The NineHertz

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a web and mobile platform for bookings of classes, activities, events, and workshops.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

We approached them to build an MVP for us to go to market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built the backend of our website and an iOS application, and continue to provide support for us in terms of maintenance. They did a lot of consulting in the early stages of the project because we didn’t have much experience, especially with mobile applications.

What is the team dynamic?

I wasn’t connected with the entire team. We had a project coordinator, Rahul, who was excellent.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

We found them on Clutch, and we were able to see what was available by price range and previous reviews. We looked at company websites to find what we would be comfortable with and to contact them. We went with Nine Hertz because their customer service was the most approachable.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000-$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them a year ago. The main milestones of the project are completed, but there are still some tweaks and updates that we’re working on.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The system is live and we are extremely happy with it. Nine Hertz has been very productive, and we’ll continue to use their services to upgrade our software. We don’t have any metrics yet, but overall, we’ve exceeded our expectations in terms of people using it.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

There were some hiccups with the software, but Rahul [Project Coordinator, Nine Hertz] was able to manage our expectations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would recommend that if anyone in the future works with Nine Hertz, that they ask to work with Rahul [Project Coordinator, Nine Hertz].

Are there any areas they could improve?

They underestimate their capabilities. We were surprised to learn how much more they could do than we initially thought in terms of software development. I would recommend they market their skills regarding mobile application on their website.

I recommend potential clients to be communicative. Their team is very responsive, so if you let them know what you think and want, they’ll react accordingly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of VISP in Doha, Qatar. I work in aviation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

I contacted Nine Hertz about an app idea that connects consumers with service providers in various areas, such as handymen, lawyers, and freelancers. Nowadays, a lot of people don’t reap their full earning capacity. This app is a good way for people to not only sell themselves as a freelancer but to maximize their earning capability by setting up a profile where they can offer their qualified services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I collaborated with Nine Hertz to come up with innovative ideas that allowed us to have a competitive edge against other companies. We’re developing both Android and iOS apps and started off using existing code from another app that had similar concept and design. As we started to progress more into the project, it became apparent that Nine Hertz was developing their own code, because we were in constant communication. The app has some very innovative features.

The design was the hardest part of the project. I needed Nine Hertz to understand what I wanted from the app in terms of customization. After they shifted their mindset from what they were used to seeing, they were completely on board and understood the concept I wanted to drive the app forward.

What is the team dynamic?

During initial communication, I talked with the director and he assigned me to another person, who then assigned me to a technical manager. The experience has been phenomenal, and thanks to WhatsApp, we’ve been able to progress at a quick pace. We’ve been online for 16 hours a day punching the work out, and we also use Skype and email to share links and updates to the app.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

I came to Nine Hertz because a work colleague recommended them.

How much have you invested with them?

I’ve invested $63,000 with Nine Hertz.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working on the app concept in April-May 2016. Although it is still in developmental stages, I hope to have it finished in the next couple of weeks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve had friends and family members, some of whom are very critical, try out the app and compare it to similar ones. After looking at their findings, we’ve made no changes because there doesn’t appear to be anything close to it on the market. It’s been exciting to realize the potential and innovative quality of the features within the app itself.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve stuck with every milestone discussed in the contract. Early on, we also discussed how I have no IT background, so every time an update comes through, they explain all the changes and expectations for each milestone to me. By the time the app comes out, we will have communicated so much that we’ll basically know what to expect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Nine Hertz’s communication skills are a definite strength, along with how structured they are. They’re also great brainstormers, and if I come up with an idea, they’ll come back with a technical perspective on how we can implement it. They’ve been tremendous. I've already told Nine Hertz that when the app’s finished, I'm going to fly into India for a weekend and take them all out to dinner.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I knew nothing about IT going into this project, but I have learned so much from Nine Hertz and it’s been phenomenal. I can’t think of any weaknesses. When I went to Barcelona and Portugal, our communication was limited, but that doesn’t fall on their shoulders because they were still trying to reach me anyway. Someone with more IT knowledge may have a different opinion, but for me, I would 110% go back to Nine Hertz.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am co-founder and CTO of a startup working on a solution for matching shippers who have cargo to be moved from one location to another, using various vehicle types. This consists of packages of any size, from small parcels to 20- or 30-ton shipments. Our service is a kind of Uber for the trucking industry. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

We were looking to outsource development work. We started in September 2016, after which we came up with a list of requirements and a plan for where we wanted to launch the service. We didn’t have the budget or funding to hire someone in-house, so we needed a technology partner.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Once Nine Hertz understood our requirements, they began to create a corresponding design and development plan. They started by converting our specs to wireframes and gave us a UI design. From there, we went into database design and ultimately started development work. This was broken down into multiple phases, for the website and iOS and Android mobile application. We started with iOS development, then we replicated the functionalities on Android. After this, we started website work.

The look, feel, and quality of the app were all based on the client’s original requirements, while I completed the original design, although I am not an expert designer, so Nine Hertz’s team provided a person to help me with the wireframes. We did not focus that much on the design part during the start, but rather on the functionalities. During the last 3 months, I hired an additional designer out of Ukraine, who has done the new version. This is where phase 2 comes into play. During the first phase, we focused on getting the solution to work, and now we plan to implement the new UI.

What is the team dynamic? 

We had a project manager from their side, with whom we had weekly discussions to review the work. During development, we had small teams working on each portion using the Agile process. They worked collaboratively in order to deliver each part of the solution. When Nine Hertz’s team had a functionality ready, we went through a testing process. As with any project, we encountered bugs and worked on fixing them. These were filed through a bug-tracking system. The developers were able to review each one and come up with a deadline for solutions. 

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

We underwent an extensive evaluation of multiple vendors and conducted interviews. We initially found Nine Hertz on Clutch.co around June 2016. We interviewed at least 20 companies in total, looking at different criteria, from cost to quality and their ability to provide both websites and mobile applications. As the CTO, I had detailed discussions on the requirements and design. Based on the responses, we selected Nine Hertz as our developer.

How much have you invested with them?

The project was completed in a couple of phases. The first one had a cost of around $35,000. It was a fixed-rate project, and they delivered within that budget.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first phase started in September 2016. We started receiving outputs for our requirements starting in December. From December until March 2017, we were able to complete many functionalities that helped with the main workflow. We continued adding new features until July, at the same time resolving the bugs we found along the way.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are still in the beta phase, so we don’t have any statistics yet. In terms of measurable results, we have a working application in accordance with the original requirements and business purpose. In terms of quality, we achieved a good result based on the original business model.

We have signed up around 10 companies for the pilot, which we are in the process of initiating.The real proof will come when we will get all the transactions from the customers we’ve signed up. In the month of August, we will have a better idea of the performance of the application. Overall, we gave Nine Hertz work, and they delivered accordingly.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We had a project manager assigned, and there were weekly calls with a certain agenda. We were able to go through specific tasks, issues, and clarifications; we also had bug reviews. Nine Hertz was responsive once we clarified issues on a call, and worked on them quickly. There were times when we had daily calls for very specific bugs. Once the issue was clear enough, we would go back to the weekly process.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their willingness to work around the customer’s requirements is their most impressive trait. With these projects, especially for a startup, requirements change along the way. In some cases, they may not have been detailed enough in the beginning, but, as we work them, we become clearer about what we want. Nine Hertz was willing to accommodate those changes. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

In terms of communication, they could establish up front procedures and specify who will be the point of contact. Since I can understand them well, I was able to handle the collaboration, but, if Nine Hertz is to attract more US customers, this will be an area of improvement for them. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder of O&J Holdings. Our company created a phone app that’s a puzzle/social media platform that lets people share pictures as a puzzle. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

We needed someone to develop the app because we’re not developers ourselves. We came up with an idea that we were excited about. We wanted to find a provider that could bond with us over our vision. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Kapil [Managing Director, Nine Hertz] is a good salesman. He made us feel like the app would be easy to produce, claiming that it was definitely in their scope and that they could do it quickly. He gave us a timeline of 6 months to a year. That was 4 years ago.

When we started going through the stages, they were hitting our benchmarks at first, which was great. Then, they wanted us to pay the final benchmark so that we could receive the final product. We put the money in escrow, and Kapil said the final step would be done on a certain day and wanted us to release the funds so that they felt confident releasing the app. We released the funds. (We learned through this experience never to do that again.) Then, Nine Hertz kept telling us that the app wasn’t done yet. The experience dragged on, but they wouldn’t make any changes. They had their money, but we were stuck.

We went back and forth with them. They would send us pieces and changed some things, but they stopped focusing on the app and refused to put any more work into it. We tried to remain patient and worked on other things associated with the app.

At this point, I’ve had many calls with Kapil where he’s gotten aggressive, which is a huge change compared to before they had our money. We tried to talk to other people, but that didn’t help. We sent stuff to and called their office in Ohio, but it’s been a miserable experience.

We are now at the point where they’re walking away from everything. After we mentioned that we would have to review them, they started trying to work with us a little bit. We want people to know that Nine Hertz hasn’t done anything substantial. We feel that if they’d focus on the project, they would’ve had a great thing for their portfolio. They just didn’t want to see it through.

At this point, they have the app that they wanted to make, which is not the one we agreed on. We tried to have them make changes, but it’s a battle every time. The total scope was to develop the app that we’d specified. That included the design and functionality of a simple picture-sharing app that breaks images down into puzzles. Currently, the name of our app is PixxedUp, but the original name we had chosen was Pixel. We found out that someone else is already using that name, so we changed our idea. Two years ago, another company in India produced a similar app concept called Pixel. We brought this up to Kapil and let him know that his team had taken so long that someone else made our app. He denied everything. The fact that a company that’s also in India is using our original name makes us feel terrible. Our whole idea is gone. We signed NDAs, but when working with people overseas, there’s nothing we can do legally to protect our idea.

The final app we agreed on had many different functions that were never put down. Part of the agreement was that once the app was finished and we got to a certain amount of users, Nine Hertz would get incremental bonuses. For a year after the app was on the App Store, they were supposed to provide tech support. We never got to that point, and now they are walking from the project.

Kapil sold us on everything, but he’s stopped responding to my emails. Until recently, he would respond to WhatsApp messages from me but would not respond to anything from my partner. There was a huge breakdown in communication and follow-through. When I looked at their reviews on other sites like Facebook, other people have had the same experience. They also have a lot of good reviews, but most of those are from people in India.

The app is 85% done, and it’s been like that for 4 years. They said the app was completed and they’d release when we provided the final payment. But, when we released the payment, the app actually wasn’t complete. We would give feedback about something that wasn’t working in the app, and they claimed they’d fix it, but months went by with nothing. Then, they told us the language changed and we needed to do something totally different. We’d get the app and try to download it, but it wouldn’t open. We asked for at least part of our money back if they weren’t going to finish the app, but they didn’t do that.

I think the breakdown happened once they got the money. They have never had a successful app. When I went back and looked at their portfolio, they had a couple of apps listed, but nothing over 500 downloads. Maybe they can make a functioning app, but when it comes to finishing it, they don’t seem to pull through. I’ve seen other companies on Elance (now Upwork) write this. The platform shows they have completed 100% of their jobs, but the reviews don’t say that. I have some appointments with some other people to tell my story because this is the only way we can get the word out about Nine Hertz.

My partner runs a website company where he works with other people in India. We told Kapil to hand off the code to someone else so that we could go our separate ways. But, Kapil won’t honor our request.

We wanted Nine Hertz to talk to our new developer and explain certain things about the code, but Kapil would not agree to that. We sent an email that had some specific questions, but he ignored it. When I reached out to him on WhatsApp, he said that he wasn’t responding because the questions were too general and he didn’t have time. He did do some things after I threatened to give a bad review, but then he said to go ahead with the review.

Once they had their money, it was a drastic turn. We were very patient at first, thinking they were finalizing everything. They claimed that the app works for them and it’s too bad it doesn’t work for us. We’ve had a couple of phone calls that got heated in which Kapil called us “idiots.” In the end, they said they could build the app we wanted but called us "dummies” when it didn’t work.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

We needed to find an affordable firm, so we went to Elance. We interviewed many developers. After meeting Nine Hertz, they promised us they could make the app.

How much have you invested with Nine Hertz?

We agreed on paying them $7,000 to do the app and had benchmarks for releasing the money.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2014.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated through email, Skype, and Elance. Benchmarks were set through the site and were checked off as they were completed. We’ve only had contact with Kapil. I tried to connect with another guy, who was helpful for 2 days until the company stopped him from contacting me. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

The company is a social media dating mobile app. I’m the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

We wanted to target a specific clientele and gender on a social media platform for dating and classifieds.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built a mobile app for Android and iOS.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

I did a Google search and reviewed some companies, and then I decided to hire Nine Hertz.

How much have you invested with Nine Hertz?

We spent between $50,000–$55,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in August 2016, and the project was completed in June 2017. They continue to work on maintenance of the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They did a good job, and I’m happy with the app. I’m still working on launching the apps and am doing a few things on my end to get it ready. I have some friends who have gone over it and made sure it’s working the way I want it to. I’m getting ready to do my backend, which includes some of the product I’ll be selling on the app. The app is easy to navigate and user-friendly.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated through Skype and email, and there was a lot of take and give. They would get to work at midnight Central Time, and I would stay up to have a 30-45-minute conversation with them. They would also extend their work hours so that I could work with them in the morning.

What did you find most impressive about Nine Hertz?

What was special about Nine Hertz was that they pushed me harder than I pushed myself to complete this, and they followed up thoroughly on everything. They had good communication skills. This is the first app I have built and understanding my lack of knowledge, they guided me to the right answers and advised what would work best for me. They offered a lot of input in the project, so it wasn’t always just me making decisions.

Are there any areas Nine Hertz could improve?

The only issue I had was that they are based in India, and there is a time difference. For my first project, I was very impressed. Their communication was good and they stayed on top of the project and pushed me to get it done, giving me advice along the way on which direction to go.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Near Me, a unique social networking app with geolocation features. It allows users to connect with people within 10–20 meters. Users can also create a group allowing all members within that distance to interact together.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

I had an idea but didn’t know if making the app was possible. I haven’t seen anything like this as an actual product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I asked Nine Hertz if it was possible to create an app that let me pick, say, a coffee shop I like, order a drink, and send it to a girl who I noticed in the shop in order to connect with her. The app is built on iOS, but we haven’t released it yet. When I shared my idea, Nine Hertz came back with multiple options, and I chose what I wanted. They’re currently doing maintenance work and making videos for the app’s release. We’re also testing it, and we hope to start building an Android version in the next couple of months.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

I wanted to make sure I had a creative team to design the app’s screens and make it user-friendly. I found Nine Hertz on Clutch and was impressed by their great reviews. I called a few other companies, but I wasn’t happy with their responses to my questions. I chose Nine Hertz because they were the only company that gave me specifics and could do the work right away. They also were more creative in their designs. When you contact them with a problem, they always have a creative solution. They are very flexible and responsive.

How much have you invested with Nine Hertz?

We’ve spent $75,000 on the project so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in the summer of 2016, and the work is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We expect the app to be released in the next few weeks. Nine Hertz made the product user-friendly through creative designs and engagement strategies. I was very happy. They helped me along the way by including my thoughts in the app.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

I was thrilled with their ideas. My coordinator would give me the plan of the stages of development. After the plan, they would give me the cost estimation. When Nine Hertz made a feature, they began with the design and showed how it would work. If I agreed, we moved forward. When I disagreed, they made the necessary changes. After we were clear on the plan and the features, they created the design and showed it to me. We tested each piece before going to the next phase.

Are there any areas Nine Hertz could improve?

At this stage, I can’t think of anything. I would tell them if I wasn’t happy with something. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a startup in the early stages. We’re developing a dating application. I’m one of the people starting the company. There are four of us right now, and we’re located in New York City.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

We have some background in technology, but we’re not full-fledged app developers. We needed to work with experienced app developers to bring our idea to fruition.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They broke down the entire process into five milestones. After achieving each milestone, they would send us an update, and we would send the payment. So, if we had issues, we would ask them to fix those prior to receiving payment. They began with the user interface development and progressed to the final stages.

The app is built for both iOS and Android. They’re currently doing some maintenance, so we haven’t really launched it. It’s not yet in the app stores, but it should be there soon. We’ll be using them to help us with the actual launch and getting the apps on the app stores. They’ve told us that they’ll make sure the app doesn’t get rejected by Apple, because they have some criteria. I don’t know the details about that, but Nine Hertz has ensured that our app satisfied all the requirements. After the app gets launched, they promised close to five or six months of bug support without additional cost being billed to us.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

We used an online Google search to find companies. Also, one of my partners has some experience and some contacts in the app development field. He researched on his own and gave us the names of several companies, and Nine Hertz was one of them. We were looking at companies who could give us a good UI and had some experience in developing apps. Cost was one of our concerns, as we’re not yet funded. In addition to Nine Hertz, we spoke with three other firms. We finally had a long discussion with Nine Hertz, and that’s how we came to hiring them.

Initially, their sales team contacted us and gave a rough idea of the cost structure. At that point, we did not reveal what the app was for, so it was just a rough estimate. After a few discussions, we sent them a PowerPoint presentation on what our basic idea would be. They signed a non-disclosure agreement, and then we gave them more details so they could give a better budget estimate. We bargained with them, and they were pretty accommodating. They were very excited about the project, and they were trying to work within our budget. Once that was done, we signed the contract.

How much have you invested with Nine Hertz?

We’ve invested $60,000-$70,000 so far. The budget is a rough estimate, and we still have some payments to make. Once they launch the app, we’ll make the final payment.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together at the end of February this year, and the relationship is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They are very proactive. Most of the guys I work with are in India. We have daily calls, and they’re very accommodating if we need to contact them over the weekend. We had a lot of back and forth during the UI phase, and they were very helpful. They gave their insights and expert opinions into how this could be made better, so that was very helpful. Since they are in this business, we would always ask them for recommendations.

Before we hired them, we had some technical discussions and we felt they had the knowledge and the right team to deliver our app in an effective way. I was very happy with their follow-up. They didn’t miss any emails, and I was always able to contact them by phone, which was very nice.

 How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We used Skype and WhatsApp as our two main communication channels. When we had small issues, like a color or font change, they sent us snapshot images on WhatsApp. Once we finalized, we would officially send them an email. We also had discussions every other day about how the work was progressing, if they had anything pending from our side. Initially, they gave us a plan with the five milestones, and that was very helpful. After achieving each one, they would call us and ask if we were satisfied. Once we were all good, they would go to the next phase of development.

What did you find most impressive about Nine Hertz?

This was my first experience in working with an app development firm. I was very happy with their customer service and how they handled the whole situation. I felt they were really hard-working, and they always achieve their targets on time. They basically followed the entire plan they had given us to the T. If there were delays, it was probably from our side because we didn’t have time to respond to their emails instantly. We sometimes caused a week or ten-day delay. I was impressed with their ability to deliver on time. They were working on an hourly basis, so that was really nice. Also, they gave us good recommendations on the UI and the navigation side of the application. That was very helpful to us.

Are there any areas Nine Hertz could improve?

I’m sure there is always something you can improve upon, but nothing, in particular, comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We have developed a brand-new social media app. I am the owner of the company. I had a large following already, and wanted to put together a separate place where my audience could collaborate and communicate.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

I wanted to build a platform similar to Instagram, but with some unique features.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Nine Hertz developed my Android and iOS app, based on my designs. There is also a backend admin website through which I can manage user accounts, look at statistics, and so on. I kept in touch with their account rep, as well as with the developers themselves.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

I found their website through a Google search, and got in touch with the team.

How much have you invested with Nine Hertz?

The cost of Nine Hertz’s work has been around $240,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Nine Hertz in December 2015. The app was officially launched on March 31st, 2017. The main project was completed, but I’m always coming up with new ideas. Nine Hertz is continuing to maintain and update the platform.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We managed to attract 20,000 users on the platform, within the first month and a half. The feedback from users has definitely been positive, and word-of-mouth around it has been spreading fast. It needed to be a solid platform in order for this to happen. We haven’t had any bug reports.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive, including on weekends. We communicated via Skype.

What did you find most impressive about Nine Hertz?

They actually exceeded the time estimates I was given. If something was set to take seven days, it only took three or four.

Are there any areas Nine Hertz could improve?

No. I’m satisfied with everything.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Nine Hertz?

In the beginning, I only communicated with Nine Hertz’s team via email. After we started using Skype, things started going way faster. It was their advice from the beginning, but I was too busy. I would recommend that clients take Nine Hertz’ advice.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a founder of Pill Cloud, which is an app-based pharmacy delivery service. We’re just getting started, and have launched the service in one city.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

Our technical challenge was creating the patient-side software, as well as a backend and website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Since I don’t know how to write code, but have a general knowledge of software, I gave Nine Hertz indications around what our database should consist of, and what the flow of the app should be. Nine Hertz translated this into an app design, which later became an app navigation flow. They programmed the backend in order to make the whole thing connected. There are many elements at play, including pharmacy and patient accounts, as well as an admin panel through which we manage everything. Our app is available only on iOS. Nine Hertz assigned a team of around 10 people.

They’re also helping us submit the application on the App Store. The marketing side is our responsibility.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

I was Googling companies and found a website which listed many different developers that could help with my idea. I read through ratings, and made a post detailing my idea. I was messaged by a number of developers, including Nine Hertz. I started talking to them and established a relationship. We understood each other, so I chose them. It turned out to be a good decision.

How much have you invested with Nine Hertz?

The cost of Nine Hertz’s work has been around $240,000 over the span of two and a half years.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Nine Hertz in March 2015. The app will launch in one or two weeks. I plan to continue working with Nine Hertz for a version-two of the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of quality, every time Nine Hertz finished a milestone, I was the one who checked the work. I’m quite a perfectionist, so I made sure that everything achieved my expectations. I wrote feedback and sent it to Nine Hertz, who fixed the problem. There was a lot of interaction between our groups, and I found that Nine Hertz delivered good quality. They addressed all my issues.

I changed my mind often on design elements, but Nine Hertz was willing to put up with these changes, and incorporated my ideas into the software.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly communicated during the US nighttime. Nine Hertz was flexible around timing, and sent me updates at the end of the week. I had the chance to test the work on weekends, and gave Nine Hertz feedback by the following Monday. They addressed the issues quickly, generally within two or three days. In terms of project management, I found Nine Hertz to be efficient, with the ability to address the big picture. For example, they started out by developing a navigation flow, after which they looked at account functionalities, and ultimately tackled the core pharmacy-software code.

What did you find most impressive about Nine Hertz?

They have been fair, and provided good quality. The lack of a language barrier has helped the work. I could communicate with Nine Hertz in English, and have what I was trying to say understood, and vice versa.

Are there any areas Nine Hertz could improve?

There is a cultural difference between the US and India, so I’ve had to spend some time explaining how our healthcare system works, as well as the legal aspects associated with it. For example, I’ve had to explain the concept of a refill, the contents of a prescription, and so on. In terms of general weaknesses of Nine Hertz’s team, I don’t have anything.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a co-founder of a company building an entertainment/social marketplace aimed at the cannabis industry. We’re developing a couple of apps, each targeting a niche market and using its own revenue system.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Nine Hertz?

We had a whiteboard design for the platform’s look and features but needed to build Android and iOS versions of the app, and find a partner for maintenance.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided Nine Hertz with certain icons and drove the general design of the app, while their job was to develop it for both platforms. They will probably maintain it in the future. Nine Hertz also provides some design work on top of the normal scope. They are creating the main icons and splash screens, but if we come up with a new concept or requirement, we will design it ourselves.

Our backend displays a news feed for the web version of our platform, as well as the iOS and Android apps, which act as a subset of our website.

How did you come to work with Nine Hertz?

The app we envisioned initially had elements of Instagram and Tinder. We searched online for companies that had built similar apps and came up with three or four options. Our timeline was urgent, and Nine Hertz was the first group to give us a proper response and provide feasible deadlines. In fact, we purposely provided an impossible timeline in order to determine the level of commitment from the developer’s side. Nine Hertz told us they’d worked on similar apps in the past, and that they’d be able to do it. They had a good portfolio that included some well-known apps, so we were able to filter them easily.

How much have you invested with Nine Hertz?

The cost of our application has been around $145,000. We have been paying Nine Hertz in installments based on the angel investments we’ve received, and estimate we’ll spend another $20,000–$30,000 on development.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Nine Hertz two and a half or three months ago for the current project. We had had a previous experience with them, building another app. We have been working with them for the past year and a half. The 1.0 version of our current app is out, but we still have pending work for the next two or three months for building a

We’ve been working with Nine Hertz for the past year-and-a-half, and started working with them two-and-a-half or three months ago on the current project. We had previous experience with them when they built a separate app. The 1.0 version of our current app is out, but we still have pending work for the next two or three months for building additional features based upon market response.

dditional features based on market response.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have been completely satisfied with Nine Hertz’ work. We have gauged the quality of work by the number of crashes for each app and we haven’t seen any crashes at all. Nine Hertz has taken care of almost everything in the submission process for the app stores, completely provisioning our apps. They’ve also taken care of the backend elements of our system, which is completely functional. Initially, we led them in terms of design, but once we did that, they put our concepts into action.

Our previous app, Dobbi, had almost 2,500 downloads on Google Play, and around 700 on the Apple Store. The current app has only been live for one week, but we already have 100 downloads on the Android store and we plan to release the iOS version soon. These are our current metrics, and beyond the marketing, the app spoke for itself on the stores.

How did Nine Hertz perform from a project management standpoint?

We are able to talk to the developers directly whenever we need to. It’s an easy process, and we’ve never felt that Nine Hertz was hiding its employees. A dedicated person interfaces with us and translates our requirements back to the team, but there have been instances when an interaction with the designer or app developer is required. In those cases, I’ve been put in touch with them, and we’ve discussed our issues directly in just a few minutes.

What did you find most impressive about Nine Hertz?

Nine Hertz provided us videos and other updates for the work on a daily basis. Whenever we had a quick turnaround, they were able to do it, as well as communicate what was being done and what the app looked like from the developers’ perspective. This made us feel more confident in our investment.

Are there any areas Nine Hertz could improve?

The requirements are always driven by the entrepreneur or the company that contracts for the development, but Nine Hertz could own more of the design component. For icons and other new requirements, they could employ designers creative enough to produce a couple of different versions and show those to the client.