Six Feet Up, Inc.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Software Engineer of a software company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Our company is on a mission to drive efficiency, boost productivity, and improve experiences with customers and employees of our clients alike.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Build and scale reliable AI infrastructure for our early-stage product, with flexibility for rapid pivots.
• Boost student engagement with AI avatars that offer 24/7, one-on-one support outside of class.
• Automate repetitive admin work (phones, email, help desk) so staff can focus on higher-value tasks.

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Referral

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Over the last two years, Six Feet Up helped us mature our product across education and public-facing experiences. They built and refined tailored AI personas that work in text, audio and video. Students get after-class support. Service teams get faster workflows. The personas span multiple industries and include historically informed and expert roles.

They also focused on scale and reliability. The architecture uses clear service boundaries, elastic capacity, and deep observability, which let us move beyond prototypes and handle real demand. Six Feet Up’s guidance matched best practices for high-traffic AI apps. We designed for horizontal scale, instrumented the stack end-to-end, and avoided vendor lock in so we can grow without surprises.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Students now get private, continuous support, and instructors use dashboards to keep a real-time pulse on class understanding. Engagement is up, and the manual effort to figure out what needs attention is down.
On the IT help desk integration, our human-handled calls dropped to just under 10%. In other words, AI is deflecting about 90% of inbound volume. That frees staff from repeating the same call-tree questions and lets them focus on higher-value work. The experience is streamlined and available 24/7, which keeps both callers and our internal teams happy.

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

Six Feet Up kept the work clear and predictable, and they matched our pace as an early-stage team. They were organized and adaptable. When we changed direction, they rebuilt the roadmap quickly and kept momentum.
Communication and project hygiene were simple and effective. All work lived in GitHub Projects with easy-to-scan statuses, so I always knew what was in progress and what was next. Day to day, the dedicated Slack channel made them feel like colleagues down the hall. When we raised a need, they responded quickly and pulled in the right specialist to keep things moving. They delivered on time, flagged risks early, and kept releases on track.

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I was impressed by Six Feet Up’s availability, efficiency, and partnership. They embedded with our team, communicated often, and kept status visible so we never had to chase updates.

The team was kind, professional, and clearly experienced. From the start, a senior engineer set a high bar with crisp execution and clear updates. As the work grew, an infrastructure and DevOps lead stepped in with the same steady communication and follow through. 

Overall, they felt like one integrated team that could bring the right skills at the right time and turn complex work into steady, meaningful progress without drama. Six Feet Up excels at high-impact initiatives that require senior talent, and I recommend them without hesitation.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

Nothing comes to mind. The engagement has gone smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the VP Software Development of a nonprofit.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are the nation’s largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empowering quitting for all.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Team augmentation for crunch time
• Expanding web service capabilities

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Industry conference

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

• Company values aligned
• Expertise

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Changing main domain for site with smart redirects
• Implementing refresh of site design
• Implemeting a custom method for serving Wagtail CMS pages

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to meet the scheduled deliverables in time for the launch of a new marketing campaign.

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

I found the team from Six Feet Up very responsible and responsive. The developers on the project were good about documenting their progress and finished work. I had regularly scheduled meetings with my client success represesntative in which she reviewed recent work done and feedback from their team

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Virtual Meeting

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

They consistently delivered high-quality work and contributed ideas for implementation of ideas outside of their specific assigned tasks. They also participated in testing others' code and were thorough in their testing and reviews.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

Nothing that comes to mind

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of a medical company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We build mobile experiences for medical spas in beauty and wellness. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Build an MVP-plus AI-powered chatbot that combines crowdsourced insights with large language models (LLMs) to reflect the evolving trends and subjectivity of aesthetic medicine.
• Implement a flexible, plug-and-play architecture for testing, comparing, and integrating multiple LLMs — ensuring cost efficiency and long-term adaptability.
• Enable real-time risk detection to flag critical issues early and support safer decision-making for patients and providers.
• Safeguard sensitive data with a secure, HIPAA-compliant backend featuring encryption and strong user authentication.
• Integrate the solution into existing mobile and web platforms to enhance the user experience.

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

• Online Search
• Referral

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We had a novel idea: combine advanced AI with the nuanced, human-driven insights essential to aesthetic medicine. After vetting several vendors — many of whom didn’t understand our vision or quoted exorbitant prices — we partnered with Six Feet Up. From the first conversation, they grasped our concept and quickly helped shape a clear, actionable work plan.

Six Feet Up delivered an MVP-plus AI chatbot that blends LLMs with crowdsourced feedback to deliver personalized, real-time support for users navigating aesthetic treatments. Built on OpenAI’s models and LiteLLM with a Pre-Generated Answers (PGA) approach, the solution offers expert-approved guidance, tailored recommendations, and a natural, conversational user experience.

Key deliverables included a Django/Django-Ninja backend to manage real-time interactions, a scalable architecture powered by Kubernetes and PostgreSQL with pgvector, and HIPAA-compliant data security through encryption and user authentication. The platform also tracks user interactions, flags high-risk language, and supports ongoing refinement through expert review — ensuring the chatbot stays current, safe, and relevant as the field evolves.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Six Feet Up delivered an AI chatbot that went beyond a basic proof of concept. It brought our “crowds-plus-AI” vision to life, delivering immediate value in the highly subjective world of aesthetic medicine. The platform can detect risky conversations in real time — a critical safety feature — and its modular, plug-and-play architecture makes it easy to test and integrate new LLMs as technology evolves. 

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

Six Feet Up’s project management was excellent — straightforward, transparent, and cost-effective. They kept the entire process organized, assigned the right developers to the right tasks, and provided clear, consistent updates with full visibility into development hours. Any issues that arose were resolved quickly, and communication was always proactive. They delivered everything on schedule and ultimately produced an MVP-plus solution that not only met our expectations but also strengthened our confidence in the platform’s long-term success.

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

What impressed me most about Six Feet Up was how quickly and clearly they understood our vision. I came in with a complex, forward-thinking idea — one that other vendors couldn’t execute or quoted exorbitant prices. Six Feet Up, Inc. immediately saw the potential and embraced it with enthusiasm.

It was refreshing to partner with a team that welcomed a zany concept without hesitation. They listened closely, collaborated thoughtfully, and translated our idea into a functional, scalable solution — without overcomplicating the process. Their transparency, responsiveness, and technical expertise stood out at every stage.

Six Feet Up is a highly responsive software firm with deep AI knowledge. They listen, communicate clearly, and have a strong grasp of both budget and timelines.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

No significant areas for improvement come to mind. Minor bugs were promptly discovered and fixed, and the team kept us informed at every stage. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Program Manager of Central New Mexico Community College

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) is the largest community college in New Mexico, providing a premier and affordable education. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Redesign our Excel-based program review process to be easier and more intuitive for faculty and administrators.
• Redesign our Excel-based program review process to be easier and more intuitive for faculty and administrators.
• Build a secure, centralized system that could support over 100 users across departments.
• Deliver a long-term solution that enables more accurate, data-informed decisions to better serve our students.

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Referral

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We partnered with Six Feet Up to build a custom web application that would modernize how our institution reviews academic programs. This wasn’t just about replacing spreadsheets — it was about changing how we gather, protect, and use data to inform decisions.

Six Feet Up led us through requirements gathering, UX design, and application development. The key deliverables included:

• A centralized, secure platform built on a modern, cloud-native architecture.
• CSV import capabilities to reduce errors from manual data entry.
• A unified system where we provide key data and collect feedback in one place.
• Automated program flagging based on key performance metrics.
• A clean, visual dashboard using ShadCN/UI for at-a-glance insights.
• Integration with our Entra authentication system for secure, seamless login.

Six Feet Up delivered a thoughtful, easy-to-use solution that meets our current needs and sets us up for future growth.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although we didn’t set formal metrics at the start, the outcomes have been significant. Users consistently report that the new system is easier to navigate, more intuitive, and more effective.

Everyone accesses a single, always-accurate source of truth — eliminating version confusion and endless email threads. Visual dashboards make it simple to spot patterns, while built-in algorithms flag underperforming programs early so we can take action before students are affected. 

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and this application supports continuous improvement of our academic programs, resulting in better outcomes for our students.

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

Six Feet Up’s project management was collaborative, thoughtful, and responsive. If something needed clarification, they didn’t hesitate to hop on a Teams call and walk through the details to ensure the solution aligned with our goals. I always felt like a partner in the process — not just a client.

Carol was especially great. Her friendly, timely nudges kept things moving without ever feeling intrusive. The entire team was outcome-driven and followed through on their commitments — something that’s rarer than it should be.

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The people. Everyone I worked with at Six Feet Up was highly skilled, down-to-earth, and genuinely committed to doing great work. They didn’t just check boxes — they asked smart questions, challenged assumptions, and helped us make better decisions.

The requirements gathering process was a highlight. It felt more like a creative workshop than a checkbox exercise. The team made it easy to think out loud, explore possibilities, and shape a solution that really fit. Their mix of technical expertise and human insight made every conversation productive and energizing.

Our IT team had worked with them before and spoke highly of the experience — now I understand why.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

A few deliverables took longer than expected, but the team was proactive in their communication and kept everything moving forward.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of Marketing Strategy & Operations of CNM

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

College education and job training

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Upgrade from an outdated version to the latest Plone CMS for better performance, security, and overall stability.
• Enhance user experience by improving the site’s accessibility, navigation, and responsiveness so users can easily find information without barriers.
• Provide training and support, enabling the in-house team to maintain and continually improve the website going forward.

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Referral

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

When we engaged Six Feet Up, our website was several iterations out of date and missing critical security updates. They helped us upgrade to the latest version of Plone to improve performance, security, and maintainability. Additionally, the project included a complete homepage redesign, featuring updated toolbars, a new hero space, program highlights, and a news section to enhance the user experience.

Beyond visual updates, ensuring accessibility and usability was a top priority. Six Feet Up implemented best practices to meet accessibility standards, improved site navigation, and streamlined content management to make it easier for editors to add and update information.

Key deliverables included:
Website Upgrades: Migrated the site to the latest version of Plone CMS to enhance performance, security, and scalability, and updated Postgres for database management. 
Accessibility Improvements: Ensured compliance with accessibility guidelines to provide an inclusive experience for all users.
Homepage & UX Enhancements: Updated the site’s aesthetics and usability based on the College’s design specifications, including a video-enabled hero space, a targeted user toolbar and highlight sections for programs, news, and more.
Staff Training: Provided hands-on training to empower our internal team to manage and enhance the site independently.
DevOps & Deployment: Ensured a smooth deployment process with minimal disruption.
The result is a modernized, user-friendly, and accessible website that better serves our students, faculty, and community.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Pretty much every measurable thing we can find has increased as a result of this work. Six Feet Up’s efforts have significantly improved user engagement, website performance, and internal capabilities. 

Specifically, we have seen: 
Increased Website Traffic: We've seen a 50–60% increase in website visits, demonstrating greater visibility and accessibility.
Higher Student Engagement: Key enrollment actions — such as starting an application, applying for financial aid, and meeting with an advisor — have improved dramatically, orders of magnitude better than before.
Stronger SEO Performance: The site now ranks better in search engines, driving more organic traffic and making it easier for students to find essential information.
Positive User Feedback: Students and staff consistently praise the site’s modern design, ease of navigation, and accessibility.
Guided Experience Success: The newly implemented Guided Experience tool has further boosted engagement, helping prospective students quickly find relevant information.
Comprehensive Staff Training: Six Feet Up provided hands-on training to our team, ensuring they could confidently manage, update, and optimize the site.
Staff Empowerment: Team members received in-depth Plone training, allowing them to take ownership of site maintenance and future improvements.
This project has not only enhanced our digital presence but has also strengthened our internal team’s ability to maintain and improve the website independently.

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

Six Feet Up’s project management is exceptionally detailed, deadline-driven, and highly responsive. They provided a clear roadmap from the start, outlining exactly how they would upgrade us to a current iteration of Plone, which tools they would implement, and how they would handle database migration. Unlike other vendors, who often provide more general proposals, Six Feet Up delivered a robust, step-by-step action plan that left no ambiguity about the process.

Their ability to stay on top of deadlines and adapt to changes mid-project was impressive. Even when we had to iterate midstream, they adjusted seamlessly while keeping everything on schedule. Their responsiveness and structured approach ensured continuous progress, making them one of the most detail-oriented vendors I have ever worked with. That level of precision and accountability is truly unique.

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The most impressive aspect of Six Feet Up is its people. Working with them feels like talking to friends. They balance deep technical expertise with a genuine, human approach, making them feel like an extension of our team. Their involvement — from leadership to developers — was hands-on and highly engaged.

Their breadth of expertise is unmatched. Plone is an incredibly complex system, and Six Feet Up handles it better than anyone we've worked with. Even as we explore potential transitions to other CMS platforms, they provide strategic guidance beyond just Plone, ensuring we always have a knowledgeable expert to consult — no matter the system or tool.

Another standout quality is their forward-thinking approach. While we focus on the next iteration of our site, Carol and Calvin are thinking two or three iterations ahead. Their ability to anticipate future needs and proactively offer solutions sets them apart from other vendors.

Six Feet Up also goes beyond just delivering a project — they invest in our team’s success. Their commitment to training made a lasting impact, equipping our staff with the skills to manage and improve the site independently.

We considered other vendors, but Six Feet Up stood out by providing the most detailed, well-structured plan. They outlined exactly what needed to be done, how long it would take, and how the budget would be allocated — removing any guesswork. Their level of detail, responsiveness, and depth of knowledge made them the clear choice.

Ultimately, Six Feet Up is more than just technically skilled — they are true partners who combine expertise, foresight, and a personal, human approach to problem-solving. That’s something truly special.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

No, honestly. Beyond the usual real-life factors — like someone being sick or having a family issue — there’s nothing I can fault Six Feet Up for. We navigated all of that together.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Partner and Lead Developer of webcloud7

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We offer you an easy-to-use and flexible content management system for complex websites.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Set up a Kubernetes environment integrated with Plone and various services such as Elasticsearch.
• Create a system with backup and monitoring capabilities to avoid hiring a system engineer.
• Ensure the system was scalable and could host at least one paying client live.
• Deliver a cost-effective solution by investing upfront to minimize long-term operational costs

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Referral

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

Strong reputation in the Python, Plone and Django communities with deep knowledge of Kubernetes

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of work involved setting up a Kubernetes environment integrated with Plone CMS, along with support services such as Elasticsearch. The team at Six Feet Up was responsible for building a system with proper backup and monitoring capabilities, enabling scalability and reliability. The key deliverable was a fully functional cluster ready to host productive websites, which included managing users and maintaining the overall system infrastructure. The system also needed to ensure data reliability and user management to support live clients with minimal manual intervention. In addition, we planned for it to eliminate the need to hire a dedicated system engineer by automating many of the tasks.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Six Feet Up successfully set up the cluster and met the technical goals I outlined. Additionally, the project was completed on time and with the expected high quality. The work enabled my business to avoid hiring a system engineer and meet my target for cost-efficiency. One client is now online. 200 authors. 350K API hits per day. 

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

Their project management was excellent, and they delivered items on time. What stood out was that even when I lagged behind, Six Feet Up kept pushing the project forward by reminding me about available hours and staying on top of things. It was refreshing to have a team that could keep track of everything and ensure no resources were wasted. They used calls during the project phase and then Slack and GitHub for ongoing communication in the maintenance phase, which worked very well for us.

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I found their technical knowledge and project management skills very impressive. They had the right people in place to handle the specific requirements I had, such as the Kubernetes integration with Plone. Even as a small customer, they made sure I was getting the most value from the time we had left on the contract. They consistently followed up with me and ensured my needs were met, which made me feel valued. I also appreciated their positive attitude — it’s something that really stood out and made the working relationship enjoyable.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

Honestly, it’s tough to say. I’m very happy with the experience. If there’s any lag or delay, it’s typically been on my end. I can't really think of anything specific they could have done differently—it’s been a super positive experience overall.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Sr. Director of Enterprise Applications of Central New Mexico Community College

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Higher Ed

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Execute a major Plone upgrade and Python migration to enhance website security and increase the self-service capabilities of our site. The migration included transferring data to the cloud and implementing a new theme.
• Implement a resilient and scalable distance learning platform via Plone and move the platform’s infrastructure to the cloud.
• Build a “Return to Campus” COVID check app using Django and React that offers speed and flexibility for both front-end users and administrators.

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Referral

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

Referred to me

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We have worked with Six Feet Up on a number of projects including upgrading a Plone site, implementing of a distance learning platform and building a COVID-19 check app, but our most significant project was a major in-place migration. Key deliverables for the migration included: 

• upgrading Plone in-place from 5.1 to 5.2;
• migrating from Python 2 to Python 3;
• making existing add-ons Python 3 compatible;
• transferring the college’s on-premises datacenter to Amazon Web Services; and
• implementing a new theme.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our experience with Six Feet Up has been highly positive, and we plan to continue our relationship with them. Specifically, the Six Feet Up team:

• Completed a Successful Website Migration: The upgraded website met our needs. It improved both security and usability, including giving our content creators the ability to update specific web pages independently. 
• Launched a Resilient and Scalable Online Learning Platform: Six Feet Up built an improved backend on AWS-native services. The platform has performed reliably and has had continuous uptime since its launch.
• Built an Effective “Return to Campus” COVID-19 Application: While the app is not in production, Six Feet Up built a custom app that can handle data from multiple sources, send individualized user alerts, and produce administrator reports with sort and filter functionality. The current app has a greater degree of usability for end users, system administrators, and developers. We hope to reevaluate the app in the future. 

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

Six Feet Up’s project management style is aligned with how we work. They are extremely flexible and responsive. Additionally, they use an iterative approach by providing deliverables in small, manageable pieces. This approach is supported by excellent, open communication so that I’m always aware of where the project stands. 

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I’ve been impressed with Six Feet Up, Inc.’s problem-solving capabilities. They are great about listening to my concerns and providing their expert opinions, recommendations, and documentation of their recommendations. It's also great to have Six Feet Up as a mentor to help our internal developers navigate new tools and expand our Python knowledge. 

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

We've had no issues whatsoever. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO & Founder of Prep Dance

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Tech Education app giving providing in app lessons one to one.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Develop and launch a fully functional mobile application tailored for the Ballroom and Latin dance community. The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) needed to be globally accessible, user-friendly, and ready for deployment in app stores.
• Ensure the app facilitates high-quality, real-time video dance lessons accessible globally.
• Implement a payment system that can handle the complexities of international transactions, accommodating various currencies and regulations.

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Referral

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Prep Dance was conceptualized to fill a gap in the market for Ballroom and Latin dancers worldwide, providing an opportunity for students to take lessons with any teacher globally. Specifically, Six Feet Up utilized Django for stable backend functionality, Jitsi for crisp video streaming, and Ionic with React for cross-platform frontend consistency.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Six Feet Up delivered a cost-effective and high-quality mobile solution that was market-ready. The app has global reach, enabling students worldwide to engage with top-tier international teachers. It also integrates a seamless experience featuring hassle-free payments, online booking, and live HD video lessons.

While it was still early for comprehensive ROI analysis, initial outcomes indicate progress. Approximately 30 teachers and 150 students have been onboarded to the platform. Additionally, we’ve had interest from major several dance institutions, which will lead to more users.

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

Six Feet Up provided a clear project management style, especially for someone like me who is not in the world of tech development. The project elements were delivered on time, and the team was very flexible. Six Feet Up was very transparent in their development process.

Their use of a 'complexity scorecard' was like a ‘shopping list’ of all the project components. It was very helpful and a great idea. We had regular communication — including weekly pulse meetings — which ensured I always had a clear understanding of the project status and budget.

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Six Feet Up's ability to navigate complex challenges, their transparent communication style, and their strategic technological choices that future-proofed our app set the team apart. I was impressed with the team’s expertise and how quickly they delivered the app. Six Feet Up is a very professional outfit. They are highly experienced, friendly, focused, and on point.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

I had a great experience working with the team.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Secretary of DEFNA

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Django Events Foundation North America (DEFNA) is a non-profit for promoting Django events in North America.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Support and host hybrid DjangoCon US event

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Referral

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Six Feet Up hosted the online portion of DjangoCon US. They hosted the hybrid event using the LoudSwarm platform. This involved a number of setup and configuration steps and actions. During the event, they managed the live stream and any technical issues that attendees may have.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Attendees were able to attend the virtual conference, watch videos, ask questions and engage with other people.

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

Six Feet Up used a notion document that had all of the various steps and milestones for both us and them. It covered all our preparation steps leading up to the event, the steps during the event and a retrospective after. They were always available via email and integrated into our teams own communication platforms (Slack).

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The folks at Six Feet Up, Inc. were in perfect alignment with our culture and mission. They honestly wanted to put on the best event possible and it was clearly evident. Their support didn't stop at simply making sure LoudSwarm was up and running. It extended to making sure attendees had a great time.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

We had some difficulties loading some data into the LoudSwarm platform. There were some alternatives available, but both parties collectively overlooked them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Sr. Director, Software Engineering of a chemicals & biotechnology company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Biotechnology company enabling the acceleration of life science research and development in the pursuit of improved human health.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Six Feet Up, Inc. to accomplish?

• Improve efficiency by migrating workflows to Apache Airflow
• Make a business unit more profitable by reducing software touch time and operator time

SOLUTION

How did you find Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Online Search

Why did you select Six Feet Up, Inc. over others?

Other: Six Feet Up’s expertise in Airflow played a significant role in our decision.

How many teammates from Six Feet Up, Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We were using a custom solution that was developed in-house using Python and SQLAlchemy to manage workflows in our labs. We had a few developers leave the company, and when it came time to fill those positions, the technical debt in our software design made it difficult for new developers to come on board, learn, and be productive. Airflow provided the capabilities we were looking for. 

Six Feet Up helped us simplify and optimize our existing system by migrating it to Airflow. Once we decided that Airflow was the way forward, Six Feet Up helped us create an actionable roadmap for the conversion of future workflows. It was imperative that we could continue to convert other areas of the application on our own or with a little assistance. Six Feet Up created a local test environment so that the existing application could be analyzed. 

They linked Airflow to our Django-based backend services; modified the integration tests to trigger DAGs in Airflow; and when the workflow migrations to Airflow were completed, modifications were made to those tests to confirm the data was accurate on completion of the DAG runs. The goal was for the new app to match the old one. Six Feet Up went above and beyond to condense the workflows and make them run more quickly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

While it's difficult to pin down an exact ROI, the work contributed to a direct improvement in our efficiency. It also brought emotional value, especially as we wanted to improve the performance of a specific software.

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

Six Feet Up met our needs effectively. Carol is a pleasure to work with. Her straightforward approach, especially when it comes to tricky situations regarding finances, is commendable. She’s upfront and direct, which is something I truly value compared to other vendors I've engaged with. The initial purchase order was quite a hurdle on our side, but with Carol's support, we navigated through it. 

They had frequent standups (pulse calls) and integrated well with our team. Despite my initial skepticism about the pulse calls, they proved beneficial. The most significant testament to our experience is that we would undoubtedly collaborate with Six Feet Up again.

What was your primary form of communication with Six Feet Up, Inc.?

Virtual Meeting

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

Six Feet Up is a collaborative, responsive, talented, and right-sized agency. Six Feet Up’s overall competence and credibility stood out. Calvin has a notable online presence, and his speaking engagements on topics such as Airflow appealed to us. It's crucial for vendors to be straightforward about their skills and not overstate their capabilities. 

Six Feet Up was genuine, and that was evident. Six Feet Up’s human-friendly approach also stood out. The team seamlessly integrated with our culture, effectively communicated, and understood our needs. It's not just their technical skills, but their compassion and understanding of client culture that impressed me.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Six Feet Up, Inc. could have done differently?

There were challenges with timelines, mostly stemming from our side, due to competing priorities and projects.