Software Development for Community Platform
- Custom Software Development UX/UI Design Web Development
- $50,000 to $199,999
- Jan. 2023 - Ongoing
- Quality
- 4.5
- Schedule
- 4.0
- Cost
- 5.0
- Willing to Refer
- 5.0
“What made them truly unique was their approach as a strategic partner rather than just a development vendor.”
- Business services
- Stockholm, Sweden
- 1-10 Employees
- Online Review
- Verified
Ministry of Programming provides software development services for a community platform. The team has developed a web-based community platform using React. They also provide product and market strategy.
Ministry of Programming has delivered a fully functional and scalable community platform. The team has an SEO-friendly infrastructure and a sustainable technical foundation. They demonstrate excellent project management and are highly collaborative and transparent. They deliver items on time.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and position.
I am the Co-Founder of Startup People
Describe what your company does in a single sentence.
Startup People is a membership-based community platform providing networking and resources for startup founders and operators to foster growth.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
What specific goals or objectives did you hire Ministry of Programming to accomplish?
- Launch MVP
- Product strategy
- Market strategy
SOLUTION
How did you find Ministry of Programming?
Referral
Why did you select Ministry of Programming over others?
- Close to my geographic location
- Great culture fit
- Good value for cost
- Referred to me
- Company values aligned
How many teammates from Ministry of Programming were assigned to this project?
2-5 Employees
Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.
Ministry of Programming (MOP) provided comprehensive software development services to build and develop Startup People's online community platform as part of a strategic sweat equity partnership arrangement. Key Deliverables: Platform Development: Development of our web-based community platform using modern React-based architecture, creating a robust foundation for our startup community ecosystem. Technical Infrastructure: Creation of a scalable, SEO-friendly platform designed to support and grow our community of startup founders and operators. The infrastructure was built with future expansion in mind. Payment Structure: Structured as a sweat equity deal valued at €4,260 per month over 3 installments, with provisions for converting outstanding debt to equity or credit, demonstrating MOP's commitment to startup partnerships. Strategic Partnership: Ongoing partnership discussions including product feature prioritization, platform vision alignment, and workshop planning to ensure the platform meets our community's evolving needs. Ongoing Collaboration: Flexible scaling capabilities and knowledge sharing about building and managing remote development teams, which has been invaluable for our startup operations. The partnership has been instrumental in bringing our vision of a thriving startup community platform to life, with MOP serving as both a technical partner and strategic advisor throughout the development process.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
Ministry of Programming successfully delivered a fully functional, scalable community platform that serves as the backbone of Startup People's operations. Key measurable outcomes include:
• Launch of React-based web platform with modern architecture supporting hundreds of startup founders and operators
• Implementation of SEO-friendly infrastructure resulting in improved organic reach and community discoverability
• Successful integration with existing distribution channels including social media, newsletters, and Slack
• Establishment of sustainable technical foundation enabling platform growth from 2021 through 2025
• Delivery of payment milestone structure (€4,260/month over 3 installments) demonstrating project completion and value
• Creation of scalable infrastructure supporting ongoing feature development and community expansion
• Achievement of strategic partnership goals including knowledge sharing about remote development teams and startup ecosystem collaboration
The platform successfully enables Startup People to deliver on its mission of providing networking and resources to the startup community, with the technical foundation supporting sustained growth and member engagement.
Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?
Ministry of Programming demonstrated excellent project management throughout our partnership. Their approach was highly collaborative and transparent, with regular meetings to align on platform vision, feature prioritization, and strategic direction.
They consistently delivered items on time, meeting the agreed-upon payment milestone structure (€4,260/month over 3 installments) and maintaining steady progress on the platform development. Their team was extremely responsive to our needs, offering flexible scaling options as our requirements evolved from 2021 through the present.
What particularly impressed us was their proactive communication style - they didn't just respond to requests but actively participated in partnership proposal discussions and workshop planning. They demonstrated deep understanding of startup ecosystem needs and translated that knowledge into practical solutions.
Their ability to balance technical excellence with strategic partnership goals made them feel like an extension of our own team rather than just a vendor. They were always available for discussions, quick to address concerns, and committed to our long-term success, as evidenced by their willingness to structure a sweat equity arrangement that aligned our interests.
What was your primary form of communication with Ministry of Programming?
- In-Person Meeting
- Virtual Meeting
- Email or Messaging App
What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?
What sets Ministry of Programming apart is their genuine commitment to the startup ecosystem, demonstrated through their willingness to structure a sweat equity partnership arrangement. This wasn't just a financial arrangement - it showed they truly believed in our vision and were willing to align their success with ours.
Their deep expertise in serving startups is evident from their impressive client portfolio including Fundedbyme, Werlabs, Fishbrain, Amuse, Froda, Corsmed, Mendi, and Beatport. They understand the unique challenges startups face - limited budgets, need for flexibility, rapid iteration, and strategic thinking beyond just code.
What made them truly unique was their approach as a strategic partner rather than just a development vendor. They actively participated in product feature prioritization, platform vision discussions, and workshop planning. Their team in Sarajevo combined with their presence in Stockholm (our location) provided the perfect balance of cost-effectiveness and geographic proximity.
Their knowledge sharing about building and managing remote development teams was invaluable. With a team of ~170 people, they have the resources and expertise of a larger agency but maintained the agility and personal attention of a startup-focused partner. This combination of technical excellence, startup mindset, and genuine partnership approach made them an ideal fit for our needs.
Are there any areas for improvement or something Ministry of Programming could have done differently?
While our partnership with Ministry of Programming has been overwhelmingly positive, there are a few areas where improvements could enhance future collaborations:
Initial onboarding documentation could have been more comprehensive. While their team was responsive to questions, having more detailed technical documentation upfront would have accelerated our understanding of their development processes and workflows.
Occasional time zone coordination challenges arose given the Sarajevo-Stockholm split, particularly for urgent issues requiring immediate attention. Establishing clearer protocols for emergency support or critical issue escalation earlier in the partnership would have been beneficial.
More proactive communication about potential timeline impacts when team members were on vacation or during holiday periods would have helped with our internal planning.
That said, these are relatively minor points in what has been an excellent partnership. Ministry of Programming has been receptive to feedback throughout our collaboration and has shown continuous improvement in their processes. Their willingness to adapt and their commitment to our success far outweigh these minor areas for enhancement.
RATINGS
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Quality
4.5Service & Deliverables
-
Schedule
4.0On time / deadlines
-
Cost
5.0Value / within estimates
-
Willing to Refer
5.0NPS