Mind Studios

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I handle marketing and management for a nightlife platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mind Studios?

Mind Studios helped with a marketing platform for a small- to medium-sized business where the users can see what their favorite venues are posting, including news, videos, events, photo albums, etc.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mind Studios is doing 2 applications and a dashboard for the venues to manage their marketing activities and loyalty programs for their customers. We also have applications for venue staff so they can track all the discounts, the bonus system, check-ins, the guest list, and so on. Most importantly, the owners and marketing managers have a dashboard where they can track all the analytics and all the marketing activities, the loyalty programs, and find out what their customers like. They can also tailor the loyalty program for each customer by adding different layers of VIP customers or certain groups.

Dmitry Dobrytskiy, the co-founder of Mind Studios, is a shareholder in my company and he’s also a sales manager. Mind Studios gave me a rough budget estimate and also suggested technology we could apply to this project. We spent 2 months putting the technical specifications and prototyping together. At this stage, we were working with 3 people: a project manager, a business analyst, and a graphic designer.

We already had another company working on design and Mind Studios worked well with them. We were all in touch through Slack. My business analyst gave them clear guidelines regarding design and efficiency; the design portion can tricky because there are different types of development that apply to different types of design.

At the moment, we’re doing backend development. We do iOS and Android development as well. As far as I know, I think they assigned 2 developers for the platform and we have one frontend developer.

How did you come to work with Mind Studios?

I did a lot of research and found 100 different companies. I was looking for a company with Russian native speakers because it’s easier for my team to communicate with them. The deciding factor was price. I was looking for an efficient company with a reasonable price for quality work. Mind Studios met my expectations and fit my budget. This is a very big project and we have a huge platform that requires a lot of development.

How much have you invested with Mind Studios?

The entire project is worth $140,000, including an $80,000 minimum viable product version that’s coming out in June 2017. Every 2 weeks, we’ll add on sprints and each sprint will include some new functionalities and features.​

​​​​​​What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in January 2017 and the project should be completed by December 2017. They will provide technical support after that.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

What I like about Mind Studios is that they always deliver work on time. This is very important because I’ve always had problems with timing when working with other companies. When it comes to the technology and development, it’s very difficult to estimate a proper timeline. With Mind Studios, I never have this problem and I really like their style of working. Mind Studios had a personal approach.​

​​​​​​How did Mind Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They have their own system. While inquiring with other companies, I noticed that their communication was very manual, including a lot of back-and-forth emails. Mind Studios, however, set up a Slack account where we can all communicate together. They use Google Docs to show me prototypes, which they can update online, making it much easier for me.

Usually, we communicate in Slack, but now that I’m in China, we use WeChat because it’s more convenient for me. The project manager gives me daily updates and at the end of each week, they send me the full report of what they’ve done. Every 2 weeks, they send me different builds for the app. We also do phone calls 2–3 times a week. It used to be every day back when we were doing business analytics and prototyping.

What did you find most impressive about Mind Studios?

They make the project personal instead of just thinking of the income that comes from it. They’re very flexible and want to push the project forward.

What I also like about Mind Studios is that they understand the business. There are times when a customer of mine has their own requirements for the project. I can see the project in general, but I don’t know how to put it in technology terms. Mind Studios listens to the customer and guides me. There might be something I want to do, but they’ll let me know if it’s a mistake and then explain why.​

​​​​​​Are there any areas Mind Studios could improve?

They’re one of the best regarding development and I’m happy to work with them. They might want to improve the design part, though. At the moment, I think they have only 1–2 designers.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Rentorr is a platform for independent landlords and tenants. I am a co-founder of the company. We are a startup with five employees.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mind Studios?

We were trying to develop the core application for our startup.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Mind Studios has developed a prototype of our web application using Ruby on Rails. They also conducted technical research for the platform. We plan to also develop iOS and Android versions.

How did you come to work with Mind Studios?

I had been looking for a developer for around a year before finding Mind Studios online. They had some favorable customer reviews, so I contacted them and asked for a proposal.

How much have you invested with Mind Studios?

The cost of Mind Studios’ work has been close to $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Mind Studios in October 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Mind Studios has put a lot of effort into the development of our project. They’ve been supportive, understanding, and swift at the same time. If the client has an idea, Mind Studios will be able to turn it into something great.

How did Mind Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Slack and communicated on a daily basis. Mind Studios has delivered on time and within budget. They’ve always been fast to respond to my feedback, and we had no language or time zone barriers.

What did you find most impressive about Mind Studios?

Their fast delivery time is most impressive.

Are there any areas Mind Studios could improve?

Not at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I was the co-founder and co-CEO of a B2B company that provides video inspections in the government space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Mind Studios?

It was actually a turnaround situation, both from a business and technical perspective. The founder of the company had engaged a development group who had steered him the wrong direction. We needed to go in and basically restart the development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We were able to do that over a 1- or 2-year period. During that time, we put together a product that was challenging from a technical perspective. We got it up and running. It’s an app for iOS and Android, and there was a web part in which Mind Studios was also involved. I’m a marketing-focused and business-oriented individual, so I can’t tell you all the code we used and everything like that.

Mind Studios was starting from scratch. It was a great idea with failed technology, so we started over. The other projects they’ve worked on have all been absolute cold starts. Although they do offer these services, I didn’t use them for marketing or strategy because I wanted someone closer to the market in the US. They were very helpful in terms of supporting the development effort and getting the app launched on the Apple and Android stores. They know their way around. When your apps aren’t clearing at the Apple Store, they know how to maneuver to get the problems corrected and get the apps up and running. Our product was incredibly complicated, and the Apple guys had trouble getting their heads wrapped around it for quite a while. The guys at Mind Studios were very helpful in managing that process.

How did you come to work with Mind Studios?

Three of their founders came out of a previous company that I used to work with for another startup. The other company dissolved, and these guys went on to start their own firm. I really liked these three guys, and I wanted to give them a chance. I think I was one of their first projects.

How much have you invested with Mind Studios?

I’ve invested more than $1 million with Mind Studios over multiple projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran approximately from April–August of 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

It’s a little tough to say. I developed a level of trust with these guys. We Scrum a few times a week. I treat them like they’re part of the company, and they behave in that way. They’re responsible, and they take ownership. I don’t know how to put numbers on that, but that’s one of their strongest attributes.

I’ve learned to do these startups in a very lean and mean way, and that’s what the market demands. There’s a lot of outsourcing going on, but the problem is developing a relationship and level of trust with a developer in that situation. Over the years, I’ve developed that with Mind Studios. It’s something that I really appreciate about them. Our stuff works. I use US-based designers for UI/UX [user interface/user experience]. Mind Studios was able to execute the designs and gave additional ideas.

I outline ideas and try to get the product to meet what we think the market is going to be. I worked with the guys at Mind Studios 2–4 times a week, making sure that everyone understood what we were trying to achieve. In order to avoid wasting time, I check that they are heading in the right direction in terms of development efforts. They were very good at that, at a very good price.

How did Mind Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

There’s a big time difference. They’re about eight or nine hours ahead, so we do our work in the mornings. I work principally with one individual, although I work with other team members on occasion. We have one dedicated project manager, and we communicate through him 95% of the time. We use Skype a lot, both video and audio, and we do a lot of screen sharing. They are organized, and in most cases, they deliver when they say they will. I appreciate that.

What did you find most impressive about Mind Studios?

I’ve been working with them since 2007–2008, and I’m in a position where I can really treat them as team members. They don’t abuse that, and they’re very value-added. They’re my go-to team, particularly in very early setup—the first six months to two years. I will often bring in US-based developers behind them, but they’re very good at getting things up and running to that minimum viable product stage. The ability to Scrum, versus having to draw out some specs, is probably the biggest advantage of working with them.

Are there any areas Mind Studios could improve?

Our project manager’s English is very good, certainly a lot better than my Ukrainian. Having said that, he’s not an American. We always check any content, any wordage; we’re very careful about that. We’ve developed an easy system to go back and adjust any language. QA is always interesting because of the language issues, so we often run our own QA.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-founder of NextDoorCoders

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We connect property owners and tenants through innovative tools and services that streamline the rental process and improve property management efficiency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Mind Studios to accomplish?
We needed a mobile app that could address the challenges of property management: tracking rental payments, handling maintenance requests, and enabling real-time communication between property owners and tenants. The goal was to create a platform that was not just functional but also intuitive and scalable as our business grew.

SOLUTION

How did you find Mind Studios?

Referral

Why did you select Mind Studios over others?

• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Mind Studios were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Mind Studios was responsible for building the app from the ground up, beginning with in-depth discovery sessions to align on key functionalities. They designed features like an automated rent payment tracker, a structured system for submitting and tracking maintenance requests, and built-in notifications for real-time updates. 
A key challenge was integrating the app with existing payment and scheduling systems, which they handled with impressive technical finesse. Their deliverables included a fully operational mobile app, design prototypes, robust backend infrastructure, and comprehensive documentation for ongoing support and scalability.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app brought much-needed clarity and efficiency to property management tasks. Rent tracking and payment processes became automated, reducing errors and delays. Tenants now have a reliable way to report issues, and property owners receive notifications instantly, improving response times. 
The feedback from users was overwhelmingly positive, especially regarding the app's ease of use and clean interface.

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

The project ran like clockwork. Updates came regularly, and any issues we flagged were addressed promptly. Their team stayed flexible with changes in scope. Every milestone was delivered on schedule, and their responsiveness made the entire process straightforward.

What was your primary form of communication with Mind Studios?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their ability to anticipate potential roadblocks and offer proactive solutions stood out. They didn’t just deliver what we requested; they refined and enhanced the features to ensure the app was user-centered.

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

Nothing worth mentioning — everything went smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the owner of Vita-Scan

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Mobile app for health use

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Mind Studios to accomplish?

• Create the flow of the app
• Get costs for app creation

SOLUTION

How did you find Mind Studios?

Online Search

Why did you select Mind Studios over others?

• High ratings
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Mind Studios were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Mind Studios helped me work through the flow of my mobile app ideas and to create the total ease of use. They then created a spread sheet so I know how much it will cost to build the mobile app for sale. We discussed using ads to supplement financial support of the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I know that Mind Studios understood what I want my mobile app to do, they created the flow and produced the cost table so I know exactly what is needed financially to continue.

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

Yes, despite what is happening in their country, they were always responsive, timely, professional and great!

What was your primary form of communication with Mind Studios?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The love their personalities, their kindness and goodness that I feel from them. They are patient, listen to my thoughts and discuss each and every concern. Their humanity during a time of crisis in their own country testifies to me their ability to be professional, to go beyond their own personal thoughts and work on my behalf. 

They are experienced, they know the mobile application requirements, needs, laws, policies of healthcare "recommendations" versus healthcare "advice" for personal use. I felt protected in what I could and should not offer in my app. They knew the workflow and integrations needed; I learned so much simply by having them guide me and recommend to me based on their years of experience.

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

Not any.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Managing Director of Pulsed LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Project development

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Mind Studios to accomplish?
Technical web platform development

SOLUTION

How did you find Mind Studios?

Online Search

Why did you select Mind Studios over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Mind Studios were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Strategize and design a web platform for a startup company. Assist in developing a business plan and pitch deck design and development and wireframe design and development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Outcomes were measured against proposed and approved work sprints.

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

Everything was delivered on time and their team responded and assisted in everything we requested.

What was your primary form of communication with Mind Studios?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their technical innovation and ability to add conceptual value were very impressive.

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

Not at all.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of The Marketplace Company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The Marketplace Company is a leading provider of marketplace software solutions for entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and industry consortiums.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Mind Studios to accomplish?

• Build native iOS and Android app
• Link to Google AI models
• Support Application

SOLUTION

How did you find Mind Studios?

Referral

Why did you select Mind Studios over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

What was the size of Mind Studios’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

We developed a native mobile application for both ios and android capable of accessing Google AI models and the telephones device to visually scan any object and direct the user to consumer confidence information about the item scanned.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Code quality
• user acceptance testing of the application
• application stability.

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

They were highly professional and met expectations when they set them. They valued added to both the design and coding of the application that enriched the outcome and produced a better response.

What was your primary form of communication with Mind Studios?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email
• Messaging App

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

The level of their expertise and professionalism was extremely high.

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

None that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Founder of an encrypted communications platform

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mind Studios, and what were your goals?

Our goal was a main pilot test and user validation on several hypothesis. After partnering with Mind Studios they were able to design, challenge and develop the MVP once we retrieved user feedback.

SOLUTION

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

Shortlisted top firms globally and interviewed them all.

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

User testing, wireframes, mock-ups, MVP, backend developed. The rest is confidential.

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

Full team (Quality assurance, backend developers, front end developers, project manager)

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

User growth is very difficuilt in any company. Numbers cannot be shared at this point in time, but impressive growth from MVP to several months later when product became more polished.

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

Several check-ins per week, using Slack, and other communication channels.

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

We are impressed with their transparency, hard work no mattertheir circumstances (e.g. working through a current war), and alwasys challgning the status quo.

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

They are quick to fix bugs. They could improve their estimation of scope - it is difficuilt and I know they have been getter better

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Avytel Informatica is an innovative company focusing & championing technology-led solutions & Research in Telecom Systems & Wireless Network Services, ICT-Consulting, Developing Innovative Products, Applications, Cyber Security, IT Audit & Forensics. I work in R&D as product manager for new software solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Mind Studios, and what were your goals?

We hired mind studios to develop the Prescription Drug Monitoring System (PDMS) for Uganda. Our challenge was the misuse of controlled drugs in Uganda is a leading cause of mental health problems among patients. The goal was to develop a tool that would monitor the dispensation and consumption of these drugs among patients! This monitoring is mainly a function of government.

SOLUTION

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

We'd had contact from a previous project, and the deciding factor is they're so committed to tasks, let alone being one of the best when it comes to e-health systems.

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

To develop an Integrated web/mobile-based prescription drug monitoring system (PDMS) for Uganda to enable; A real-time digital collection of data on prescribing, dispensing, and use of the controlled prescription drug (CPD) by physicians, pharmacists, and patients. Digital checking of patients’ CPD drug use history by physicians to deter prescribing such drugs to patients at high risk of problematic drug use. The key steps in the first phase were divided into 3 sprints which covered discovery, UI/UX, and product development cost estimations.

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

Six team members from the vendor. Their positions were CEO, product managers, and UI/UX designers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Presentation of the deliverables to the steering committee in need of this solution gave very positive feedback. Members were interested in the direction of the product and more funding will be committed for further phases.

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

The project management style is very professional and awesome. They're very strict on deadlines and everything was achieved as specified in the work plan. Communication tools used were very convenient; slack, miro, google docs, skype and google meet

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

I was impressed with their ability to deliver high-quality work on time.

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

All good for now, thanks