Frogslayer

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a project manager for a software company. My specific role is in digital signage, charting the course and strategy of that solution.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with FrogSlayer?

We had several customer commitments that we couldn’t meet with our internal development team or onboarding a lot of folks, which takes time.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we engaged Frogslayer on projects, we gave them a specific scope of work and assisted in the code repository. Through weekly and biweekly meetings on occasion, we would chart their progress toward the end result.

They engaged a .NET-based application that we used as our content management tool. Their team was able to add functionalities into that tool that many of our customers needed.

What is the team composition?

In the early days, we directly liaised with Ross (CEO). He brought in several project managers and development leads as necessary. On any given day, we typically worked with 3–4 developers along with a development manager.

How did you come to work with Frogslayer?

We had an employee who previously worked with them. She made the introduction. We had other choices but once we evaluated and met with those companies, we realized Frogslayer was the right choice based on their personalities and willingness to work within our tools and workflows.

How much have you invested with them?

Our engagements ranged between $20,000–$120,000. Our overall spend with them was probably $250,000.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We collaborated on several projects between 2015–2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of deliveries, our engagements were successful. Customers leveraged the features that Frogslayer built. We continued to win business with those brands and expanded to other brands using the tools. Their team did everything to meet my expectations.

How did Frogslayer perform from a project management standpoint?

As an Agile-based company, we met with Frogslayer every two weeks at a minimum. They would review their progress and demonstrate anything accomplished during the last sprint. At that point, we would also identify any necessary course corrections that their team would then make. If they had any questions, they could also ask for guidance from us. The process was successful. They were open and responsive.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Frogslayer was flexible in meeting our business needs. When we had interruptions or detours, they accommodated them well. Their team was also cost-effective. Rather than hire permanent employees, we engaged Frogslayer. That was the right choice for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I can’t pick out one specific way for them to improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Listen to their project managers about how they want to approach discovery then set up a full scope of work. Let them manage the project for you because they’re good at it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the EVP of operations at Dunkin & Associates. We are an insurance brokerage that provides insurance products to community banks.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Frogslayer?

We have a system that connects the bank to the insurance carrier. When the banks are originating policies, we have to process that business each month. Our system was from the 90s and it was giving us a lot of problems, so we brought on Frogslayer to overhaul that process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Frogslayer took us through a process to determine the scope of the project. After they identified the problem, they presented a solution. The team coded the system and assisted us with onboarding our banks onto the new system. 

They continue to do the ongoing maintenance of the system and the server. We made a lot of changes in terms of the reporting and how we manage the data from a security perspective, which was a key element. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with 3–4 teammates, including a project manager, who I worked with the most, a UI designer, and a developer.

How did you come to work with Frogslayer?

A friend suggested that I reach out to Ross (CEO). We explored other options, but none of them were as professional as what Frogslayer brought to the table. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $150,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I first contacted them in November 2014, and we started bringing new banks onto the system in November 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everyone was so thrilled about having a modern system that’s easy to log into, and everyone was happy with the reporting. We almost didn’t have to do any training anymore because the system was intuitive. We barely get any questions about it. 

How did Frogslayer perform from a project management standpoint?

Our project manager gave us updates all the time, and we were heavily involved in the process. Frogslayer adjusted accordingly as we went along. It was a good process. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re US-based, which meant it was easy to work with them. Frogslayer was a team of true professionals. They had a wide range of skill sets that came together to help with the project. They helped us understand the scope.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I have no suggestions. They did a thorough job. We didn’t run into a lot of issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You have to understand your business process because they’re only as good as the information you provide them. Do all the legwork upfront and understand what you’re trying to accomplish. Frogslayer is going to help you, but you have to know what you want.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m COO of Benchly. We build automation tools for law firms.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Frogslayer?

We were working with another outsourced service provider, but it didn’t go well at all. The project wasn’t going in the direction it was supposed to. We were looking for another partner to build an online platform for opposing counsel.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Frogslayer came in with a migration proposal. We spent six weeks redesigning and scoping, and we explained what we wanted to accomplish. They worked backward and gave us recommendations for the platform, what we needed to develop it in, and what it would take to migrate what was salvageable. 

From that point on, the team has managed the network side on AWS, as well as the development. They use .NET Core, C#, and MVC to manage the day-to-day development of the online platform. They also use some JavaScript and jQuery. 

Once we got our initial product launched, we were struggling with acceptance. So, Ross (CEO) and his team, called in some attorneys that they knew and we had some marketing sessions with them to dive into the features and messaging.

What is the team composition?

I have one main point of contact, Chris (Software Developer). I also deal with Jacob (Software Developer), a QC specialist, and a network teammate.

How did you come to work with Frogslayer?

I had been introduced to them. I reached out to Ross, and we set up a meeting with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over $1 million. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in March 2016, and the original platform launched about a year ago. We’re still working with Frogslayer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Frogslayer has been a good partner in terms of trying to help us grow our platform instead of just doing the coding and leaving us to it. It’s been a pleasure working with them and the quality has been phenomenal. 

Even when someone gets promoted because of the work they’ve been doing with us and we get a new day-to-day contact, it’s always been seamless. The collaboration is phenomenal. I can’t tell the difference between working from home and how it was before. 

The platform is intuitive and easy to use. Due to Frogslayer’s QC process, we’ve rarely had any issues when we put out a new feature. We usually find the issues ahead of time. 

How did Frogslayer perform from a project management standpoint?

Something that I appreciate about Frogslayer is that they push back in a professional manner when we have unrealistic expectations. They’re very good about giving us estimates, but they always present the risks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team’s versatility is impressive. If I did this myself, I’d have to have 3–4 people: one for the network, one to handle QC, and another to manage the project. The nice thing about Frogslayer is that they’ve got all the disciplines. 

We also don’t have to pay for full-time people because they’re available when we need them, which has been very helpful. Additionally, their consistency is great. No matter what has changed, even with COVID-19, the consistency of the deliverables has been spot on. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Get to know the team and invite them to be collaborative and to push back. Lean on them to help guide your development in terms of the technology stack.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of LevelUp

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Social Media platform that allows athletes to connect with their fans and supporters through the means of online training resources.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

• Help provide a roadmap for success

SOLUTION

How did you find Frogslayer?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Frogslayer over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Frogslayer were assigned to this project?

6-10 Employees

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

LevelUp seeks to provide high-quality pro-athlete-created content and make it easily accessible to their subscribers, thereby directly addressing the needs of aspiring athletes and their parents who desire to enhance their athletic abilities and seek guidance in navigating the sports world. The problem that the company aims to solve would include: limited access to sports expertise, scattered and unreliable sports training information, and further monetization opportunities for pro athletes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The VDP was clearly outlined in the following roadmap:

• User Research & Analysis Workflow- Workstream around user research and analysis
• Technical Investigation & Proof of Concept- Workstream around technical feasibility statements, proof of concepts, functional requirements and more.
• Initial Release Definition & Design- Workstream around creation of non-functional requirements, mockups, style choices, effort estimates and more
• Initial Release Implementation Plan- Workstream around Roadmaping, Backlog Creation, and Resource Planning for development phase

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

VDP was highly distinguished in their overall project management. I was overly impressed with their organization throughout the entire process. They knew who was in charge of which bucket, they clearly outlined the purpose, and carefully walked me through areas that I was unfamiliar with. Their ability to complement one another's skillset, gave me great comfort that every angle of the discussion was being touched.

They are professional in their mode of communication, will being caring in the insights they provided. I would place them in the top percentile as it relates to project management.

What was your primary form of communication with Frogslayer?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting

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

I felt that Frogslayer truly cared about my success. During the entire project, Frogslayer felt like a partner, not a vendor. They provided helpful insights that protected the direction of my company.You can tell that Frogslayer has a team of high-integrity people who care about their customers / partners. I was very impressed with their service to my company and to me.

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

I would not change anything about my experience Frogslayer. The money and time spent, matured the current state of my company, and better prepared its stability for the future. When the next phase of the company begins, Frogslayer will very much be apart of the family.