Linkup ST

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Giant Leap. We are a startup in the child learning development space, and we created a tool for assessing the 8 foundations of learning development. Our platform allows us to evaluate children between 4–8 years old to understand how well they’re doing on attention, memory, spatial skills, verbal skills, etc.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Linkup Studio?

Our company consists of two founders and only one full-time programmer, so we were looking to outsource a lot of the frontend development tasks to someone who would be able to help us move to launch more quickly.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We actually have a native mobile app that we’re designing and developing on our own, and a web application that we design, and the program. What we have done is provide them with hi-fi designs and user flows for the functionalities we want, and then they handle all of the web programming in React.js. From there we usually talk back and forth until the different sprints are completed.

What is the team composition?

They’ll usually have between 4–5 developers working on our project, as well as their CTO and CEO who interact with us around project planning and higher-level stuff.

How did you come to work with Linkup Studio?

When we were just getting started, we were trying to find a cost-effective partner to help us program faster, and one of our friends told us about Linkup Studio so we had a point of trust to get started from. Their prices were very competitive, and our initial conversations went well, so we decided to start working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested somewhere between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in October 2018 and are continuing to work together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work so far is really good, especially for how competitive their pricing is. And it’s really great to be able to deal directly with the CEO and CTO on Slack about any issues we have in terms of feeling like we’re able to make consistent progress.

How did Linkup Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Their process is extremely organized. They have a person specifically designated for planning each sprint with us. We walk through the scope and break down how many hours they think each step will take them, and then after both sides approve it, we start the sprint.

They provide great customer service overall. We always get quick responses to our requests, and we can tell that they are always focused on how to make the development experience better for us. It’s one of the biggest reasons we were able to build the trust necessary to continue working with them for this long.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Unlike larger or more corporate service providers, there is a very human element to their studio. They really put the effort into winning every client and focus on the long-term relationship, and that was something we felt from the very beginning with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Besides extremely minor things like not getting the scope perfect the first time around, there’s nothing I think they really could improve.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Whenever you’re working with an outsourced provider, you should really have your vision nailed down so that you can communicate to them as clearly as possible what you want. That will make the process a whole lot easier for everyone involved.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of an American agency. We provide web development and design, mobile applications, and other digital services. We sometimes use subcontractors when we don’t have enough inhouse capacity to complete the work for our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LinkUp Studio?

LinkUp Studio is one contractor we utilize in multiple projects. In our most recent engagement, we asked them to develop a cryptocurrency wallet for our client in the financial market.

We had initially been working on a crypto-mining app for that client, but they requested a wallet in addition to the app—and we didn’t have enough internal power to handle the increase in project scope.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We collaborated on wireframes, but LinkUp Studio delivered the entire wallet. They handled its design, development, and project management. Our own team guided them for UI/UX, but the handled the bulk of the work.

For the frontend, they utilized React. Other languages and environments they used were Golang, Node.js, and Python. While they built a unique infrastructure and architecture, they relied on preexisting opensource code.

What is the team composition?

While the team size expands and contracts, depending on the project, we generally worked with five people.

How did you come to work with LinkUp Studio?

They’d reached out to me on LinkedIn, long before I was looking for a subcontractor. Once my agency started getting more business than it could handle, I reached out to them again.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $60,000 thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2018, and it’s an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of their work is excellent. If you go to their portfolio, you can see how high-caliber their projects are. They consistently deliver great products, so I continue to rely on them.

Before officially taking them on for my projects, I sent each of their five developers a test project, which they passed with flying colors. I know that LinkUp hires extremely talented developers.

How did LinkUp Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been great on that front, as well. Often times when you outsource, the language barrier can be an issue. With LinkUp Studio, I’ve found that their project managers speak English. They’re very easy to communicate with, which helps us enormously.

We used Trello for inter-team communication, but I know that our respective teams used different internal software for project management purposes.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their large team boasts a wide variety of skillsets. It’s comprised of talented people from different backgrounds and different areas of expertise. No matter what the challenge or request, I know that there’s a specialist on their team who’s familiar with the industry. The scope of their knowledge is truly impressive, which is one reason I love working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t really think of anything. Any issues that arose from personal differences in working styles were quickly resolved when they swapped out developers. Overall, our engagement has been very smooth.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Regardless of who the vendor is, I’d recommend to send them a test project before you take them on—no matter how good their profile looks. Try them out, because they won’t disappoint.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of a meal planning app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LinkUp Studio?

As we were starting, we wanted to keep development costs low and overcome staffing issues, so we hired LinkUp Studios to develop our mobile app and web platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The mobile app is compatible with both iOS and Android. We provided mockups and designs, but they created a full stack using PHP and a liberal framework to create the backend and Javascript and Python for the frontend.

In addition to features, like calendars, that help users plan meals, the app is integrated with grocery store platforms, which allows users to order their foodstuffs through the app.

What is the team composition?

Andriy (CEO, LinkUp Studio) was our first point of contact at the beginning of the project. Once we determined the scope of the project, he hired a team of developers and we have worked directly with them since then

How did you come to work with LinkUp Studio?

One of my partners recommended that I use them for a different project. That project ended, but I still had their contact information when I started working on this app and decided to reach out. I asked LinkUp Studio and a few other companies to provide us with a quote and a basic prototype. Not only did we like the product that LinkUp Studio delivered, they were easy to communicate with.

How much have you invested with them?

They bill us after each sprint, but we have spent between $30,000-$35,000 in total.          

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working on the project in August 2018, and our collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It has been a long process, but they’ve delivered everything that we wanted on time and within budget. They’ve even gone back to make additional adjustments for us at no additional charge. We’re still working to improve the app and create more content, so it hasn’t been released yet. Nevertheless, they’re top-tier developers. We’re excited to get more people on the app, and we’ll see how the platform does as the user base grows.

How did LinkUp Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

We talk a few times a week and have a Slack channel set up. Even though Andriy isn’t necessarily a part of our day-to-day, he’s always checking in to make sure things are running smoothly.

They break up their work up into sprints and use Google Sheets to estimate the time it will take to build a given feature.

We also used a tool called Hubstaff to monitor development. It takes screenshots of their work, which allows me to check in regularly, which was really cool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They actually care about what they’re building and the product’s quality. Unlike other companies I’ve worked with, they think about the problem and focus on understanding the issue before trying to resolve it.

Andriy prioritizes becoming a partner, which is really unique. I really appreciate that they understood our goals and wanted to build a long-term relationship with us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

While using Google Sheets is effective, I wish they had their own tool to manage payments. As the project has grown, the system has become a little overwhelming. Right now, our invoice sheet has 27 pages, so before making a payment, I have to sit down and determine what we’re actually paying for.

We also hit a slight delay during the project, and communication between our teams slowed down a bit, but that issue has been resolved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It’s best to have a solidified idea of what you want to build. Developers need all the information to execute what you want. If you’re not sure yet, work with their designers to narrow down what you want before they start coding because it will save time and money.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a product manager for a Lviv-based startup that’s creating a new app for learning English words and phrases, based on music.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LinkUp Studio?

I hired LinkUp Studio to assist with developing features for the app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had the opportunity to visit their office and have a face-to-face meeting with them. Our app involves users connecting their Apple Music or Deezer accounts and seeing phrases from their own playlists. LinkUp Studio created new features for our product.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with three people from their team: a backend developer, a QA engineer, and a mobile developer. I’ve also engaged with Andriy (CEO, LinkUp Studio).

How did you come to work with LinkUp Studio?

Before our collaboration with LinkUp Studio, I worked with freelancers that weren’t the most professional and I wasn’t satisfied with their work. We chose LinkUp Studio from around ten candidates. They were professional and open to working with us. Along with their great office, they had the right features for a startup and understood that we didn’t have the perfect definition for what we wanted to create. LinkUp Studio strived to create a better one for our startup.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $31,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first engaged with their team in March 2018, and the first beta was finished in November of that year. They’re finishing our second beta version now.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our startup only has a translator and co-founders on staff, no developers. LinkUp Studio delivered the best work possible. I’m satisfied with them. Their team is interested in the product through helping, developing, and providing feedback. The job from their developers was professional. They’re quick workers and help me whenever I call them.

They have a business analyst that surprisingly created new features for us, without the additional cost. Their designers also made images that we missed in the general design.

How did LinkUp Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Because there wasn’t a designated project manager, everyone on their side was involved in the process. The QA engineer could’ve been more involved, but they were generally available. We usually communicate through Slack. We have a face-to-face meeting at their office each week, and I can easily stop by and discuss requirements. Our communication has always been at the highest level.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

Sometimes they missed time estimates, but they’ve been willing to work during weekends to meet deadlines.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Since we’re a startup, there’s always something to improve upon in our projects. We wouldn’t change LinkUp Studio for any other company.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

From my experience, it’s best to have face-to-face meetings. That isn’t a possibility for everyone. Because both of our companies were based in Lviv, the frequent meetings allow us to use gestures when words are lacking.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of a small software company called Zenturion.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LinkUp Studio?

We have a small team in Munich, and we need development help on occasion. This is where we come in contact with LinkUp Studio.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In most cases, they develop full-fledged web applications for us. Our initial project was a prototype for a startup I was trying to create. It was a Ruby on Rails web app with an AngularJS frontend, and they used Electron to package the web app for local users. They’re currently developing iOS and Android apps for it that connect to RESTful APIs on the Ruby backend. Right now, we give them more product-related requests, rather than prototypes or POCs.

What is the team composition?

My first contact is always with Andriy (CEO, LinkUp Studio), who assigns resources to the project. I’m in direct contact with the resources going forward. One of their developers serves as project manager and the main point of contact.

Our current team is comprised of two backend developers, one and a half mobile developers, one full-time tester, and one web developer.

How did you come to work with LinkUp Studio?

Someone recommended them to me.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent more than $200,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Their ability to grasp requirements and execute quickly has allowed me to shorten timelines by weeks and months and enter negotiations with low-cost estimates. This is especially true at the prototype and POC phases. Their work doesn’t skimp on quality either.

How did LinkUp Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

It was unusual at first to work without dedicated project managers (they assign tasks to specific developers), but that made the work much faster. It also eliminates requirement misinterpretation, though it does force me to pay more attention on my side. Jira is installed on our side to track issues, and I believe they’re using it as well.  

We’ve had some delays, but that will be true for any collaboration. What I really like about LinkUp is that no matter how much additional time a project takes, they never ask for more money.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re a fast, young team that’s always up to date with the latest technologies. Over the last four years, they’ve changed frameworks multiple times to continue producing modern designs and current software. They’ve been one of the best bargains I’ve ever had because they don’t buffer their estimates. I really like their communication style, and they’re easily accessible for urgent matters, even at night.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The same thing that saves me a lot of money is also something they should improve. Because of the lower estimates, sometimes they don’t meet deadlines. Especially for larger projects, they don’t put enough buffer to be on the safe side, and we need to extend deadlines. This is the only negative point I have, and I could never complain about their quality.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

For larger projects, it’s a good idea to have a project manager on your side and split large tasks into small chunks. This way, you can keep track of what’s been done and what the real-time estimate is.

Involve them in brainstorming and requirement discussions. LinkUp comes up with good ideas and doesn’t just deliver what’s asked for.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a startup IT company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LinkUp Studio?

We needed help with development and design for projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

I had clients that needed some help with projects, whether it was design, web development, or anything. We give them a mix of small and large projects, providing the specifications for them to fulfill.

They have done a lot of top-notch design work that has been perfect. Besides the design, they’ve done some straightforward development for websites, as well as some basic stuff. They’ve also done some more advanced custom applications for ordering systems and have built custom online ordering systems for restaurant chains, including the entire backend, accounting portion, and more.

What is the team composition?

I previously had some contact with the developers and project managers, but I prefer to be in direct contact with Nataliya (Co-Founder, LinkUp Studio) and Andriy (CEO, LinkUp Studio).

How did you come to work with LinkUp Studio?

I found them through Upwork. I had put out an ad, and Andriy was one of around 15 applicants. We gave three of the applicants some test projects, and LinkUp Studios did the best job for the best price. We haven’t hired anyone else since for these types of projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in January 2014, and it is an ongoing relationship.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, they’ve done an awesome job. In the beginning, it wasn’t all perfect, but whenever there has been a problem—either with one of the developers or designers—we have brought it to their attention, and they replaced them. Andriy is very flexible, and if you have a problem, he will find a solution for it, while Nataliya is a design guru.

I have worked with teams all over the world, and Andriy and his team are really good; the best I've worked with. They’re trustworthy, and they know what they are doing.

How did LinkUp Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

The workflow we have now is really efficient. We know what they are capable of and what they can do, as well as what kind of projects we can send to them. That makes it easy for us to decide which projects we take on and which to decline. Working with them is easy.

We usually have an initial call and then provide them with the full specifications. Once they come back to us for the first review, we give them feedback. For bigger projects, we have prep calls three times a week for five to ten minutes just to see if there are any problems or issues.

They’re very responsive; often Andriy or Nataliya instantly reply, but the others are not so fast. It depends on who the project manager is. We use Slack and Skype for communication, as well as Basecamp and TargetProcess.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their design is top of the line. I wouldn’t be able to find someone who does the work that Nataliya does for that price—she really gets the specifications, and that makes her unique. 

When it comes to web development, the price sets them apart. They deliver, almost always within the timeframe. If there are delays, they communicate that to us so that we won’t be in a bad position with our clients.

Are there any areas they could improve?

A few years ago, they wouldn’t say no to a project, and I got the feeling they would take on anything. I had faith in their skills and ability to deliver, but they didn’t always have the skill set in-house. This sometimes made it a little difficult, but they delivered anyway. It is something I have had some concerns about, but I communicated it to Andriy and, as far as I know, if they don’t have the skill set in-house, they will not accept the project now.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Clients should have extremely good specifications. If they aren’t good enough for you to understand as a client, you can be certain the development team won’t understand them either. Knowing exactly what you want is essential.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Winfluencers. My platform empowers micro-influencers to generate campaigns for brands and monetize their passions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LinkUp Studio?

I needed LinkUp Studio to build my entire platform. This included the landing page, backend dashboard, and enable tools for mass payments.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted a simple, clean, intuitive platform that has a scalable backend to accommodate future needs.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I had two connections working with LinkUp Studio who highly recommended I use their services. After doing my research and interviewed several firms, I felt most confident in them.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

LinkUp Studio did the overall design for our platform, including the logo. They developed our landing page, admin panel, and API. From there, they created the signup forms and dashboards for brands and influencers to use.

What was the team composition?

They supplied a variety of people, including a designer, a lead developer, and back- and frontend developers. I’m not sure about how many people worked behind the scenes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

I hope to have more detailed metrics of the platform’s success after the official release, but I’ve already received wonderful feedback from my partners.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We used Slack and Bitbucket to communicate, along with regular video chats. There were also ongoing discussions about product iterations and future improvements.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

LinkUp Studio was friendly and professional, making them easy to work with. They were receptive to feedback and eager to improve. We valued their seemingly around-the-clock availability.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s very little they could improve about their process, so nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of a financial technology startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire this vendor?

We needed design and development services for our platform.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to execute the initial release for the platform.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

The six-month project requires the team to leverage various design and development skill sets. We hired them via recommendations and a thorough interview process.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

We are collaborating with LinkUp Studio to create mockups and a more advanced UX/UI.

What was the team composition?

We work with resources for design, frontend development, backend development, QA, and DevOps.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

LinkUp Studio has met all deliverables and timelines. They’ve enabled us to expedite our product to market. The team also adapts to last-minute features and proactively suggests solutions.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it? Did you use any specific project management tools?

The team is always responsive. We communicate daily via Slack and hold weekly video meetings.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They are professional and solve problems in a proactive manner. The team regularly thinks “outside the box.”

Are there any areas where they could improve?

Most team members have strong English skills, but there’s a slight language barrier with others. As a result, we’ve had to make tedious content corrections.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the COO of a startup-focused organization. We partner with and build new companies and applications for a variety of sectors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LinkUp Studio?

We needed a mobile development partner with experience building applications that would run on both Android and iOS platforms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’re working together to build a social networking application in the sports space. They offered a few different options to build the app, as well as design services to realize our vision. The bulk of their involvement is in the development of both the web version and the mobile versions for iOS and Android, including work with UI/UX. They helped with our testing phase and the review process as we launch new updates to the app.

What is the team composition?

I meet with the mobile and web developer daily, the owner and lead of the company weekly, and the design lead a couple of times a week.

How did you come to work with LinkUp Studio?

A friend of mine worked with them in the past and recommended them. We instantly hit it off and decided to work together.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere near $30,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started talking with them in February or March 2018. The build began in June, and we launched in August 2018. They still work with us to add new features.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re still in very early stages, so we don’t have any concrete statistics to underline the success of the application yet. That said, we wouldn’t have a mobile platform without their help, and their impact on our business is huge.

How did LinkUp Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

They are very professional and communicative, and the engineers and other team members are all high-quality. Much of our interaction is by phone and email, though we use project management tools as well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their hearts are invested in the project. The partnership feels much stronger than it would with other subcontractors.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No; I have nothing I would ask them to differently.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As with any vendor, be specific and pay attention to your project. They have a good set of resources, so as long as you have a clear vision of your application and communicate your ideas, they will serve you well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO at an advertising company. We develop a variety of on- and offline software for mobile devices and desktop computers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LinkUp Studio?

We needed to build a solution for a new client. We were looking for assistance with developing the software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

LinkUp Studio is developing two apps using React Native. The first app is a cryptocurrency cloud mining portal for both mobile and web-based devices. The second app is a cryptocurrency investments portal. They’re working on a mobile version and a browser-based web application. So far, they’ve completed one of the projects and handed it over to my team for finalizations. They’re currently finishing up the second project.

What is the team composition?

We speak directly with their programmers and developers. On occasion, I interact with the CEO.

How did you come to work with LinkUp Studio?

I searched Upwork for agencies that specialized in React technology. Initially, I chose a different vendor, but that didn’t end well. I revisited the Upwork list and found LinkUp Studio. They had good rankings and offered an acceptable price.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in April 2018, and it’s an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We plan to launch both products by November 2018. LinkUp Studio’s coding was good. They’re very collaborative and responsive. Their future clients will be happy with the quality of their work. Overall, they’re capable of delivering on their promises.

How did LinkUp Studio perform from a project management standpoint?

Rather than working with an assigned project manager, we collaborated to coordinate tasks. Their team is built on a horizontal structure, which allows us to interact directly with the developers.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The LinkUp Studio team was prompt, knowledgeable, and reasonably priced. They’re highly communicative, making for a smooth collaboration. Also, they’re not very arrogant, which is appreciated. We ran into a few conflicts, but we sorted them out quickly and professionally.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If they assigned a project manager, they’d be able to secure more clients; it’s an important position to fill. With that said, LinkUp Studio is clear about this from the beginning. If any clients are unhappy because of the team structure, then that's their responsibility, not LinkUp Studio's.

Any advice for potential customers?

I’ve had a good experience with their team. As long as clients know exactly what they want, there won’t be any problems. If a client is unsure, there could be delays to account for the additional decision making. They do have a good UX designer who can help conceptualize the customer-facing side of software projects. Additionally, potential clients should know that they offer a good price for the quality that they deliver.