Rootstrap

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m VP of engineering at MasterClass.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

We needed assistance with web development. At the time, we had a team of around 18 people and we needed to scale up the team because we had new initiatives.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We reached out to Rootstrap and started with a couple of engineers to get the ball rolling. We’ve slowly ramped up their involvement to around 18 people working with us. They took care of an SEO initiative that we had. They also worked on the website. Their team helps with the backend work for our mobile application.

What is the team composition?

Out of a team of 18, one is a scrum master, one is a QA engineer, and the rest are regular engineers.

How did you come to work with Roostrap?

We were referred to Rootstrap from a friend of a friend.

What is the status of this engagement?

The work began in June 2018 and is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Overall, the quality is fantastic. The engineering team is very dedicated. They’ve essentially become part of our coding and development team. For example, their team has optimized our monthly subscription models. They’ve provided significant impacts on our promotional work.

From an SEO perspective, the execution speed is brilliant and the code quality is solid. That helped us build up our SEO initiative from the ground up, making it a major organic channel for us.

How did Roostrap perform from a project management standpoint?

Our main point of contact was Carolina (Engineer, Rootstrap). We don’t have a dedicated project manager, but we have one scrum master. Otherwise team members directly work with our project managers and team leads. We have standup meetings every morning and grander planning meetings every week. They fully participate in these meetings. We usually use Zoom for these meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their professionalism is unmatched. The ways they groom their engineers and the quality of engineering are really good. Although the engineers are new, they are very good.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

One thing we do is not treat them as an outsourced team. We think of them as one big team. They’re part of all our code initiatives. Typically, we give actual product work to the team, which they appreciate. They're involved; they have the same level of care and ownership of the product as our team. Don’t make them take on second-class work. If you treat them as your core team, you can utilize them to the fullest and tackle challenging problems.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of a software startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

We initially worked with Rootstrap when our business was first starting. Our team didn’t have a technical co-founder, so we hired Rootstrap to figure out the technical requirements of our platform.

Once we had a technical co-founder, Rootstrap helped with the development of our initial backlog for the platform by creating wireframes and designs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

During three-week sprints, we went through customer discovery, creating wireframes based on our feedback and what we envisioned for the web-based platform. Even though their team worked remotely, we collaborated to build the backlog and iterate UX designs. For the UX phase, they used InVision.

What is the team composition?

We had a core group of five people, including Ben (Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, Rootstrap) and Anthony (CTO, Rootstrap). We also worked with Rosina (UX/UI Designer & Frontend Developer, Rootstrap) and their head of engineering.

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

I connected with one of their team members on LinkedIn. After viewing some of their work, we started a brief conversation. Rootstrap stood out from the crowd of development and design agencies.

From there, our conversation progressed enough for us to choose them as a partner. We hoped to set a solid foundation for building and growing our platform and business.

How much have you invested with them?

During the design sprint, we spent less than $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Rootstrap from September 2017 to November 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We do all of our development and design in-house now, but we’ve kept a close relationship with the skilled team at Rootstrap. Our initial MVP, based on their design, received great feedback from our users. They set us up for success from a usability perspective, making sure the platform was intuitive.

Their work also iterated our early development practices and technologies, allowing us to create a sustainable development team and workflow. We took their best practices and implemented them within our organization.

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team was wonderful. They were easy to work with, responsive, and accommodating throughout the process. We primarily communicated through phone and video calls. We also had a private Slack channel where we could ask or answer questions. All of our messages were responded to in 30 minutes. If they needed further clarification, we would hop on a quick call.

For the initial backlog, we used Trello, and they used their in-house tools to perform an audit of our existing codebase. Their team also recommended different technologies to leverage in our development process, which was helpful advice for a team that’s just starting.

Rootstrap focused on our company’s success. They dedicated their entire team to the project; no one was pulled in different directions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team at Rootstrap offers services that cater to startups and robust companies with massive teams. They also work quickly and take strong consideration in each of their projects. Rootstrap invests their time in resources that ensure company success.

A lot of other development agencies want a quick check, but Rootstrap is considerate of their client’s budget and timeline. They also make sure any work will prepare their clients in the long run.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really. Their work and team stood out significantly from other providers. They’re a top tier development firm.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Go in with an open mind. Their approach isn’t to make money. They’re a smart team that makes sure everything they’re doing fits for their clients. They appreciate honest feedback because it will benefit the project.

Listen to the different options because they strive to provide customized solutions within the breadth of services they offer. Across their entire team, they cover all of the required technical acumens.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a national balloon delivery company. It’s currently in a beta version.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

We hired Rootstrap to support us through each stage of our process, from product conception to user testing, into conversion funnels and launch.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their team helped me test the idea by setting up landing pages, and running paid and organic media through landing pages. Our goal was to acquire email addresses and leads. Once our key performance indicators (KPIs) were solid, we built out the e-commerce site and product collection. They made offerings customizable for different aspects of the website.

Then they developed a brand style guide including mockups of what the next iteration of the site should like. Now we have a full workflow into all of the custom development we’ll do in phase two.

What is the team composition?

I’ve worked with Ben (Co-Founder, Rootstrap) and Ben (Tech Lead, Rootstrap).

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

I’ve worked with them on projects for other businesses. They’re leaders in product and web development. This is the first project we’ve done for my business, but I knew we needed to work with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in June 2019, and I’m always checking in with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In a very limited rollout, we’ve made over $50,000 in sales. We’ve basically launched a business overnight.

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

They are extremely organized. We communicate by sharing screens on a weekly cadence. When we're in a development cycle or a sprint, we communicate by email, text, phone. Really, everything is perfect.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They invested in developing a positive working relationship with me by walking me through the process of really testing the idea, coaching me, and building my confidence in their skill. When vendors approach a business relationship from that angle, they establish a partnership based on trust and respect, not dollars.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything; everything has gone smoothly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They give you homework, so you should put in the effort for that initial work they give you. It will put you in the right place to successfully manage each other’s time efficiently.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and CEO of GiveTide, an app designed to make charitable giving a seamless and easy part of your everyday life by making it about your inspiration instead of your financial capability

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

We were looking for someone to develop a prototype of our app before we had funding.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Rootstrap developed our mobile app. About halfway through building the prototype, we received funding and continued working with them to build the full version of the app. Their team integrated several different API into the iOS app. They also added features that we didn’t have the technical skills to produce ourselves.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked with quite a few different people but our project manager is our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

We did a Google search for development shops and came up with a list of about 20 based on reviews and our first impressions. After narrowing it down to the top four via phone interviews, the CEO of Rootstrap went above and beyond to show us the longterm value of the app. We decided to work with Rootstrap and I’m really glad we did.

How much have you invested with them?

We have invested more than $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement with Rootstrap began in January 2017. The app itself launched in October 2017, although we continue to work with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Rootstrap’s work is flawless. They’ve never failed to deliver. As an early-stage startup, we move fast and make decisions just as fast. Despite that, they’ve always delivered value. Anytime their work doesn’t reach the standard we’re used to from them, they go above and beyond to make sure they remedy that.

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

Our teams usually communicate through Slack and either Zoom or Google Hangouts. Their team is very organized. We’ve never had an issue and they’re incredibly flexible whenever we need to move a meeting or push something back.

What did you find most impressive about them?

With zero exceptions, every member of the Rootstrap team brings something new to the table. They go beyond being just professionally capable. I genuinely consider some of them to be friends. Rootstrap has a really strong culture.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything has been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you’re not going in there expecting your words to be law. As developers, they can open up a whole new avenue of value.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the principal of a consulting group, we provide copywriting and other services for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

I hired Rootstrap to redesign my website since I don’t have any UI design experience as a copywriter.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Rootstrap redesigned my existing website. They polished and fine-tuned the features on the platform based on the wireframes and sketches I provided them with. Their team also helped me overcome development hurdles I didn’t have the resources to handle. 

What is the team composition?

I mostly worked with five people, including a project manager. I was in contact with Ben (Founder & CRO, Rootstrap), too. 

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

Ben and I got acquainted through a Facebook group and I noticed he was pretty prolific on LinkedIn. After doing some research, I thought they’d be a good fit because of their tech background and location in California. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from October–November 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

After they finished working on the website, the quality had significantly improved. It came out much better than if I had done it myself since I don’t have that same web design background. Their team is full of top-tier designers and it showed through their professional, polished work. 

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

They did well at managing the work—I was never in the dark about any updates or timelines. Their transparency about the deliverables was great, so I always knew when different stages would be finished. When I worked with other agencies, they weren’t as responsive as Rootstrap was. We communicated over Slack and they kept me updated every couple of days. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re clearly established in the web design industry—they’ve worked with big clients and it shows in their work. They get the job done right and on time. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything at the moment. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Check out their portfolio and figure out if they match your needs. Do your due diligence and see if they’ve completed a project similar to the one you’re working on. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the Chief Operating Officers for a business services provider.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

We needed to build technology on a tighter timeframe than we had the resources to do ourselves.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped us expand our proprietary software in a variety of ways, including mobile. They’ve also been helpful while we architect the direction in which our technology would go. They also integrated different processes and technologies that improved our platform and overall processes.

What is the team composition?

We have several points of contact on the dev ops, engineering, and QA automation teams. We’ve had anywhere between 2–5 people on our team depending on our business needs. We’ve also had a lot of interaction with Ben (Co-founder, Rootstrap) and Anthony (Co-founder, Rootstrap).

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

I got referred to Rootstrap by a former colleague that I really trust. I vetted several firms from different parts of the world and ended up choosing Bootstrap, not just because of his recommendation, but also because of my interactions with the team or even from the first round of interviews.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began talking in April 2018 and started working together a few months later. Since then, our partnership has been ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s enabled us to have more features, and get to market in a quicker fashion than we would have by ourselves. They’ve really become our tech management team as we’ve filled those roles. It has really helped us grow our technology team as well.

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re very responsive. We have daily stand-ups, or something along those lines, for each project they’re working on. Our primary point of contact on their side is really active and pulls resources together for whatever we need.

I really appreciate that, when there have been miscommunications, they’ve been really open. If something didn’t work well, they figured out how they could do it differently and made a few shifts.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve been very collaborative. They’re like an extension of our team, which is how we work best. I appreciate that they’ve adapted our culture and have really become a part of it.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’ve has a variety of folks with different skill levels on our account. Most have been wonderful, but there have been a few that weren’t a good fit.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’ve been successful in both ongoing partnerships and standalone projects. I think it’s really important to have clearly set deliverables and to establish guidelines on how your company runs to let them understand how you operate and fit in.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder and CEO of Generous, and we are a personalized health and wellness platform powered by your DNA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

I had a prototype and an idea, but I needed to develop a technology solution to help me deliver the concept.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The app essentially takes data from 23and Me and Ancestry.com and turns that into personalized food, activity, and supplement recommendations to help users meet their lifestyle goals. We are able to run a genetic analysis and within 24 hours deliver individual workouts, meal plans, and purchase options to our users.

We started with a planning phase in which we outlined what the scope of the project would be and what different features we needed to launch the MVP. Once we were aligned there, we kicked off the project and built the app over almost a year of full-scale development scrums.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a team of about 5 people, including the founder, a scrum master, a designer, and backend and frontend engineers.

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

I was introduced to Ben (Founder, Rootstrap) through a friend of mine who is a lawyer, and I felt that he understood and believed in the vision and would be able to do what was needed to execute the project.

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $300,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from around June 2018–November 2019, although we are continuing to track and tweak the product.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our first campaign is running right now. We are tracking all of the engagement analytics but haven’t analyzed that yet, so I don’t have any data-driven feedback so far.

In general, people report learning much more about their DNA as it pertains to their health and wellness than they can on other platforms. Our focus is on helping people turn that knowledge into action, and we’re proving successful in that mission so far.

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

They are always very responsive. I communicate with them via phone and Google Hangouts, as well as Slack on a more day-to-day basis.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their team is uniquely willing to go above and beyond to mentor a first-time founder. Ben’s support is unwavering, and they are all committed to finding new ways to make the project as successful as possible.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I think there is an opportunity for their middle to upper management to get closer to the project to understand and provide feedback a little more actively, but that is the only suggestion I have.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice would be to narrow down your MVP to the most basic case so that you can hit the ground running as quickly as possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Trailways.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

We hired them to address UI/UX issues we faced in developing new pages for attracting traffic and SEO on a nationwide level.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When I came into this project, I had a smaller team and worked with many third parties. I was looking to expand my team, even though I was comfortable with both my internal and external teams. They fit into a part of a large revamp of our entire digital experience, managing much of the UI/UX work. In addition to the upgrades, they also created new designs for us, which can be difficult for a new vendor. They used Adobe Illustrator, Adobe XD, and Sketch to deliver the project, which I requested. 

However, they jumped right in and actually came up with new features to make our products more competitive in the market. For instance, they helped us think through how customers search for ticket purchases between cities. Their services and features connected cities fluidly. 

What is the team composition?

I worked with two offshore developers and two state-side developers. For the developers in the United States, one person was more focused on UI and the other concentrated on coding. 

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

I was recommended to Rootstrap. After three months, I began negotiating with them about price and types of services, whether that be design, coding, or ideation. While I was initially a bit hesitant about handing them their first few design tasks, they quickly proved their skill to me.   

How much have you invested with them?

We spent five figures on their services. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The project ran from July–August 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Handling a large portion of our digital upgrade, they completed everything on time and on budget. The pages they worked on have yielded a good ROI. Traffic is high, and the design quality is excellent. Of all of my vendors, they produced the best work on this most recent project. I fully intend to continue doing business with them. 

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

They presented progress to us on a weekly basis, using the software that I requested. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

While I typically wouldn’t leave a review for a partner, I didn’t hesitate to do so for Rootstrap. They handled this project expertly. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything at the moment. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear with your budget, timeline, and design guidelines. They’ll perform great.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder & CEO of a marketing agency.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

I hired Rootstrap to assist with product development, defining a roadmap and product for mobile apps.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The team at Rootstrap assisted with the design and development of iOS and Android mobile applications for our clients. One was a content app, and the other was an e-commerce app. Their team took stakeholders through the process of defining the applications, going into the cost, build, project length, and user experience. We also had a client that wanted a website and mobile app developed for their task and memory concept.

What is the team composition?

Ben (Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, Rootstrap) and David (CEO, Rootstrap) were our main points of contact.

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

Some friends in the LA tech space recommended Rootstrap to me. I decided to work with them because they have the mindset of entrepreneurs, putting themselves in the place of founders and stakeholders for the companies they work with.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $150,000–$180,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with Rootstrap from June 2018 to January 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback has been excellent. All of the clients appreciate their work. The products work well, and our clients have been able to go on and receive funding.

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

I was impressed with their responsiveness. We have regular calls and meetings. Slack and email are our primary communication channels.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The reason I keep working with Rootstrap is their team's transparency. They will let me or the clients know if something isn’t worth pursuing or if it wastes resources.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that stuck out that I had a major issue with. Sometimes, clients said that they wished that their price was a bit more reasonable, but the value they provide is worth it. There are cheaper developers, but that could mean having to redo the projects later on.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Do as much preparation and thinking before an engagement starts with anyone you work with. Be as organized as you can.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of a sports startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Rootstrap?

We hired Rootstrap to develop a progressive web app to make signing up more efficient for our users. We also wanted their support in getting out of bootstrapping-mode and use the money we’ve fundraised to bring our business into reality.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started off with a discovery phase. They took a week or two to define what we’re looking for and determining what type of app would be the best option. Once we decided to do a web app with Rootstrap, they built the customized frontend so users can sign up for classes. They’re also building out the infrastructure of the backend so we can keep track of our referees, session experience managers, and others. 

What is the team composition?

We began the discovery phase with Ben (Founder & CRO, Rootstrap) and now Luciano (Product Owner, Rootstrap) is our lead. 

How did you come to work with Rootstrap?

We decided to use their team after following a recommendation from a friend. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $65,000, so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement started in October 2019. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, the development is going well. They’re on track with our initial timeline to successfully launch the web app. 

How did Rootstrap perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team is very responsive. We mostly communicate using Slack, and we use it all day to address anything that needs attention. Since this is the first time we’ve developed an app, there have been a few miscommunications but nothing out of the ordinary. It’s like building a house, you can scope all you want, but until you actually start, you won’t know what’s going to happen. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team leads have been very communicative. Any problem we have, they adapt immediately to help us. For example, we might need to cut down some areas of the scope, and Luciano is helping us make decisions on what we need now versus later. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’d be helpful if they could do a week by week schedule so we have an idea of where we’re at in the process. It’s been a little challenging to know what comes next in the process beyond the timeline schedule we have. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Ask for a schedule upfront.