Extality - Out of Business

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a tech company in Silicon Valley focusing on transit priority to the cloud. We use cloud software to change traffic lights from red to green, so buses don’t spend time idling unnecessarily. Currently, we’re working on a traffic management suite that does something similar with large sets of data from telecom.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Extality?

They connected with us through a discovery phase in which they asked us questions to understand our needs. We needed some graphics and animations done for our web page. It was important for us to have engaging content for our digital presence.

At the time, we had an unappealing landing page. We wanted to update it so we could use it as marketing material as we build out sales channels. There are several other assets on our site that could be revamped. We’re probably going to do another project with them soon.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created visuals and animations for our site using Blender. The team animated the content in Blender and exported it to another software that allowed them to embed 3D images into web pages. Through that system, they were able to build an interactive, 3D web app pretty quickly.

What is the team composition?

We worked primarily with Arash (Co-Founder, Extality) and another developer in Germany. Arash is local, so we interfaced mostly with him.

How did you come to work with Extality?

A friend recommended them to me, so we didn’t have much to narrow down. I was in charge of the decision and had 3–4 options to go through. They stood out because of the recommendation. We were also looking for someone who could be flexible with us and fit into our limited budget.

It was also important that the team had a good portfolio. Extality had a pretty good track record in the gaming world, so I knew they could operate well with 3D projects. That led us to hire them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted from September–October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The content has just been worked into our wireframe, so members of our team can pull it as an asset for PowerPoint presentation slides and for frontend development work. Overall, the quality of work was very high.

How did Extality perform from a project management standpoint?

They were definitely flexible with getting our project done. We worked efficiently after adding them to our project management tools. That way, I could keep track of their progress internally.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a talented, design-oriented team, able to take high-level ideas and color schemes and turn them into designs that stand out. All of their work is eye-catching and follows our brand color scheme, which was very important to us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are other projects I want to do with them, but I know they take more time.  

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of The Ride Bikes. We develop and produce high-end e-bikes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Extality?

We had a multifaceted challenge. We wanted to get a good look at our finished product in 3D. It’s easy to make photorealistic 2D renderings but photorealist 3D renderings are of a whole other level.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Before the product was actually produced, we wanted to take a look at all of the details. Extality created an interactive 3D model of the bike based on images of various parts such as the tire. They took our product to a whole other level, even more than a solid model.

What is the team composition?

Mostly, I worked with one person but interfaced with another team member too.

How did you come to work with Extality?

I belong to the same organization as an Extality teammate. We needed a partner to have an understanding of what we needed and the ability to be able to speak to our needs.  We looked at two different companies, but the other contender was unable to produce a 3D rendering.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started and finished the project in September 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They used and understood 3D technologies awesomely. Extality elucidated our product. The rendering shows how the product disrupts the market to investors and vendors. It’s one thing to look at a picture, it’s another thing to be able to look all the way through the bike. Their team brought it to life. From a design standpoint, their team helped me dial in the finishing touches such as I.D. badging, decals, and paint.

How did Extality perform from a project management standpoint?

Extality exceeded all my expectations. They were super responsive and asked for feedback throughout the process. I didn’t know what was possible with technology. They kept providing suggestions such as, “Gee, it’d be really cool to do this.” And then, bam, they did it—like magic. I’m constrained by my understanding and thinking inside the box. Their team expanded that box for me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Extality exceeded my expectations of what was possible. I was shocked by their abilities. I couldn’t even find high-resolution images of all product features. Off of web pictures, they were able to incorporate components into a finished product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I thought they were awesome.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an augmented reality display platform with a hardware/software solution. We worked closely with content developers and IP owners to build an ecosystem for our platform. My role is in our business development team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Extality?

We work with them as a development partner to build content for our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We collaborated on applications and demo experiences for our platform and our partners. They use game engine technologies like Unity. Our platform has its own operating system and SDK, and the applications use a game engine that plugs into our proprietary software.

What is the team composition?

The team size was between five and eight people at most.

How did you come to work with Extality?

One of our employees referred them to us.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together during the summer of 2018. We completed the most recent project in the spring of 2019, and we're in discussions to use them for their maintenance services.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We tracked the results through ongoing product reviews and feedback cycles. They worked with our QA team, and refined their work with our product and user experience teams.

How did Extality perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered everything on time, and they were easy to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're flexible, and they worked around our goals and resource restrictions. They're sensitive to deadlines or possible delays, and they're very accommodating.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't have any complaints from the business side. My colleagues may have constructive criticism for them, but I was pleased with their work on the project.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Bring in all the organizational teams that will impact the final product from the beginning. Our UX team was looped in late, and it would have saved us time if we had brought them in sooner.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We make semiconductor chips that go into refrigerators, beds, fans, and other products for heating and cooling. I'm the director of integrated marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Extality?

We make a small countertop freezer. It is the first of its kind, so we were battling the mental image that most people have when they think of a freezer. We partnered with Extality to convey the form, factor, and UX of the freezer to our audience.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped clarify what the product looked like and how it worked. They developed AR and a publicly available app for iOS and Android. The product is a marketing and sales asset. They used code that allowed a variety of Android and Apple phones to work with the visuals they created, and they produced a good level of realism.

What is the team composition?

I had two main points of contact, and the whole team was made up of about five individuals.

How did you come to work with Extality?

I started with a web search for AR vendors. I spoke with a few, but had trouble finding an agency that could do exactly what I wanted. About a month later, they emailed me through LinkedIn. I'm not sure how they found me, but they helped me understand the timelines and the quality they could produce.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $30,000-$35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around July 2019. The project is complete, but we haven't launched yet. We're very likely to work together again.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since we haven't launched, we don't have any metrics to share yet. They did exceed all our expectations.

How did Extality perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very clear about the timeline and milestones, and they finished faster than we expected. The process was very timely, and they managed the project very well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They made sure that everything was just right. We made some last-minute tweaks, and they worked very hard to deliver everything we wanted. The final product was much more interesting than our original ideas, and they were willing to go a little outside of scope. They were very smart about the budget, and the results were very good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The work we did was fairly new in the market, and we may be the first group to make this kind of app. Some of the technical requirements with Apple weren't well documented, and we hit a few snags along the way. As they do more, they will tighten their process. Most of their projects are custom, and I know that they will continue to improve as they move forward.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the manager of virtual design and construction for the northern California branch of Clark Construction.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Extality?

We were seeking technology to visualize our exact working conditions which would help us better plan our construction logistics and materials.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team created augmented reality models based on construction sequencing. While they had proprietary software that they use, we provided them with Autodesk models, which they viewed with a Magic Leap headset.

What is the team composition?

I worked with all of the company’s main players. Arash (Co-Founder, Extality) was my primary point of contact, here in the Bay Area. He lives in the Pacific region, so he’s able to come out and troubleshoot if there are any issues.

I also worked with Samantha (Partnerships Manager, Extality) and Volker (Co-Founder & CTO, Extality) who is the head of the engineering team. I’ve recently been introduced to Michel (CEO, Extality), as well.

How did you come to work with Extality?

We’ve been seeking technological solutions because we wanted to introduce state-of-the-art technology into our company. I was researching augmented reality products and was incidentally contacted by Samantha. She initially suggested a VR project, but we handle VR in-house. Then, she sent us a slide deck of their augmented reality offering, which encapsulated all that we had been looking for. Our partnership began then.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent less than $80,000 for this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in June 2019, and the work is still ongoing. They’ve completed phase one of our project, and we liked it so much that we’re looking forward to integrating this technology into more of our projects moving forward.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their work has enabled us to visualize our field in a different way. Since construction hasn’t seen the same strides in technology that other industries have, it’s gotten us excited again about the ways we can utilize new technology to make our work easier.

The project has also allowed us to market ourselves better. When clients view this product offering, it can set us apart because it shows that we’re thinking about the specific challenges that they might face, in a new and unique way.

How did Extality perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve always been very proactive, and they always meet the deadlines that we set for them. In a few instances we’ve set really aggressive deadlines, and they’ve let us know in advance whether they can meet it or not.

They’ve been very accessible and happy to help in any way, no matter how challenging. They show an outstanding investment in their projects and a level of trust that indicates their hunger to work with us. I suspect we’ll be working with them for a very long time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

At the outset of our partnership, they requested a retainer. Since we hadn’t seen a sample or model of their actual work, that decision seemed to be too risky. We asked for a demo before committing to our collaboration, and they delivered that spec on their own without asking us to pay for it.

Their engineers produced an augmented reality model—of our project—with no promise of payment. That showcased their commitment to clients which really blew me away.

I’d also like to point out that they have a team that’s comprised of extremely knowledgeable members. All of the teammates have different strengths and areas of expertise, and they’re really good at what they do. They really make an amazing team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Since most of their engineering team operates in Europe, there’s a little bit of a time disconnect. So it was slightly complicated to set up meetings where everyone could talk at the same time. While that circumstance does pose some logistical problems, we’ve been able to work around it so far.