Empirical

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of a live video platform that distributes a single feed across social media platforms and users' timelines.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Empirical?

We needed to utilize the correct stack in order to build a social media aggregator for live video distribution. By the time we met with Empirical, we wanted an interim CTO and a team to build the required framework.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially engaged with Empirical’s founder to help us build our minimum viable product (MVP) using AWS Lambda, which has since gone through various iterations. He assisted with the onboarding of our initial team members, structured the project, and created a timeline for the build. His involvement, and the involvement of the team he created, reassured us that we had a framework and the agility to deploy and develop upon the platform.

What is the team composition?

We worked mostly with their founder, who was able to contact developers he’d worked with previously to join the team. We contracted with those developers directly, and he managed the project.

How did you come to work with Empirical?

I met the founder via a Slack forum regarding a technology I wanted to utilize within our stack. After connecting, I met him in San Diego soon after to discuss our project and his potential involvement.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2017, and although the partnership has slowed due to budgetary restraints, the project is ongoing. We have continued need for the team’s work and soon hope to develop a larger team that includes Empirical.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to quickly iterate our ideas and test different technologies. Even though the process took longer than we’d hoped, their ability to turn an idea into an MVP illustrates their effectiveness.

How did Empirical perform from a project management standpoint?

They provided exceptional communication, transparency, and content management. We set weekly objectives and held daily standups to review our progress. Additionally, we used Trello and Slack to stay in contact with the Empirical team throughout the process.

Overall, the project took longer than expected, but that wasn't necessarily the fault of Empirical. We were testing technologies that were new to the market and that didn't have the maturity they needed at that time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They offer experience and knowledge regarding project management and team leadership. Their abilities to build a team from scratch and architect a concept are exceptional.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We would have been aided by more effective time estimates. There were many elements that caused our product’s delayed release, many of which were outside Empirical’s control. However, I think research around certain parts of that technology would have indicated whether the market maturity was there.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The company should determine the available technologies—those within Empirical’s skill set—before engaging with them. Ideally, you should engage the company to code and work efficiently and effectively, as opposed to going through a time-consuming learning process with them. Overall, make sure you stick with technologies that are within their capabilities or that have been proven and tested.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of design and user experience at Robolink, a company that teaches programming skills to kids using robots and drones. We have after-school programs in San Diego, and we also have robotics kits that we provide to schools so they can teach programming and engineering to kids in an engaging way. We find that programming education is much more effective when there’s something tangible to use. I handle website marketing material and the building of the user experience for the learning process.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Empirical?

We brought them onboard to help build the software behind the learning experience. In order to learn code, one must have the right software. Before we started working with Empirical, we started off using the Arduino platform, which is an open-source robotics programming environment. We wanted to create something that was a little more accessible and easy to use for teachers because many of them don’t come from a technical background. The new app is easy to use and compatible with the most common laptop in education, Chromebook.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a native version of the Snap programming language, which is based in a block environment and depicts programming in a visual form to expose younger kids to the concept. Although we had this native version, we wanted to be online as an app to broaden access to the educational community across different operating systems via the Chrome browser for Mac, PC, and Chromebook. Empirical was responsible for bringing the app online, and we’re currently working to make it a full-web application rather than just for Chrome.

We used ReactJS for the frontend and JavaScript for the Snap block coding and user interface. We also used the Chrome library for connecting the drone we have as one of our robotics kits to the app. Empirical used that library interface with the Bluetooth Low Energy connection to the drone.

Users can access the Chrome app to connect their serial port to our Bluetooth board, which then connects to the drone.

What is the team dynamic?

Sebastian [Founder, Empirical] was the project lead, and he was in charge of managing the technical side of the project. I was in charge of designs, layouts, mockups, and prototypes. I did all the designs, then sent all of it over to Empirical.

Pablo was responsible for the implementation and was actually in between the development and making sure things meshed up to the design I had made. He made sure that the people who designed the drone put in the latest firmware, and that this firmware was being pulled from the drone and launched in the Chrome store. Essentially, there were 2 people on their side, and 1 person on our side.

How did you come to work with Empirical?

I had previously worked on a project with Sebastian. I knew him through my network, and really enjoyed working with him, so he was one of the first people I thought of when this project came up.

How much have you invested with them?

For this particular project, the total ended up being around $7,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We finished the launch of the Chrome app earlier this month. The project started in July 2017, and it took about 3 months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s still too early to tell, so we haven’t fully inspected the analytics yet. We’re just testing it with early adopters right now and getting feedback. I don’t really have any concrete numbers yet. So far, we’ve had a few people who have had issues with the app running properly on Chromebooks, but we’ve also received feedback that the firmware update made it a lot easier. The user experience has also improved.

How did Empirical perform from a project management standpoint?

They exceeded expectations. They were good about keeping deadlines, communicating with us as needed, and being responsive to us. Everything was very good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The openness of communication and willingness to adjust along the way makes Empirical stand out. These are also the reasons why I’ve always enjoyed working with Sebastian in particular. He understands the Agile approach to software development very well and makes sure to manage expectations properly so that he’s not promising things he isn’t capable of.

He usually ends up over-delivering because things that seemed fairly challenging at the beginning end up working out. Being able to connect to the drone with something that runs in a browser is pretty rare and new, and also something we were unsure of at the beginning. Now, we’re getting pretty consistent behavior within just a couple of months.

Do you have any advice for potential clients of Empirical?

They should know that the Empirical team, especially Sebastian, is very capable. They’ll impress clients with what they’re capable of. Even if things seem ambiguous at first, that’s the nature of a lot of projects in software and hardware. The ambiguity is something that people who work with him will need to be aware of, and I believe Sebastian does a good job of managing that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work for Purr, Inc. which is an in-home pet sitting company in Chicago that caters to cats.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Empirical?

We had been using a non-custom booking service that allowed clients to book and pay online. However, we were quickly outgrowing the model that was being used. We were looking for a more customized build.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We built a custom booking system using Ruby on Rails. The system allows our clients to go online, book their service the way we prefer the booking to come in, and then pay for the service at the same time and get an email receipt. It also allows us to delegate the bookings to employees.

How did you come to work with Empirical?

I went through a service called Crew, based in Canada. I gave the details of my project, and they matched me up with three companies. I had a chat with each of them. I talked with Sebastian, at Empirical, and seemed like he related to the project. He wanted to know more about how I run my business and get a good understanding of it before starting to build a solution.

How much have you invested with Empirical?

It was $75 an hour when we started, and I think the total was about $24,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began at least a year ago, but I don’t remember the exact timeline. The work is complete. I now have another on-call developer to make small tweaks to the site.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality was superb. I haven’t heard anything negative from the developer who is now working on it. Everything works like clockwork. We’re not getting error messages or crashes.

How did Empirical perform from a project management standpoint?

Empirical excelled in this area better than any developer with whom I’ve worked. Sebastian delivered work on Fridays, and we would go over the next tasks. They would go to work all week long, and if it was going to take longer, he would let me know ahead of time. I would know on Friday that my deliverables were ready, we would talk about them, and then move on. It was very good project management; I didn’t have to deal with it whatsoever.

What did you find most impressive about Empirical?

I’d say it’s the project management. I’ve always had to get more involved than I wanted in other projects. It seemed that Sebastian was able to take what was in my brain and put it into the results. I didn’t have to remind him of the details. They delivered on time and within budget, which was very nice. I only wish I could afford to continue the relationship with them. They’re a great company, and I definitely recommend them.

Are there any areas Empirical could improve?

I don’t think so.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Co-Creator of a software company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We build blockchain technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Typescript Engineering

SOLUTION

How did you find Empirical?

Referral

Why did you select Empirical over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Empirical were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Empirical provided on-going Typescript and React engineering support across our projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Closed tickets and merged pull requests.

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

Empirical has been timely and responsive.

What was your primary form of communication with Empirical?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Empirical resourced us with an engineer with blockchain experience, which is unique among agencies I've been in contact with.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Rapptr

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Custom software design & development

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Augmented Staffing

SOLUTION

How did you find Empirical?

Referral

Why did you select Empirical over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Other

How many teammates from Empirical were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Empirical provided a top-notch engineer with domain experience in Android Open Source development for custom hardware. The engineer worked alongside our team for well over a year helping build out the v1 of our product. It was a great success.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The engineer supplied the requested hours and remained for the duration of the long engagement.

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

N/A

What was your primary form of communication with Empirical?

Email or Messaging App

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

Great talent and we were able to retain the same engineer throughout the duration of the long engagement.

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

Nope

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Principal Software Engineer of Climate Club

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Close the gap between climate-related intention and action.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• QA Automation
• Broad Fullstack resourcing

SOLUTION

How did you find Empirical?

Other

Why did you select Empirical over others?

Other

How many teammates from Empirical were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

On-going QA automation and broad development in support of our evolving product.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

High degrees of client (us) satisfaction with the consistency of contributed work.

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

We managed projects internally, and were successful in part to their support.

What was your primary form of communication with Empirical?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They have the desire to do what's best for their employees and show interest in learning.

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

Earlier collaboration on growth opportunities.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of a software company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Elevator management software and IoT hardware.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Quickly ramp developers and a product manager

SOLUTION

How did you find Empirical?

Referral

Why did you select Empirical over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Empirical were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Augment our team to develop a WebRTC-based application, and also develop a web application from the ground up.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Software & new features shipped.

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

They are communicative at the company level, and the talent we have brought on from their sourcing has been very good at project management of our specific work/project as well.

What was your primary form of communication with Empirical?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

We're impressed with their ability to ramp up high-quality software development talents quickly.

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

They responded with creative ideas to adapt their business model to our needs, which is what I would have suggested - but they did this so I can't suggest anything more currently.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP Developent of a transportation company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are connecting people with the world around them, while aiding the economic development of local communities and advocating for a greener, safer earth.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Streamlined hiriing process
• Identified the perfect person for the role

SOLUTION

How did you find Empirical?

Referral

Why did you select Empirical over others?

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

How many teammates from Empirical were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Empirical helped us find the best software engineering talent. Their hiring process was smooth and highly specialized, ensuring the right fit for our organization.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Quality hires, candidate's experience, retention rate

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

Empirical has exceeded our expectations. Their expertise in finding great talent has allowed us to find candidates who excel technically and integrate into our company culture. Their approach and deep understanding of the tech industry helped us find skilled professionals aligned with our mission, who would highly recommend to anyone.

What was your primary form of communication with Empirical?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Listening and understanding our needs.

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

Wish I would have met them sooner

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of Acne Intelligence

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Skincare company that focuses on acne.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Technical lead on building an App.
• Manage all technology issues amongst all our platforms

SOLUTION

How did you find Empirical?

Referral

Why did you select Empirical over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from Empirical were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The list is long as they have been instrumental in everything we have done. App design, AI integration, all around tech partner from soup to nuts.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• On-time delivery of all action items and on budget.

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

Delivered all items on time. Response to all communication from our team was immediate. Any hour of the day.

What was your primary form of communication with Empirical?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their communication and depth of expertise are impressive.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Owner of a steel distribution company and building materials retailer

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our company's growth was urging us to modernize our IT and logistics software. We were overwhelmed with customer deliveries and needed to incorporate technology into our operations. Our data was in silos, completely fragmented. We needed to find a way to make our data actionable.

SOLUTION

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

Had previously worked with Empirical on a platform development

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

Project went from ideation - research of current technologies - building a business case to assess the validity of developing technology from scratch - development - implementation of new software

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

Interacted with founders and other project managers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Saw a 50% increase in customer deliveries and increased customer satisfaction

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

Always organized and reliable

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

Our collaboration genuinely felt like business partners.

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

The project took a bit more time than planned.