Realms

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO/Founder of Skill Vault Hockey - Player Vault

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Skill Vault Hockey provides elite on-ice skills training and an AI-powered video mentorship platform (Player Vault) that clips shifts, tracks stats, and builds highlights.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Realms to accomplish?

• Build and launch the Player Vault MVP (uploads, video viewer, highlights/reels, mentorship tools).
• Set up production infrastructure under our ownership — Vercel (hosting), Supabase (auth/DB), AWS S3 (video), Stripe (subscriptions/webhooks).
• Implement the core AI pipeline for automated shift clipping and basic stat tagging, ready for app integration

SOLUTION

How did you find Realms?

Online Search

Why did you select Realms over others?

Company values aligned

How many teammates from Realms were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Scope: Realms was engaged to design, build, and deploy the Player Vault MVP—an AI-assisted hockey video platform—with production infrastructure under our ownership and a clear path to add automated analysis. 
• Key deliverables (by area)
  • Infrastructure & Ownership: Stand up production accounts and projects in Vercel (hosting), Supabase (auth/database), AWS S3 (video storage), and Stripe (billing) under Skill Vault’s control. CI/CD deployment to Vercel, environment variables, secrets management, and basic monitoring.
  • Payments & Entitlements: Stripe checkout, customer portal, products/prices, webhooks, and entitlement logic for tiers (Player Vault Basic/Pro, Mentorship add-on). Data & Auth Supabase schema/migrations (players, teams, games, clips, stats, entitlements), RLS/role-based access (player/coach/mentor), and API keys wiring.
  • Video Pipeline (MVP): Presigned uploads to AWS S3, confirm flow, object tagging, lifecycle rules (auto-delete buffer). Private playback URLs, clip creation endpoints, and sharing links. 
  • Frontend (Next.js on Vercel): Onboarding with plan picker, pricing/subscription pages. Upload flow + usage tracker. Video viewer with basic stats, shift/clip timeline, and highlight reel UI + export/share. Player dashboard (profile, public/private toggle, highlights, recent games).
  • Mentorship Add-On: Coach review access, player feedback UI, notes/comments, and mentorship dashboard.
  • AI Foundations (tooling) 
  • Local/test utilities for analysis: analyze-local.ts, inspect-analysis.ts, export-clips.ts, make-reel-from-analysis.ts to support automated shift clipping and early stat tagging.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Measurable outcomes

• Ownership & infra complete: Set up production accounts you own for Vercel, AWS S3, Stripe, and Supabase (4/4), with CI/CD to Vercel and environment variables documented.
• Payments live (test mode): Stripe checkout + portal + webhooks wired; test purchases, plan changes, and cancellations succeed end-to-end.
• Video pipeline working: Presigned uploads → S3 → private playback verified; bucket encryption, HTTPS-only, and lifecycle rules configured; handles full-game files via multipart uploads without timeouts
• App “golden path” validated: New user sign-up → pay → onboarding → upload → view → create highlight reel → share link completed successfully in staging.
• Mentorship add-on functional: Coach review access, notes/feedback UI, and player journal flow operating as designed.
• AI foundations delivered: 4 analysis utilities shipped (analyze-local, inspect-analysis, export-clips, make-reel-from-analysis) and run against 5 sample games to generate clips/reels for verification
• Player features shipped: Profiles (public/private toggle), video viewer with clips/stats placeholders, highlight reel builder with export/share, usage tracker.
• Handoff readiness: Env/key lists, webhook endpoints, and migration steps prepared; team can push next iteration immediately once final keys/webhooks are set.

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

great to work with.

What was your primary form of communication with Realms?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their end-to-end ownership has been outstanding—they handled hosting, database, payments, and video pipeline (Vercel/Supabase/Stripe/AWS) and shipped working AI analysis tools early, not slideware. They iterate fast with clear weekly demos, clean code/docs, and product-minded suggestions that simplified flows for players and coaches. They also prioritized security and ownership (least-privilege S3, HTTPS-only, encryption) and made handoff to my accounts painless.

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

all great

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the OWNER - CEO of OTRA FORMA ARQUITECTURA

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Architecture firm specializing in the development, design, and construction of multi-scale projects."

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Realms to accomplish?

• Restructure the budgeting system and internal cost control.

SOLUTION

How did you find Realms?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Realms over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Realms were assigned to this project?

5

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

Our internal budgeting process was entirely manual, relying on a complex web of spreadsheets passed between department heads and the finance team. This process was incredibly time-consuming, often taking months to complete, and was highly susceptible to human error, such as formula mistakes or data entry typos. We lacked real-time visibility into budget status and found it nearly impossible to perform scenario planning or generate predictive forecasts efficiently. This inefficiency was a significant bottleneck that hindered our ability to make agile financial decisions.

The vendor was responsible for the end-to-end development and implementation of a custom AI-powered platform to automate our entire budgeting workflow.

This included:

Discovery & Strategy: In-depth workshops to understand our existing processes, pain points, and desired outcomes.
System Integration: Integrating the new platform with our existing ERP and financial software to ensure seamless data flow.
AI Model Development: Building and training machine learning models to analyze historical financial data, identify trends, and generate accurate baseline budget projections.
Platform Development: Creating a secure, web-based interface for department heads to input, adjust, and review their budgets collaboratively and in real-time.
Training & Support: Providing comprehensive training for our finance team and department heads, along with ongoing technical support.

The primary deliverable was the fully functional AI budgeting platform. This included the user-facing application, the underlying AI models, and complete integration with our existing systems.

How did you measure the success of the project?

Success was measured against several key metrics:

Reduction in budget cycle time: We aimed to cut down the time spent on budget preparation and consolidation.
Improvement in forecast accuracy: We tracked the variance between our AI-generated forecasts and actual performance.
Reduction in manual errors: We monitored the number of revisions and corrections required compared to our old process.
User adoption and satisfaction: We surveyed our internal users for their feedback on the new system's usability and effectiveness.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results have been transformative. We have successfully:

Reduced our budget preparation and approval cycle by over 60%.
Improved the accuracy of our financial forecasts, leading to better resource allocation and strategic decisions.
Virtually eliminated manual data entry errors, saving countless hours of rework and increasing our confidence in the numbers.
Empowered our department heads with a tool that gives them more ownership and real-time insight into their financial planning.

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

Project management was excellent. The team was highly organized, professional, and communicative. They used an agile methodology with bi-weekly sprint reviews, which kept us informed and allowed us to provide feedback at every stage. We used Slack for daily communication and Jira for tracking progress and milestones, which worked seamlessly. 

What was your primary form of communication with Realms?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What impressed us the most was their ability to translate a complex business need into a simple, elegant, and powerful technical solution. They didn't just build a tool; they provided a comprehensive solution that addressed the root causes of our challenges. Their team's deep expertise in both artificial intelligence and financial processes was evident from day one and was critical to the project's success. Be open and detailed about your internal challenges during the discovery phase, as this will allow them to tailor the best possible solution for you. They are true experts and a reliable partner for any company looking to leverage AI for process automation.

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

Honestly, there is very little to suggest for improvement. The project was handled exceptionally well from start to finish. Perhaps they could offer more extensive pre-recorded training materials for future new hires, but their live training sessions and support have been more than sufficient.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Auria Jewellery

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Jewellery and affiliates

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Realms to accomplish?

• Create a website with affiliate tracking

SOLUTION

How did you find Realms?

Upwork

Why did you select Realms over others?

• High ratings
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Realms were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Realms created a website from start to finish and also assisted with affiliate marketing pages and tracking.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Work was great and on time! Can't fault it and communication with the CEO Guido was great.

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

Everything was perfect and on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Realms?

Email or Messaging App

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

The communication with the CEO and willingness to get things done were impressive!

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

All good.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of PS Business Evolution

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Consulting & Training Services, focused on strategy and management issues

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Realms to accomplish?

• Process agility
• Process eficiency

SOLUTION

How did you find Realms?

Referral

Why did you select Realms over others?

proposal innovation

How many teammates from Valere were assigned to this project?

1 Employee

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

Process survey - identification of key nodes - AI application design and development - onboarding

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

delivery time for the order to delivery process

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

Deliverables were deliverded on time

The vendor met the needs appropriately.

What was your primary form of communication with Realms?

Virtual Meeting

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

the innovative capacity to understand the need and transform it into a solution

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

Process modeling + solution design

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder & CEO of Oasis For All

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

AI Products and Services for Entrepreneurs/Early Stage Companies

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Realms to accomplish?

• Build initial product strategy

SOLUTION

How did you find Realms?

Upwork

Why did you select Realms over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit

How many teammates from Realms were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Deliverables were an initial business plan + product design/strategy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Fulsome product outline, fulsome business strategy

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

Yes for the most part everything was on time. Needs were met

What was your primary form of communication with Realms?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Guido's brainstorming / strategic sessions were very valuable

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

Nothing really

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Delivery Manager of Protonshub Technologies

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a CMMI Level 5 custom software development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Realms to accomplish?

• Develop a Flutter-based cross-platform app to ensure feature parity and cost efficiency.

SOLUTION

How did you find Realms?

Online Search

Why did you select Realms over others?

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

How many teammates from Realms were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Their deliverables included a polished Flutter app with 99.9% crash-free sessions, seamless Apple Watch/Google Fit sync, and an AI model that improved workout adherence by 40% in beta testing. They exceeded expectations by adding offline workout tracking and a lightweight MVP version for low-end devices, which expanded our target market.

Project Plan & Requirement Specification

Detailed documentation outlining the project scope, objectives, target audience, features, and timeline25.
Serves as the foundational roadmap for the entire development process. 
2. Wireframes & Storyboards

Visual blueprints of app screens, showing layout, navigation, and user flow.
Storyboards provide a sequential overview of user interactions and screen transitions.
3. Design Deliverables

High-fidelity UI/UX designs, including finalized graphics, color schemes, typography, and interactive elements.
Iterative design updates for stakeholder feedback and approval.
4. Prototypes

Interactive models simulating app functionality for demonstration and validation before full development.
5. Database & Backend Design

Architecture and schema for storing user data, content, and managing app logic25.
API documentation for integration between front-end and back-end systems.
6. Development Builds (Sprints)

Iterative versions of the app released at regular intervals for review and testing.
Includes both front-end and back-end components, with incremental feature additions4.
7. Testing & QA Reports

Documentation of test cases, bug reports, and quality assurance outcomes to ensure app reliability and performance14.
8. Production Release

Final, fully functional app ready for deployment to app stores.
Includes user acceptance testing and device compatibility checks2.
9. Code & Intellectual Property Transfer

Handover of source code, technical documentation, and necessary licenses or IP rights

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The mobile development project for the FitLife app achieved several quantifiable outcomes that clearly demonstrate its progress and success:

Accelerated Time to Market: The app was delivered and launched on both iOS and Android platforms within 10 weeks, ahead of the original schedule.
High User Engagement: Beta testing showed a 30% higher user retention rate compared to industry averages, attributed to the app’s social leaderboard and challenge features.
Seamless Device Integration: The app successfully integrated with over five major wearable devices, achieving real-time data synchronization with latency under one second.
AI-Driven Personalization: The AI workout recommendation engine improved user workout adherence by 40% during the pilot phase.
Reliability and Performance: The app maintained a 99.9% crash-free session rate across all supported devices.
Scalability: The Firebase backend supported over 50,000 concurrent users without any performance degradation.
User Satisfaction: Post-launch surveys indicated 92% user satisfaction with the app’s usability and feature set.
Data Security Compliance: The app passed a third-party security audit, confirming full GDPR and CCPA compliance.
These outcomes reflect the project’s technical excellence, user-centric design, and readiness for large-scale adoption, making it a standout success for our team and our users.
Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The project management demonstrated by the development team was highly professional and organized. They utilized agile methodologies, providing clear timelines, regular sprint updates, and transparent communication throughout the project. All key deliverables—including wireframes, design prototypes, development builds, and the final release, were completed on or ahead of schedule.

The team was exceptionally responsive to our needs, quickly addressing feedback and adapting to evolving requirements. They proactively suggested improvements, kept us informed of progress, and ensured that any issues were resolved promptly. Their collaborative approach and commitment to meeting deadlines made the development process smooth and efficient, resulting in a high-quality product delivered faster than expected.

What was your primary form of communication with Realms?

Virtual Meeting

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

What stood out most about this company was their combination of technical innovation and proactive problem-solving. Their ability to seamlessly integrate advanced AI-driven features and real-time wearable device synchronization set them apart from other development teams we’ve worked with. Additionally, their dedication to user experience was evident in the thoughtful design choices and the extra effort they put into optimizing the app for both high-end and low-end devices.

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

While Realms delivered an outstanding product and demonstrated strong project management, there are a few areas where they could further enhance their services:

Security Enhancements: While the project met current security standards, proactively implementing advanced security measures, such as regular vulnerability assessments and enhanced API protection, would further strengthen user trust and data safety

Overall, these suggestions are meant to help Realms stay ahead of industry trends and continue delivering top-tier, innovative mobile solutions.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive at Winker Ventures LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Applications and software products development 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Realms to accomplish?

• Backend development

SOLUTION

How did you find Realms?

UpWork

Why did you select Realms over others?

• High ratings
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Realms were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Realms developed the backend infrastructure for Winker, a hyperlocal social app focused on spontaneous, real-world connections. They built secure user authentication with OTP and token-based sessions. A real-time location engine powers nearby user discovery and matching. They implemented WebSocket-based chat with fast, reliable message delivery. Backend APIs support reactions, notifications, and core social interactions. All features were designed for speed, scalability, and user privacy. Realms' work provides Winker with a stable and efficient backend foundation.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Successfully implemented key backend features like real-time chat, user authentication, and location-based matching. The system was stable during internal testing and supported core app functionality without major issues.

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

Delivered features on time, responded quickly to feedback and adapted well to changing requirements.

What was your primary form of communication with Realms?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their ability to understand our product vision and translate it into a functional, real-time backend was impressive.

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

Clearer documentation and more proactive progress updates would have improved the collaboration.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-Founder/Principal Software Engineer of Top Mach Studios

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Provide entertaining software products to users worldwide.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Realms to accomplish?

• Provide us with C++ designed gauges and avionics for an aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator

SOLUTION

How did you find Realms?

Online Search

Why did you select Realms over others?

• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Realms Realms were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Design a complete and working WASM/C++ Up-Front Controller (UFC) and Standby Flight Display (SFD) for a 5th generation military fighter jet prototype for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The delivered product needed to be working and bug free while including all of the necessary specifications provided via the Statement of Work.

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

Their team always delivered items well ahead of time. They go above and beyond what our requests are and even suggest additions or corrections that weren't defined in the original work request. They make it very easy to track their progress and provide ongoing regular communication throughout the entire project scope.

What was your primary form of communication with Realms?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their impressive programming knowledge and great communication hold them above any other similar company we have worked with in the past.

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

None