Naked Development

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of Agents of Radical, and we are building an e-commerce platform targeted towards beauty professionals. This is so they can build and create their own e-commerce site with products from our inventory.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked.?

We were going to build a small number of Shopify sites for our clients when we realized it was a much larger need in our industry. Naked. is our solution to basically everything when we decided to make our own version of Shopify.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re building this platform from scratch. This is a web-based application that uses unique domains per store. We are using other platforms like Stripe for payment and Zoho for inventory processing. Everything is customized, and Naked. is overseeing the entire process from design to development.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Jenna (Project Manager). They also have different people stepping in and out on different stages of the site, so I probably work with around 8–12 people at a time.

How did you come to work with Naked.?

They’re actually an acquaintance of my business partner. He’s been trying to work with them for several years, but the right idea just hasn’t come across his plate until we partnered up. I’m not actually sure how they met but they’ve known each other for over 15 years.

We still shopped around with other development companies and web builders, but the experience and expertise that Naked. had far surpassed everyone else’s. They had the clients and reviews from other startups like us. Basically, they just had a lot of proof of concepts (POCs), and that’s how we chose to go with them.

How much have you invested with them?

On the first round of development, we have spent about $300,000. There are several layers that we’re going to be adding in, so starting at that price point, it will go up significantly.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing partnership with them started in June 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We don’t have any financial metrics as of the moment since we’re in pre-launch. However, one thing I can say for them is their attention to detail and their intuitiveness are absolutely incredible. 

I went in with the creative idea and spent several hours together in their boardroom drawing up this entire concept. Nine times out of 10 it would take 3–5 rounds of explaining before a typical dev team would get the idea — these guys got it on the first shot. They came back to me about a week or two later with a mock-up of the design, and they put exactly what I envisioned on the screen.

How did Naked. perform from a project management standpoint?

Jenna is one of the most prompt and timely people that I’ve ever worked with. She’s always on Zoom two minutes before the actual hour and replies to our emails regardless of what time in the day they come in. She’s always so responsive and makes sure that I know she received my messages.

As far as timeliness and deadlines go, the entire team has been phenomenal. There have been some setbacks, but I don’t consider any of them to be reflective of the team. It’s more of a COVID-19 pandemic situation, and honestly, when things are late it’s probably coming from me and my partner’s side of things.

They use the Monday dashboard to keep track of all the progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What’s impressive about them is collectively, they all understand what we’re doing. It feels like they’re really dedicated to our process, and I always feel like we’re a priority — I’ve never felt shuffled around the mix with Naked.

Their team is so open to critiques and new ideas. They will pivot on a dime if I have an idea that wasn’t originally part of the game plan. Everything that I have asked for, as wild and impossible as it may seem, has always been answered with a “Yes,” and they have always followed through with it. They have never misled us and have always made everything happen. Even if it’s a little bit difficult, they always find the answer.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I really don’t know. Truthfully, I’ve been so happy with this experience that I haven’t had any critique for them. Even in a pandemic and living in a state where things are pretty rough, they’re constantly always working.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice would be to meet them with the same attitude you want them to meet you with. I’m always open and happy to see them and excited to see what they’re presenting.  We’re very communicative and are happy to critique back and forth.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-founder of Agents of Radical, an e-commerce platform looking to democratize retail in the beauty space. One of the unsung heroes in the beauty industry is the independent professional. They get very little compensation, and we are looking to bridge the gap between large retailers and independent professionals.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked.?

We were looking for help in building our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Naked. Developed our e-commerce platform for us. They are the technology team that is helping bring my concept to life. Our platform allows independent beauty professionals to create a unique URL that allows them to sell their products directly to customers. 

First, we went through a 4–6 week design process. During this time, we met with their team on a weekly basis and shared our entire hearts with them. We took them through our notes and drawings so they could really understand what it is we’re trying to do. Then, they mapped out exactly what we wanted to build.

Within a month after that process, we pulled the trigger and had them start developing the platform for us. Their team builds the engine that will house my platform. 

What is the team composition?

We work with John (Founder & CEO), Jason (Co-Founder), and Jenna (Account Manager), and a few developers. We’ve been consistently working with a team of seven. 

How did you come to work with Naked.?

I’ve known John for about 25 years and Jason for 40. In past positions in the beauty space, I’ve wanted to work with them but was never able to. I always knew that when I had the possibility to build my own thing that I was going to partner with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested about $305,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement began in July 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While we are still in the pre-launch phase, I am overwhelmingly happy with the product. We’ve looked at what other models exist in the beauty space and we have really outdone those existing platforms. 

How did Naked. perform from a project management standpoint?

Every week, we have a dev team meeting where they walk us through everything they’re working on. There’s never any question of where we’re at in the process with them. We communicate via text or email and I can always get ahold of anybody that I need to. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to understand what we wanted to accomplish set them apart. They spent the whole design phase trying to get a deep understanding of our project. They don’t just create an outline or a blueprint, they put the time in to map the whole thing out. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything was great. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I highly recommend going through their design process or at least speaking to John. He’ll be able to tell you in five minutes if your idea is good or not. By starting there, at least you can revise from there.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the co-founders of Mentally Fit Community Inc. We build communities to provide access to support and resources for improving mental health. We have about 100,000 people in our community worldwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked.?

We were looking to build an iOS and Android application to take our organization to the next level. To do that, we needed to create a prototype that we could show to investors to secure funding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Naked. developed a clickable prototype of a mental health support application. We had an initial meeting where we talked through our scope, ideas, what we wanted the app to look like, and how we wanted it to be functional. 

We then looked at the wireframes and edited them before starting on the design. For this process, we started by sharing brand guidelines so that they could understand the look and feel we were going for. Next, they presented a mood board along with drafts of the app. All of them were really good and showed us that they understood our brand. We ended up choosing the design that day from the samples they showed us. 

The team also helped us with our investor and pitch deck. They handled the creation of the prototype photos and everything that we’d need to start our fundraising stage. With the initial part done, we’ll start the development process with them later this year.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with 5–6 people. John (Co-Founder & CEO) advises us on how to raise money, how to approach investors, and other similar business strategies. We’re also in close communication with Jason (Co-Founder & Chief Design Officer). He’s been working closely with us on our MVP and designs. 

There’s Adrienne (UI/UX Designer) who has a psychology background, which is really cool. Then we have Robby (Executive Creative Director) and Jenna (Account Manager). She’s been organizing everything, making sure we receive deliverables on time, scheduling meetings, and taking notes.

How did you come to work with Naked.?

I met a company that specializes in AI at a tech networking event and talked to them about our app. They recommended Naked., so I reached out. It was really the way they carried out their process and structured approach that made us choose them.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Naked. around September 2020. The initial project is done, but we’re planning to continue working with Naked. to develop the app. I’m still in contact with them as we’re raising funds, and we’re on track to start development by December 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Currently, we have a working prototype developed for both Android and iOS devices. The prototype will help us raise funds while also helping our audience understand our goals for the community.

How did Naked. perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with Naked. is such a close-knit and communicative process. We’re the type of client that prefers to be very involved at each step, and they make it very easy to follow along. They have a Monday board where we can see our progress on the full project dashboard. We never feel like we don’t know what’s going on.

It’s great to have a project manager who brings all the pieces together so that we can see the bigger picture. They email, text, and conduct weekly calls to keep us up-to-date. We also had the chance to work and meet with them in-person.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We are impressed with the overall clarity of the project. The way the team communicates is really great, and they understand what they're doing. Lifestyle-wise, I think it's a good team. They're really cool, too. They have a dog in the office and everything that we would want.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think that there’s really anything to be improved. They’re hitting all the marks right now.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re going to hire Naked., you won’t have to do much to get the most out of the engagement. Their project manager will make sure that things are moving forward. Just email them back and show up to the meetings.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Raava.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked.?

I had ideas for a self-improvement app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave them a lot of creative flexibility, and Naked. designed and developed an iOS and Android app.

What is the team composition?

I worked with four of their teammates routinely. 

How did you come to work with Naked.?

I research developers and interviewed 5–7 app developers in the country. I eventually flew out and met with Naked. They had everything that I needed, including the experience.

How much have you invested with them?

We began working with them in June 2020, and I just wrapped up with them a couple of weeks ago. My work with them is over until the next step is ready to be taken. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We spent $15,000

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’ve researched over 20 apps that are similar to mine, and I’m excited about where it’s going to go. It’s a great prototype.

How did Naked. perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was good. They had a lot of online project management programs including Monday. I could go online and see where we were in terms of the weekly routine. There was never a question that didn’t have an immediate answer

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team always shared their honest opinions, which was helpful. No one was standoffish, and I never felt like it was on me to come up with everything to say. They were helpful and polite.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do your research, and be open to change and their opinions. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of an app startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked.?

I hired Naked. to build a mobile app for my company.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They took my ideas and brought them to life in app form.

What is the team composition?

I worked with John (Co-founder & CEO), Jason (Co-Founder), Robby (Executive Creative Director), and Jenna (Mobile App Development Manager).

How did you come to work with Naked.?

I found them initially on Clutch, and then again when I was doing my own research. I reached out to several other companies. Their leadership gave me very personal attention, and I liked their philosophy to startups.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $15,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2020, and our work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The team was experienced and helpful in making me feel comfortable in sharing my ideas. It was a great two-way conversation. They did a great job of creating something fun and transparent, that’s also secure. When I showed it to my family and friends, they loved it and thought it was very user friendly.

How did Naked.perform from a project management standpoint?

They were spot-on and always kept me in the loop. We laid out what we would be going over week to week. If we needed to go back and reviews something, it was always noted in the follow-up meeting. We used Figma and EnVision for project management.  

What did you find most impressive about them?

The culture they built throughout the project was very impressive. It feels like we’ve been working together for years. Everyone has great energy and ideas, and they’re open and honest. Overall, it’s a very calm and receptive culture. Especially during the pandemic, meeting with them was the highlight of my week.

Are there any areas they could improve?      

No, they really exceeded my expectations.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you’re new to creating an app, like I was, I would recommend working with Naked. They’ll guide you through the process at every step and won’t shame you for not knowing the terminology.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a platform that connects wineries and consumers. We’re a website and an app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked.?

We needed a cost-effective way to grow in our early stages.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a basic MVP, and because of their assistance, I had access to capital, a tech team, and designers. They help build out my stack and whatever I need to in order to acquire funding. Once we have the funding, for the next year, we can hire people through their infrastructure in a much more cost-effective way, so we can go to market at half the price.

They also provide moral and people support for me, since I’m the only person who’s hired by the company as a founding partner. I have access to resources here and there so I can raise cash.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with 4–5 people from their team. They’re mostly upper-level management.

How did you come to work with Naked.?

I met the founder & CEO, with his co-founder, at a networking event. We connected and it all worked out from there.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2019, and our relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve provided great quality. We’ve got exactly what we need to test our product and raise money, as well as build something more elaborate.

How did Naked. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great. Our communication is clear and upfront. If there are a couple of projects that have been added, I’m aware, but they always get back to me and fulfill their obligations. We use monday.com for project management.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re good people who do good work. They’re reliable and I feel like I not only have the support of a great team, but I also have amazing mentors and friends that have come along with it. They’re very trustworthy, which is important when you’re just starting out.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is don’t be afraid to let them be an integral part of your team. Communicate clearly and effectively, and trust them; you’ll be able to see the results that you want.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company is a Social Network startup designed to target a niche demographic. I am the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Naked.?

We hired Naked for development of the product as well as assistance with the launch/marketing etc.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal is to have a top tier product on the back and front end of development.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had conducted several interviews with companies in the Orange County area (we wanted a local company). Naked seemed like the most capable of creating the product we envisioned and we meshed the best with Naked.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The project is a social focused app for Android/Apple stores. Naked was hired to complete the front and back end development starting from scratch. They have been working on features that are common in social platforms today.

What was the team composition?

The team composition consisted of a lead developer, creative director, chief design officer, UI/UX designer, project manager and 2 software developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This project is the entirety of our business. Naked took an idea from scratch and has helped in every aspect of getting the product we envisioned into the market.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The project management has been great. Between then founder and his directors/engineers I can always get into contact with the team regarding the project.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The company has a great team. All of the employees at Naked are great at their craft. From the creative side to the development side to the project oversight, all has been impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Our project isn't complete at this time, but at this stage I have no complaints with Naked Dev and I am very happy we decided to work with them on this project. I would choose them again and will continue to work with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of Jared F. Bossola, PLC., a law firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked.?

I’m developing a mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’re providing me with start to finish design, placing my innovative ideas into someone’s pocket in an application. They’re also currently retained to market and potentially the application. The app itself is for my legal practice, and it’s cross-platform.

What is the team composition?

I work with 8-9 people including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Naked.?

I found them online through a Google search.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent over six figures on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since March 2019. I’ve had this idea for years and it just became a question of money.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

If I was to rate them on a scale of 1-10, they’re a 13.5. They act as a project manager, owner, and support staff. They’re all top-notch and have great personalities. I’ve received everything I paid for. They think outside the box and are exactly who you hope to hire when you hire someone. I can’t speak any higher of this company than their own parents could.

How did Naked. perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re on-time and polite, just perfect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’m a creative, forward-thinking person, and so are they. Working with people that are as creative as I am is awesome. They’ve opened my eyes to so many different things that I didn’t know. Then, they took it to another level where they made it work. They created digital versions of my designs that came to life for me. I don’t want to sound like Disney, but they really do an amazing job. Additionally, their follow-up care and attention make me like them and want to continue working with them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, if I said something here it would be untrue.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t worry about the cost. You’re going to get what you pay for. I waited for years to be able to pay for this and I don’t regret it.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of AirCall Services. I am responsible for two different air conditioning companies. We are pretty strong here in LA because it is a hot place.

One of the companies deals with a lot of new construction installations, and the other one is a startup and an application that we developed in the last five years. People buy a subscription, as low as $10.99 a month, and we service them and give them full coverage on the units.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked.?

I needed a crew that could helpe us with the design and strategy of how to get into the market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did anything from design for ads which were the simple part of the mission. We needed to fix a lot of things in my software and registration process in the app itself, as well as build a strategy around how to get into the market and in which way.

I needed them to give me some ways to get an idea of what the customers would like. I have absolutely no complaints about their performance so far. I like what I see, and I like what I get.

What is the team composition?

I have dealt with at least six people from their team including the programmers and software guy.

How did you come to work with Naked.?

We had gone through many individuals and companies until I got to Naked. and I am happy with them.

In the last five years, I got burned a lot in the application and marketing market. Finally, I decided to do some research. I looked from New York to Washington at many companies that offer the services I needed. I found Naked. online and they came all the way here, gave me their time, and sat with me. They explained things to me over and over again, and I got hooked. I felt they were the right guys. 

What is the status of this engagement?

It began almost a year ago, and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, I love working with them. I seriously really feel like I am in good hands. They put me on track on a lot of different sides of that app and gave me an idea of where I need to be.

I am so confident in their ability, that I asked them to give me an estimate to build another two applications. I am not just an HVAC contractor, I am also an investor, and I believe that real estate is good, but I believe the next thing will be technology in almost any form. When the crisis with the pandemic will finish, I want to start other projects with them.

How did Naked. perform from a project management standpoint?

I have someone that deals with them on a weekly basis and she gets a very good response from them. Me personally, any time that I have called or contacted them in any way, I got a response right there on the spot and I know she gets the same treatment. I have no complaints in that area.

What did you find most impressive about them?

John (Founder, Naked.) and his crew really care. They want me to be happy and do everything they can to make me and my team happy. I think we have the same mindset and bottom line, we need results, and that is what drives me to continue the relationship.

Are there any areas they could improve?

None that comes to mind. I think they are doing great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If someone wants to work with them I would say that it has been working for me. In between people, there has to be some chemistry. I work with a lot of contractors, and I have chemistry with each one of them. When I don’t have chemistry, I prefer not to work with them.

I like working with John because he is pragmatic. He gets right to the point and there is no wasting time. For me, it is very important not to waste time. It is important to me as an investor and businessman, as I don’t want to put hundreds of thousands and then find out it was all for nothing. I know they delivered in the past, and I am confident they will deliver in the future.

When you work on a project as we did, every product is different. I may do another two apps with them, and one or both might fail, but as a businessman, I understand that is a risk that I am taking, not them. I would highly recommend John and his team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Our company is a Professional Services Firm specializing in Physical and Cybersecurity Operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Naked.?

We enlisted Naked's expertise to augment our existing technical team in developing an information security-sharing mobile application.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to create a mobile app that had the ability to synthesize large amounts of threat data and present to end user in a simplified manner. We anticipate this project increasing the competency and awareness of our chosen demographic.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our company was debating whether or not to develop the entire project in-house but also did our due-diligence in speaking to multiple firms that could seamlessly fit within our technical team. We ultimately decided to go with Naked because of their comfort level with high impact projects having an aggressive deliverable schedule and their overall complementary positioning vis-a-vis our in-house team.

Describe the project in detail.

Our project included developing a mobile application which increased the cybersecurity of small and medium sized businesses. Naked was responsible for supporting our technical leads and providing the necessary surge capacity to meet an agile and aggressive product development schedule.

What was the team composition?

Naked. provided a PM, UX/UI Lead and two developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Project was recently launched and with the help of the Naked team, we were able to meet all of our deliverables for our client.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Naked. was responsive to any challenges or hiccups faced during the project. They used multiple project management tools including Trello and Basecamp.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

One of their greatest strengths was their commitment to ensuring we get it alright as a team. If something was unclear or not working properly in dev environment, the team put in the long hours required to fix any outstanding issues.

Are there any areas for improvement?

When bringing in a tech team to augment your in-house personnel, it's important to come up with a project plan whereby both teams agree on a viable development methodology that works for all parties. It took us a bit of time to get there but once we did, it worked out just fine.