# Sidebench Sidebench Reviews (48), Pricing, Services & Verified Ratings - Premier Verified - 4.9 out of 5 average review rating - 1 connections joined Sidebench's Network [Visit Website](https://sidebench.com/collaborate-with-us/?utm_source=clutch.co&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=directory) [Get a Custom Proposal](https://clutch.co/profile/sidebench) **#1 Health Tech Product & Data builders & investors** Sidebench is the leading healthcare digital transformation firm in the US. Sidebench designs, builds, and scales digital products and data platforms for leading health companies and high-growth ventures. We bring together four strengths in a single team: technology & product strategy, UX-first product design, pragmatic systems and data architecture, and secure, HIPAA-compliant engineering. We design and build technology that drives measurable results, from streamlining healthcare systems to creating first-of-its-kind consumer experiences and scaling startup platforms from idea to $100M rounds. At Sidebench, we help the most innovative organizations and founding teams solve today’s challenges while building for what’s next. Recent Awards & Recognition: - **Fast Company**'s Innovation By Design Award - **Webby** Awards (2x), Fast Company's Best Apps (2x), Fast Company Best Workplaces for Innovators; **W3** Awards (5x Gold) - **Inc. 5000** America’s Fastest-Growing Companies (7x in a row) - **Forbes** 30 Under 30, **Entrepreneur Magazine**'s Most Entrepreneurial Companies, American Hospital Association’s Innovation Challenge Winner - **Clutch** Global Top 100 B2B Firms; #1 Custom Software Dev: #1 LA Mobile App Developers; Clutch Global Top Leaders Awards: Mobile App Development & Software Development (5 years in a row) Certifications - HIPAA compliance trained & certified (company-wide) - Certified Diverse Supplier - Minority-Owned Business (MNSDC) - International Association of Accessibility Professionals (CPACC) **Let’s Co-Invent the Future Together!** ## Company Information - Minimum project size: $50,000+ - Hourly rate: $50 - $99 - Number of employees: 50 - 249 - 1 Locations: - Los Angeles, CA (Headquarters) - Founded in 2012 - 1 languages: English - 3 timezones: Eastern Standard Time (EST), Mountain Standard Time (MST), Pacific Standard Time (PST) ## Services, Focus Areas, Industries, and Clients ### Service Lines - 20% AI Development - 20% CRM Consulting and SI - 20% Custom Software Development - 20% Mobile App Development - 10% Wearable App Development - 10% Web Design ### Focus Areas - CMS Focus: - 67% WordPress CMS - 33% Adobe Experience Manager CMS - Mobile Focus: - 55% Health & Wellness Mobile App Development - 15% Sales Enablement & CRM Mobile App Development - 10% Business Intelligence Mobile App Development - 10% Financial Mobile App Development - 5% Learning & Education Mobile App Development - 5% Productivity Mobile App Development - Mobile Platforms: - 50% Hybrid & cross platform apps - 25% Android App Development - 25% iPhone iOS App Development - CRM Solutions: - 40% Salesforce CRM Consulting & Implementation - 30% Microsoft Dynamics CRM - 15% HubSpot CRM Consulting & Implementation - 15% NetSuite CRM - Application Platforms: - 25% Amazon Application Development Framework - 20% Force - 20% Windows server - 15% Azure Platform - 10% Google app engine - 10% Heroku - CRM Functions: - 25% CRM Customer Support - 25% CRM Social Relationship Management - 25% Marketing automation - 25% Sales automation - AI Expertise: - 25% Chatbots & Conversational AI - 20% AI Recommendation Systems - 20% Machine Learning - 20% Natural Language Processing - 10% Voice and Speech Recognition - 5% Cognitive Computing - Frameworks and CMS: - 12% Angular - 12% Flutter - 12% NodeJS - 12% SDL - 12% VueJS - 10% React Native - 6% .NET - 6% Laravel - 6% Other frameworks and CMS - 6% React - 6% Ruby on Rails - Programming & Scripting: - 11% JavaScript - 11% Kotlin - 11% Other programming & scripting languages - 11% PHP - 11% Python - 11% Ruby - 11% SQL - 5% C++ - 5% Ember.js - 5% Java - 5% Swift - 3% HTML5 ### Industries - 20% Consumer products & services - 20% Financial services - 60% Medical ### Clients - 30% Small Business (<$10M) - 30% Midmarket ($10M - $1B) - 40% Enterprise (>$1B) ## Pricing Snapshot Average rating for cost based on this provider's reviews: 4.8 out of 5 **What Clients Have Said** *(This summary is based on verified Clutch reviews.)*: Sidebench offers competitive pricing, with project costs reported between $25,000 to $2 million, depending on project scope and client size. Clients appreciate the value for cost, highlighting effective communication and project management as key strengths. **Most Common Project Size**: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 42 reviews *(Pricing information for this provider is based on reviews where the project size was available.)* ### Pricing by Service - Mobile App Development: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 14 reviews - Custom Software Development: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 12 reviews - UX/UI Design: $10,000 to $49,000 based on 7 reviews - Web Design: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 7 reviews - Web Development: $200,000 to $999,999 based on 4 reviews - Digital Strategy: $10,000 to $49,000 based on 2 reviews - AI Consulting: $200,000 to $999,999 based on 1 review - Branding: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 1 review - E-Commerce Development: $10,000 to $49,000 based on 1 review - Logo: $50,000 to $199,999 based on 1 review - Product Design: $200,000 to $999,999 based on 1 review - Application Testing: $200,000 to $999,999 based on 1 review ## Reviews Clutch investigates each reviewer's identity and work history. Every review goes through a rigorous, human-led verification process to confirm the reviewer's identity, and reviews that we verify are visibly marked as 'Verified' so you can trust that they come from a real client. [Learn More](https://help.clutch.co/en/knowledge/how-clutch-verifies-reviews) ### Sidebench Review Insights Overall Review Rating: 4.9 - Quality: 4.9 - Schedule: 4.9 - Cost: 4.8 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 ### Top Mentions - Communicative (18 mentions) - Great project management (16 mentions) - Timely (16 mentions) - High-quality work (13 mentions) - Professional (9 mentions) - Collaborative (7 mentions) - Flexible (7 mentions) - Well-organized projects (7 mentions) - Creative (6 mentions) - Easy to work with (6 mentions) - Experienced (5 mentions) - Proactive (5 mentions) - Accommodating (3 mentions) - Exceeds expectations (3 mentions) - Innovative (3 mentions) - Open to feedback (3 mentions) - Openness (3 mentions) - Transparent (3 mentions) - Passionate about their work (2 mentions) - Personable (2 mentions) ### Review Highlights **Adaptability to Client Feedback** Sidebench is praised for their adaptability to client feedback during project development. They effectively incorporate client suggestions and changes, ensuring the final product aligns closely with client visions and requirements. **High Client Satisfaction and Trust** Clients express high levels of satisfaction and trust in Sidebench's services, often describing the team as professional, reliable, and easy to work with. This trust is a key factor in their ongoing collaborations and repeat engagements. **Effective User Experience Design** Sidebench is recognized for their effective UX/UI design capabilities, creating intuitive and visually appealing interfaces that enhance user engagement and satisfaction. Their design work is often highlighted as a standout aspect of their service. **Strong Project Management and Communication** Clients consistently commend Sidebench for their strong project management skills and effective communication. They manage projects with transparency, keeping stakeholders informed and engaged through regular updates and meetings, often exceeding expectations in this area. **Challenges with Project Delays** While generally positive, some clients mentioned experiencing project delays. These were often attributed to external factors or initial misalignments, suggesting an area for potential improvement in managing expectations and timelines. **Technical Proficiency Across Platforms** Sidebench's technical proficiency across various platforms, including mobile and web, is frequently praised. They have effectively developed apps and websites using modern technologies, ensuring high-quality and user-friendly products. **Pricing and Cost Concerns** A few clients noted concerns regarding pricing clarity and the overall cost of services. While acknowledging the high quality of work, some clients experienced sticker shock, indicating a need for clearer cost communication upfront. **Innovative and Creative Solutions** Multiple reviews highlight Sidebench's ability to provide innovative and creative solutions. They are commended for their capability to enhance client ideas with fresh perspectives and innovative strategies, often leading to products that exceed initial expectations. **Responsive and Client-Centric Approach** The team at Sidebench is noted for their responsiveness and client-centric approach. They are attentive to client needs, ensuring that projects align with client goals and expectations, and they are flexible in accommodating changes. **Expertise in Healthcare and Compliance** Sidebench has demonstrated significant expertise in healthcare and compliance-related projects. Clients in healthcare and telemedicine praised their ability to navigate complex regulations like HIPAA and create impactful solutions that align with industry standards. ### Sidebench Reviews #### MVP Development & Design for Teledermatology Company (Featured Review) **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, UX/UI Design - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Dec. 2024 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench has helped a teledermatology company to design and develop their product. The team has conducted a comprehensive discovery process and translated insights into a clearly defined MVP. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive, BrilliSkin - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Jan 17, 2026 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench's work has enabled the client to raise a pre-seed round and validated workflows. The team has adhered to the projected timeline and been clear about what tasks would be delivered and when. The client is also impressed by Sidebench's professionalism and exceptional product. ""I can't think of anything for Sidebench to improve."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there.I’m an executive at BrilliSkin, a teledermatology platform that connects users to board-certified dermatologists within 24 hours, providing accessible, expert skin care for all. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?We needed to establish a clear, validated product vision for our teledermatology platform, including target users, core use cases, and differentiation, so we could confidently move forward with development and fundraising. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement?Sidebench has partnered with us across product strategy, design, and engineering to fully design and develop our teledermatology platform. The team has conducted a comprehensive discovery process, stakeholder workshops, and user interviews with patients and providers, along with an evaluation of HIPAA-compliant platforms and vendors.Sidebench has translated insights into a clearly defined MVP scope, user personas, journey maps, and a prioritized roadmap. The team has designed and built the core product, including patient intake and photo capture, provider review workflows, admin functionality, and supporting backend services. Sidebench has also delivered technical architecture, integrations, and implementation planning.What is the team composition?We’ve worked with 10–15 teammates from Sidebench.How did you come to work with Sidebench?We found Sidebench on Clutch. We chose them over other options because they had high ratings, a great culture fit, good value for cost, and company values aligned with ours.What is the status of this engagement?We started working with Sidebench in December 2024, and our engagement is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?As an early-stage MVP, success has been measured by execution readiness rather than usage metrics. Discovery outputs and the completed product have enabled us to raise a pre-seed round. User and provider interviews have validated workflows and informed product decisions.How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint?Sidebench's project management has been great. The team has adhered to the projected timeline and been clear about what tasks would be delivered and when. We communicate via virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps.What did you find most impressive about them?I'm impressed by Sidebench's professionalism in project management. I'm also impressed by their design stage, in which we planned the entire project in terms of integrations, workflows, and UI. The product they've helped us create has been exceptional.Are there any areas they could improve?I can't think of anything for Sidebench to improve. --- #### MVP Development & Design for Teledermatology Company **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, UX/UI Design - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Dec. 2024 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench has helped a teledermatology company to design and develop their product. The team has conducted a comprehensive discovery process and translated insights into a clearly defined MVP. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive, BrilliSkin - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Jan 17, 2026 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench's work has enabled the client to raise a pre-seed round and validated workflows. The team has adhered to the projected timeline and been clear about what tasks would be delivered and when. The client is also impressed by Sidebench's professionalism and exceptional product. ""I can't think of anything for Sidebench to improve."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there.I’m an executive at BrilliSkin, a teledermatology platform that connects users to board-certified dermatologists within 24 hours, providing accessible, expert skin care for all. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench?We needed to establish a clear, validated product vision for our teledermatology platform, including target users, core use cases, and differentiation, so we could confidently move forward with development and fundraising. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement?Sidebench has partnered with us across product strategy, design, and engineering to fully design and develop our teledermatology platform. The team has conducted a comprehensive discovery process, stakeholder workshops, and user interviews with patients and providers, along with an evaluation of HIPAA-compliant platforms and vendors.Sidebench has translated insights into a clearly defined MVP scope, user personas, journey maps, and a prioritized roadmap. The team has designed and built the core product, including patient intake and photo capture, provider review workflows, admin functionality, and supporting backend services. Sidebench has also delivered technical architecture, integrations, and implementation planning.What is the team composition?We’ve worked with 10–15 teammates from Sidebench.How did you come to work with Sidebench?We found Sidebench on Clutch. We chose them over other options because they had high ratings, a great culture fit, good value for cost, and company values aligned with ours.What is the status of this engagement?We started working with Sidebench in December 2024, and our engagement is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?As an early-stage MVP, success has been measured by execution readiness rather than usage metrics. Discovery outputs and the completed product have enabled us to raise a pre-seed round. User and provider interviews have validated workflows and informed product decisions.How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint?Sidebench's project management has been great. The team has adhered to the projected timeline and been clear about what tasks would be delivered and when. We communicate via virtual meetings, emails, and messaging apps.What did you find most impressive about them?I'm impressed by Sidebench's professionalism in project management. I'm also impressed by their design stage, in which we planned the entire project in terms of integrations, workflows, and UI. The product they've helped us create has been exceptional.Are there any areas they could improve?I can't think of anything for Sidebench to improve. --- #### Application Dev & Mainteance for Data Collection Company **The Project** - Services: AI Consulting, Application Testing, Mobile App Development, Product Design - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Jan. 2023 - May 2024 **Project Summary**: Sidebench provides application development and maintenance services for a data collection company. The team has fixed bugs on the client's platform, updated its UI/UX design, and developed new functionalities. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive, Data Collection Company - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Aug 29, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench has fixed numerous bugs and improved the client's product. The team has shown impressive competence and takes over development work promptly, delivering high-quality work. Sidebench is responsive to the client's needs and addresses issues promptly through email and virtual meetings. ""I'm impressed by their professionalism and competence."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and position.I am the Vice President of a healthcare companyDescribe what your company does in a single sentence.We facilitate data collection for behavioral health research. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What specific goals or objectives did you hire Sidebench to accomplish?Bug fixes and improvements to the existing platformNew feature development **SOLUTION** How did you find Sidebench?Online SearchClutch SiteWhy did you select Sidebench over others?High ratingsPricing fit our budgetGreat culture fitDescribe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.Phase 1: Web and Mobile Platform Development (Sprints 1 - 5) Researcher Web Portal UI Updates Bug Fixes Additional features: Search List view Improved mobile responsiveness The investigation related to updating participant invites Mobile Wearable updates Google Play Store Listing Phase 2: Maintenance and Support Part 1 (Sprints 6-9) Service Level Agreement driven bug fixes Phase 3: Maintenance and Support Part 2 (Sprints 10-27)Service Level Agreement driven bug fixes **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?Numerous bug fixes and improvements to the product addressing the key items laid out in the scope of work.Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?Items were, by and large, delivered on time. There were some delays as problems in the original codebase (not developed by Sidebench) were uncovered, but that is to be expected. Sidebench was very responsive to our needs. If critical problems affecting the overall service arose, Sidebench addressed them promptly.What was your primary form of communication with Sidebench?Virtual MeetingEmail or Messaging AppWhat did you find most impressive or unique about this company?I'm impressed by their professionalism and competence. Their ability to quickly take over as the primary development team on this project and produce high-quality results was impressive.Are there any areas for improvement or something Sidebench could have done differently?We have had three different project managers on the project since Sidebench took over. This isn't entirely their fault, but it did feel like the continuity of the relationships we developed with the team at Sidebench was interrupted more frequently than would be desirable. --- #### Game Development for Startup Company **The Project** - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Oct. 2021 - Jan. 2023 **Project Summary**: Sidebench designed and developed a game compatible with iOS. The game is a bicycle tagging game where players play in person and connect through the game’s app, which registers the game results. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder & CEO, Bikewars - Industry: Gaming - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 3, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench developed a beta version of the game. However, the final product had a lot of development issues that required further investment from the client, who decided to stop the engagement. Sidebench met deadlines and stayed on budget. They communicated effectively through Zoom and email. "“Sidebench’s biggest strength is that they research thoroughly before working on a project.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the founder and CEO of a mobile game called Bikewars. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? I needed help to develop the game. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench helped us design and develop an iOS game. I initially gave Sidebench a 50-page document with ideas for the game and testing I had conducted. This game takes place in the real world, and players connect through an iOS application and hear announcements through headsets.  The game is like a tag game while riding a bicycle. You can play tag teams, and the game results are registered through the app, so players don’t have to look at the screen. Players get updates through the headset. Users can register and invite their friends to play; it’s a pretty straightforward functionality. Sidebench also designed our game’s logo and realized market research. They offered maintenance services as well. However, I had to stop the game’s development since I might need to seek outside funding in the future.  What is the team composition? I worked with a team of around five specialists from Sidebench, including developers, designers, and project managers.  How did you come to work with Sidebench? I started asking around locally for development companies. However, I didn’t get many leads. I ended up looking on the internet and emailed the top companies. We received a few responses and decided to go with Sidebench. How much have you invested with them? I invested around $600,000 with Sidebench.  What is the status of this engagement? We worked with Sidebench from October 2021–January 2023. I paused the project since I needed to look for an angel investor — the project was more expensive than I expected. Sidebench hand offed the project in case I decide to continue with someone else. On the other hand, we also sketched ideas for Sidebench to provide maintenance service in case I decide to continue with them. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  Sidebench designed and developed a beta version of the game. However, it has a few glitches. We also realized during testing that we need to resolve some security issues to ensure the security of the players. We also had some issues with the geolocalization of the game since it didn’t show the map correctly. We realized these changes would’ve cost a lot of money.  Moreover, I was expecting not to have these glitches for the project's budget. For instance, when a player is tagged, they’re supposed to see a screen that tells them not to move. However, all the players saw this screen, and it was confusing. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Sidebench met deadlines and stayed on budget. They were great communicators. We had weekly Zoom meetings and communicated through emails and text messages. Sidebench used Github, Trello, and Miro as in-house tools for project management. What did you find most impressive about them? Sidebench’s biggest strength is that they research thoroughly before working on a project. They work their best to give the client an accurate estimate of the project’s time and budget. Are there any areas they could improve? I realized the most important thing of this project was getting the tag system to work. I think Sidebench dedicated a lot of time to the design part. However, I had the impression Sidebench didn’t dedicate enough resources to the development phase of the project, which caused the final product to not work correctly.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? I recommend attending all the weekly meetings with Sidebench. I also recommend identifying any important milestones of your project and developing that piece first instead of diving in for the entire project. If that works flawlessly, then develop the entire project with Sidebench.  --- #### Mobile & Web App Design for Urban Development Corporation **The Project** - Services: UX/UI Design, Web Design - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: May - Sep. 2022 **Project Summary**: Sidebench helped an urban development corporation design a mobile and desktop app to refine its features and make it more robust. Ultimately, they delivered a design mock-up. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Solutions Architect & CPO, Indha Health Solutions - Industry: Government - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 9, 2023 **Feedback Summary**: Although the product didn’t end up being developed by the client, Sidebench did an outstanding job at improving its design, exceeding expectations. The team delivered on time and within budget, leveraging MS Teams to collaborate. Moreover, their communication skills were impressive. "“Sidebench took our product to the next level — they did an excellent job.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the solutions architect and CPO at Indha Health Solutions, an urban development corporation. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenges were you trying to address with Sidebench? We had an idea for a mobile and desktop platform, but we needed help with refining that idea to create a very robust product. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench helped us refine our product’s look and features before building it. Initially, we gave them some documentation detailing what we wanted to get done. Then, they took our requirements and provided us with a design mock-up for us to start the development process based on it. What was the team composition? We worked with 3–6 people from Sidebench in total. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We found them online and called them to have an initial conversation with our CEO at the time. Sidebench was part of our narrow list of options, but after a series of interviews, we realized that they were the company we wanted to engage with. They were always very upfront and honest about their capabilities, highlighting what they could and couldn’t do. Moreover, they had a great experience in our industry. How much have you invested in them? We spent around $100,000. What is the status of this engagement? We worked together from May–September 2022; it was a four-month partnership. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Sidebench took our product to the next level — they did an excellent job. However, the project didn’t end up being completed because the company’s management decided they didn’t want to move forward with that investment. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Sidebench delivered everything on the established deadlines, and we didn’t have any additional costs. We mostly communicated via Microsoft (MS) Teams meetings, and they used their own project management tools. What did you find most impressive about them? One of Sidebench’s biggest strengths was their communication. Are there any areas they could improve? There was nothing Sidebench could have improved on; they exceeded every expectation we had. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Be clear about your desires and expectations, and engage with them so that they can take your product to the next level. --- #### Continuous Product Development for Healthcare Solutions Co **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Mar. 2020 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench helps a healthcare solutions provider with continuous product development for their HIPAA compliance product. They take feedback from users and stakeholders to create and follow a development plan. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** VP of Product, Rectangle Health - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Sep 27, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: The client is satisfied with Sidebench’s development work, which has effectively reduced the backlog and met their expectations. The team is very organized, communicative, and transparent, and they deliver on time. Additionally, their skilled and knowledgeable resources are impressive. "“The quality of Sidebench’s communication and transparency is outstanding.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the VP of product at Rectangle Health, an almost 30 years old company in the healthcare payments business. Over the last few years, we’ve been evolving into a patient engagement platform still focused on healthcare providers. Recently, we acquired a company called PCIHIPAA, so we’re also expanding into the compliance realm to help healthcare practices comply with PCI, HIPAA, and OSHA. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We’re on a mission to expand the Rectangle Health offering by creating additional value-added services as we grow. When we acquired PCIHIPAA, they were already working with Sidebench on product development for their OfficeSafe product. Therefore, as VP of product, I’ve continued working with them for our OfficeSafe product development needs. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench is in charge of solving customer support issues and implementing new features related to OfficeSafe, based on customer and internal feedback. They’re basically in charge of continuous product development, and their scope includes managing the backlog and the product roadmap and prioritizing the requests from our business owners. Whenever Sidebench gets new requests and feedback, we go through a prioritization exercise, and they turn those requests into requirements and user stories. If we have client obligations or strategic initiatives established, we work closely together to ensure meeting the deadlines. One of the product development projects they’ve been helping us manage has been launching a new enterprise portal for our enterprise customers. We’ve been working on that project for a while, and we’re coming into the home stretch. Currently, we’re also working on creating a centralized login so that we can create a seamless flow between our products. What is the team composition? We work with a product manager, a senior systems architect, a designer, and a team of developers. The product manager has been in charge of centralizing the feedback from customers and internal team members at PCIHIPAA. How did you come to work with Sidebench? As mentioned above, they already worked with PCIHIPAA when we acquired them. However, I don’t know how they originally found them. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in March 2022, but Sidebench had been working with PCIHIPAA for two years prior to the acquisition. In June 2022, we renewed our contract, which became effective on July 1st, 2022, so we now have a six-month contract that covers their services until the end of the year. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  When we hired Sidebench, we had a particular focus on our strategic goals, so we’re now measuring their success against those goals by evaluating whether they can complete them or not. As general feedback, I can say that I didn’t get to choose them, but If I had to find a company for this project, I would choose them again. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? The product manager a Sidebench has done an excellent job managing the project, and the entire team has done a very good job at helping us stay organized and focused on moving through our priorities. Additionally, their communication is great. We have regular check-ins throughout the week to ensure we’re reducing the backlog and the client expectations are being fulfilled. Sidebench’s deliveries are always happening on time and as planned, and I’m very happy with the pace at which we’re moving through the backlog. Additionally, given that there is a lot of transparency between our groups, we’re able to set the right expectations. What did you find most impressive about them? The quality of Sidebench’s product manager has made all the difference. She has 10 years of experience working in similar industries, so she brings a lot of expertise to the table. Additionally, the quality of Sidebench’s communication and transparency is outstanding.  Are there any areas they could improve? No, there’s nothing I would change about them. I feel that we’re getting our money’s worth. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Go with them — you’ll get what you pay for. --- #### App Dev & Branding for Fashion Platform **The Project** - Services: Branding, Logo, Mobile App Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Jan. 2022 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench has designed and developed a navigable application prototype for a fashion e-commerce platform. They’ve also redesigned the client’s logo, researched, and created a brand book. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder & CEO, Fashion & Style Platform - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Aug 3, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench has effectively captured the client’s vision for the branding design of the app. The client’s team is pleased with the intuitive nature of the prototype, as are potential investors, which has helped the client gain funding. They’re communicative partners, and manage the project via Miro. "“The design team at Sidebench is also very impressive; they have truly blown us away.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I'm the founder and CEO of a virtual dressing room and wardrobe management e-commerce platform. We aim to make it easier for people to try on clothes virtually to make more educated purchasing decisions, which would positively affect sustainability and body positivity. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We wanted to develop a globally accessible phone application and web-based platform. We needed help designing and developing the software, so we engaged Sidebench. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We shared our preliminary design ideas with Sidebench through the Adobe Suite. They met with us to discuss the direction we wanted the brand to go in and redesigned our logo. They also collaborated with us to determine the feel of the brand and created a brand book from scratch.  Then they conducted market research for us and developed the overall design for the application using Figma. They also delivered a navigable application prototype and provided a final overview of design options and potential next steps. Currently, the app is iOS based, but we plan to add Android functionality as we scale.  What is the team composition? We work with a Sidebench product manager, the VP of product, senior designer, senior tech specialist, account manager, strategy associate, and business development associate.  How did you come to work with Sidebench? I found Sidebench and a few other service providers on Clutch. We gathered quotes and had several preliminary meetings with different development firms, and Sidebench was personable and invested in our idea. They had a great portfolio, and we felt comfortable engaging with them, so we moved forward.  How much have you invested with them? We’ve invested roughly $100,000 in the partnership with Sidebench. What is the status of this engagement? We began working with Sidebench in January 2022, and the partnership is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  Sidebench understood the assignment and has effectively captured our vision for the branding and app design. They’ve done a fantastic job setting the tone for the company. Our internal team has responded well to their work, and we’ve received positive feedback from potential investors. The biggest asset they’ve delivered is the navigable prototype, which has been impactful in helping us gain funding. The prototype is user-friendly and intuitive, and people feel comfortable using it; it’s almost addicting for them. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Sidebench has performed well from a project management perspective and has delivered assets under budget. They understood what we were looking for, and we’ve felt heard from day one. They are communicative, talented, creative partners and always open to receiving feedback. They have been phenomenal to work with. We use Miro and Google Workspace to manage the project and communicate ideas. We also use Slack, Google Meet, and Zoom to maintain contact.  What did you find most impressive about them? Their strengths are their communication, transparency, and positive vibes. The design team at Sidebench is also very impressive; they have truly blown us away.  Are there any areas they could improve? The only thing Sidebench could have improved on is introducing us to the project leader earlier in the process, but that’s a minor critique, and I know people have busy schedules.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? Be passionate about your project and be open to receiving constructive criticism from Sidebench. Sometimes, clients expect to hand off a development project and never look back. Sidebench is a collaborative partner who appreciates direction and feedback, so I advise communicating with them throughout the process. --- #### Interactive Mobile App Dev for Nonprofit Org **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 - Project length: July 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench has been hired by a nonprofit for assistance in completing their MVP development. They are also tasked with building an interactive mobile app for iOS and Android devices using React Native. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** VP Growth Hacker, Peer Health Exchange - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Jun 30, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: So far, users have been impressed by the app developed by Sidebench. The client has a steadily growing user base, and the vendor implements updates to the app on time — ensuring a better experience. Despite roadblocks because of COVID-19, the team still went above and beyond to minimize any delay. ""Sidebench has great attention to detail."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and your position there. Peer Health Exchange's (PHE) mission is to build healthier communities with young people. Together, we create education opportunities for peers to share the tools and resources young people need to make healthy decisions. I am the VP, Growth Hacker at PHE overseeing the Digital Products team. My team is responsible for overseeing the development of selfsea, a mobile app Sidebench has been developing for us focused on providing mental health support and resources to young people. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** For what projects/services did your company hire Sidebench, and what were your goals? Sidebench was hired to help us complete development of a MVP version of selfsea, a mobile app for iOS and Android that was to be launch in April 2022. **SOLUTION** How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors? Sidebench was among a list of vendors that we identified that were minority owned/led and had experience working with young people. We selected Sidebench after an exhausted RFP process where we felt they were most aligned mission-wise to what we were trying to accomplish with our app. Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used. Sidebench took on an already developed prototype from a previous development partner and began a discovery phase with PHE to see if this prototype was what we still wanted to develop. It was after this discovery phase we decided to redo the app with an explicit focus on the communities feature. Then we commenced on the development phase. The app is developed in React Native for both iOS and Android. The MVP version of the app includes SSO (Apple/Google), ability for users to interact with one another in pre-moderated communities (Sidebench also built a web portal to support moderation and admin of the app by PHE), and a built in browser to view resources and videos curated by PHE. How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions? We were staffed with a Director of Product, Product Manager, UX Designer, UI Designer and a Sr Technical Manager along with a senior account manager and a host of development engineers. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables? Young people who have used the app so far have been impressed by it. We have a steadily growing user base and Sidebench has been great in ensuring updates to the app are pushed out in a timely manner so users have the best experience possible. Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness. Sidebench has great attention to detail. Everything is documented and tracked in Asana, Zepplin, Slack and Jira. Overall, Sidebench was on time until COVID impacted the development team. It was only then did the project fall a month behind. Sidebench worked closely with PHE to mitigate delay as much as possible. What did you find most impressive or unique about this company? Once development was impacted by COVID, Sidebench took on the additional cost to ensure the delay would be minimal and even took on the cost of the development post MVP for a month or two to ensure the project stayed on track. Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently? Initial makeup of the development team left it vulnerable once members of the team began to be impacted by COVID. Sidebench has since remade the team with a better a mix of onshore and offshore and more senior folks onboard make the team less vulnerable to disruptions. --- #### Custom Software Development for Health Coaching Company **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 - Project length: Oct. 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: An online health coaching company hired Sidebench to provide custom software development. They're creating a portal in AWS and React with messaging, calendaring, scheduling, and document uploading functions. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** President, Kenshō Health - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 9, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: The client is delighted with Sidebench's work and is impressed with their professionalism throughout the partnership. Their communication and flexibility have been outstanding in delivering solid project management. The team also praises their ability to adapt to their rules and needs. "''They feel like a part of our team.''" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the president of a custom software development company. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We needed to transform and build a product for our company quickly, and we wanted a trusted partner to execute. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench is doing web-based development for us; the product has an admin portal for coaches to access messaging, calendaring, scheduling, and document uploading functionalities. It also has interactive elements where members can fill out a will evaluating their health in different parts of their lives. In terms of technologies, the system is built through AWS and React. What is the team composition? We’ve worked with product managers, directors, product leads, and a designer. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We researched a dozen different agencies, and we chose them because we thought they had impressive consumer apps. In addition to that, they were likable people, and we felt like they would fit into our working culture. How much have you invested in them? We’ve spent around $1 million with them so far. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in October 2021, and the engagement is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? They’ve been excellent partners and are essential to our processes. Overall, I’ve been impressed with their professionalism and ability to teach our team many project management skills and best practices. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Project management has been very positive; they communicate with us and are flexible to make things work. What did you find most impressive about them? Their team adapts to our systems and norms very well, including our project management tools, and sitting in our Monday meetings — they feel like a part of our team. Are there any areas they could improve? I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on — their work has been overall positive throughout the engagement. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Evaluate your options, but they provide what they offer from the beginning of the process. --- #### Software, Web & App Dev for Pharmaceutical Manufacturer **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, Mobile App Development, Web Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Oct. 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench provides a chronic disease management company with backend, web, and React Native app development services. They’re also helping configure the client’s CRM and build out their platform infrastructure. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CTO & Chief Product Officer, Diathrive - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Apr 21, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench takes the time to understand the client’s business in-depth to achieve the project goals within budget and timeline constraints. They collaborate well and provide excellent feedback. They identify roadblocks early to ensure they meet deadlines — the project is ahead of schedule. "“Sidebench is absolutely fantastic to work and collaborate with.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the CTO and chief product officer at Diathrive, a chronic disease management company focused on diabetes.  **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We brought on Sidebench for several reasons. We needed to redo our enterprise infrastructure in the wake of switching to a complete B2B application from a B2C.  **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench is developing the backend of our B2B platform, helping us configure our CRM, and developing a React Native application for us. They’re building out a more robust enterprise infrastructure. Their team covers everything from website and app development to backend infrastructure creation. We’ve provided Sidebench with the technical and architectural considerations they need to utilize to keep our platform secure.  What is the team composition? I primarily interface with Austin (Product Manager) and Haley (Senior Product Manager), who run 4–5 of our workstreams. I also work with Brandon (Head of Strategy and Partnerships) biweekly.  How did you come to work with Sidebench? I went through several different channels before I found Sidebench — we needed to be careful about picking the right partner because our company was so new. I narrowed down our potential partners to two vendors after interviewing six firms. We flew out to meet Sidebench and were impressed with their understanding of our business and their experiences with healthcare startups. We thought they’d be great partners, so we hired them.  How much have you invested with them? We’ve invested around $500,000 with Sidebench, although that will increase by the end of the year as we continue to give them additional projects.  What is the status of this engagement? Our engagement with Sidebench began in October 2021, and it’s ongoing.  **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  Sidebench is absolutely fantastic to work and collaborate with. Their team has taken the time to understand our business in-depth and our development constraints. We’ve collaborated closely with them to work through our project constraints — they use their experience to ensure we achieve our project goals.  Overall, the development process has been very good. Our communication is very clear, and Sidebench is very open to taking on new projects. Not only that, but Sidebench has provided us with excellent feedback on what directions to take the project, the app structure, and how to increase engagement. Their suggestions have been wonderful.   How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Sidebench hits all of our deadlines — we’re actually ahead of schedule right now, which is virtually unheard of in the development industry. They identify project blockers early on and detail project plans so we’re aware of approaching project-dependent deliverable deadlines. We use several collaborative tools to communicate, which is great.  What did you find most impressive about them? The way Sidebench collaborates is amazing, and so is how they can translate project concepts into reality is amazing. Our industry is complicated, and chronic disease management is even more nuanced. It takes a partner like Sidebench to collaborate with us and execute our business idea within our timeline and budget constraints.  Are there any areas they could improve? We’re pleased with Sidebench’s services, so there is nothing for them to improve.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? My team is incredibly happy with Sidebench’s service, and I’d advise customers to be straightforward with them about their projects.  --- #### Mobile App Development for an Online B2C Platform **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: May 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench fixed critical issues in the client's website leftover from a previous vendor. Since launch, they've been developing an iOS and Android application to expand the client's offering.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder & CEO, Online B2C Platform - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 23, 2022 **Feedback Summary**: Citing the improved functionality of the remedied payment system, the client is pleased with Sidebench's performance on their website. They're similarly happy with the ongoing app development, which has proceeded through discovery and design. They are a technical, personable, and communicative team. ""The product that they’re in the process of creating is well beyond what we thought we were signing up for." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. We’re a large app and digital platform that connects consumers to black-owned business through technology. I’m the founder and CEO. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We were working with another technology company, but they did a horrible job building and launching our site. Sidebench came in to fix those issues and create a new app for us. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? The app will be a black-owned business discovery app that will be available on iOS and Android devices. We’ve gone through the discovery and design phases and are now in development. What is the team composition? We have a main point of contact and have interacted with 5–10 people in total. How did you come to work with Sidebench We found them on Clutch after a Google Search. After contacting a few options, we went with Sidebench. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent $550,000 on the app development specifically. What is the status of this engagement? We’ve been working together since May 2021. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  For one, they fixed our site. Our payment system was down for a few months while the previous team was troubleshooting it. They came in and cleaned up everything on a quick timeline, allowing us to continue operating as were before the issue arose. The app development has been a great process. It’s clear that they are a competent team. We trust them a lot. The product that they’re in the process of creating is well beyond what we thought we were signing up for. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? There are weekly meetings where Sidebench goes through the different deliverables and any questions that we have. Project management was our number one request from them because of our previous experience, and we haven’t run into any delays. They’ve been very communicative since the beginning of the project. What did you find most impressive about them? We interviewed a couple of companies at first, and what stood out about Sidebench was that they were very passionate about what they were doing and what they could do for our platform. They came with specific ideas about how to improve our platform. Additionally, their team is very easy to relate to. With other companies, it’s clear that you’re speaking to an engineer without a lot of interpersonal skills, but with Sidebench, it’s clear that they have both the technical skill and the ability to communicate well with others. Are there any areas they could improve? I hate not having an answer for this question, but I really can’t think of anything they could improve. They’re certainly the best of the 3–4 technology companies that we’ve worked with over the last few years. Do you have any advice for potential customers? You get what you pay for. They’re a bit pricey, but they’re worth it. Additionally, keep an open mind. We had designs that another company had done when we first approached Sidebench, but after the discovery process, they came up with another idea that made much more sense. You may come out with something more in-line with what your audience wants than what you came in with. --- #### Mobile App & Website Dev for NFT Company **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development, Web Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: May 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench completed the discovery phase of an NFT firm's mobile app and website development project, and they produced a navigable prototype. The team is now spearheading the project's development phase. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Co-Founder, NFT Company - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Dec 6, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: The diverse talents of Sidebench's employees allow them to produce top-notch deliverables. Their solid process and communication skills are key to their success. They're quick, timely, and attentive. Overall, their exemplary performance enables them to foster strong and fruitful collaboration. ""They make things happen because they know what their employees can bring to the table."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the co-founder of a non-fungible (NFT) marketplace. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We hired Sidebench to create our NFT marketplace. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We recently finished the discovery process with Sidebench, which allowed us to read the market and figure out exactly what approach we should take. For several weeks, we sat down with their project manager to map out all of the features we wanted to see on our MVP. Then, their designer and technical architect did all of the planning that would be handed over to the development team. At the end of the discovery phase, we had a navigable prototype. We’re now moving to the development phase, and the team will build our NFT marketplace, which will be available in both a mobile app and a website. The next goal is to create a product that will be essentially used by the public. What is the team composition? We’re working with 4–5 people from Sidebench, including a project manager, designer, and technical architect. We’re also working with Kyle (Growth Strategy Manager) who acts as a liaison between our two teams. We don’t talk to him on a daily basis, but we can reach out to him if we have any issues. How did you come to work with Sidebench? My business partner and I did a lot of research into finding a good firm to help us. We also knew that hiring five random developers wouldn’t work in the type of project we were envisioning. Once we reached out to a couple of companies, we chose Sidebench because they offered a valuable process to us and they executed larger projects than what we were going to assign to them. In addition, we were in the NFT space, which was super new, but with a massive number of platforms popping every single day. As a result, we wanted to go with somebody who could help us turn our project into something unique — a company that could separate us from our competition. In the end, we didn’t want to go with anybody else. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent around $80,000 during the discovery phase, and we’re about to spend another $400,000–$450,000 for the development phase. What is the status of this engagement? Our ongoing collaboration started in May 2021. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  They’ve been amazing the whole time, and we don’t regret hiring them. The prototype they've created has allowed us to present something to our investors. Based on what we’ve seen so far, we’re very confident about our project’s outcome. On top of that, they know how to pick people that can manage our project, hand-selecting them based on their prior experience and level of interest. They also have an internal assessment in order to decide who’s going to work on each project. In pairing us with qualified people, they really ensure our project’s success. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Sidebench’s process is so in-depth — they definitely know what they’re doing. Our communication is great; we have virtual check-ins almost every day, and we‘ve been able to visit their office once. They reach out to us whenever they have questions, which allows them to create exactly what we’re asking for. Furthermore, they always meet our deadlines. What did you find most impressive about them? Everybody on Sidebench is similar to a piece of the puzzle because they have diverse talents capable of building things for some of the best companies in the world. They make things happen because they know what their employees can bring to the table. In addition, they don’t hesitate in doing things because they already know how they’re going to accomplish things, and they're capable of supporting clients without a technical background. Are there any areas they could improve? No, everything we pay them is worth it. They get things done the right way; they explain things and think through how they’re going to build something. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Know exactly what you want to do, but be open to suggestions from their team. In the end, they’ll make your project come to life. --- #### Salesforce UI/UX Dev & Maintenance for Cannabis Distributor **The Project** - Services: UX/UI Design - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Jan. 2021 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench is a cannabis distributor’s Salesforce partner. They implemented UI/UX improvements based on the client’s designs. Currently, they’re handling all integrations and configurations on the platform. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CTO, Cannabis Distributor - Industry: Legal Cannabis - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 15, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench has successfully implemented UI/UX improvements, and their work has received positive feedback from internal and external users. Their proactive project management accentuates their technical expertise. They’re outstanding at communications — they produce regular status updates.  ""Sidebench offers a complete Salesforce package."" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the CTO of a cannabis distributor in California, the largest cannabis market in the world.   **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We rolled out many different Salesforce functionalities and received various Salesforce web screens and templates. While they were usable, they weren’t intuitive. We wanted a better experience for our users and customers, so we were looking for someone to help us improve our Salesforce platform’s UI/UX. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebech used our team’s designs in developing, coding, and integrating improvements in our Salesforce platform. They worked on our brand portal, among other areas. After that, Sidebench has taken over the maintenance of our Salesforce platform; they’ve become our sole Salesforce partner. They develop integrations and handle configurations for Salesforce’s features, forms, and reports.  What is the team composition? I work with a project manager, a developer, an executive, and one other resource. How did you come to work with Sidebench? Initially, we had been using another vendor for our Salesforce platform. They didn’t have UI/UX expertise, and they recommended Sidebench to us. We met Sidebench’s team and were impressed with their work, so we hired them. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent between $250,000–$500,000.  What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in January 2021, and it’s ongoing.  **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  Sidebench has scoped the project very meticulously and gave us detailed estimates — they’ve hit their deliverables right on track.   We’ve received positive feedback from our internal teams and external brand partners about the platform’s new UI/UX; our dashboards are a lot better now. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Sidebench is outstanding at communication and proactive at project management. Whenever they ask us to do something, they follow up very quickly if we don’t react right away.  If there have been delays, it’s because we needed time to get the required details. They’ve been very patient with us, but they are also aggressive with their follow-ups. Sidebench also produces regular status updates, and they’ve hit every deadline we’ve asked of them. We mostly communicate through emails.  What did you find most impressive about them? Sidebench offers a complete Salesforce package. They’re good at administering the different solutions that we’re using, such as sales, service, and employee portals. On top of that, they have UI/UX expertise, which isn’t typical among Salesforce providers.  Are there any areas they could improve? I can’t think of anything.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? Align on what you are looking to do. Make sure that you have a well-defined scope and documentation around that. Sidebench can help you explore different options, but it helps if you do some homework upfront to accelerate the process.  --- #### Custom Software Development for Microsoft **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: June 2019 - June 2020 **Project Summary**: Sidebench was hired to Integrate custom system integrations for Microsoft. The vendor leveraged Kaizala and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations for the project. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Corporate Affairs Specialist, Microsoft - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 10,001+ Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — May 26, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench delivered what was expected. The vendor didn't need to be supervised, thanks to their proficient and capable team that was able to complete what was necessary within budget. They also provided easy communication. ""Their communication and project management style in our project was one of the main reasons why we chose Sidebench." " **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and your position there. I serve as an integral part of Microsoft TSI which uses Tech for Social Impact. We’ve engaged Sidebench on a number of occasions with the Animal Shelter project being the one referenced here. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** For what projects/services did your company hire Sidebench, and what were your goals? Our goal was to leverage Sidebench’s expertise with custom system integrations. Our goal was to help making the remote shelters easier to communicate internally and with volunteers. **SOLUTION** How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors? Sidebench stood out as a certified diverse supplier with the capabilities and proficiency to build what’s most necessary. Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used. Sidebench leveraged Kaizala and Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations to help optimize inventory management and receive data populated by Kaizala How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions? We were in contact with the c-suite leadership team, the development team, and the business development team. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables? Due to confidentiality the most I can say is that Sidebench was able to deliver exactly what was expected and needed to move forward. Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness. Their communication and project management style in our project was one of the main reasons why we chose Sidebench. Very timely responses and even displayed some over communication skills that made the engagement very easy to maintain What did you find most impressive or unique about this company? The way that Sidebench was able to manage communication and solve the problems that we hired them for with such a lean and scrappy team was the impressive and unique trait. Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently? The team was actually very proficient and was very capable in completing what was necessary on time and within budget --- #### Android & iOS App Dev for Health & Wellness Firm **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Sep. 2020 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench is creating an iOS and Android app for a health and wellness firm. The team's main goal is to enable end-users to view data regarding the risk of COVID-19 infections.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer, CoVis - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — May 26, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench has successfully integrated the location tracking feature into the platform. The app's testing phase also has yielded positive results. What stands out the most is their excellent communication and problem-solving skills. Their flexibility, knowledge, and speed are also impressive.  ""Their ability to remain agile and provide solutions as conditions change has been enjoyable to witness." " **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company and your position there. I am the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Covis Inc., a company empowering health decisions using powerful AI and big data. We have developed an algorithm that calculates the individual risk from COVID-19 using public data, machine learning, and knowledge from medical literature. Covis Inc. is a DESY spin-off and a two-time MIT hackathon winner. I am also a Physicist at DESY, Hamburg, and Senior Scientist at the Humboldt University in Berlin. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** For what projects/services did your company hire Sidebench, and what were your goals? We wanted to create proprietary algorithms used to assess the risk of COVID-19 infections and display that data to CoVis mobile app users, and we worked with Sidebench to build and launch both an Android and iOS app to be launched in Germany and the USA. **SOLUTION** How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors? After an extensive search for a technology partner, we chose Sidebench for their ability to add innovative value, their expertise in healthcare, and their communication commitments. We were very impressed by their previous projects, in particular the NOCD app. Their communications were quick and efficient and they were willing to work on a very innovative project on a very tight timeline to leave a social impact. Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used. We completed a discovery engagement that gave way to a robust development plan, ultimately working to release mobile apps for iOS and Android. Being an app backed by scientific knowledge and innovative scientific methods, the Sidebench team worked closely with the Scientists on the CoVis team. How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions? So far, our team has worked with a User Experience Designer, Design Manager, Technical Architect, Developers, Product Manager, and Quality Assurance Engineers. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables? The CoVis app is the end-product of a solution developed by the CoVis team and scientific research conducted at DESY, Hamburg. The work done by Sidebench brought this solution to life in the form of an app for both iOS and Android. The quality of work is impressive and the app has proved to be very effective in the testing phase. As an example, the app requires a quite complex algorithm for location tracking which has been implemented flawlessly and is a key part of the proprietary algorithm that we use to assess the individual risk from COVID-19. Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness. Through weekly stakeholder status calls and touchpoints with Product Managers, the engineering team, and Design Leads, we have been able to get our concerns addressed in a timely manner. Both the Project Manager and Technical Architect have been available for discussions at any time and spent a lot of time with the CoVis team trying to understand the concept and the science behind the app. Communication has been very open and quick. What did you find most impressive or unique about this company? Their ability to remain agile and provide solutions as conditions change has been enjoyable to witness and be a part of. When a problem arises the team goes above and beyond to provide solutions and preventative measures in place to mitigate the chance for problems to continue to arise. Being a very innovative solution that was built during an ongoing pandemic to address an unforeseen problem a lot of flexibility was necessary for the project to be successful. Sidebench was extremely flexible with schedules and implementation timelines, being able to easily incorporate changes that were made necessary due to changing regulations surrounding COVID-19. In addition, with their experience in developing mobile solutions, they have been instrumental in foreseeing possible hurdles early in the project roadmap so that these can be addressed in due time. Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently? The CoVis team is very satisfied with Sidebench. They have the right expertise and the right work culture that helped us build the CoVis app. --- #### Web App Dev & Design for Health & Wellness Company **The Project** - Services: Web Design, Web Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: Nov. 2020 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench is designing and developing a Laravel web app using HTML5 and Vue.js for a health and preventative medicine company. Once the app launches, they will work on feature development. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder, TelMD - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 7, 2021 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench has proven capable of translating the client’s idea into reality. Thoughtful and creative, the team meets deadlines and communicates well, ultimately facilitating a seamless collaboration. The client is exceedingly pleased with Sidebench’s ability to deliver and satisfy the requirements. "“Working with Sidebench has been the best experience we’ve had with any developer thus far.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. My organization is all about health, wellness, and preventative medicine. Our goal is to empower people to make better and more informed choices so that they can live healthier and more conscious lives. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We had a contract with a different organization that we’d been working with for quite some time, but they just couldn’t get the project done. We were looking for someone who could pick up the pieces, put them all together, and create the dream that we all envisioned. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench has been instrumental in taking a web app that wasn’t very well programmed or organized and putting it together. It’s a Laravel web app with HTML5 and Vue.js. The product should go live at the end of March 2021. We have a backlog of additional features, so we’re committed to using Sidebench for the long haul. What is the team composition? We have a whole team assigned to this project. We’ve worked with a project manager, a design consultant, and Henry (Manager, Strategy & Business Development).  How did you come to work with Sidebench? It took a lot of work. We interviewed at least 15 companies and looked at each candidate’s website, reputation, and previous projects. We also considered what types of apps they’d done and what areas their skills were in. Once we reached out and talked to Sidebench, we were very impressed. After our third meeting with them, we signed the contract. We looked at a lot of really good groups and different options, but Sidebench really rose to the top. What is the status of this engagement? We reached out to them in November 2020, and the project is still evolving. We have about 6–7 weeks before we complete this phase. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We are looking for ease of flow of data capturing and UX. We work closely with Sidebench and, through a range of different ideas, they have made it very seamless. We haven’t launched the product to the public yet, so we don’t have any metrics beside our own satisfaction with what we’ve seen in comparison to previous development teams that we’ve hired.  How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? We meet with them either once or twice a week through Zoom. They have excellent communication skills, and they deliver on time.  What did you find most impressive about them? They’ve very collaborative. We bring certain ideas to the table, and then they tweak them a bit to make the ideas work even better. They continue to do that until we’re 100% satisfied. Working with Sidebench has been the best experience we’ve had with any developer thus far, and we’ve worked with several. I am so eternally grateful to Sidebench for taking an idea that my team had and creating something that we’re really excited about. They are very creative and thoughtful. Are there any areas they could improve? They have far exceeded my expectations, so I couldn’t ask them to do any better — they already do an outstanding job. Any advice for potential customers? Listen to their ideas, and be open. --- #### Web App Design Revamp for Medical Educational Video Service **The Project** - Services: UX/UI Design, Web Design - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: July - Nov. 2020 **Project Summary**: Sidebench developed a new UX/UI for an existing web application. They worked collaboratively with internal resources to ensure desired functionality was laid out effectively. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 4.5 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Product Manager, GIBLIB - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Dec 28, 2020 **Feedback Summary**: The client is pleased with the refreshed design scheme, praising Sidebench for their communication. They also applauded the ownership Sidebench took of the project, dedicating themselves to handling it with care. Future clients will encounter a partner that prides themselves on their thoroughness. ""They did a lot of research about us and our users. It felt like they knew the product as well as we did." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the product manager of GIBLIB. We stream online medical education content, including surgical videos and lectures. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We wanted to revamp and refresh our current web application layer. No one internally was a UX/UI resource or graphic designer, we decided to hire a third-party to create the next version of the company site. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We requested their help with the design; we're handling the implementation. The application isn’t running yet. They provided their expertise as a UX/UI firm. When we approached Sidebench, we already knew all the new features we wanted to add, so we solicited their input on how those things ought to be portrayed. There were numerous meetings initially about how to lay things out. It was very collaborative. After developing an initial schema, they provided a more detailed UI and design. What is the team composition? We worked with at least three core people: Max (Project Manager), Dana (UX Designer), and Jeff (UI and Graphic Designer). How did you come to work with Sidebench? They were a recommendation. One of our previous product managers used to work with Sidebench. We trusted that internal referral. How much have you invested with them? We spent a little bit over $60,000. What is the status of this engagement? We worked together from July until November 2020. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? My general feedback is positive. The three main employees were all very professional; they knew what they were doing. We’ve unanimously agreed that we couldn’t have accomplished what we have without working with Sidebench. They definitely brought the value we needed. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Communication was clear. We used a combination of Slack and Zoom meetings. There was an official meeting on Monday and a semi-official meeting mid-week. This system was effective. Their project manager always provided agendas and previewed what we were going to talk about the next week. The project management was really well executed. What did you find most impressive about them? The word for me is ownership. From the beginning, they did a lot of research about us and our users. It felt like they knew the product as well as we did. They cared a lot about the project. Are there any areas they could improve? There were a couple of times at the end of the project when things were delivered a few days later than the initial date. Everyone softens up at the end, but it wasn’t to a point where it was detrimental to our roadmap. If I had to share something to improve on, that’s what I would say. There’s nothing else negative to say about them. Do you have any advice for potential customers? First, the client has to be ready and know what they want. They need to have a gameplan in-line so they’re not relying entirely on Sidebench. Working collaboratively with them is the best way to go. Second, make sure to over-communicate. We try to be sensitive about others’ time, which is needed, but not communicating when you need to can deter the overall project. --- #### Custom Scheduling Tool Dev for Neuro Therapy Company **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development, UX/UI Design - Project size: $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 - Project length: July 2019 - Sep. 2020 **Project Summary**: Sidebench developed a custom software platform that manages schedules for therapists, patients, and their families. The tool features integrations that provide access to calendar, documents, and records. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Chief Technical & Transformation Officer, Cortica - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 19, 2020 **Feedback Summary**: The tool optimizes therapists’ schedules, ensuring that patients receive the care they need in a reasonable amount of time while bringing in millions in revenue. Sidebench demonstrated that they’re a mission-oriented partner by constantly seeking ways to improve the product. "“Sidebench is great because they’re aggressive about tracking down bugs and fixing problems.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I am the chief technical and transformation officer for Cortica. We provide advanced neurologic therapies for children, usually for children with autism or other neurodevelopmental needs. We service most of California and are rapidly growing. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We hired them to help us build a custom software platform that matches family schedules and therapist availability across multiple locations and therapy types. Our goal is to improve outcomes for the children we support by increasing the number of sessions of care each patient receives. We also want to ensure that clients have access to all the different therapies that we offer. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? They developed a scheduling tool. They’ve integrated with Office 365 and Outlook, an electronic medical records system that most of our medical providers record their clinical documentation on, and an autism-specific care management system that the majority of our therapists do their clinical documentation relating to their patients. They’ve also replatformed our website. We moved from Drupal to Contentful and Netlify. We’re considering other project like web app development. What is the team composition? I work with Chris (Partner & VP), and 5–6 other people on a regular basis. The team includes a product lead, a UI/UX developer, two  junior product leaders, and an infrastructure manager. How did you come to work with Sidebench? They worked alongside other people I knew in the area.  I interviewed a few different firms based on web testimonials and who was recommended to me. Sidebench wanted to understand our business and had worked extensively in healthcare in the past, so they came up to speed quickly. Their CEO was super available and spent lots of time with me ensuring that I understood their approach. I spent a lot of time with their references to ensure that they were the right fit for us too. They’re very UI-driven, and I thought that was particularly important for the products that we were planning to develop. They also seemed like the right size for us. I wanted an agile and creative partner that was excited about what we were trying to do. Sidebench beat out everyone else I considered because they checked all of our boxes. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent close $2 million so far. That will probably double going forward. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in July 2019 and we finished the first aspect of our partnership in September 2020. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  On an annual basis, we generate about $6.7 million through the improvements that this platform brings us, including about $4 million from the scheduling program already. We’ve also seen a 10%–20% increase in contract fulfillment, or our ability to meet with clients based on what is recommended by the healthcare and insurance provider. Similarly, we’ve been able to reduce the amount of time potential patients are on our waitlist by improving the algorithms we use to schedule them. This lets us hire new providers if needed. We don’t do super in-depth code reviews, but we do measure the quality of their work through extensive user-testing and sign-offs. Sidebench is great because they’re aggressive about tracking down bugs and fixing problems. It’s a real partnership, and they don’t nickel and dime me for ongoing issues. They work on an ongoing list of backlogged items that could improve performance, which has been very successful. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? We worked well together. Everything regarding the cost and timeline was articulated well. They update us once or twice a week, especially when we’re busy. Both our team and theirs is pretty agile, so sprint planning has been really helpful. We reassess our priorities almost every other week to ensure that we’re tackling the right challenges. They’re also super available. I can text any team member and I know that they will get right back to me. We share a Slack channel and a Jira board, too. What did you find most impressive about them? They deeply want to understand our business. They’re right there with us, trying to figure out what we need to do to make sure things are done the right way. For example, they’ve created process maps and user-journeys and continue to iterate on those. While this is really important for development, it’s also valuable because they continue to have discussions with me about whether or not we need to codify current processes, or if we want to improve these processes. We don’t want to have to redo anything if we change the process down the line. Only a group that understood our business completely would be able to participate in those conversations. They’re very mission-driven and are very supportive of what we do. Are there any areas they could improve? They’ve been a fantastic partner. Do you have any advice for potential customers? To really understand them, ask for references. It will help you learn more about them. If I were a potential new customer, I might not be so aware of how capable they are of understanding the core of our business. However, trusting them to spot opportunities that can optimize various processes, can be very valuable. --- #### Mobile App Dev for Integrated Messaging Platform **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Oct. 2019 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Handling the bulk of the work independently, Sidebench handled all aspects of design and development for an iOS and Android messaging app. They integrated with Twitter to enhance its functionalities. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 4.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Founder, Argot - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 18, 2020 **Feedback Summary**: The partner has received positive feedback regarding the quality of work and the navigable nature of the final solutions. The team was able to successfully deliver the product while avoiding delays with their attentive project management style. They contributed unique ideas that guided the work. "“They’re able to build around our concept and work pretty independently.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the founder of a startup. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? Starting out, I only had a loose idea of what was needed to get my business off the ground. I hired them as my development partner. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? I had an idea and framework of what I wanted my partner to build. We needed them to design the entire product. They did everything from user research to building upon my ideas to creating workflows based on my wireframes. In the end, they completed all of the design work for the app. That included screens and a basic logo. It was important for me to create a proof of concept before diving into the development of a full version. At this point, they’ve provided that. Now, we’re working together to build out the product they designed. The final solution will be a messaging app that utilizes hashtags to communicate and organize trends. They’re enabling the creation of channels, group messaging, private chat functions, and Twitter integrations. The app will be for iOS and Android.    What is the team composition? I have one main point of contact who acts as a product manager. Additionally, there are design and development team teams working on the app as well.  How did you come to work with Sidebench? I found them on Clutch. They offered the best ideas and timeframe compared to other companies I interviewed. Additionally, I was looking for a partner that would handle all aspects of development. They offered all the services that I needed, so they were the most suitable.     How much have you invested with them? For all of their services, we’re spending about $250,000.   What is the status of this engagement? We started the project in October 2019. The design was completed in December 2019, and the development started up in January 2020. We’re still working on that now. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Since sharing and receiving feedback on their work, we’ve found that the designs are quite intuitive. They’re great at coming up with ideas of their own and managing a heavy workload. In addition, they’re able to explain and describe their processes well in layman’s terms. The design level is very high. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? I appreciate that everything is managed through a single point of contact. That’s been rather convenient for me. We meet together once each week to discuss their progress. They’ve been great at keeping up with schedules and timelines. We haven’t experienced a delay because of that.   What did you find most impressive about them? They’re able to build around our concept and work pretty independently. Their team has taken my idea and ran with it, which is exactly what I wanted from them. I didn’t have to worry about the development process as much because of that.  Are there any areas they could improve? During the engagement, they used quite a bit of technical jargon that I wasn’t familiar with. They didn’t hold my hand through that process, which may have been helpful. --- #### Web Design & Salesforce Integrations for Automotive Company **The Project** - Services: Web Design - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Aug. 2019 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench led the redesign efforts for an automotive company’s WordPress site. They implemented single-sign-on and streamlined workflows through their Salesforce CRM platform. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Marketing Director, Automotive Company - Industry: Automotive - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 28, 2019 **Feedback Summary**: Despite being early in the development, the team has made headway in the wireframing and design process, implementing efficiencies to the CRM. The project manager consistently showed a positive attitude and a devotion to making the project successful. They communicated effectively throughout. "“They showed great enthusiasm for development.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the marketing director of an automotive company. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? Primarily, we wanted a website redesign with some better integrations with our CRM. We were hoping to generally improve the digital experience for our clients. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We’re redesigning our entire WordPress site page by page, focusing on certain aspects upfront. Specifically, we’re redesigning the look and feel for website users. We’re also working the implement single-sign-on to connect a few of our platforms and streamline data input on the admin side of the website. Our goal was to integrate further with Salesforce and create some efficiencies with sharing data. What is the team composition? Our main point of contact there is Spencer (Project Manager, Sidebench), who has a small team working with him to accomplish tasks for our account.  How did you come to work with Sidebench? We were referred to them by a previous agency partner who we had to phase out because that partnership wasn’t a match. Our team was looking for guidance, so they recommended Sidebench. We had an initial meeting with them and really enjoyed their team during the discussion. That’s why we decided to move forward. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent about $60,000–$80,000 with them. What is the status of this engagement? Our work with them started in August 2019, and it’s ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We haven’t launched anything yet. It’s mostly been wireframe and concept design to this point. However, the work is already very exciting. They’ve been helping us with the backend and with Salesforce development that’ll allow us to implement some very beneficial efficiencies.  How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? We communicate typically through Slack and email. Spencer, however, is very responsive to questions and actively speaks to us on a regular basis, keeping us up to date on the process. What did you find most impressive about them? They’ve been on top of the project since day one. Even after our first meeting, they showed great enthusiasm for development. That’s been really positive for us, especially given all the thought we’ve put into the project. Are there any areas they could improve? I can’t speak to anything. It’s been a good experience so far.  Do you have any advice for potential customers? The ongoing communication that we’ve had has been vital to the process. That enforces the fact that they’re on top of everything. They’ve put me at ease in terms of project management concerns. Communication with them has been really beneficial. --- #### Software Integration Research for Healthcare Platform **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: June - Oct. 2019 **Project Summary**: Sidebench provided software research for a healthcare company. They researched implementations of a technology stack. They also consulted during the building process for the platform.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Waverly - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 25, 2019 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench brought significant expertise and results to the project. Their team successfully developed a plan for integrating systems into the platform. The Sidebench team was pleasant, intelligent, and responsive throughout the process. ""Without them, it would have been really difficult to figure out what systems needed to be in place..." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the co-founder and managing partner of Waverly, a healthcare company reducing the risk of chronic disease linked to bacteria within the microbiome of the mouth. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? Our in-store services are all credit card-based. We needed someone to figure out a tech stack that would align with that. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We hired Sidebench to do consultative research. It took them about four months. Their team also did check-ins with our branding company that is actually building the software or the technology stack. The initial consulting work is wrapped up, but we’re looking to engage them again for another project to build custom integrations for our technology stack. What is the team composition? There were three main people including the CEO and the CTO. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We found them through a partner that we’d been working with. Our team was in need of a consultant who could advise us on the correct software we should integrate into our technology. How much have you invested with them? We invested $150,000. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together from June until October 2019. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We’ve seen really great results. Without them, it would have been really difficult to figure out what systems needed to be in place in order for us to execute our goals. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? They were extremely responsive. I called Kevin (Founder/CEO, Sidebench) all the time. The team was always available. We used Slack to communicate. What did you find most impressive about them? They’re really smart and nice people. They’re easy to work with. I’m going to be friends with all of them going forward. Are there any areas they could improve? No, they’re fantastic. Do you have any advice for potential customers? The technology is pretty expensive. Be prepared to recognize those costs can get pretty steep. Before you engage with them, don’t be shy. If they propose a costly build for you, find an alternative. Otherwise, I highly recommend Kevin and the rest of the team. --- #### Mobile & Web Marketplace for Entertainment Co **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 - Project length: Feb. 2019 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench developed a native mobile app and web app, incorporating input after an MVP was released. The app connects creatives from around the world with producers, talent, and executives in Hollywood. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Head of Operations, Entertainment Company - Industry: Arts, entertainment & music - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 25, 2019 **Feedback Summary**: The app has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our users. They like the way it looks and feels, as well as how easy it is to use. The features integrate well into users' workflows. Sidebench was flexible and did everything they could to meet expectations. ""They’re responsive. When we have special requests, they're always flexible." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I'm the head of operations for an entertainment company. Part of what we do is connect creatives from around the world with producers, talent, and executives in Hollywood. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We had created an MVP for a mobile app that would facilitate connections between creatives and collaborators, and we were looking for a partner to build additional elements and take it to the next level quickly. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench helped us develop a native mobile app and web application, integrating feedback from the MVP. We have a live product and continue to release new features and updates every few weeks. What is the team composition? We have a product manager, technical architect, frontend designers, and mobile/web developers. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We found them through a referral and sent an RFP to them and several other agencies. Then, we brought in Sidebench for an interview, and we liked how scrappy they were. We were impressed by the good ideas they had just in the initial meeting. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent more than $1,000,000. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together at the start of 2019. Our collaboration is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  All of our users love the app—the way it looks, feels, and how easy it is to use. The features integrate well into users' workflows. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? They’re responsive. When we have special requests, they're always flexible. We communicate via Slack or phone on a daily basis. They also conduct sprint-planning sessions every two weeks, and we have a weekly touchpoint with the team. What did you find most impressive about them? I really appreciate their flexibility. Our plans and feature prioritization can change quickly, but they’re able to adapt. They're flexible about ramping up or down as our business requirements change. Are there any areas they could improve? They could certainly cost less. They made exceptions for us when our project requirements changed. Although it wasn’t an issue with them specifically, some businesses' needs change quickly, and mechanisms in place for adjusting quickly would be helpful. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Be upfront with them. Define requirements and take opportunities you have to talk to them. It can often be difficult to plan ahead when things can change so quickly, but transparency and advanced notice always help. --- #### Outsourced Dev & Strategy for HIPAA Compliance Platform **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Nov. 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench provides development support and strategy consulting for a HIPAA compliance platform. The team began the project by collecting and analyzing customer feedback. They provide ongoing maintenance. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CEO, PCIHIPAA - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 3, 2019 **Feedback Summary**: Internal stakeholders are pleased with the improvements that have been made to the platform. Proactive and methodical, the project manager implemented several new workflows to increase efficiency. Customers can expect innovative solutions from Sidebench's team of software experts. ""Their work is going to pay off in dividends down the line." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I'm the CEO of PCIHIPAA, a privacy and data protection company focused on private practices. We help dentists and doctors protect the privacy and security of patient information and comply with HIPAA. Our goal is for them to avoid the risks associated with data breaches, human error, and non-compliance. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We’ve developed a proprietary HIPAA compliance platform called OfficeSafe. This product helps us streamline business processes and easily educate all of our clients. When I hired Sidebench, I was looking for additional product expertise to help us determine the strategy and the direction of where we were going to take the platform. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? I've hired them as an outsourced product development and strategy company. The first project that we did when we starting working with them was a strategy exercise. They went out and interviewed our clients to understand how they were using our platform. Based on this data, they made strategic recommendations for where we should take the product. They did a full, end-to-end customer research analysis, including a customer feedback session, to understand churn as it related to product pain points. We took this data, combined it with our customer journey insights, and had Sidebench help us create a product roadmap. They’ve been leading development efforts for our product ever since. What is the team composition? We have a team of outsourced developers that they manage, and I have a product manager, Andy (Product Manager, Sidebench), on their team that I work with. The team composition fluctuates based on our current focus. For example, during the customer research phase, we had additional people doing customer interviews and gathering data for presentations. If we’re working on the UI, our product manager might bring in a UI designer, and if we have multiple code changes, he could bring in more developers. We have a team working on security features right now that we brought in specifically for that kind of expertise. How did you come to work with Sidebench? I’m part of an entrepreneurial leadership group that Sidebench’s CEO is also a part of. I saw Kevin (CEO, Sidebench) present at the group, and I was impressed with his vision and the work he was doing. We had multiple conversations about our work, and it eventually made sense for us to start working together. The rest of his team is also incredibly intelligent and professional. They seemed like a great culture fit. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent just over $200,000 on the project. What is the status of this engagement? We started the engagement about a year ago, in November 2018. The work is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?  I believe wholeheartedly that the work they’re doing is increasing our enterprise value. Because of their expertise in product development and design, our platform is improving in some remarkable ways. Their work is going to pay off in dividends down the line. I treat Sidebench as if they were my vice president of product development. Instead of having one person in-house, I decided to outsource that role. That was an excellent decision because I now have a variety of resources as opposed to one person. Due to its size, PCIHIPAA isn’t quite ready to bring in a full product team, and Sidebench has filled that void for me. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? They’ve been fantastic in terms of communication. Andy is extremely upbeat and very much in tune with what we’re doing. He usually runs our weekly meetings. I appreciate how detailed he is with his note-taking and how diligent he is about meeting deadlines. Andy is also easy to work with because he is great at managing people. He’s been hugely influential in helping us improve some of our communication workflows, even implementing some new systems that we didn’t have in place. Andy uses JIRA to manage our developers, and we use Basecamp on our end. We typically communicate via phone or email. What did you find most impressive about them? Their ability to take technical issues and professionally communicate them to me is impressive. They are extremely knowledgeable and intelligent. They’re domain expertise, across both development and design, sets them apart. Their communication style and strategic aptitude are also noteworthy. Are there any areas they could improve? I do sometimes wish that things could be done a little bit faster. For example, we’re working on a whole hierarchy change in our code, that they advised us to do, and it’s taking longer than I would’ve liked. I do believe it’s the right thing to do though. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Spend time upfront letting them know what your objectives are. It takes time to understand customers and gain knowledge of a different market, but if you give them the information they need, they’ll be able to respond effectively and drive innovation. They’ve proven that they’re great at this, especially collecting customer feedback. Let them carry out their process and you’ll find success. --- #### Mobile App Dev for Entertainment Platform **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Mar. 2019 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench is in the process of developing an application. The team completed the design and discovery phases. They’re currently awaiting the start of the development process. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director of Digital Marketing, Entertainment Company - Industry: Arts, entertainment & music - Client size: 501-1,000 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jun 25, 2019 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench is full of responsive and dedicated developers. Their organizational process streamlined their collaborative approach. They take scope changes in stride. Their accommodating nature is also noteworthy. ""Their organization, flexibility, and communication are top-notch." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the director of digital marketing at an entertainment company that manufactures toys. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? The marketing team under one of our toy brands wanted to create an app to align with a larger brand initiative surrounding a 50th-anniversary celebration campaign. Their team saw a space where there was an opportunity to create an app where parents can go to and see tips and information about playing. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We went through a number of steps with Sidebench. First, we got together with the toy brand’s marketing team to identify exactly what features they wanted within the app, along with the goal and target of the app. After that, the work began on building user profiles. Their team then went through wireframing, discovering the user flow of the app, and then designing exactly what everything would look like. They also created a roadmap for the app regarding the launch. It included which features would be released in different versions of the app. Sidebench used an app to envision the prototype, so we were able to show larger teams the experience of the app, even though it was still in development. What is the team composition? Chase (Senior Analyst, Sidebench) and Lindsay (Senior Project Manager, Sidebench) are my main contacts. Kevin (Founder & CEO, Sidebench) was looped in as well. There was also another individual that attended our initial in-person meetings but wasn’t involved with all of the communications. How did you come to work with Sidebench? One of my former managers knew someone who worked at Sidebench briefly. She was also familiar with Kevin, after seeing him on a list of 30 under 30. She brought their team in to go over their capabilities and case studies. We actually pitched them a different concept for another brand, but the budget ended up not being approved on our end. Even though that product didn’t move forward, I was still impressed with how they break processes like discovery, design, and development out. Because of their internal workflows, I knew that Sidebench would be a good fit for this project. How much have you invested with them? We’ve invested about $28,000 so far. What is the status of this engagement? Our engagement with Sidebench began in March 2019. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We wrapped up the design and discovery phase, and are awaiting budget approval for the development piece. Sidebench is extremely collaborative. I continue to be impressed with their organized process. They provide a clear roadmap with their projects, making sure all different teams are accountable for their section. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Sidebench has been responsive throughout the engagement. They work in sprints, with clearly outlined schedules and timelines. Our primary method of communication is email. At the kickoff, we had several in-person meetings. During the project, we ended up moving our headquarters, which was challenging. Despite this, they were always willing to meet. Their team wanted to meet for the final presentation as well, but because of moving, we couldn’t make that happen. Our teams here have difficult schedules, which makes it challenging to find time on their calendars. Sidebench remains flexible and cooperative. They’re responsive through email, in-person meetings, or even jumping on phone calls.   What did you find most impressive about them? I previously touched on this, but their process is well-thought-out and structured. It’s clear during each phase what’s happening. Their organization, flexibility, and communication are top-notch. To be honest, we’re a challenging group to work with. Our schedules are difficult. Sidebench goes above and beyond, accommodating to our needs. We’re not the best at staying on track, but their team is fantastic at it. It’s refreshing to work with a company that can manage an unorganized team. Are there any areas they could improve? Honestly, no. Sidebench has had a lot thrown at them, creating a new concept and dealing with scope changes from time to time. Their team rolled with any changes to features and other aspects of the product. Do you have any advice for potential customers? I think Sidebench is great to work with. They’re super organized and flexible. Overall, they’re a great partner to have. --- #### Web Re-Design for Subscription Box Company **The Project** - Services: Web Design - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: July 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench is redesigning and developing a website, incorporating new features, UX, and functionality as needed in a series of phases. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Head of Brand Management, Loot Crate - Industry: Retail - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Nov 2, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench's web design capabilities and strategic approach to managing projects sets them apart. Collaborative, proactive, and receptive to client needs and feedback, working with their team continues to be a relatively seamless process.  "“Sidebench designed a high-quality website that's been very well received internally thus far.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I'm the head of brand management for Loot Crate, a subscription box company that curates and delivers fan goods relating to pop culture each month. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We wanted to update our website with some new features and functionality, so we engaged Sidebench to help redesign it. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? During a discovery phase, they took some time to understand our business, objectives, and relevant data. Then they brainstormed, created some wireframes, and developed a scope of work for our executives to approve and provide feedback on. They've since been working to redesign many of our landing pages and the overall UX of our website. What is the team composition? We work with 6–8 people on their team at any given time, including a project manager, technical lead, a couple designers, and some QA testing engineers. How did you come to work with Sidebench? They were referred to us by other companies that had worked them before. We ultimately decided to work with them based on the strategy and vision they were able to come up with in initial conversations. How much have you invested with them? We've invested between $200,000–$500,000. What is the status of this engagement? We've been working with them since July 2018. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Sidebench designed a high-quality website that's been very well received internally thus far. We're confident they're going to deliver a product our customers will be very drawn to. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? They're very collaborative, attentive to client needs, and organized in their approach to managing projects. The way they track and measure progress has made the whole process relatively seamless, and they've also done a good job of adapting to the project management tools and processes we use. What did you find most impressive about them? Their attention to design details has been great; they've done a great job of iterating and incorporating our feedback. I also appreciate the way they've managed our expectations and taken a very organized, strategic approach to the whole process. Are there any areas they could improve? We had some challenges getting them access to all the information they needed in the beginning, but we were able to work it out relatively quickly. --- #### UI/UX Frontend Design for Mobile Medical Platform **The Project** - Services: UX/UI Design - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: June 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench designed and developed the frontend of a web platform and mobile app from the ground up. They conducted stakeholder focus groups and an affinity diagramming workshop to craft user personas.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Researcher & Physician, Children's Hospital - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1,001-5,000 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 24, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench designed an intuitive, carefully crafted, and user-friendly platform. Users indicated a markedly positive response to the UX/UI design during the testing phase. The team truly excels at project management and customer service. Diligent and detail-oriented, they produce high caliber work. "“They are truly committed to helping the families we hope to assist with this project.”   " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I'm a physician and researcher at a children's hospital. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We hired Sidebench as a vendor to design and develop a web app platform from scratch for families to access care after discharge.  **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench participated in multiple focus groups with stakeholders including families and providers to create a web platform. Based on the results, they led an affinity diagramming workshop and created user personas to walk through how a family would use our system. We then went on to three rounds of design sprints with user testing to create the most approachable format possible.  The team was deeply involved in key stakeholder engagement throughout the entire process. They did an excellent job of integrating comments and feedback from families and providers to create a very user-friendly skeleton for the application that meets a variety of user needs. The product includes a mobile app, which is the primary way it will be used. A different vendor built the backend. What is the team composition?  Sidebench assigned us a product manager as well as a UX and a UI designer. We worked with three core members of their team.  How did you come to work with Sidebench? Our colleague found Sidebench through a job posting and interviewed various members of their company. We reviewed several proposals and liked the one they put forth the best. They interviewed well, had extensive experience, and compiled a detailed budget.  How much have you invested with them? We spent around $48,000.  What is the status of this engagement? We've been working together since June 2018. Sidebench is almost done with their responsibilities for this project.  **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? I don't have quantitative feedback to share because we haven't completed the end product yet. Based on user testing we’ve completed, families really appreciate the platform’s thoughtful design. They find the platform very approachable and have commented on the product's excellent utility.  How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Sidebench has been incredible. Their project manager Nina (Product Manager, Sidebench) is absolutely outstanding. She arranges weekly status update calls to run through what we accomplished in the past week, our goals for the next week, and our timeline, budget, and projected burn rate. We conduct most of our communication by phone or email.  What did you find most impressive about them? I'm most impressed by Sidebench's communication skills. They're very considerate and genuinely invested in our project. Their support goes beyond a standard business partnership. They are truly committed to helping the families we hope to assist with this project.  Are there any areas they could improve? No, Sidebench has been wonderful. I really can't think of anything. Do you have any advice for potential customers? I would highlight Sidebench's attentiveness and excellent project management. I definitely encourage others to form a partnership with their team. --- #### UI/UX Design & User Research for Behavioral Health Company **The Project** - Services: Digital Strategy - Project size: Confidential - Project length: July 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench is conducting extensive user research in preparation for building a UX/UI-optimized platform for digital healthcare services. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Director, Digital Engagement, Health Care Company - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 22, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: With an unrivaled diversity of web design knowledge, Sidebench is expected to deliver one of the most captivating healthcare platforms on the market. Their collaborative team is already proving to be a reliable partner regarding project management and development. "“Sidebench is one of the few web developers who can execute a healthcare website properly.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. As the director of digital engagement for a healthcare company, I find ways to digitize our analog methods of correspondence. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? To be more accessible to our patients, we wanted to offer our services on a digital platform. We needed a group of web developers who could translate our idea into a functioning site, while also navigating through our highly-regulated work environment. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? As our web developer and strategic partner, Sidebench’s objective is to refine our vision and co-develop a solution. Their first task is to conduct user research on our members to prioritize features and enhance the platform’s UX/UI. They will then move on to create an interactive prototype which they will use as a guide to build a complete website. What is the team composition? A product manager, a strategic partner, several UX/UI designers, and a few members of their creative and development teams comprised the 12-person group that was present during the kickoff meeting. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We crossed paths multiple times, but the most significant encounter was when our COO met their CEO at a networking event. Sidebench had worked on major healthcare-related projects with previous clients, so we were confident that they would be a perfect fit. What is the status of this engagement? They came on board in July 2018, and they’re still in the early stages of development. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? The onboarding process has been extremely positive. Their team possesses all of the collaborative, strategic, and creative qualities that we were looking for in a partner. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? They’re exceedingly proactive in addressing concerns and finding ways to mitigate the issues. Their communication efforts are equally impressive, which gives us the impression that our success is their top priority. What did you find most impressive about them? Sidebench is one of the few web developers who can execute a healthcare website properly. Their technical knowledge allows them to develop effective web platforms, while their experience in healthcare helps them produce relevant features and content. Familiarity with other industries helps them design our site for optimal UX. Are there any areas they could improve? So far, we haven’t experienced any red flags. We’ve been thoroughly impressed by their professionalism. --- #### Mobile Consulting for Managed Healthcare Services Provider **The Project** - Services: Digital Strategy - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: June 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench provides consulting services for a healthcare service provider. They contributed their expertise to a comprehensive mobile app to make sure it would pass Apple Store requirements. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 4.5 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** VP, Software Engineering, Health Services Provider - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1,001-5,000 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 22, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Thanks to Sidebench’s input, the app launched on the Apple Store after the first submission. Their response times were quick, and they were willing to accommodate a unique working arrangement. "“Sidebench understands our agile environment and provides services we haven’t found with other companies.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. We offer managed healthcare services and cover a variety of specialty providers through our networks. I'm the VP of software engineering. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? When we first reached out to them, we were in the middle of building a comprehensive mobile app to help people manage chronic musculoskeletal pain. We had a previous version but wanted to flesh it out. Our internal development team could build it, but we wanted an outside consultant with the expertise to help us launch in the Google and Apple stores. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? As we worked through the initial app development, they reviewed items we were building. We took a hybrid approach to the app and wanted to reuse some of the material from our website. Our plan was to save time in development, but we wanted to make sure those pieces would clear Apple’s approval process. We developed all the features in-house, but they made sure everything we produced was done correctly and met a certain standard. What is the team composition? Our primary contact is one of their principals or senior engineers. We also work with other members of their team. How did you come to work with Sidebench? One of our VPs met them at a conference; they had quick chat about the areas we wanted to work on, and we brought them on as consultants. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent between $25,000–$30,000 so far. What is the status of this engagement? The project started in June 2018 and work is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Before the first release, they gave us a detailed list of areas to look at, improve, or address. We went through and made all those changes. Thanks to their input, Apple approved our app the first time, without any pushback or required changes. Without their help, we might not have met all of Apple’s requirements. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Their project management is impressive. Whenever we reach out to them, they’re quick to acknowledge our message with an answer or a rough estimate of when they will review sections. What did you find most impressive about them? The relationship that we have is probably unique; most companies would push to do the development themselves. We only needed their know-how, and they were willing to accommodate us. Sidebench understands our agile environment and provides services we haven’t found with other companies. Are there any areas they could improve? From my interactions with them, I can't pinpoint anything that needs improvement. --- #### Frontend Digital Platform Dev for Family Services Provider **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: Dec. 2017 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench is developing the frontend of a scheduling app with multiple user paths and file-storing features. They recently built design models and produced a promotional video to raise funds for the platform.  **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Assistant Deputy Director, Los Angeles County DCFS - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1,001-5,000 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 17, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench’s captivating promotional video has elevated the straightforward web app into a highly anticipated business tool. With meticulous planning and years of expertise, their team is reaching exhaustive milestones at a rapid pace. Despite their inflexible scope, they generate pleasing results. "“They’re professional, comprehensive, prompt, and they deliver amazing work.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the assistant deputy director at the L.A. County’s Department of Children and Family Services, the largest child protective services agency in the U.S. As a member of the 12-person executive team, I advise the director on public affairs, government relations, and program management. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? As a part of our efforts to build healthy relationships between the 34,000 children that we serve and their parents, we spend 2 million hours each year on coordinating 4 million hours of visitation. We hoped to resolve this administrative burden with technology. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench was tasked with developing a single platform that encompassed the distinct needs of our 20 regional offices. We also needed them to produce a promotional video to get approval and funding from our stakeholders. They identified our different business models and built replicas of the frontend’s design and functionality. The app has unique user paths for the three profile types, which are the requestor, the coordinator, and the monitor. A requestor summons a coordinator to schedule visitation hours, and the monitor is sent an alert. External parties can receive texts and respond with a confirmation or cancellation. Icons are used to track the status so that all parties are informed throughout the entire process. Court documents and case files can also be stored on the app. Sidebench is currently working with our information systems department on front- and backend integration. What is the team composition? The assigned project manager serves as our main point of contact, but we also interact with the tech lead and the strategic partner. They also have an in-house counsel who helps us navigate the contract, while their founder and CEO assists with our efforts to engage partners and funders. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We were introduced to them through a connection that we made at a tech conference. After reviewing their work, we decided that they would be the perfect fit. How much have you invested with them? The upfront design cost about $70,000. We plan to spend close to $375,000 for the second half of the project. What is the status of this engagement? They have been working with us since December 2017. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We recently presented their promotional video at a conference, and all of the social workers in attendance were moved to tears; everyone in the industry is excited for the time-reducing tool to be released.  How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? The assigned project manager is highly proactive, so we’re able to assume a laissez-faire approach. They always meet the milestones that they mapped out at the beginning of the project, but we still hold weekly calls to track their progress. What did you find most impressive about them? They’re professional, comprehensive, prompt, and they deliver amazing work.  Are there any areas they could improve? We understand that adhering to the contract protects their bottom line, but a more flexible scope would be beneficial from a clients’ needs perspective. --- #### Design Strategy & Workshop for Healthcare Grants Foundation **The Project** - Services: Digital Strategy - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Jan. 2018 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench supports a foundation that promotes accessible healthcare to adults with disabilities. Their insight creates better connections with health tech designers and developers through a series of workshops. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Executive Director, WITH Foundation - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 17, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: The first workshop reached about 20 developers, and a symposium and beta testing initiative aim to attract at least twice as many participants. Sidebench was willing to work outside their normal scope for this project, and they took time to learn about the community. "“Their insight is strong, and they’re great to work with.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. We are a private foundation that promotes comprehensive and accessible healthcare for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We are a national grant maker that primarily issues grants which promote comprehensive models of service, cultural competency trainings, and supported decision-making within healthcare settings. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? Our headquarters are in Silicon Valley, so we see a lot of new digital health developments and technology releases. We want to be sure the disability community is included in the development of these new technologies. Our digital health initiative seeks to include the perspectives and experiences of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench joined our digital health initiative for our Universal Design workshop, which allowed adults with developmental disabilities to give feedback to designers and developers. The workshop was a success, so we’re expanding it to a symposium and a project we’re calling Beta Day. The hope is to reach a broad array of representatives from tech companies and support them in beta testing their products with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Our needs are unique among Sidebench’s clients, as they’re not developing technology for us. They provide insight into the way designers and developers think and are ultimately responsible for creating the educational components of the workshop. We want to make sure we speak to the tech community in the best way possible, so Sidebench delivers more content and better outreach. Their insight is strong, and they’re great to work with. What is the team composition? We currently primary work with Ben Nguyen (Director of Sidebench Health, Sidebench), Nina Ho (Product Manager, Sidebench), and two other members of their team. Lindsay Garet (Product Manager, Sidebench) was also very helpful to us during with the first workshop.  How did you come to work with Sidebench? We initially found them through a contact at USC. We worked with USC on a digital health project, and he introduced us to Sidebench. Since then, he’s been our main contact throughout this iteration. How much have you invested with them? In total, we’ve spent a little over $80,000, or around $40,000 for each workshop or symposium. What is the status of this engagement? Planning for the Universal Design pilot program started in January 2018. That workshop occurred in March 2018. We then started working on the Symposium and Beta Day in July 2018. Both events will be at the end of November 2018. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We measure the impact in one tangible way, namely how many companies or individuals in the tech space attend the workshop or symposium. The initial pilot program was going to be small, but we were very impressed by the number of designers and developers that participated. We were also pleased by the amount of feedback we received. For the upcoming symposium, we hope to ramp up the pilot program­—which had 18–20 participants–and make it larger. Ultimately, we hope for around 50 participants. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Our primary communication channel is email, but we also speak on the phone every two weeks. They’re one of the most responsive companies I’ve ever worked with. What did you find most impressive about them? I’m impressed by their flexibility and speed. Disability inclusivity wasn’t really a part of their scope when we began conversations about our digital health initiatives, but they’ve come a long way to understand the community and stakeholders we serve. They’re very open to our needs and have a broadminded approach. Are there any areas they could improve? We don’t have any negative feedback at this time, but, since our partnership is ongoing, we may have more critical feedback at a later time. --- #### Dev of Software Database for Venture Capital Firm **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: July 2017 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench designed a business intelligence (BI) tool that aggregates information from internal and external data sources. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CIO, VC Firm - Industry: Financial services - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Oct 1, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Although it’s too early to measure the ROI, the highly adopted tool is already making a significant impact on business. Sidebench was flexible with their scheduling but firm with their determination to produce high-quality results. ""Sidebench's data tool is one of the few platforms that we've adopted into our daily work routine." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the CIO of a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage tech startups. My role includes overseeing the internal IT and providing consulting services for clients within our portfolios. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We needed to find a more professional way to present business data to our stakeholders, so we decided to develop a BI solution. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? The scope that we provided wasn’t clearly designed, so Sidebench produced a few product concepts for us. After a series of back-and-forth discussions, they moved on to develop a robust data aggregation platform with a sophisticated UI. The tool pulls internal and external data from Salesforce, Crunchbase, PitchBook, and other sources. We’re currently planning to build another aggregation tool that helps us mine the web for new talent in the tech industry. What is the team composition? We frequently corresponded with their partner and CEO Kevin Yamazaki, but their business analyst Chase Adams was our main point of contact. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We discovered them through an internal referral. Of all the companies that we reached out to, Sidebench had the most professional presentation. How much have you invested with them? We’ve spent $100,000 with them so far. What is the status of this engagement? Development began in July 2017. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? We're often introduced to innovative technology, but Sidebench's data tool is one of the few platforms that we've adopted into our daily work routine. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Their team had an unwavering amount of determination to achieve the project’s goals. Hoping to make a good first impression, they originally proposed a very time-consuming scope of work; fortunately, they were able to adjust the schedule with a more immediate launch date. Sidebench was very responsive to our needs and kept us updated with their progress via online tools like Smartsheet. What did you find most impressive about them? While other companies pitched their services from a sales perspective, Sidebench used their engineering expertise to explain how their services could resolve our issues. Are there any areas they could improve? Their pricing isn’t very clear, which caused a sticker shock when we received the first invoice. Do you have any advice for potential customers? It’s always helpful to test compatibility before solidifying a partnership; research the company’s philosophy and past work to determine if they’d be a good fit. --- #### Web App Design & Dev for Venture Capital Firm **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Apr. 2014 - Apr. 2016 **Project Summary**: Sidebench designed and developed three web applications to facilitate interactions between networks of clients. The apps are mobile responsive and integrate with Google and Bing. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Former Partner, Executive Talent, Venture Capital Firm - Industry: Financial services - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 23, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Exceeding all expectations, Sidebench produced a high-quality product on time and on budget. Proactive in their recommendations and creative, they have their clients’ best interests in mind, while their expertise and ability to guide the process makes them a reliable partner. "“They're very hands-on, reliable, and thoughtful. … We had a great experience.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. At the time of the project, I worked at a venture capital firm. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We were building various technology platforms to help us manage our network of clients and our interactions with the network. We only had Salesforce administrators in-house, so we were looking for a company to create a business application and handle all of our custom integrations. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? They managed the entire process from designing to prototyping the product. Using node.js, HTML5, and other technology, they built a desktop application that was also mobile responsive. They automated a lot of functions on the backend and made it possible for us to capture data from the users and improve communication. Also, they integrated the app with Google and Bing. In total, they built three applications for us: one internal and two external facing apps. They explained to me how InVision works and walked me through the entire process. They're good listeners and did an excellent job bringing my ideas to life. In addition, they performed product testing and continue to maintain the applications. What is the team composition? We worked with a product manager, a designer, and a number of engineers. How did you come to work with them? They're proactive in making recommendations and offer a strategic value rather than just execution. They're honest and efficient when it comes to thinking about business problems and marketing. In addition, we liked their design ideas and cost estimates, so we decided they were the right fit.  How much have you invested with them? We spent about $200,000. The first product they developed cost $30,000 and the second one was about $75,000. Our large software development project was close to $100,000, which was a great value for the size of the project. What is the status of this engagement? We started working with them in April 2014 and the project was completed in April 2016. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? They've produced very high-quality products, making our job easier. It was as if they read our mind and then delivered exactly what we needed. With their help, we were able to hit our KPIs quicker. How did they perform from a project management standpoint? They're very hands-on, reliable, and thoughtful. They were always on time or they gave us detailed reasons as to why they had to change the timelines. We used Basecamp to keep track of the project. What did you find most impressive about them? They're smart, professional, and understand their clients. Some agencies are either very creative or good at implementation, but Sidebench is a perfect combination of both. They're innovative when it comes to business models, and at the same time, they're always looking out for their clients' best interests. Their primary focus is not on making money, which is why their clients end up with better products than they had expected. Are there any areas they could improve? No. I never had any issues with them. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Be clear at the beginning about whether you need help generating ideas or you already know what you're developing. Those will be two different processes. If you know what you're developing, they can execute on it. If you're not sure about the product, they can help you define your vision and then bring it to life. --- #### Mobile App Dev for Health Insurance Company **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $1,000,000 to $9,999,999 - Project length: Jan. 2015 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench developed iOS and Android mobile apps, managing the frontend, backend, and internal application integration. They continue to iterate and maintain the platforms. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CIO, Inland Empire Health Plan - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 501-1,000 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 22, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: The new apps increased member downloads from about 1,000 to 90,000. User transactions have significantly increased and the apps have received high ratings in app stores. Accessible, quick, and organized, their team continues to be a great partner to work with as the platforms evolve.  "“Since releasing Sidebench's app, we've seen about 90,000 installs and close to two million transactions per year.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I'm the chief information officer at Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), a safety net health plan with about 1.2 million members within the Inland Empire. Our services include Medicaid, Medicare, and HMO, so we work on the provider side as well as on member engagement and maintenance. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We wanted to increase our member engagement and improve on how we communicate our services. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench developed iOS and Android mobile apps, acting as a full development shop for us from concept to finished product. One app acts as a member portal, where users can check claims, see their prior claims and HMO authorizations, and communicate to our internal staff. Users can also access their ID through the app, make appointments, and choose or change their primary care physician (PCP). We plan to also include wellness functionality to the app in the near future. They provided both frontend and backend development of the apps, integrating them into our internal applications. They've also helped map out a communications strategy around member engagement. What is the team composition? Most of my interaction is with the president of Sidebench and one of his senior account managers. Our team collaborates with their team of developers and project managers as well, so we've probably worked with a total of 15–20 people. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We went through an RFP process and gave a handful of developers six weeks to deliver a concept to us. Sidebench had the best presentation. How much have you invested with them? Over the last few years, we've spent in the range of $3–4 million. What is the status of this engagement? We've been working with them since 2015. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Previously, our member portal was utilized by about 1,000 registered users annually. Since releasing Sidebench's app, we've seen about 90,000 installs and close to two million transactions per year. It's received an average user rating of at least four stars in app stores. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? We both run an agile shop, so their processes line up well with our in-house processes. As bugs come up, Sidebench's team is quick to fix them and make any iterations relatively quickly. We don't have any trouble reaching them and generally track projects and communication through Workfront, Slack, and Jira. What did you find most impressive about them? They can transform a simple idea or concept into a concrete deliverable in a short timeframe. They do all the research and hard work in between without us having to worry. They've made it easy to add to our roadmap as needed. Are there any areas they could improve? No. They continue to become more experienced in the healthcare industry, so that's an added bonus for us. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Look for a partner that's flexible and able to fill in the blanks when you need them filled them. --- #### Product Roadmap Dev for Medical Technology Solutions Startup **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Oct. 2017 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench provided business strategy and research services for a medical tech company looking to scale up. They performed an architectural review of existing software and devised marketing and growth plans. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Co-Founders, RobustForLife - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Mar 21, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench’s expertise and attention to detail have helped connect investors to a developing product while avoiding unnecessary expenses. Their research has also helped refine product goals and narrow down intended user groups. They deliver products quickly and adapt well to budget constraints. "“They respond promptly to every request, they stick to the timeline, and they stayed within the limits of our budget.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. John Armato: I’m a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine. Ronald Ruby: I’m an endocrinologist. JA: We’re the co-founders of RobustForLife, which is an early-stage business model that involves the use of a software to help prevent Type II diabetes. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? JA: We’ve developed our own software and report-generating capability, which we’ve been sharing within a small medical community that focuses on the prevention of diabetes and its complications. Our challenge has been figuring out how to scale up our business and position ourselves in a way that can help us attract investors and new customers. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? JA: We brought in Sidebench to review the technical architecture underpinning our software, our server setup, and the way we’re linked to different hospitals and labs that provide data or services to us. Next, we asked them to build us a strategic roadmap and identify the steps we still need to take in order to grow our business and fully launch the software. They’ve also come up with marketing plans and consulted with us on website development and scalability. We tasked them with helping us plan how to move from a purely informational “brochure-style” site to a full patient platform when our service is totally up and running. RR: They’ve finished the roadmap and some additional research tasks so far. JA: We asked them to make a report on any FDA compliance issues we might run into, which they’ve delivered. Right now they’re nearly finished with the web design review. What is the team composition? JA: So far, we’ve worked with a production manager, a UX/UI designer, a business strategy consultant, and a web developer. How did you come to work with Sidebench? JA: A family member was a client of theirs and referred them to us. They also had previous experience working with healthcare-focused clients, so that appealed to us as well. RR: One of the members of their team is actually a medical student, which made for an easy working relationship. If there were topics they weren’t familiar with regarding medicine or specific regulations, they were very efficient in connecting us to third-party sources who could answer those questions promptly and thoroughly. How much have you invested with them? JA: As of right now, we’ve probably spent around $35,000. What is the status of this engagement? RR: We started working with them in October 2017. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? JA: Their architectural review allowed us to avoid spending money on a technical expansion we didn’t really need. The information they provided in our roadmap has helped us move forward in talks with our investors. We now have funding commitments for the next phase of our plan, which is a pilot project. They’ve also affected our strategic plan in terms of modifying the final product so it generates information more efficiently and focuses more specifically on two specific groups of end-users they helped us identify. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? JA: We usually meet twice per week. We found that transparency regarding expectations on both sides made the process run smoothly. RR: In terms of communication, there’s a combination of in-person discussion, Skype calls, and online interaction. They were very easy to work with. They’re efficient and they outlined their costs and the total number of hours very carefully along each step in the process. JA: We’ve worked with other vendors before and Sidebench’s level of service really distinguishes them. They respond promptly to every request, they’ve stuck to the timeline, and they stayed within the limits of our budget. RR: We really didn’t think we could afford their services, but they’ve adjusted in order to accommodate us. They’re very thoughtful about how to proceed. JA: They’ve been able to find creative ways to accomplish our goals within the confines that we have, which we appreciate. What did you find most impressive about them? JA: I don’t like investing money if it doesn’t get me where I need to go, so we were initially hesitant because of the cost. I’m glad we moved forward because they’ve delivered incredible value in return. Not only have they helped us work within the confines of our budget, they’ve also given us realistic feedback on how much money we should expect to spend as a new start-up. And, the caliber of their employees is really impressive. We’ve worked with a lot of people over the years and Sidebench’s team stands out for their expertise, creativity, and flexibility. RR: I’m impressed by their efficiency. If we have a meeting on a particular day, they’ll send out reminders in advance and be fully prepared by the time we talk. Do you have any advice for potential customers? RR: Listen to what your consultants say because they’re usually right. That can be difficult, especially in our line of work, because you’re used to assuming you have the answers, but their team will use its expertise to guide you down the right path. --- #### Web Dev & UI/UX Design for Media Conglomerate **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Jan. - May 2016 **Project Summary**: Sidebench developed the UI/UX design of a new website to consolidate a larger online presence. They collaborated on mockups through several iterations and presented to executive-level staff for approval. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** VP, Global Media Operations, Media Company - Industry: Arts, entertainment & music - Client size: 10,001+ Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 22, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Communication was initially inconsistent but vastly improved over time. Through a cooperative approach, Sidebench took the time to understand the project’s true scope. They adhered to creative direction, but proactively made suggestions when necessary to ultimately improve the final product. "“We really like the product. They gave us exactly what we were looking for and better.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the VP of global media operations for a media company. I oversee our company’s digital supply chain operation. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We were consolidating our marketing websites and needed their help designing a framework and UX that is cohesive with all our other sites. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? The first steps included giving them a demo of the existing systems we planned to retire and talking about our vision for the new framework. Then, we provided high-level design principles for them to follow. They interviewed us to fully understand the business process and dug deep into the existing systems and designs. They came up with a few proposals on how the new site could flow and be structured. We collaborated to further refine the designs and they presented the proposal to our executive management staff. Once that was approved, they provided us with the detailed design mockups and components we needed to build the site. In total, they designed 10–15 pages of mockups that went through four rounds of iteration. What is the team composition? We interacted with an assigned project manager and an analyst, but there was probably a larger team doing a lot of work as well. Additionally, their CEO was heavily involved in crucial executive meetings. How did you come to work with Sidebench? They came through a recommendation from either an employee or contractor that I was working with. We had discussions with them to see if they could deliver the right scope of work. They demonstrated their portfolio and we found their approach valuable. Therefore, we decided to hire them. How much have you invested with them? We spent around $50,000–$100,000. What is the status of this engagement? We worked with them from January–May 2016. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? Hired designers often have their own ideas they want to impose on the given project. The people at Sidebench were very good about listening and understanding the journey we need to go through for a successful transition. They stayed consistent with our needs and principles, but also added some flair and creative ideas. That kind of innovative thinking led to a more polished product. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? The beginning of the project was a little shaky, but after a quick escalation, they got back on track. We’d communicate primarily through email but also had multiple meetings through WebEx. We had no issues with the budget and they completed the project within the expected timeline. What did you find most impressive about them? One area of the site didn't follow the specific themes that we were looking for, but they were asked by one of our executives to design it that way. They did an outstanding job of articulating some of the challenges with that theme and supported us in convincing the executive to move away from that direction. That’s impressive to see because most vendors just take orders and do exactly what you tell them. Sidebench had a good approach to pushing back and offering something above and beyond what we asked of them. Are there any areas they could improve? Management level personnel could’ve been more involved at the beginning of the project, rather than waiting for us to escalate. That’s a minor complaint and overall, I’m satisfied with the way they performed. Do you have any advice for potential customers? The ability of a company to understand our needs is extremely important. The listening aspect of a partnership is often undervalued. Looking at a company’s portfolio is standard practice, but it's vital for them to understand our vision and culture. Sidebench did an excellent job with that aspect and I’ve seen it lacking in other companies we’ve used. --- #### iOS Mobile App Dev & Design for Health & Fitness Program **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $200,000 to $999,999 - Project length: July 2017 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: After many concept workshops, Sidebench is developing a health and fitness app for iOS while providing the design work. The app is rife with content and features unique fitness evaluation capabilities. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** CEO, Manifest - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 13, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench blends practical development with innovative design principals. Internal and external feedback to app development has been positive. They complete project milestones by the planned schedule and deliver within budget. The team’s responsive and willing to engage in productive dialogue. "“They have a really good pulse of current markets and strategies; they're a talented group of people.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the founder and CEO of Manifest, a health and fitness program for people who aren’t already participating in health and fitness. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? Working with other firms, I had issues melding design with development and wanted to find a vendor who could collaborate effectively across those domains. I needed a cohesive team to create my company’s mobile app. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? I worked with two previous developers and had a version of the Manifest app complete. However, the focus changed and it had to be significantly updated. I had already spent a lot of money and it became apparent I’d have to hire a designer. I wasn’t comfortable moving forward with that plan and instead, hired Sidebench to redesign and develop the app from the ground up. We’ve gone through workshops regarding the flow of the app and they’ve been very thorough in getting a full understanding of the concept before starting development. Now with a defined vision, they’re currently developing the app for iOS. As a key feature, we have a proprietary formula for evaluating people's states as they begin the program and throughout the program. This ultimately yields an adherence score as a measure of success. Additionally, the app supports communication between our participants and facilitators. Another feature is that the app’s going to be extremely rich with video and written content compared to other fitness apps. Once completed, Sidebench will help me create a visual pitch presentation for pitch deck purposes. What is the team composition? I’ve worked with six members of their team including a project manager, development lead, design lead, and two supporting staff members. There’s also a business development manager. I assume there are more people involved with whom I didn’t interface. How did you come to work with Sidebench? Sidebench was referred to me by a trusted colleague. They felt like the right choice during the interview process. I appreciated some of their previous work and we had a great rapport, so I hired them. How much have you invested with them? I’ve spent about $370,000. What is the status of this engagement? We started working together in July 2017 and the relationship is ongoing. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? I have an internal team that works with Manifest and helps me gauge if the new design work is up to par. So far, everyone on the team is excited about what Sidebench is producing. Additionally, their business development manager introduced me to a contact who runs a health conference. That meeting led to us presenting Manifest at the conference and receiving a lot of outside validation of Sidebench’s work. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? I'm not good at sticking with budgets or schedules, but they do a fabulous job. We have weekly check-ins where they go over what they're working on and so far everything has been right on-time and within budget. We communicate via email and Google Hangouts. What did you find most impressive about them? They offer a thorough and organized process, but what’s truly notable is their creativity. Everyone’s input is extremely valuable and it helps keep me on-task. Communicating with developers is often frustrating, but that was never the case here. They're a young and exciting team with a fresh perspective. They have a really good pulse of current markets and strategies; they're a talented group of people. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Work with like-minded developers/designers that understand your concept and have enthusiasm for the project. --- #### UI/UX Re-Design for Online Healthcare Booking Platform **The Project** - Services: UX/UI Design - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Aug. - Sep. 2017 **Project Summary**: Sidebench provided UX/UI for an online booking engine in the healthcare sphere. Working within a highly regulated vertical, they built the new product through an iterative process. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Co-Founder, Online Booking Engine - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 5, 2018 **Feedback Summary**: They delivered the product within two months and ahead of schedule. Their performance exceeded expectations and the app increased conversion rates. A project manager was readily available via phone or email. "“They really understand healthcare and the design challenges within it.” " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I am the co-founder and COO of an online booking engine for substance abuse recovery treatment. We help match individuals to the appropriate facilities and level of care. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We had a rudimentary web application that we wanted to take to the next level. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? They did UX/UI work for our web app, as well as some mobile design. The healthcare vertical is highly regulated, so we had to overcome some challenges from an aesthetic standpoint. They provided an initial comprehensive scope of work with all the features we wanted, followed by design builds for review. We gave feedback and made changes before landing on the final product. What is the team composition? They had two designers and a project manager. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We had a couple of local referrals. We started off with introductory calls and an in-house meeting with their team. I liked their clear, concise, and prompt communication style and their relevant body of work. How much have you invested with them? We invested about $20,000. What is the status of this engagement? The project went from August to September 2017. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? They came in ahead of schedule and increased our conversion rates in a portion of our funnel. The quality of their work went above and beyond our expectations. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? They were fantastic. Our project manager was always available by phone or email, even on weekends. We had a lot of back and forth on Zeppelin, where they delivered all the mockups. What did you find most impressive about them? They really understand healthcare and the design challenges within it. Are there any areas they could improve? No. Do you have any advice for potential customers? Come up with the goals and deliverables you want, and do your due diligence before engaging an outside vendor. --- #### Mobile App Dev for Drone **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Dec. 2016 - Aug. 2017 **Project Summary**: Sidebench designed and built the first version of a unique drone companion app for iOS and Android. The team continues to make enhancements for future versions. They also assist with testing and distribution. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 4.5 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 4.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Head of Technology, IoT Company - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Aug 24, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Test users praise the app’s intuitive and clean interface, which shows the quality of Sidebench’s work. The team’s passion for the project is palpable. Sidebench delivers solid results despite aggressive deadlines, changing requirements, and multiple time zones.    "“Sidebench shows a real passion for the project and … remains open-minded about changing requirements.”" **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. Our company works on developing and distributing consumer technology products for the U.S. and Australian markets. I’m responsible for the technical aspects of the products that are being developed. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We needed to design and develop a new mobile app to accompany a selfie drone. It was a free app that customers could download once they purchased the drone. The app had to be simple to use and provide easy access to social media. Our target market was modern tech and selfie lovers, but even nondrone enthusiasts should be able to learn how to use the app easily. This app would be deployed on both Android and iOS for phones and tablets. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? They developed two apps for the Android and iOS platforms, with a heavy focus on the complete UX/UI [user experience/user interface] design to allow for the easy adoption of the product. Sidebench managed the full development and user testing process all the way up to deployment. They managed the upload of the app to the App Store and Google Play. This included controlling regional deployment. The app connects to a drone and allows users to control the drone. Users can also do live streaming, download media files, and post them on social media. Key features include simple onboarding screens, a link to Wi-Fi settings from the main menu, and an intuitive flight interface. Users have access to the drone gallery. Through the app, they have the ability to download the camera roll and link to social media. How did you come to work with Sidebench? We looked at in-house resources, outsourced teams, and a local agency in Sydney. We picked Sidebench because they were reputable. They were recommended by our U.S. affiliate office for their strength in design and deployment. We were advised that Sidebench was capable of turning around work on very aggressive timelines, which was the biggest factor in choosing them. What is the status of this engagement? This has been an ongoing development, from the initial app release to periodical updates. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement? The drone has only recently been released, so there is currently little data available for the app. However, the soon-to-be-released upgraded flight interface has had a very positive response from our test users, who say that the app design is clean and simple. They find it easy to use and understand. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? We use Slack for daily communication and JIRA for more technical bug management. We have an aggressive timeline, with fortnightly sprints. For the first app release, they’ve successfully delivered despite incredibly tight deadlines. Our largest challenge has been working with the hardware provider, who is based in China. This is a logistical nightmare since it involves three completely different time zones. Fortunately, Sidebench’s team is willing to work after business hours to allow better communication between all three groups. What did you find most impressive about them? Sidebench shows a real passion for the project and remains dedicated to the job. The team remains open-minded about changing requirements, making a great effort to satisfy these changes. Jay [Partner & Head of Product Innovation, Sidebench] and his team are great to liaise with. They make us feel comfortable and confident. Are there any areas they could improve? This is a new kindof project for Sidebench, especially dealing with a third-party backend solution that interfaces with hardware. The team has definitely learned a lot from this experience, as have we. --- #### Melody **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: **Project Summary**: Sidebench provided technology, product development, branding, and marketing for a mobile app. They first created a POC, then developed the first wireframes. Their work includes design and backend development. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Co-Founder, Melody - Industry: Media - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Apr 4, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench’s developed POC raised triple the expected amount of funds from seed investors. Their wireframes and designs saved countless hours and dollars over other contractors. The team at Sidebench is organized and always on time, and their deliverables are top notch and high-quality. ""The team they proposed was creative, engaging, smart, and accountable..." " **BACKGROUND** Melody is a mobile application that is revolutionizing the way people discover and create content. We are focused on media and content and are based in Santa Monica, California. Melody has ten employees. Our content localizes itself, so our target market is international and domestic. Our target audience is people from 15–30 years of age. I am the CEO and co-founder. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** We had two primary business opportunities. First, we engaged with Sidebench to create a POC [proof of concept]. In this regard, we tasked them with technological investigation, product architecture, and commercial viability. Their efforts to scope and validate our project yielded an excellent POC. In fact, this POC enabled us to cut time and resources when we began the build in earnest. More importantly, we needed the POC to raise money from our initial seed investors. They delivery was so slick and so functional that it helped us to raise more than twice our initial investment expectation. Secondly, we worked with Sidebench to help architect the first workable wireframes. In this capacity, they provided tremendous help on the server side issues. On the client side, they developed beautiful, intuitive product designs that sped development. Our server-side and client-facing internal teams felt that the delivery was so well vetted that we were able to develop the minimum viable product with great effectiveness. **SOLUTION** We did an enormous amount of due diligence before selecting this critical partner. We met with at least eight separate technology studios. Sidebench delivered the most compelling vision. Sidebench took our specs and ideas and added to them in ways that moved the product forward by leaps and bounds. The team they proposed was creative, engaging, smart, and accountable, and gave us a measure of confidence we did not get from other companies. Kevin, the founder, and his reputation as a tech/creative leader preceded our discussions. I had heard his name often and was eager to engage with him. We were even more impressed than we expected. The scope of Sidebench's work was broad. They provided creative ideation, technological development, thought partnership, product expertise, client-side expertise, server-side guidance, branding work, and team training. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Sidebench was perfection. Their work was top notch. We were able to use the POC they created to raise triple our expected seed round. Their work on the product development side was equally impressive. They expanded on our initial idea to help us create an even more compelling product. Through their tech guidance, we were able to remove potential server-side landmines. Their wireframes and design work saved us months of time and thousands of dollars in full-time equivalent contract work. Sidebench provides a tremendous and unique service. Their combined expertise in areas as disparate as technology, product development, branding, and marketing is unique in the field and creates exponential gain! --- #### Android App Redesign for Crowdsolving Platform **The Project** - Services: Mobile App Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Nov. - Jan. 2016 **Project Summary**: Using the iOS version as a guideline, Sidebench took the 2.0 version of an Android app rewrote, refactored, and debugged the native code to build the 3.0 Android version of this platform. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** VP Product & Engineering, POPin Inc. - Industry: Business services - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Feb 26, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench was complimented for their agile project management and ability to deliver a high-quality product under limited guidance. ""They delivered fantastic quality and communication." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. I’m the VP of product and engineering for POPin, a crowdsolving platform for enterprises of all sizes. Our solution drives success for a company’s initiatives through the intimate engagement of its employees, partners, and clients. We offer Software-as-a-service via web and mobile apps. Currently, we have 35 employees. Our office is located in Orange County, California. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? We recently launched version 3.0 of our product but did not have the resources to redesign our native Android app. We needed a high-functioning and focused team who could be an extension of our development team. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench did a spec-less port of our existing Android app to the new version 3.0 design. They only used our version 3.0 iOS and web app as the guidelines for rewriting an existing native Android app. It required lots of refactoring of the native Android code, as well as development and debugging. They had to work autonomously while staying in close coordination with our development team. We were not able to spare many support cycles for this, so they needed to be highly self-directed.   How did you come to work with Sidebench? Sidebench was a referral from a team member that had worked with them in the past. After considering a number of other firms, we concluded Sidebench had the right mix of UI/UX [user interface/user experience] design expertise and technical ability. What is the status of this engagement? The project duration was approximately three months. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement? We had a rough start. Sidebench had a disconnect very early in the project due to some resource shuffling, which we didn't notice for a few of weeks. Once they refocused, they were extremely timely and effective. They delivered fantastic quality and communication. They also seemed to be agile enough to roll with changes and execute without much guidance from us. How did Sidebench perform from a project management standpoint? Everything was managed by Sidebench, although they were deeply connected with our product development team. As a result of the early disconnect, they did overrun the very tight schedule by about three weeks. They managed to stay within our budget. Are there any areas Sidebench could improve? Had Sidebench maintained a weekly cadence of check-ins with our team right from the beginning, they would have realized the disconnect on their side much sooner. That would have prevented the schedule overrun. --- #### Loyalty API & Customer Interface for Oakley **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: Oct. 2014 - Oct. 2015 **Project Summary**: In a 12-month period, Sidebench Studios delivered a new API solution with a dynamic interface for Oakley's enterprise customer solution.  **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 4.5 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Former Senior Manager, Oakley - Industry: Retail - Client size: 1,001-5,000 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Feb 21, 2017 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench Studios' detailed documentation, preparation, and focus on quality lead to the identification of security gaps that Oakley's prior solution had not addressed. ""Sidebench was incredibly well prepared for the work since day one. " " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. Oakley, the subsidiary of Luxottica, an Italian eyewear accessory company, designs, develops and manufactures sports performance equipment and lifestyle pieces including sunglasses, ski/snowboard goggles, apparel, optical frames, and other accessories. I was the Senior Global Loyalty Manager from 2013–2015 overseeing lead scoring, loyalty strategy development, and game mechanics. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench? To ensure that the brand was on track to deliver on the $1 billion revenue goal for 2014, my team and I developed a loyalty program to identify and track the customer potential. We had very little quantifiable data for identifying the value of the returning customer and the opportunity to create more frequent customers. We sought to retain customers by increasing the return rate in a 24-month period and expand the gateway product purchase beyond eyewear. We focused on delivering growth against the newly identified target audience of 25–45-year-olds, and increased engagement with young women who are more frequent shoppers of accessories and apparel. We worked to drive the order value up across the more frequent shoppers by driving awareness of the expanded product portfolio. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? We looked at the current but limited customer e-commerce data to provide some customer benchmarks. We then identified two business partners for the enterprise system implementation, customer interface, brand design, and program strategy. The solution required data hosting and scoring, program mechanics, and a customer interface. How did you come to work with Sidebench? Six months into the program, we recognized our enterprise customer solution interface sorely lacked the quality we needed. We hosted a request for proposal to find a new partner to create an API solution with a dynamic interface representative of the Oakley brand. Sidebench won the bid against two well-established development firms, and the work was to be completed in 12 months. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement? Sidebench was incredibly well prepared for the work since day one. The detailed documentation and well thought through solutions impacted the work greatly. As a result of the quality, they even found areas of security that our enterprise solution failed to disclose. --- #### Mobile Prototyping for Storytelling Platform **The Project** - Services: UX/UI Design - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: Jan. 2015 - Ongoing **Project Summary**: Sidebench helped build the prototype of a mobile platform on Proto.io. The team developed screens, workflows, and design documents for the app and improved the user flow and design quality. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 4.5 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Co-founder, Storytelling Platform - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jul 25, 2016 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench is a small but talented team that produced high-quality work. Their effective project management system ensured compliance to the agreed-upon budget and timeline and very few design changes had to be made after completion. ""They took ownership of the project and provided many ideas." " **BACKGROUND** Introduce your business and what you do there. We are a startup developing a digital fiction and storytelling platform working as a mobile app. I am one of the co-founders of the company. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench Studios? I had some general design principles for the experience that we wanted to deliver. We were looking for a company that could help us with designs and workflows, enabling us to create a prototype. **SOLUTION** What was the scope of their involvement? Sidebench Studios helped us with prototyping. We built our initial version using Proto.io. It's available on any compatible mobile platform. Sidebench Studios developed all the screens, workflows, and design documents for the app. We worked with 4 people from Sidebench Studios' team, including a project manager and a designer. How did you come to work with Sidebench Studios? We were introduced to Sidebench Studios through a referral. How much have you invested with Sidebench Studios? The total cost of Sidebench Studios' services during our prototyping phase was around $30,000. What is the status of this engagement? We started working with Sidebench Studios at the middle of 2015. Our app is currently within a closed alpha stage. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement? We've worked with some very good developers on this project. From their perspective, the documentation, screens, and workflows from Sidebench Studios were as well-constructed as possible. We had 2 different user testing groups working with Sidebench Studios, so we haven't made many design changes. How did Sidebench Studios perform from a project management standpoint? Sidebench Studios stuck to our timeline and budget. We mainly communicated using email, Google Hangouts, and Skype. What did you find most impressive about Sidebench Studios? We were very happy with Sidebench Studios. They took ownership of the project and provided many ideas. Sidebench Studios is a small company, but they have many talented people, which worked out nicely for us. The fact that Sidebench Studios was a local company was also great. Are there any areas Sidebench Studios could improve? No. --- #### iOS Team Augmentation for Large Media Company **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: Confidential - Project length: **Project Summary**: Sidebench Studios helped the client to build a back-end system and iOS photo booth application for their company events. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Senior Engineer, Media Company - Industry: Information technology - Client size: 5,001-10,000 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — May 20, 2016 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench Studios’ focus on project management and leadership has led to a seamless collaboration with the client’s in-house development team. The client notes the app’s use across all business units as a big win for the project. ""[Sidebench Studios]'ve been able to help guide the vision as well as a back it up with a solid technical team."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your organization. We're a media and tech company that produces, publishes, distributes, and licenses high-quality sport, entertainment, and educational programming. We have an engineering arm.  What is your position? I'm a senior software engineer in the mobile space. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What business challenge were you trying to address with Sidebench Studios? At the time, we didn't have the scale on our engineering team to be able to take on a new project that was given to us. **SOLUTION** Please describe the scope of their involvement in detail. We were building out a back-end system as well as an iOS mobile application. It's a photo booth application, which is now currently used and supported by Sidebench Studios. It was designed for all of our events. How did you come to work with Sidebench Studios? We put out an RFP [request for proposal]. We had a few agencies in the pipeline. We like to use our own preferred vendor list. But, one thing that was awesome was that Sidebench Studios was just right around the corner. They were able to come by and have face time. They were chosen because they were the most familiar with the technology and that was mostly their wheelhouse – tying a mobile device to a solid back-end stack.  Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms? In the beginning, we had a project-based agreement. Then, it turned into a service-based agreement.  **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement? It's been a seamless process since the beginning. One of the big wins is that the app is being used across all business units. What distinguishes Sidebench Studios from other providers? Sidebench concentrates a lot on the project management and leadership side of projects. That's helped our partnership. They've been able to help guide the vision as well as a back it up with a solid technical team. Is there anything Sidebench Studios could have improved or done differently? Not really. It was a small scope of work at first. It was a seamless and easy experience. --- #### Website Redesign for Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment **The Project** - Services: Web Design - Project size: $50,000 to $199,999 - Project length: May - Nov. 2015 **Project Summary**: Sidebench streamlined and redesigned the client's website to better appeal to the motion picture industry. They also ensured the site was user-friendly and easy to navigate. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** COO, Chapman/Leonard - Industry: Arts, entertainment & music - Client size: 51-200 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Nov 5, 2015 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench completed the site in six months, and it has received excellent feedback. The client was extremely satisfied with their responsiveness and customer service. ""Sidebench went above and beyond what we wanted."" **BACKGROUND** Chapman/Leonard manufactures custom camera support equipment for all types of motion picture and television productions. We specialize in camera cranes, arms, telescoping arms, dollies, pedestals, remote cameras and camera stabilizing systems. Chapman/Leonard equipment will save on production time, and therefore on production costs, while enhancing your production capabilities. We market to the motion picture industry in Los Angeles, California. I am the chief operating officer [COO] in the company. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** Our goal was to make a more engaging website that would draw in more users and describe our firm better. We are targeting the motion picture industry regarding our line of products so design was important. We needed to find a strong web designer. **SOLUTION** Sidebench Studios was able to streamline our website and come up with a nice design that we liked. Sidebench listened to all our requirements while making sure the website was user-friendly and easy to navigate. The project took six months of hard work, and we finished in 2015. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Sidebench went above and beyond what we wanted. I have heard nothing but exceptional feedback from customers and staff. Sidebench was quick to respond to any feedback we gave them. I am completely satisfied and would give them perfect marks for every criterion. I highly recommend them to others. --- #### Development for Jewelry e-Commerce Website **The Project** - Services: E-Commerce Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: **Project Summary**: Sidebench developed a Shopify e-commerce website with a user-friendly backend for maintenance. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Assistant, Jewelry e-Commerce Website - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Feb 17, 2015 **Feedback Summary**: The website is easy to manage and navigate and has directly improved online sales. Sidebench was personable, easy to work with, and willing to go the extra mile to ensure project success. ""If you come to Sidebench with a good idea, they’ll make it even better."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your organization. We are a small e-commerce jewelry called Anita Ko. We are driving most of our revenue through online sales. What is your role and responsibilities? I’m an assistant. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What was your goal for working with Sidebench Studios? We needed to set up a Shopify e-commerce site that was easy to manage and navigate.  **SOLUTION** Please describe the scope of their work. It was basic and straightforward e-commerce development. What was your process for selecting Sidebench Studios with which to work? They were referred to us through a friend who had also used their e-commerce development. Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you? It was around $25,000. When was the work completed? The work was completed in 2014. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project? Our online sales have definitely improved. Are you satisfied with their performance? Yes, we are satisfied. The website is successful. Is there anything unique about Sidebench Studios that really makes them stand out, compared to other online marketing companies? They’re really nice and personable people. They’re easy to work with and willing to go the extra mile. Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently? I don’t have any complaints. Is there any advice that you would give future clients of theirs? If you come to Sidebench Studios with a good idea, they’ll make it even better. --- #### ASICS World Series of Beach Volleyball **The Project** - Services: Web Design - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: **Project Summary**: Sidebench re-launched the client's consumer website. Their work included redesigning the UI and back-end navigation. **Review Rating**: 4.5 - Quality: 4.5 - Schedule: 4.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 4.5 **The Reviewer** - Industry: Arts, entertainment & music - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Jan 22, 2015 **Feedback Summary**: The new site resulted in more page visits, longer length of visits, and positive user feedback. The client was very satisfied and is currently working with Sidebench on their third version. ""Our web redesign was an overwhelming success."" **BACKGROUND** We are the producers of the largest beach volleyball event in the world outside of the Olympics. Our event attracts more than 50,000 attendees annually and more than 23 million worldwide TV viewers. The event includes a professional competition with the best players in the world, open mass tournaments, and a multiday music festival. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** Sidebench was tasked with relaunching our consumer-facing website for the largest beach volleyball event in the world. This involved a complete redesign of both the UI [user interface] and back-end navigation providing visitors with all elements needed to follow our property, such as stats, videos and results as well as make decisions regarding attending the event and music festival or tuning in on television. **SOLUTION** Sidebench spent considerable time evaluating websites of similar properties to ours to see what worked elsewhere and could be replicated for us, as well as how we could improve on what others were doing. They spent considerable time understanding clearly what our objectives and challenges were and focused on solving those issues at all times. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Our Web redesign was an overwhelming success and navigation for our visitors was greatly improved. This resulted in more page visits, a longer length of time that visitors spent our onsite and significant positive feedback from fans. We are currently working with Sidebench on version 3.0 to build on their success further. --- #### Application Development for Abohd **The Project** - Services: Custom Software Development - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: **Project Summary**: Sidebench was hired to develop a mobile app that would integrate the client's existing database. The company considered the client's goals and best interest when presenting several courses of action. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Co-founder & Product Development Head, Real Estate Company - Industry: Real estate - Client size: 1-10 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Dec 18, 2014 **Feedback Summary**: The app was completed on time and within budget. The client has praised Sidebench's professional conduct and communication, and plans to continue the business relationship with them. ""Sidebench has been nothing short of spectacular."" **BACKGROUND** [Our company's] mission is to bring the sense of community back to apartment living by providing an interactive mobile hub that eases and enhances communication between tenants, their property manager, and the local community. I am the co-founder and head of product development, so I coordinated closely with Sidebench on developing user workflows and the user experience. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** Sidebench was consulted to direct [our] team towards establishing our minimal viable product that could be built within our limited budget while maintaining the core functionality requirements to have an efficient product to release to market. We independently developed our backend database for the mobile app, but then needed Sidebench to develop the Web application while integrating into that database back-end. The major challenge was to integrate the Web and mobile aspects into a cohesive product efficiently while maintaining the individual functionality of both aspects. **SOLUTION** After initial scoping meetings with Sidebench, they proposed two alternative development paths. One was to build off the back-end we developed, using Parse, and the other was develop a new back-end using Rails that would be designed efficiently just for our product. Sidebench helped my team weigh the pros and cons of each method based on our specific goals and company direction over the upcoming year. Even though we decided to go with the cheaper option, due to our own budgetary constraints, Sidebench was not driven by their own financial gain and instead worked with us to determine the best course of action for [our company]. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Sidebench has been nothing short of spectacular. Their friendly and prompt communication has made them a pleasure to work with. They treat clients with the utmost respect and courtesy. Sidebench is clearly focused on delivering an elite product while building professional and personal relationships that last. They delivered our product on time and within our budget while working with our on-team developer. [Our] team looks forward to future projects with Sidebench as we continue to evolve our product. --- #### Web Design for Publishing Company **The Project** - Services: Web Development - Project size: Less than $10,000 - Project length: **Project Summary**: Sidebench designed a publishing website that not only appealed to its readers, but also allowed for growth, e-commerce, and additional capabilities. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Marketing Manager, Stampington & Company - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 11-50 Employees - Review Type: Online Review - Verified **The Review** — Nov 6, 2014 **Feedback Summary**: The site is visually appealing, easy to manage, and responsive to mobile users. Sidebench completed the project on time and within budget, and the client commends their skill and professionalism. ""Sidebench Studios delivered exactly what we wanted."" **BACKGROUND** Our company publishes the largest number of niche magazines in the art and crafting industry, with more than 1 million copies sold annually. We currently produce more than 30 high-quality titles focusing on crafts such as mixed media, paper crafting, and both wearable and digital arts. With premium newsstand placement and representation in all major bookstores, crafting chains, upscale grocery stores, and hundreds of independent art and crafting stores, [our] publications have become synonymous with quality in design, production, content, and photography. The company also maintains a strong presence in the online crafting supply market, offering more than 5,000 art and craft products and a wide variety of self-manufactured art stamps that are sold on the website, which receives more than 20 million hits per month. With more than 100,000 fans, we enjoy sharing even more inspiration across various Social Media platforms. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** With the launch of a brand new title, we wanted to design and build a mobile responsive website that captures this unique brand and mimics the sensory experience of its readers. Some of the challenges were that we also needed to leave room for extensive growth, e-commerce, and a few more capabilities that we just weren't quite ready to utilize at the launch of the new site. **SOLUTION** Having been recommended to us by a past colleague, we decided to outsource this project to Sidebench Studios based on their expertise in this arena and samples of previous Web design and development work. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Sidebench Studios delivered exactly what we wanted: a beautiful, fluid, and functional website that is mobile responsive and gives us the ability to manage changes/growth in-house while keeping the door open for future e-commerce capabilities. I cannot speak highly enough of the skill and professionalism of their team, open communication throughout, including handling new requests seamlessly, and completing this project on time and within budget. This hasn't always been my experience when working with other related companies, designers, and Web developers. [We] will definitely be working with Sidebench Studios again on future projects, and I would highly recommend them for any interactive Web design and developmental projects, cart solutions and fixes, mobile optimization, and other related needs. --- #### Web Design and Email Marketing for National Brewery **The Project** - Services: Web Design - Project size: $10,000 to $49,999 - Project length: **Project Summary**: Sidebench created an email blast template and an email blast initiative for a marketing campaign. They have also redesigned and merged several websites. **Review Rating**: 5.0 - Quality: 5.0 - Schedule: 5.0 - Cost: 5.0 - Willing to Refer: 5.0 **The Reviewer** Associate Brand Manager, National Brewery - Industry: Other industries - Client size: 201-500 Employees - Review Type: Phone Interview - Verified **The Review** — Jan 27, 2014 **Feedback Summary**: Sidebench consistently delivered an easy, turnkey experience on various projects. The team offered high quality, cost-effective products with quick turnaround times. They were pleasant to work with and kept the client informed and educated throughout the process. ""We were comfortable with them, which is not a term we throw around here lightly."" **BACKGROUND** Please describe your company. I work for Pabst Brewing Company, which has a portfolio of beer and malt liquor brands. What is your role and responsibilities? I’m an associate brand manager here, and I work on PBR [Pabst Blue Ribbon] specifically. I handle all the national brand management initiatives that the brand has. **OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE** What was your goal for working with Sidebench Studios? We worked with them when we sponsored the bull riding tour, which we no longer sponsor. We created an email blast template with Sidebench and had plans to starting that effort, which we haven’t done. We started our email blast initiative, which is a marketing automation project. Since then, they’ve done some work for our other brands as well, such as website redesign and merging a couple of websites. That was for our Colt 45 brand. **SOLUTION** Please describe the scope of their work. The work was mostly the email marketing for PBR and Web design for Colt 45. I believe the Colt 45 project just wrapped up, but it was very successful. What was your process for selecting Sidebench Studios? We constantly look for agencies that deliver a high-quality product at a competitive price. Sidebench definitely met those two criteria. They are easy to work with and are on top of everything. It was an easy turnkey experience. Can you provide a ballpark dollar figure for the size of the work that they’ve done for you? These were on the smaller end of the project scale since our relationship with Sidebench Studios is fairly new. When was the latest milestone completed for that work? The initial email marketing project didn’t happen, but it wasn’t their fault. It was because of an internal situation in our company. That project wasn’t that big. The Colt 45 project was about three weeks long, which should have taken a lot longer. They got it done pretty quickly. **RESULTS & FEEDBACK** Do you have any statistics or metrics to track improvement from the project? I don’t have those stats. Is there anything unique about them that really makes them stand out, compared to other companies? It was easy to work with Sidebench. They were on top of everything. Most of us are in the marketing and brand space, and we don’t know much about the digital side. They made sure to keep us informed on what was going on and to educate us as we went through the project. We were comfortable with them, which is not a term we throw around here lightly. We are very particular with the agencies that we hire, and we don’t hire very many of them. Overall, it was a good experience. Looking back on the work so far, is there any area that you think they could improve upon or that you might do differently? Nothing stands out. It was a good initial experience with them that will only get better as we get to know each other and get used to working with each other. I don’t have anything negative that comes to mind. --- ## Portfolio & Awards ### Children's Hospital Los Angeles The Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, a top ranking children's hospital in the US, set out to understand what variables prevented parent's from pursuing follow up care after their child is discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). ### American Heart Association American Heart Association’s Innovation Group wanted to give patients more power to manage their health journeys. In order to give patients easier access to resources, Sidebench translated AHA’s guidelines and content into actionable care plans that can be delivered through mobile platforms. ### nOCD Mobile App nOCD is a revolutionary mobile application in the mental health space that helps patients record objective data in between their regularly scheduled sessions with their therapists. The barriers to entry in understanding a complicated health topic like OCD treatment made for a difficult user experience in the first version of the nOCD app. It became Sidebench's mission to make this first-of-a-kind mobile app into a tool that was as accessible as it was helpful. ### LA County Foster Care The Department of Child Services in Los Angeles, California spends 2 million hours a year arranging 4 million hours of Foster Child visits. They partnered with Sidebench to develop an MVP platform from which they could improve their process into the future. This new platform, called Time2Connect, is expected to save over 500,000 hours/year, allowing social workers to dedicate more time and energy to result-driven outcomes such as reunification of foster children with their biological parents. ### Inland Empire Healthcare While Medi-Cal and Medicare health plans are government funded, Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) strives to offer premium services to its subscribers that are comparable to high-end health plans. To help elevate their service offerings to fit IEHP’s high standards for patient care, and to ultimately empower patients to be proactive about their health, IEHP decided to work with SIdebench to build a bilingual mobile app that gives members access to prescriptions, authorizations, claims, lab results and more. ### Microsoft Microsoft Tech for Social Impact (TSI) is a business unit within Microsoft Philanthropies helping nonprofit organizations reach their goals through cloud technology. In order to reduce the euthanasia rate of companion animals and save the lives of animals across the Washington shelter system, Sidebench built the concept for an Animal Shelter Management application. ### Red Bull Photo Booth App Red Bull hosts nearly 1500 events each year. To produce a photo booth experience at those events, they were using multiple vendors. Working with various entities at different events around the world was costly, inefficient, and not internationally scalable for a global, enterprise brand. Sidebench set out to help Red Bull build their own photo booth technology. ### Sony Entertainment Reviving a beloved film franchise is never an easy task, so when Sony decided to reboot Ghostbusters in 2016, they wanted to think outside of the box. They worked with Sidebench to leverage the new Playstation VR platform by creating and distributing a new Ghostbusters game to promote the movie alongside an emerging Virtual Reality platform. ### Pressed Juice Pressed Juicery is a cold-pressed juice and wellness trendsetter in California. Sidebench helped scale Pressed Juice and grow their annual revenue by 200+% by developing a comprehensive e-commerce strategy and designing a scalable consumer-facing mobile application ### UCSF Clinical Innovation Center The Clinical Innovation Center (CIC) is tasked to develop the infrastructure and internal capacity to accelerate innovations that solve critical delivery system problems at UCSF Health. To assist large device manufacturers with improving their health device development process, Sidebench developed user journey maps that delved into how receptive stroke patients will be to using technology to aid their recovery. ### Oakley Lens Guide The Lens Guide showcases all available lenses by sport, color and it debuted Oakley's Prizm technology. Despite initially being limited by their in-house resources and outdated technology stack, Sidebench was able to get their new platform to market with an 81% increase in their load times across desktop and mobile. ### Imagine Entertainment Imagine Impact is an entertainment accelerator within Imagine Entertainment. Sidebench designed and developed a barrier-breaking app that directly connects screenwriters with interested script buyers. Since Imagine makes revenue from each script sold, the marketplace platform enables increased script sales through an improved user and buyer experience. ### Red Bull Artist Relationship Management Platform Red Bull works with thousands of artists through long-standing music initiatives such as the Red Bull Music Academy and Sound Select. To better manage relationships with artists and uncover new opportunities, Sidebench developed a custom CRM platform from the ground up. ### Red Bull Music Doorman Red Bull Music focuses on highlighting musicians and artists while empowering their consumers to push culture forward. Sidebench empowered Red Bull Music to better cater their events to attendees by developing the Doorman app. The Doorman app serves as a single channel for all Red Bull Music events to check in fans and receive analytics on event attendance to better inform their event experiences. ### Red Bull Artist Evaluation Platform With Red Bull Music focusing on finding local, emerging artists, a challenge emerged regarding selecting the right artists and maintaining fan favorites. Sidebench rebuilt their Artist Evaluation App to ensure the tool builds strong emotional connections with event attendees. ### Awards & Recognition Our team is incredibly proud to announce that our Baby Steps LA mobile app, created alongside the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, was recently awarded a place on Fast Company’s Best Apps and Games of 2020 List. Fast Company is one of the world's leading progressive business media brands, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, leadership, and design. Some of the other applications that made the list: Disney+, Daily Harvest App, and the Spotify Kids App.   We would like to thank our incredible team, network, and client partners here at Sidebench for dedicating their time and efforts to helping us become a product leader in Los Angeles. We remain committed to our pursuit of innovation and we will continue to push the barriers of technological development in the modern age. We look forward to the exciting new partnerships and challenging projects that 2021 has in store for us. ### United Talent Agency United Talent Agency is a leading talent agency representing artists and entertainment professionals. Sidebench expanded United Talent Agency’s offerings by strategizing for the design and development of an asynchronous video messaging app that could span and connect generations. ### Loot Crate Loot Crate is a subscription box service focused on the gaming community. Sidebench helped increase Average Order Value and subscriber retention by implementing a full-service loyalty and rewards program, while also redesigning and developing their e-commerce landing pages. ### Gamevice Companion App The Gamevice team recognized a need for users to be able to search for Gamevice compatible games in a centralized location. With a companion app, Gamevice would have the potential to disrupt the portable gaming market, scale their product, and provide flexible options to the gaming community beyond Nintendo. ### Oakley Len's Guide The Lens Guide showcases all available lenses by sport, color and it debuted Oakley's Prizm technology. Despite initially being limited by their in-house resources and outdated technology stack, Sidebench was able to get their new platform to market with an 81% increase in their load times across desktop and mobile. ### Manifest Mobile Health Solution Manifest is a health and fitness platform, designed using exercise and behavioral science to drive real, sustainable results. Sidebench designed a streamlined portal and an additional app for facilitators, along with a more engaging app for participants to connect and interact on a personal basis with their trainer. ### Project with Instagram Project with Instagram ### Project with Redbull Project with Redbull ### Project with Sony Project with Sony ### Project with MIcrosoft Project with MIcrosoft ### Project with Facebook Project with Facebook ### NBCUniversal NBCUniversal needed a platform to distribute digital content and assets to syndicates, distribution partners, and location stations worldwide. Significantly reducing the time required for asset management, Sidebench built a B2B digital asset marketplace that consolidated 4 distinct interfaces into a single platform and optimized checkout and download workflows. ### Clutch Awards - [Clutch Award Badge](https://shareables-prod-static.clutch.co/badges/top_clutch.co_health__wellness_app_developers_los_angeles_2026.svg) ### Industry Recognitions - Fast Company 2023 Innovation By Design Award - 2023 Webby Winner - Best Apps and Software - Best Custom Software Development Companies in LA - Forbes - Idea Mensch - Inc. - Top 20+ Mobile App Development Companies - Markets Insider - The Top Ten App Development Companies in the U.S. - 40 Under 40 Mobile App Technology Leaders - Certified Diverse Supplier - Built in LA - 2022 Best Places to Work - LA Business Journal Top Fastest Growing Companies - Davey Awards - Gold - Social Impact - Fast Company - Best Apps and Mobile Games - Fast Company - Best Workplaces for Innovators - American Hospital Association Innovation Challenge - Entrepreneur 360 - Best Entrepreneurial Companies - INC 5000 - Fastest Growing Companies (6x) - W3 - Mobile App Award Winner ## Key Clients - Microsoft Corporation ## Packages ## About the Team ### Our Story Since 2012, Sidebench has designed, built, and scaled digital products for healthcare and other regulated industries, where mission-critical reliability is essential. We put product strategy, UX-first design, systems and data architecture, and HIPAA-compliant engineering on one team, so decisions hold up from discovery through launch. We validate before we scale, and we stay through delivery. Much of our work comes from clients who hire us again. ### What Sets Us Apart - One team across strategy, design, and engineering: Product strategy, UX-first design, systems and data architecture, and HIPAA-compliant engineering sit on the same team. That means fewer handoffs and decisions that survive contact with the actual build. - Built for regulated industries: HIPAA trained and certified company-wide, with production experience in Epic and FHIR integration, SSO, payments, and HIPAA-compliant AI infrastructure. We treat security and compliance as architecture, not paperwork added at the end. - Clients who come back: A large share of our work is repeat business. One health plan returned for more than 30 separate engagements over seven years. We optimize for the second project, not just the first. ### Quick Facts - 48 Verified Clutch Clients - 14 years in business ### Tools and Technology - AWS - Google Cloud Platform - Jira - GitHub - Figma - Slack - Notion ### Commonly Asked Questions **How do you typically start an engagement?** Most engagements open with a discovery or scoping phase before any full build. We map the real problem, the users, the data, and the integration constraints, then recommend the smallest version that proves the riskiest assumptions. For some clients that phase is the entire first project. Finding the hard problems early is cheaper than finding them in production. **How do you handle security and HIPAA compliance?** We are HIPAA trained and certified company-wide, and we build compliance into the architecture instead of bolting it on at the end. In practice that means least-privilege access, audit logging, and secure data exchange from day one, including HIPAA-compliant AI infrastructure when a product uses LLMs. We have shipped production integrations with Epic and FHIR, SSO, and payment systems for regulated clients. **What industries do you work in?** Healthcare is our deepest area: health systems, health plans, behavioral health, and digital health ventures. We also build for consumer, media and entertainment, financial services, enterprise, and government. The common thread is complex systems, real users, and outcomes that have to hold up under scrutiny. **Who actually does the work on my project?** Our core team is US-based and senior. When a project needs more capacity or a specialized skill, we scale specific roles through a vetted extended network. You work with the same product leads from strategy through launch, which is how decisions stay consistent across phases. **How do you measure success?** We tie success to your business outcome, not our hours. In past work that has looked like a platform reaching the profitability and enterprise traction that led to its acquisition, a concierge health membership launching on schedule with deep enterprise integrations, and a care model scaling to hundreds of thousands of patients. We agree on the metric that matters up front and report against it. ## Verification Clutch verification provides an additional layer of data to help you make the right purchasing decision of business services. - Verified Client Reviews: 48 - Overall Review Rating: 4.9 Last Updated: 2026-07-21T13:34:55Z ### Business Entity - Business Entity Name: SIDEBENCH STUDIOS LLC - Source: California Secretary of State - Jurisdiction of Formation: Delaware - Date of Formation: April 16, 2012 - Status: Active - Last Updated: November 15, 2020 - ID: 201711610045 ### Credit Report Results - International Credit Risk Assessment: Low Risk - Source: Creditsafe - Last Updated: November 15, 2020 ## Locations (1) ### Los Angeles, CA (Headquarters) - 149 South Barrington Avenue - Los Angeles, CA 90049 - United States - 41 - 49 employees - Phone: 310-893-3589 ## Contact Sidebench [Send a message](https://clutch.co/profile/sidebench) ### Connect on Social - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/sidebench) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sidebench/) - [X](http://twitter.com/sidebench) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/sidebench/?hl=en)