Custom Stacks

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the CEO of an advertising & marketing company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Introduce your business and what you do there.: I’m the CEO of a full-service web agency that focuses on serving nonprofit organizations. We provide comprehensive digital marketing, web design, and web development services while keeping accessibility at the heart of everything we do.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address?
We brought the Custom Stacks team in to help with technical fulfillment, AI consulting & services, and privacy & security compliance. When our clients started asking us about AI and integrating it into their existing work streams, we knew we needed help from a reputable expert. Not only that, but since we service nonprofits, we were looking for an expert committed to ethical AI.

The Custom Stacks team was extremely sensitive to this and it made it much easier to bring AI to our nonprofits. Lastly, our clients often process & store sensitive data; Custom Stacks' expertise in digital privacy and security compliance made them an excellent choice for addressing all of the challenges outlined.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement and team dynamic?
The team at Custom Stacks has provided their expertise in services like AI and custom app development for a number of our clients. They have particularly been an excellent partner in working with us to help flesh out AI use cases, plan out AI implementation, and execute on AI development for our large nonprofit clients.

We regularly schedule time to meet with their team to discuss AI and how we can implement it to better serve our nonprofits and their missions. It has resulted in our nonprofit clients to incredibly increase their positive impact, augmenting the work that nonprofits can do with limited staffing resources.
What's the status of this engagement?
We have been working with the Custom Stacks team since 2017. They have proven over the years to not only be reliable but to be constantly at the forefront of technology. Their reliability has never wavered and we plan to continue engaging their team for the foreseeable future.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did your relationship with Custom Stacks evolve?
Since we began working with Custom Stacks, our relationship has evolved to be more closely integrated over the years. Their team has supported us in bidding out projects, managing large development projects, and maintaining apps they have built for our clients. Their project management team has become absolutely stellar and has resulted in us leveraging those services more and more over time.
In what ways can they improve?
It's hard to say there are any areas to improve. Over the years, they’ve expertly scaled their processes as they’ve grown as a company themselves. They’ve found the best and brightest talent out there and I truly believe Custom Stacks should keep doing what they’re doing and focusing on what they excel at.
What advice do you have for clients with similar needs to yours?
Don’t be afraid to schedule a call, especially if you are unsure how to leverage their services (particularly around AI). Their team is generous with their advice and excellent at bringing well thought out solutions to you that you would have never thought of on your own.

Whether you choose with work with Custom Stacks or not, Chris will give you a better understanding of your idea from a technical standpoint and offer suggestions on how to incorporate the latest technology that will be the most scalable for your organization.

UPDATED REVIEW

This review was published on April 23, 2020.
CEO, Full Service Digital AgencyAdvertising & marketing

Running Springs, California

1-10 Employees

Mar 2017 - Ongoing

$50,000 to $199,999

Project summary
In an ongoing partnership, DADEN LLC delivers backend development services through app development and CRM integrations for a full-service digital agency. 

Feedback summary
The team at DADEN LLC continues being a resourceful partner for the client. Their responsiveness and transparent communication makes them stand out from other similar providers. They exceeded expectations.
BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a full-service web organization that focuses on serving positive impact organizations. We want to provide digital marketing, web designs, or full-blown digital campaigns to them. Our goal is to support those who support others.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DADEN LLC?

We brought their team in to help with service fulfillment by filling in the gaps of our growing team. We started engaging with them once our company launched due to the fact we were bringing on more work than we could handle.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at DADEN LLC has provided their expertise in services like custom app development and CRM integrations. All of our work together is a collaboration. Any frontend work is handled on our end, but they control a lot of backend technical aspects.

What is the team composition?

There is one point of contact per project, but I do have a good relationship with their CEO.

How did you come to work with DADEN LLC?

I used to work with Chris (CEO) at a couple of other companies. When he started his company, it was a no brainer to give them a shot since I’ve known him for so long. We’ve tried a couple of other agencies in the past for clarity, but none of them have been remote in quality or delivery compared to DADEN LLC. The team delivered well beyond expectations.

How much have you invested with them?

Over the last three years, we’ve spent between $75,000 and over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I believe we started working with them in February or March of 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Today, our strategic partnership is thriving. We could fill some of the roles they offer in-house, but since their team remains an efficient resource, it doesn’t make sense. They have a strong grasp of meeting deadlines at a reasonable price point. In terms of delivery, we have specific technical guidelines. Their team has always included an extra element to our projects. They’ve also exceeded the standards for quality communication and responsiveness.

How did DADEN LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is handled on our end. DADEN LLC has great project managers that are assigned to work with us internally. They make sure everything runs smoothly. But in order to deliver the full project, our teams need to coordinate both timelines.

The entire process is transparent. They’re open and honest with their clients. While I’m a technical person, they don’t cater their projects in a way people can’t understand. I see a lot of agencies struggle with that. If there isn’t technical knowledge, it’s hard to grasp the timelines, concepts, and how long deliverables take. They’ve done an excellent job of bringing everyone along with their process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Chris is a very technical founder. He is still a practicing developer, so all of his knowledge is current. It ensures that his team is also top-notch. Chris offers great solutions to any agency. If clients come to him with a half-baked idea or concept, he’s a great person to whiteboard it out and start that journey with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. Over the years, they’ve worked out a lot of kinks as they’ve grown as a company. They’ve found the best and brightest talent out there. DADEN LLC should keep doing what they’re doing, focusing on what they excel at.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t be afraid to schedule a call. It’s always free to talk, and their team is generous with their time. If you have an idea, concern, or development question, I would encourage reaching out to them. Whether you choose with work with DADEN LLC or not, Chris will give you a better understanding of your idea from a technical standpoint.
Star Ratings
Overall rating: 5

Quality: 5

Cost: 5

Schedule: 5

Willing to refer:  5

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Nova Innovations Inc. We developed a mobile application called Nova Shopping, an exclusive online marketplace for college students. This marketplace allows students to sell and buy products from one another within their school or university. Currently, we have iOS and Android versions live, each on their respective stores.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DADEN LLC?

DADEN helped us with the development of our mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, we provided them with information about our application, as our Andriod version was almost done when they joined the project. However, they developed the iOS version from scratch using Swift, helped us integrate it with the server backend, and fixed some wrong things with the Android app. Overall, they’ve helped us a lot.

DADEN’s approach was to create native apps, and they’re now responsible for the apps and the server maintenance. Among the key features are a Stripe integration and an API integration that supports various functionalities within the app.

The easiest way to explain our app is with an example of a transaction between two students. Through this app, a senior student can sell one of their old textbooks to a freshman student. They can message each other during the transaction to arrange a place and a time to meet on their campus.

This app also shows the students a list of the articles posted for sale within a 10-mile radius so that students can only sell to other students in their same school. When the students meet to complete the transaction, the buyer scans a QR code to confirm that the seller is delivering the article they saw online in the right condition. Once the QR code is scanned, the money gets transferred from the buyer’s to our Nova Stripe account and then to the seller’s account using Venmo.

What is the team composition?

Christopher (CEO & Chief Architect) oversees the project, and Alexis (Project Manager) helps us schedule meetings. We’ve also worked with various iOS and PHP developers from their end.

How did you come to work with DADEN LLC?

I was reaching out to software development companies for my project through Upwork, and I contacted Christopher. At the time, I didn’t go with him, which proved to be a big mistake. I went with a different team and didn’t have the best experience.

I reached out to Christopher again around March 2021, looking for him to take over the project and finish it. He was more than happy to take on the opportunity.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $17,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2021, and they delivered the final product in September 2021. However, they still provide maintenance and support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started working with the previous company around September 2020, and we couldn’t complete the Android app until August 2021. However, DADEN delivered the iOS version, fixed the Android version, and set up the servers in a few months. They were faster and more efficient, and if we had worked with them from the beginning, the project would have been delivered much quicker.

We’ve been testing the app to ensure that it is running smoothly. We’ve found some minor glitches, but Christopher and his team have fixed the servers, and the issues are no longer happening. DADEN has created a very open environment where I, as a client, feel free to express when a change needs to be made, and they work very fast to solve any issues.

We acquired 100 users across both platforms during this testing period, and we’re now launching a marketing campaign to start promoting the app across the nation. We’re expecting important user growth from now on, and I’m sure that with DADEN’s maintenance, support, and expertise, we will be well equipped to see that growth happening.

The users now using the app love its simplicity and how easy it is to navigate through it. We’re very happy with their feedback, and I’m expecting great things to come from this project in the near future.

How did DADEN LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

DADEN is great when it comes to project management. I told Christopher about our budget very early on, and he stuck with it. Whenever he has told me that something is going to get done by a specific date, it is, and there hasn’t been a moment where he didn’t meet his word.

We use Google Chat to communicate, where we have a group chat set up with both of our teams. We also have Christopher’s personal cellphone number, and we often exchange emails as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

DADEN has a great ability to work with beginners in the technology space. We’re in college ourselves, and the oldest member of our team is 21 years old. Although some of us have some technical knowledge, neither of us had the knowledge required to develop an application this complex.

Other companies might find it difficult to work with inexperienced teams, but DADEN has been very patient with us, and whenever we’ve had questions, they’ve answered them. What differentiates them from other providers is that they always try to assist their clients on a personal level.

Engaging in these kinds of technology projects can be intimidating, but DADEN’s knowledge, patience, and expertise have made this project less intimidating.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would be awesome if they were less expensive. However, they’ve worked within our budget, and we’ve got what we’ve paid for. Overall, they’re great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know what you want and go into the project with a clear mindset. If you don’t know what you want, you might make wrong decisions. After you engage with a company, have good communication skills, and be patient. Technology is an art, and it requires a process, so you can’t rush it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the co-founder of Gas Money LLC, which is a platform that allows clients to find and hire young adults in their area for the completion of home- and yard-based services. Contractors who sign up to work on our app can set their own hours, rates, and schedules, and they can also collaborate with their peers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to develop a mobile app for our users to help automate the process of hiring, scheduling, and receiving payments. Our goal was to make the app as simple to use as possible, while also giving our contractors freedom to message clients, adjust service dates/times, and easily get payments.

Another goal with the app is to scale our company. With the app, it will be much easier to grow Gas Money and there will be less costs with each expansion than if we relied on a manual hiring process (such as applications and physical invoices).

SOLUTION

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

We used Upwork to search for development companies that could help bring our goals to life. We found three potential candidates, and met with each one before making our decision. Chris (CEO) with Daden LLC seemed to care about his clients the most, and his 7-step process for development was very clear and beneficial. He also made us the most comfortable when selecting a company, and it was obvious that he cared more about client-company relationships than strictly sticking to business.

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

We had a series of initial meetings to share our goals and vision for the app, and we even sent over a couple mock-up screens that we had in mind. Based on these meetings, they helped us decide on creating a more affordable web-app that could be used on both iOS and Android, and they created wireframes for us based on our feedback.

After we approved the wireframes, they added colors and made the screens clickable. At this point, we helped them find and resolve different bugs that came up, and they made the necessary revisions to get our app ready for launch. We stayed in constant communication with the development team via Google Chat, and they were ready to fix and bug for us 24/7.

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

Alexis, our project manager, was assigned to stay in constant communication with us throughout the process, and Chris also weighed in on our conversations occasionally.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, we have gotten all 5-star reviews on both the iOS and Android store, and we have also gotten positive feedback on how easy the app has been to use. We hope to market as much as we can to keep growing the app and it is obvious that we have a great MVP for our company.

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

Due to being located far apart (I'm in Florida, my co-owner is in Michigan, and Daden LLC is in California), we used fully online methods of communication. We used Slack, Teamwork, and Google Chat to message with Alexis and Chris, and we also had frequent Zoom meetings (around once or twice a month) to stay updated and on track with our project. Daden LLC was very timely in getting back with us, and we never had to wait more than 12 hours for a response.

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

Daden LLC was amazing at understanding our goals and bringing our vision to life with a mobile app. From the start, Chris and Alexis saw our vision and followed our wishes of making the app as simple and easy to use as possible.

They also checked up on our personal lives, and even hosted us as a "client showcase" in which they asked about our platform and shared our story with potential investors. It is obvious that Daden LLC cares about their clients, and we will definitely be working with them for the foreseeable future.

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

There were a couple times during development when bugs took a while to resolve, but this was largely due to COVID impacts on their development team. Other than this, we have no suggestions for improvement and believe Daden LLC has their business figured out.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a marketing consultant at a consumer membership platform. Being a member of our company offers perks like discounts on travel trips, online cashback, loyalty rewards, and so on.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DADEN LLC?

We wanted to further our company’s platform and create a membership base for it. We had other vendors before, but their efforts didn’t come to fruition. We needed a platform that both internal administrators and members could use. We also wanted to implement an online billing mechanism because whenever someone subscribed to our services, we’d have to call them and get their card numbers — it was an old-school process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DADEN LLC developed a custom software solution for our membership portal. We were transparent with our requirements before starting with the construction process. The platform has three tiers of member access with sign-up and upgrades processes for each member level, an admin backend, and integration into third-party loyalty providers.

In addition to that, they created an electronic business card functionality and a code-based sign-up through email invitations — it was a solid scope since the beginning.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Chris (Owner) and Alexis (Project Manager).

How did you come to work with DADEN LLC?

We worked together on other projects in the past.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $7,000 with them on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them on this project from October–November 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They knocked it out of the park; the platform is working perfectly. We haven’t had issues with any of the portal’s new users. 

How did DADEN LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They were on-point; in terms of communication, we held weekly meetings by Zoom, daily conversations via Google Meets, and they were communicative about any timeline jeopardy. In the end, they handed the deliverable to us on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to integrate with various vendors to make it a seamless solution for our end users is what stood out about their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on.

Any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear vision of your requirements so they can work with you on delivering accurate solutions for your business.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a consultant at a fintech company. We’re a new digital wallet service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DADEN LLC?

We needed help with web and mobile development for our organization. We wanted to create a digital payment platform but with additional services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DADEN LLC built our platform from the ground up, and it’s tied with an integration to a CRM tool called Sharp Spring, where we manage all the marketing efforts, take new user sign-ups, and continue email coordination. Our custom platform it’s also integrated with Stripe to handle payments and transfers. 

Thanks to this platform, users can sign up as a member, safely secure their bank accounts and card numbers, and initiate transactions in and out of the wallet.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with Chris (Owner) and Alexis (Project Manager) for this project.

How did you come to work with DADEN LLC?

I worked on a previous project with them in the past, and they did a great job. We chose them because it seemed like they knew how to handle different projects simultaneously, which is important.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $30,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together on this project in January 2021, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We measure the success with their ability to integrate multiple vendors and to meet timelines, which they’ve been doing successfully. It’s also great to see that DADEN is marrying everyone from the backend requirements and communication to the UI/UX. In addition to that, they’re saving us money by understanding our needs and recommending different approaches to our scope.

How did DADEN LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

In terms of tools and communication, we use Google Meets, Basecamp, Slack, and emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re great at providing alternative solutions to our proposals, but they’re also respectful at working with what we want. DADEN has referred us to vendors that offer the same services we’re looking for, but with a smaller cost, which functions for our model.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — they’re sharp with their work and experts in their field.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a company that offers a new way to process payments for both consumers and e-commerce merchants online. I’m the COO of the organization and VP of product management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DADEN LLC?

We had a platform that wasn’t up to date, so we needed a technical overhaul. We needed to get a hold of the database, our multiplatform mobile app coding, and other aspects of our software to streamline processes and reach more consumers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At first, we discussed our needs, and they turned around with a proposal, which I presented to the president and CEO of our company. They reviewed that proposal, agreed on it, and decided to start the partnership, meeting all of our requirements. Dadden LLC is now updating and maintaining our mobile app, also created an e-commerce plugin, and an e-commerce website using WordPress to sell our digital gift cards to our consumer base.

After handling our platforms, they do their internal QA process, and after that, they put it through our own QA. We haven’t found bugs, but they’d address it immediately within reasonable timeframes if anything is found.

After those steps, we’re able to move it out of production and begin with our marketing and business initiatives.

What is the team composition?

We mainly work with Chris (Owner), but a project manager and a development team are also involved. 

How did you come to work with DADEN LLC?

I worked on a previous project with them in the past, and they did a great job. We had three other potential partners, but we chose DADEN LLC because they proved to be the most reliable vendor even though they weren’t the cheapest option.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $15,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since May 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’re proactive and adapt to our business model to make recommendations or changes, rather than just taking others. We measure our metrics based upon delivery and partnership, which has been working for us.

How did DADEN LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s a seamless process from top to bottom, and they deliver everything as promised and within the expected timeliness. In terms of communication, we’ve used Basecamp, email, Slack, Zoom, and Google Meets.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism and clear communication distinguish them from other providers; I’ve worked with other development agencies, and there are always communication issues. I always feel comfortable with DADEN and the total clarity while working with them. They’re invested in trying to act in our best interest as a true partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on.

Any advice for potential customers?

Define your requirements and be clear in communicating them so they can get the work done quickly. The discovery phase might take longer if you’re vague or unsure of your needs; they’ll happily spend the time to get you there, but knowing your internal requirements will streamline the process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I own a video production company. I am the Owner / Managing Director.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I hired Daden to create and develop our personal website. The goal was to attract customers but also show that we're a creative agency willing to shatter corporate norms by showing off a unique style of website.

SOLUTION

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

I selected the vendor because I was confident he could handle the task at hand and that he knew the technical barriers.

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

The scope of this project was fairly large in terms of website development. It is an interactive sight where the user experience is interactive and immersive. Because my company has internal designers, we created the storyboard and design aspects of the site that were then implemented by Daden using WordPress and other web development softwares. His team was able to translate an animated video into a scrolling website. We also had him implement a automated estimate tool and rental site where the user can auto populate a list of items.

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

I worked directly with two people from the team, but I know there were a lot more who had to work on this site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clients are amazed and love our site!

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

We had weekly check in meetings to discuss the process, design and updates. We also worked with slack to follow communicate along with general email.

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

The site itself is unique, so the fact that they could execute this at the price and quickness is amazing!

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

Nope!

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was a former director of IT at a demolition and environmental firm. If a client wants to buy a hospital and want to convert it to a “home depot”, there are many phases and processes involved in that. The owner usually hires a general contractor, and they’re tasked to remove all the medical waste, hazardous waste, and asbestos-containing materials (ACM). In short, contractors provide specialized cleanups because they’re controlled by the environmental protection agency (EPA) and regulations. 

Our company comes in during the demolition phase, and we use special environmental procedures and standards to get rid of asbestos. Traditionally speaking, if you have a building with asbestos, it’s highly contaminated and can cause a lot of long-term issues like cancer and other diseases down the line. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DADEN LLC?

DADEN LLC came to us with the solution to one of our problems. One of our challenges was related to data governance. We needed help to create actionable business decisions based on the data we collect.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DADEN LLC made a web app for us. Essentially, it was an ERP tool. We provided most of the documentation needed in the project. The UI was the only thing that was heavily directed by us. They helped us focus more on the project’s methodology.

When DADEN LLC came in, we pretty much moved our workflow of getting an invitation to bid, building the project, and finishing the project. We took all those stages and put them into a specialized product that DADEN LLC made. With that tool, we were able to collect a lot of data at every stage. For example, when we lose a bid because our numbers weren’t good enough, we could historically track all that. That way, we could identify little nuances based on the data.

Currently, the team is finding ways on how we can monetize the data on the app because most companies don’t have a database that they can find insights on. 

What is the team composition?

We only interacted with 1–2 people. Our main point of contact was Christopher (CEO). Another person came in at the project, but we requested Christopher versus anyone else because our owners wanted that. Furthermore, we wanted it to be that way because we provided a substantial investment.  

How did you come to work with DADEN LLC?

We met them through one of the owner’s family members who were in a completely different market. They used DADEN LLC’s services to develop their own custom software. They probably made some processes efficient. Overall, what attracted us to them was their low price and the fact that they were using open source tools. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent at least $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June 2019–April 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DADEN LLC’s contributions were very impactful. Since we were getting 100 bids coming in, the app that they developed allowed us to track and record all the information that we need. For example, they enabled us to know if a certain third-party stakeholder never gives us a project. Having the ability to know historical information and being able to make decisions based on that was huge. 

How did DADEN LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

They had a good project management system. I’d say our project was difficult, and they were able to work with us even though it was a bit difficult to deal with our internal team. We used an ERP tool called Teamwork, and we utilized it to report bugs and other matters.

We mainly communicated through conference calls and emails. They always did in a form that was best understood by our internal team. However, due to COVID-19, we switched every meeting virtually. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They had an amazing ability to fix bugs, and we were impressed by how they set up Teamwork. It was hard to manage over 100 emails coming in, but they were able to rapidly deploy a system that could help them and us manage everything together. 

I also liked the fact that Christopher was always available; when we called him, he always answered.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This was a massive project, so of course, everything wasn’t perfect. I’d take this with a grain of salt, but there were times were our communication dipped. Some dates were missed, but it turned out to be a good project. If I was ever to do this project again, I’d manage the scope well. In our case, our owners kept changing the scope every month, so overall, DADEN LLC still did a great job. I was surprised at how flexible they were. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Know your requirements ahead of time before talking to them. Identify what metrics you want to measure in the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of SCHEJ, Inc., a social impacting technology corporation that is developing PORTEIRO - A Lifestyle Management Marketplace to support our purpose, "Simplify the Services Experience for Our Customers!"

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DADEN LLC?

We partnered with DADEN to develop the global mobile app, PORTEIRO - A Lifestyle Management Marketplace.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DADEN reviewed the code that was created by a previous mobile app developer. This took around two months because the other developers were pretty resistant to having the codes reviewed prior to a transfer. They helped me a lot because they provided an in-depth review of the code and developed a thorough analysis that stated that the code quality was not good and would negatively impact customer experience. Therefore, we engaged with DADEN in optimally developing the mobile app from scratch.

DADEN helped us develop both an iOS and Android mobile app called PORTEIRO - A Lifestyle Management Marketplace. Their services were divided into two parts. For the first part, they developed the sign-up portion of the app, where PORTEIRO Partners (the service providers) and PORTEIRO Members (consumers) will be able to sign up and provide or request services in the mobile app. 

In terms of functionality, PORTEIRO Members are able to search, request, schedule, and pay for services. They can also rate the PORTEIRO Partner. On the other hand, PORTEIRO Partners are able to accept and complete the service request, receive the payment for the service, and rate the PORTEIRO Member. Furthermore, both can donate to a local nonprofit.

The second part, which they’re getting ready to start, is the transactional features that will be in our initial MVP. Users will be able to transact and have financial transactions recorded in the mobile marketplace.

What is the team composition?

I’ve mainly worked with the project manager, who’s also my main point of contact. I’ve also worked with their CEO, who leads the development team. 

This hands-on approach by the CEO, has resulted in a great development experience.

How did you come to work with DADEN LLC?

I found them through UpWork. I’ve dealt with five different developers, but none of them were able to deliver what I asked for. My confidence in outsourced development was souring at the time I found DADEN’s CEO. I found they were credible based on the engagement I had with the project manager, and our values aligned when I had further discussions with their CEO. I decided to hire them, and then the work progressed. 

 How much have you invested with them?

Our initial quote was $18,000 for the initial MVP version and we have paid that amount to fully develop and deliver PORTEIRO 1.0 to market.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started early in October 2020, and it’s an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I had potential partners who registered and signed up to test the functionality as service providers, and the feedback was great. Then, I also had people on our team who signed up as PORTEIRO Members, and it went flawlessly. They said it was easy to go through the app, and that it was very intuitive as far as information to be inputted or provided.

We have not experienced any bugs or crashes on our app whatsoever, which is a blessing; I had serious issues with the previous developers. The feedback about DADEN’s work has increased their credibility even more. Moreover, going through the process itself was flawless. 

Overall, we’ve had a great client experience so far. They’re user-friendly and the feedback has been great. They’ve delivered in the stated timeframe and, as a result, we plan on having a long-term partnership.

How did DADEN LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

I'd give them a 10 out of 10. They're responsiveness is great, and their timeliness in delivery is spot on. Sometimes, they're even ahead of time. Based on the information we provided for mockups, claims, and desires, the accuracy and the completeness of their work are very good. In terms of interactions, the adjustments that they recommended to keep the costs low and to help our systems — both the back- and frontend — are very great.

We’ve recently switched to Google Chat, but initially, we communicated via Slack. We also communicate through text, email, or phone calls, depending on the responsiveness needed, but if we need a response right away, we use Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most impressive thing about DADEN is their accuracy and timeliness for the app. They’ve performed very well in terms of the specifications, the features, and the flow, as well as the intuitiveness of how they think the work should be done behind the scenes. I’m not a technical expert, but from my perspective, these are highlights. Their thoroughness and the quality of their code review prompted the relationship to go further. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

In my eyes, DADEN is the ideal development team. I’m glad I found them now, but I wish I'd found them earlier. There are no challenges or opportunities for them to improve upon, other than to keep progressing as they are.

Any advice for potential customers?

If you want to accelerate the development, you have to know what you want, so that they can advise you on an optimal approach. They’re very good and intuitive. The team is also good at understanding concepts and delivering on them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My husband and I have a couple of different businesses. MyWorkoutBuilder is one of them. It’s meant as an app that helps people custom-build a workout from home in under 60 seconds.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DADEN LLC?

I’m a bit of a data analyst, so I could build the database, but we needed someone to help us build the app.

We were looking for several key features. First, we needed an algorithm that randomized the selection based on five questions. There were selections regarding the type of workout, what equipment you had available, if you had any injuries, a time component, and one for a five-minute finisher.

We wanted replacement and reordering abilities so users could rearrange the workout in a different way. Finally, we wanted the app to be visually appealing, easy to read, and quickly delivered.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DADEN built the iOS and Android application. We mapped out the screen design with them. We had the idea of how we wanted the app to look, and then we had a joint process to get it to look how we had envisioned it.

We’re keeping them for maintenance and we’ve already submitted a list of potential improvements and additions. We’re looking at how much everything would cost so we can prioritize the changes we want to do first.

What is the team composition?

We solely worked with Christopher (CEO). He would then give directions to his team.

How did you come to work with DADEN LLC?

We went through Upwork and put up our project. We got about 30 bids and shrunk those down to 10, but only six got back to us. From there, we spoke to those six companies and further shrunk it down to three. We ultimately chose DADEN.

How much have you invested with them?

At this point, we’ve probably spent about $22,000–$23,000. For this year’s maintenance, I think it was another $4,000 on top of that.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked everything off in June 2020, and the first version was completed in February 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We basically just launched the app, and we launched the ad campaign last week. At one point I was looking at a time-focused metric; I really wanted to launch by the middle of January. However, we ran into many problems that were out of our control in terms of the approval process.

For example, Apple changed their privacy policy right as we were going through the submission process. We changed some minor scope elements as we saw the final product and wanted some changes. In the end, we prioritized the look, feel, and functionality of the app.

We also lost time because Facebook changed their rules so we had to change some things that the app needed to run the ads and have proper analytics. DADEN stepped up and worked with the ads people to make sure that everything could run correctly. Thus, one of the key factors to rate them was that they understood the problems we faced.

How did DADEN LLC perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly used emails to communicate. Toward the end, I was the main project manager from our side. Chris gave me access to their management tool so I could log in and check the back-and-forth between his team. I was able to see his process with them and send out a list of errors or changes via email.

We were partnering because we had lost a large amount of time and were trying to move along faster. One of the reasons it took so long was that my co-owner was a bit confused about the process and wasn’t pushing forward. We weren’t delivering on our side on what we had promised, so we probably lost about three months in development.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think it was their flexibility because this was our first time developing an app, so we didn’t do a great job at delivering. They really worked with us to make sure our top priority was the end product. Some elements weren’t in our original scope, and Chris worked with us to add them, so their flexibility was extremely helpful.

Additionally, they were great to work with. We really wanted to stay with whomever developed the app for future maintenance, updates, and improvements, and they were a true partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Time estimates were a little off. I’ll never know how much some of the iOS programming issues played into that, but sometimes things took a couple of days longer than expected.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you keep the communication going. Don’t ever shut that down; it is of the utmost importance. Be a little flexible on time if you want to get exactly what you want. It’ll be a great product, but it might be ready a couple of weeks later than expected.