LionMane Software, Inc.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

At that time I was the CTO of Diarios Modernos, S. A., a media company established in Guatemala, Central America whose main product is still a printed newspaper. Also I was member of the Digital Strategy committee for the company and we were looking for products or solutions that would allow us to take advance in the digital world.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LionMane Software, Inc., and what were your goals?

One of the best proposals that we developed in the committee was to develop a mobile application that would allow interaction between the readers of the printed newspaper with more content using Augmented Reality (AR). The readers would use their mobile application to access photo galleries, audios, videos or 3D animations to expand their UX.

SOLUTION

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

We send the brief of the project to several technology companies to evaluate their skills with disruptive technologies, creativity, innovation, scope of solution and of course know their economic proposal. I must say that Lion Mane's proposal was by far the most creative, innovative and cost effective. They even gave a broader scope to the initial project proposal which made us think that we had a technological partner that would help us to achieve greater goals.

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

We started with brainstorming meetings between the Digital Strategy Committee and the Lion Mane team, after a few weeks we had come up with an initial model. The model included the development of the Android and iOS application, the creation of a Content Management Software (CMS) and the development and modeling of the workflows for the project. All development was done on AWS using technologies like React Native, Node.js, AWS Lambda, among others. The project took a little longer due to changes that had to be made in the newsroom so that the multimedia content was ready, changes that included training, new workflows, culture change and others.

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

We mainly worked with a project manager, who was in charge of reports, deliveries, requirements gathering, etc. We also work with up to three software developers, a UX/UI Designer and a QA expert. Each of them experts in their field.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All the work done by Lion Mane was professional, with state-of-the-art technology, very transparent and punctual. We had an initial version of the application to be launched by the summer of 2021 but due to executive decisions the launch was delayed indefinitely. I am no longer with the company and as far as I know the application is yet to be launched.

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

We had full communication with the project manager all the time, we used SCRUM methodologies to define the sprints, tasks and milestones of the project. In addition to using email and WhatsApp, we also use Slack and Trello to keep all efforts coordinated. I really liked that there was also structured communication with the developers and other personnel involved in the project so that we could have access to see the progress of their work.

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

I think the most impressive thing I found in Lion Mane was their attitude and commitment that the entire team had with the objective of the project. Even in those moments in which there was a doubts about some features, technologies or workflows, they always looked for the best options to solve it.

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

Personally, I can't find anything to add here. I can only think of very small things, but because the project was practically done during the pandemic, there were many processes that we had to adapt.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former CTO of Trineva, a cybersecurity startup. I was in charge of all development efforts.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with LionMane Software, Inc.?

We needed an end-to-end encryption-secure messaging platform for iOS and Android. The software needed to enable the transmission of anonymous messages over mobile devices.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

LionMane Software, Inc. developed the platform for iOS and Android. They also designed the UI. Our side managed the server and the technical portions. Their team delivered a prototype version, which we subsequently presented to investors. The team added demo features, which we highlighted while pitching the software and platform.

What is the team composition?

Mario (CEO, LionMane Software, Inc.) took over the project from another employee and focused on iOS development. The team comprised two additional resources including an Android developer.

How did you come to work with LionMane Software, Inc.?

One of my colleagues helped us search for potential iOS development partners. We then interviewed LionMane Software, Inc. We hired them because they were detail-oriented problem solvers.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent less than $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2014 and the partnership ended in April 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team’s development skills made a huge difference. Their work enhanced our performance at an industry event, where the platform’s features received positive feedback. Mario’s skill sets are hard to find and I hope to employ him again.

How did LionMane Software, Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Mario was the easiest person to work with because he required minimal guidance. He was personable and proactive. Overall, the team was effective as an offshore partner. We communicated via email, phone, Skype, and all-hands meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Mario intuitively understood users’ pain points. He was a great programmer and a productive partner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No. We ended the project on a positive note. I wish we could have worked longer with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hire them. The team is reliable and they have a good rapport with their clients. What’s more, they understand UI design at a deeper level than most.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and CEO of an IT company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire LionMane Software, Inc.?

They helped us develop a custom SMS marketing platform for a client.  

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to build custom software that would allow our client to engage customers in two-way communication.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose them based on the quality of their service and attention to detail.

What was the team composition?

We worked with a business analyst, a project manager, a QA engineer, and two software engineers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

LionMane Software, Inc. made it easy for us to hit our project timelines and goals.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They quickly got up to speed and started working on the project. We used Jira, GitHub, Sentry, and Slack.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We were impressed with their ability to communicate and deliver.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We did not see any during our project.