Nearshore enterprise software solutions since 2000
First Factory is a premier software solutions services provider based in New York with nearshore capabilities housed in Costa Rica. Our comprehensive services include AI solutions, cloud infrastructure, product development, and custom software solutions. We combine technical expertise with business acumen, ensuring every team member is both a skilled problem solver and excellent communicator. We work with startups to Fortune 500 companies across numerous industries and have experience with a broad and varied tech stack.
Founded by Jason T. Roff in 2000, we were inspired by Andy Warhol's concept of "The Factory" - creating the perfect environment for software engineers to cultivate ideas and undertake significant projects. Since establishing our Costa Rica presence in 2006, we've grown from a team of 4 .NET developers to over 200 team members today. What sets us apart is our commitment to quality craftsmanship and professional success - both for our employees and partners. We pride ourselves on quickly understanding business goals and adapting to specific needs rather than simply completing tasks. This approach has earned us a place on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies for five consecutive years, SOC 2 Type 2 certification, and AWS Partner status.
Our US employees all work remotely. In our office in Cariari, Heredia, Costa Rica, we have a business operations team that handles finances and facilities, and an HR team focused on employee development and support. We have a recruitment team that engages with an active community of followers, community members and applicants of over 25,000 with the capacity to hire internationally. We have a design team that serves internal needs such as branding and marketing, in addition to UX/UI for internal products and client projects. Our technical team is headed by our VP of Engineering who is based in Costa Rica.
Min project size
$50,000+
Hourly rate
$50 - $99 / hr
Employees
50 - 249
Locations
New York, NY
Year founded
Founded 2000
1 Locations
New York , NY
No have been added yet...
Pricing Snapshot
Min. project size
$50,000+
Avg. hourly rate
$50 - $99
/hr
Rating for cost
4.8
/5
What Clients Have Said
FIRST FACTORY's pricing varies widely, with clients investing from $75,000 to $700,000 annually. They offer good value through effective project management, skilled developers, and strong communication, though some clients noted they can be on the higher side of pricing.
Clients found the onboarding process with FIRST FACTORY to be efficient and smooth, with minimal barriers such as language or time zone differences. This facilitated quicker integration and productivity.
Challenges with Team Visibility
One client noted a desire for more visibility into the activities of each team member. This suggests a potential area for improvement in terms of transparency and communication.
Effective Staff Augmentation
FIRST FACTORY provided seamless integration of their developers into client teams, effectively filling roles and maintaining productivity. They were adaptable to client processes and schedules, enhancing overall team performance.
Excellent Project Management
Multiple reviews praised FIRST FACTORY for their strong project management skills, including timely deliveries, effective communication, and thorough planning. Clients appreciated consistent updates and responsiveness to their needs.
High-Quality Technical Expertise
Clients consistently highlighted the technical proficiency of FIRST FACTORY's team. They successfully delivered projects using a variety of technologies such as React, Node.js, PostgreSQL, AWS, and JavaScript, often exceeding client expectations.
Pleasant and Professional Team
Clients described FIRST FACTORY's team as pleasant, professional, and easy to work with. Their positive demeanor and strong work ethic were frequently mentioned.
Full Stack Development for FinTech & Services Company
Custom Software Development
$200,000 to $999,999
Jan. 2017 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"I always trust them to get the work done and done well."
May 7, 2020
CTO, FinTech & Services Company
Anonymous
Verified
Financial services
New York City, New York
51-200 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
First Factory builds portals and portal strategy for a FinTech and financial services company. They used a modern tech stack that includes JavaScript, Node.js, and MySQL.
The portals have received positive feedback. First Factory delivers high-quality work on time or ahead of schedule without cheating the thorough specifications. Highly reliable, they never make mistakes and take project management seriously, providing a dedicated person to do so.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CTO of a FinTech and financial services company.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with FIRST FACTORY?
We needed a portal strategy targeting multiple markets. First Factory has proven to be an important and super effective partner in getting those products out there.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
First Factory built full-stack web portals with some backend integrations. They used best practices and a modern tech stack that included JavaScript, Node.js, and MySQL stack. We had some older technologies, and we wanted to use these products to incorporate up-to-date knowledge about what’s in our space.
What is the team composition?
We work with eight people.
How did you come to work with FIRST FACTORY?
Someone at the company found them at an industry conference, I believe.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent about $300,000–$500,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
The partnership started in 2017 and is ongoing.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
First Factory is always on point with execution. They’re thorough and often finish ahead of schedule. They don’t necessarily know the business context, but they always ask questions so that they get the context they need to do a great job. We’ve received very good feedback on their work.
How did FIRST FACTORY perform from a project management standpoint?
They’ve done very well at that. We co-manage the project with them, and they always have a dedicated person to help us with that. We use Slack to communicate.
What did you find most impressive about them?
First Factory is very easy to work with. They’re diligent and don’t really make any mistakes. I always trust them to get the work done and done well.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I wouldn’t say anything to that; they’re doing a great job.
Any advice for potential customers?
Treat it like a partnership. First Factory is capable of doing their end. The more you can do on your part, the more successful your project will be.
RATINGS
5.0
Quality
5.0
Service & Deliverables
Schedule
5.0
On time / deadlines
Cost
5.0
Value / within estimates
Willing to Refer
5.0
NPS
Custom Software Dev for Youth Protection Nonprofit
Custom Software Development
$200,000 to $999,999
July 2018 - Ongoing
5.0
Quality
5.0
Schedule
5.0
Cost
5.0
Willing to Refer
5.0
"They’re committed to excellence no matter the circumstances."
May 7, 2020
CTO, International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children
Michael Cachine Sr.
Verified
Other industries
Alexandria, Virginia
11-50 Employees
Phone Interview
Verified
FIRST FACTORY provides development for a missing child database and search solution. Integrated with data gathered from international agencies, the system creates digital ads to help locate missing children.
Working on a tight timeline, FIRST FACTORY developed a system that generates billions of impressions and has aided in closing over 400 missing child cases. Their stand-out technical skills and hands-on management resulted in a smooth collaboration. Customers can expect a communicative partner.
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this
client over the phone. Below is an edited
transcript.
BACKGROUND
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CTO of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. We provide services to agencies around the world focused on children that go missing and are sexually exploited. We also combat child sexual abuse material.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What challenge were you trying to address with FIRST FACTORY?
We have an initiative that’s a consortium of 30 countries and their missing child agencies (34 agencies in total) We have a database of their missing child cases, and the database was primarily used for these agencies to put in case information and create online posters. It was a clearinghouse for their active cases, but we wanted it do more. We wanted to create a system that had intelligence and was proactively searching for children.
Once a case went into the system, we didn’t want it to just sit there; it had to be active. Technology takes on the characteristics of a parent looking for a child. We had a prototype developed in conjunction with AWS using their recognition technology. Our challenge was to take that very raw prototype and merge it with our case management system. Then, we had to turn it into our production system that sat within our AWS infrastructure. We also had a timeline of four months.
SOLUTION
What was the scope of their involvement?
We’re a lean organization, so we don’t have a development team. That meant I needed a team of developers, as well as project lead who could help drive the sprints and provide project management.
We launched the system at the conference with a live demo video, along with JD (Project Manager). It went extremely well, and we went into full production with all our member-agency data in January.
How did you come to work with FIRST FACTORY?
I was trying to squeeze a whole team out of one person’s worth of budget. This forced me to look at a near-shore operation. I’d had experience with traditional offshore and they weren’t good. Jason (CEO) introduced me to the near-shore model, which was very relatable to me in terms of the talent he was sourcing from Costa Rica.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent over six figures so far.
What is the status of this engagement?
I’d been in discussions with the CEO for months, and we were finally able to commit to a development project that was targeting the launch of the system at our 2018 conference. We've been working together since July 2018.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Since launch, it’s catapulted into being the largest internet alerting system for missing child cases in the world. Each alert done through the system creates an internet display ad that a case manager can target and send out. It distributes that missing child person geo-targeted to a specific region.
We’ve generated billions of media impressions on those display ads. We’ve seen millions of click-throughs of people who’ve gotten engaged in those searches for the children. In 2019, we have 209 cases closed due to alerts we issued through the system. We’re still ramping up in 2020. Just now, in May 2020, we’ve already closed 200 cases closed this year. We’ll surpass the success rate of 2019 in just a few days.
How did FIRST FACTORY perform from a project management standpoint?
Their approach is very hands-on. Not only did we have weekly sprints and interactions with the development team, but I also had bi-weekly meetings with the COO and CEO of the company to ensure we were on track. Those meetings came a day after a sprint review. Their team also provided task summaries every Friday that detailed what they did that week and what was going to happen next week.
Their communication is excellent. We share Google Docs and Sheets and use Slack. They have a direct line to us into the PM’s desk.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The team that we put together was exceptional in their skill-sets. It changed my impression of outsourcing. Their team is an extension of our team. They’re committed to excellence no matter the circumstances, whether it’s potentially a holiday weekend or whatever. They do whatever it takes to deliver what we need on time.
Are there any areas they could improve?
No, they meet us every time we raise the bar, no matter how high.
RATINGS
5.0
"I’d give them more than a five on everything if I could."
"We are impressed with their efficient project management."
Mar 2, 2023
Executive, PayPleez
Anonymous
Other industries
Oyster Bay, New York
1-10 Employees
Online Review
FIRST FACTORY is developing a mobile app for a software development company. They've been active since the project's inception, helping create a strategy and building the app from scratch.
The project is still ongoing, but FIRST FACTORY has already impressed with their excellent project management and clear goals. All timelines have been met so far. Further, the team communicates effectively through virtual meetings. Customers can expect efficiency.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I'm an Executive of PayPleez
Describe what your company does in a single sentence.
PayPleez is an app reminder service. When someone owes you money, PayPleez will remind you.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What specific goals or objectives did you hire FIRST FACTORY to accomplish?
Build the app from the start, strategize on the functionality
SOLUTION
How did you find FIRST FACTORY?
Referral
Why did you select FIRST FACTORY over others?
Referred to me
Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.
Working from the inception of the project, developing the strategy and building the app from scratch
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Weekly meeting to review project, updates, function testing
Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?
Excellent project management with clear goals and objectives, and all timelines have been met
What was your primary form of communication with FIRST FACTORY?
Virtual Meeting, Email, or Messaging App
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
The ability for our team to work with the First Factory team and have clear goals and all timelines being met. We are impressed with their efficient project management to record all functionality needed and have it built without much back and forth.
Are there any areas for improvement or something FIRST FACTORY could have done differently?
As this project progresses, we continue to be impressed with the timely deliverables.
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