in which I engaged Cruxlab as if they were collaborators, having them come up with suggestions of their own. At other times, I felt that they stay too much within their lane. I would have wanted them to take more initiative and demand more responsibility. Ask for forgiveness instead of permission, in a manner of speaking. I have tried to get them to improve upon this aspect, and I find that they have. It has to do with Ukrainian culture to some extent. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We’re a small company that produces an app to help people find wine stores in Norway.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I’m a co-owner and the project manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Cruxlab?

I needed them to develop a mobile application for my company’s idea.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They provided the coding and built the application from start to finish. They also handled all of the relationship with the App Store. The project was started in Norway, and they took on the code, refactored it, and shaped it up.

What was your process in selecting Cruxlab with which to work?

I met them through another partner who recommended them.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

We’ve spent about $60,000 working with Cruxlab.

When did you start working with them and is the relationship ongoing?

The relationship started about two years ago, I think in early 2013. We are still working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Do you have any statistics, metrics, or general feedback from the project?

I’m happy with the app. They have a lot of knowledge around app technology and how to go about building an app. We’re very pleased with what they’ve done.

Is there anything unique about Cruxlab that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

Their knowledge of app development is excellent. They know the technology and the trends, and what to do or not to do. They are a good partner when it comes to choices, strategy, and the actual building of the app.

Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or something that you might do differently?

Cruxlab could be better at forecasting estimates. As a customer, I would like to have more assurance on price estimates, but I know this is not always possible.

What advice would you give a future client of theirs?

I would recommend that the client be very precise on what is to be done and what the cost will be. In this way, the client can remove a lot of uncertainty.

BACKGROUND

Please give a brief description of your company.

​Tinkering Inc. is a VC [venture capital]-funded applications laboratory. Our mission is to develop and test out new applications that could have a big impact on the app market. Many of our apps use advanced facial tracking technologies licensed from Image Metrics Inc. ​

What is your role at the company?

​I'm the founder and CEO​.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was the business challenge that you were trying to address when you approached Cruxlab?

My work with Cruxlab predates Tinkering Inc. I began working with Cruxlab five years ago in 2010. At that point, the challenge was to build a complex mobile application on iOS for Mercedes Benz. The timeline for the app was very aggressive, and I realized I needed the best programmers I could find to work on this. I was referred to Cruxlab by a trusted third party, and we began the collaboration. 

From then on, Cruxlab became my competitive advantage, and we have worked on projects since. The most complex of these projects is the Vudu Heads application, which uses facial tracking technology as well as facial morphing technology to create real-time driven avatars.

What were your company’s business goals for the project?

I've used Cruxlab on five major projects. The goals have been different each time, but the complexity of the projects has only increased with time. In general, the goal is to take an app to market within budget and on schedule while using complex technologies and back-ends.

SOLUTION

Can you talk about the scope of the project?

The projects have involved mainly client development and interfacing with third-party libraries and server teams. The apps have sometimes been for iOS, other times for Android.

What was your process for selecting Cruxlab with which to work?

They were recommended to me by a trusted third party. I talked to their lead developers, and it took just a few minutes to realize how intelligent they were.

Can you give a sense of the size of the project in dollar terms or personnel work hours?

The amount spent on Cruxlab work between all the project spans thousands of man-hours, which was five years worth, and north of $600,000 in development costs.

When was the project completed?

The majority of the projects have already been completed and were completed to the satisfaction of my customers. There are a number of projects still in development .

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project, and are there any metrics you can share?

The results of the projects have invariably been happy customers for me and launched apps for my customers. We now have a great reputation for doing amazing work.

How did Cruxlab perform?

Their performance was outstanding. They are excellent problem solvers and just all around brilliant guys. Their development methods have improved every year during the last five years, and they keep getting better at producing high-quality products. 

When working with them, was there anything unique or special about them compared to other companies with which you may have worked?

A few things are truly special about them. First of all, they are fast and relentless, and this is a great combination when facing a large complex challenge. They are tireless workers and do not ever stop trying to solve a problem to the best of their abilities. Their internal process for development has improved year after year. They have, with time, grown to be more mature and even better than before. With them by my side, I feel like I can't lose.

Looking back on the project, is there any area that they could improve or you would do differently?

Nothing that would reflect negatively on Cruxlabs. If nothing else, I would insist that the clients give us better and more accurate specifications of what they want. As far as Cruxlabs, the only thing I would change is for me to go faster because they are so fast sometimes they have to sit and wait on me to give them more tasks. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company.

We create loyalty products for mobile applications. We’re located in Los Angeles, Calif.

What are your role and responsibilities?

I am the founder and chief operating officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What was your goal in working with Cruxlab?

We needed a software developer kit that would allow developers to insert a loyalty program into their mobile apps.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their work.

They developed the full SDK, from start to finish, for both iOS and Android. We started this whole thing in 2011 and, for that time period, they were doing some very novel stuff in terms of how they made the SDK work. They also created all the documentation for the kit.

What was your process for selecting Cruxlab with which to work?

Our chief technology officer had worked with them previously. He was pleased with their work on a prior project, so we selected them for this one.

Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you?

We’re spending somewhere between $50,000 and $100,000 annually with Cruxlab.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the results of the project?

They delivered a very solid SDK, which we were able to install in more than 400 applications for lots of different developers on both iOS and Android.

Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project?

We do not have any hard data but, qualitatively, they did great work for us, and we have never had any complaints about our SDK.

Is there anything unique about Cruxlab that really makes them stand out compared to other companies?

They’re very smart, very solid developers. They’re good at troubleshooting problems. If we have a client who is having implementation issues with the SDK, they’ll jump on Skype and help the client troubleshoot. They’ve never failed to solve a client’s problems.

What advice would you give to future clients of Cruxlab?

They need to understand that outsourcing always takes a little longer when compared to in-house work, so they should be prepared for that. But, their work is excellent, so it’s well worth the wait.