Naked Development

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.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the founder and CEO of my company based out of Dallas, Texas. We specialize in artist development and networking. After seven years of working in artist development, we saw certain pockets that needed to be filled.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Although we had an idea for an app for seven years, we couldn't complete this large task ourselves. We hired Naked Development to build our app.

What were your goals for this project?

I simply wanted to create a user-friendly product that isn't intimidating to anyone on any level in a reasonable amount of time.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I shopped for a year for the right development company, but none fit my criteria. Finally, I got a call back from Naked Development. I ended up comparing them to ten different companies, both US-based and global. Naked Development was very responsive and continue to be. I still feel like I made the perfect decision.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Being that this was my first venture of this magnitude, I didn't know too much about app development. Naked Development not only took on their part of the process, but they also educated me in areas I was unfamiliar with. They’ve taken on my project from the beginning to the end. The complete design and functionality have been incredible to watch and experience.

What was the team composition?

They assigned a small team of competent people.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We haven't tested the solution as of yet, but those I've shared the concept with can't wait to get the app.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They’ve handled the project very well and professionally. Schedules have been on time, and they’ve met deadlines. Even now, they still communicate any concerns and answer questions that I may have.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communication, professionalism, and development are all top-notch.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, I appreciate their efforts and how well things are going/have gone.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the CEO of a fitness technology startup. We connect fitness equipment to proprietary content, competitions, and community via mobile devices.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

My company had built a beta mobile application that connects our proprietary content and curriculum to rowing machines. Having pivoted our brand to broaden offerings, we hired Naked Development to build upon our beta app and create an optimal user experience.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted a user-friendly, intuitive, and fun mobile app that reflected our revamped business direction. In designing the new user experience, we needed to consider customer retention and conversion rates.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We evaluated several companies. A marketing partner recommended Naked Development, and it was evident after a few conversations that they understood our product and purpose and would be passionate about bringing it to market.

Describe the project in detail.

First, Naked Development analyzed our vision. We provided information from the development and launch of the Beta app. They compiled sample design pallets for my team to consider. After several meetings, we chose a design.

Currently, we are working through specific feature and experience paths to ensure maximum efficiency for users.  

What was the team composition?

My team works directly with a project manager. We met the entire team upfront, which includes developers, marketing executives, and strategists.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Naked Development has delivered a design that my entire team can be proud of. They ensure we meet milestones, which has fostered positive relations with potential investors.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Naked Development encourages my team to contribute ideas and feedback, which they then incorporate into the next design or process iteration. They also challenge our assumptions and perspectives to guarantee the best end product.

We work almost entirely remotely. Naked Development’s deployment of Basecamp and Slack ensures seamless communication and coordination.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Naked Development treats our startup like a Fortune 500 company. This engagement has made a significant difference in the trajectory of our company. The deliverables speak for themselves.

Naked Development’s process and the team’s patience are exemplary. They know their craft. The team takes the time to find a personal connection to our vision and purpose, keeping our best interests in mind. They have guided us toward a common understanding of features, functions, and goals.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have yet to find an area that needs improvement. Working with Naked Development has been a joy for my team, and we look forward to continuing our push to finish the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president and CEO of New World Savings. We have an app called BankRoll which is a microsavings app. I run the day to day operations and create shareholder value.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked Apps?

We needed help building the application itself.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The application is for iOS right now. It puts the user in absolute control of how much they would like to save in a specific timeframe for a specific event.

They took care of the whole thing from the initial idea, working through several versions, and now we’re currently ready to launch. They also took care of the web development. It was a one-stop shop for me and that worked out really well.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Jason (Co-Founder, Naked Apps) who managed the whole development team. He was the lead I communicated with weekly, and he led a team of five to eight developers.

How did you come to work with Naked Apps?

We found them through a web search. I live in Orange County, California and I wanted to be able to go and visit the individual that I contracted with so it worked out well for me. I talked to a couple other development companies but when I met with Naked Apps, it seemed to be a good fit.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent about $235,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2017 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The development process was quite challenging, but the code they wrote has worked out very well. They were able to achieve our goals, which several other development companies had some challenges with. They did really good work to bring it to market.

Overall, we have been pleased with the work. They were able to develop something that was very special for us.

How did Naked Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re just getting ready to launch, so they got it done in a timely fashion. We had certain benchmarks to meet, and they came pretty close from a software standpoint which is a moving target.

I feel the line of communication was good. They use an application that puts us all in the same loop. Anytime there’s a change, I’m made aware of it. We had a weekly call on Monday afternoons to go through the development and what they were able to accomplish the prior week. They worked really well with some of the external software people we had to connect with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is really good, and the communication is too. To me, having good communication is huge. I know exactly what’s going on along the way. Their development team is really good and compared to what I have heard from other people I know who are doing apps with other companies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It took me a while to get my head around the software way of working. I come from a background where if you have a deadline, it is absolutely met; however, with software, it doesn’t happen that way. I would like them to fit more into my timeframes, but I don’t think that happens in software projects.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder at Scapegoat, LLC. We’re a mobile app that connects homeowners to local landscapers and allows them to request and schedule specific services. Landscapers can choose the projects the Landscapers can choose the projects they’re willing to take on, and the homeowner can then choose between those that have responded to the job.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked Labs?

I needed a company to execute on my idea and lead the development process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started the process with an all-day meeting at their office in Irvine, CA, where I provided them with a few sketches and detailed my vision for the app. They went on to manage the entire development process. We built the app for iOS first, as to avoid having to make changes on two platforms. The app should be ready to port to Android come fall of 2018. They very effectively lined up a server company and took care of every detail so that I didn’t have to. Naked Labs also offers marketing services that I haven’t taken advantage of yet.

What is the team composition?

At the beginning, I was primarily engaging with the two co-founders, John and Jason. I also worked with a design lead and a project manager when the project began.

How did you come to work with Naked Labs?

I had a shortlist of about 10 companies I was considering for the project, and they stood out in several ways. They specialized in working with startups and shared my outlook on overall execution strategy. I contacted them and visited their office before contracting their services. I really liked their team and decided to move forward.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $90,000 on the services provided thus far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2016, and the iOS app launched in October 2017. We’re now preparing to port the app to Android.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’re just starting to ramp up our marketing efforts so we don’t have concrete user insights yet. We’ve seen about 55 downloads on the App Store and the app has maintained a five-star rating thus far. In the past couple of weeks, we’ve started getting requests and landscapers have been impressed with the payment system, which works fast and intuitively.

How did Naked Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

I had a dedicated project manager that managed all aspects of communication. I always spoke directly to him and he liaised with the Naked Apps team, which simplified the process and ensured that everyone was on the same page. We had weekly meetings and communicated primarily via phone, video chat, and email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They emphasize user flow in their process, which yielded a unique and fine-tuned UX/UI. Every aspect of their work focused on how to most effectively connect with the user.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. They’re a great team.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Make sure to research and fully understand your target audience. If you convey that information to Naked Apps, they will tailor the app accordingly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of our startup firm, Hang In There.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Naked Apps?

We needed a social media platform app built for our business on the iOS and Android platforms.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We met to discuss the ideas and the function we envisioned for the app and they started from the ground up, beginning with a wireframe. Since then, they’ve been a full-service company for us. They’ve offered us the development for both platforms, the marketing and developing websites, social media maintenance, and blogging.

What is the team composition?

I’ve dealt with a core team of six-to-eight people.

How did you come to work with Naked Apps?

As I interviewed potential partners, other companies seemed to talk over me as if they knew what was best for our idea. When I spoke with Naked Apps, they were the only ones that listened and I appreciated that. We ultimately started doing business with them because of the personal understanding they achieved by listening.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent nearly $200,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

They began working on the app in late November or early December 2017 and we are still engaged with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve worked hard and remained diligent about hitting deadlines. They’ve also stuck to what we developed during our initial collaboration without any deviation from it. I get the sense from them that we’re on the same track and we are working in tandem, rather than in a manner where they are just filling a temporary need I have. In the future, I hope to make this a long-term partnership.

How did Naked Apps perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very good with timelines. They held themselves accountable and were forthcoming with how far they’ve come. If someone even takes a sick day and they haven’t been able to get something done immediately, they were open and made no excuses for anything.

We used UberConference for our telecommunications needs.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Based on what I’ve read about other firms’ experiences with outsourced development companies, I was impressed that they stayed focused on our target and did not deviate from it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They were very concise in stating what they would do, how they would do it, and what they would need from me. On the other side of that, they could provide a bit more clarity on smaller things that don’t immediately have to do with them, such as adding user accounts, earlier in the process.

Any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that you understand your own project going into the engagement. Ask the right questions. Also, allow them the freedom and ability to make some decisions, such as in the area of containing costs, because they will watch out for your wallet. They understand not everyone is a giant multinational firm.