Slingshot

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creator and co-founder of a reunion planning web-based application company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We needed help with website development for our company and wanted a provider close to our location.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slingshot provides website design and development services. The team has built our site, including its coding, taking over an existing platform we worked on with another developer who wasn’t a good fit for us. 

To jumpstart the process, we’ve given Slingshot’s team the working prototype of our previous project, and for the new features, we’ve provided a roadmap and a game plan before they dive in and do the work.

Regarding technologies, Slingshot uses GitHub, Heroku, and Tableau for the platform’s coding and UI/UX design.

What was the team composition? 

We usually work with a core team of 3–4 members of Slingshot’s staff, but the group can get twice that size because it fluctuates based on what kind of build stage we’re in. Some of the people we’ve worked with are Nathan (Senior Developer), Chris (CIO & Chief Product Lead), Jem (Associate Product Lead), and some guys overseas that I haven’t met yet.

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

I found Slingshot through an online search, but a friend who had also done some development work with them recommended them to me, so it was a combination of my due diligence and a referral from other people.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When we started as a company, we were very much a work in progress, and now, with Slingshot's great work quality, we've evolved into a much more viable platform with paying customers and more than 10,000 member accounts. The team has seen us through several transformations, the most meaningful of which is that we're now generating revenue. We're also close to generating profitability, and Slingshot has played a huge role in being a part of that.

Moreover, Slingshot has been great at taking the project on even though they aren't the first company we hired, which sometimes can be more difficult than starting development from scratch.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

Slingshot has been great about respecting the timelines and budgets we've set for the project. Additionally, we're a small company, and Slingshot's team has been nice and flexible about letting us drift down for certain periods when we're not doing a lot of work and still being available for us without putting us under the burden of spending a minimum every month. We didn't have this with the first company we worked with for this project because we were on a tight leash regarding the number of hours.

That flexibility from Slingshot has made them an ideal partner, allowing us to invest in new features, take a step back, ensure that everything's working properly, and then focus on marketing our business. 

In terms of tools, the team uses Whimsical to show us the project's progress and designs.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review? 

Nathan is great, not just because he is knowledgeable in what he does but also because he is very even-keeled and available whenever something goes wrong. In addition, Chris has been a solid project manager, keeping us on schedule, and Jem, who has recently joined our team, has been a godsend in managing some of the heavier lifts.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We've just completed a big push to get more features built into the platform, allowing more people on Slingshot's team to become familiar with the product. As a result, at least one team member is now using the platform for their personal use cases.

When we work with a company like Slingshot, whose role is to take and execute our ideas, they can turn around and build a product that they see as a utility for themselves. This is optimal because now we have a team that isn't just building a product based on our suggestions but can also use it themselves in a way that our customers intend to. 

In general, Slingshot's team has been solid, providing great work quality and being flexible in terms of being there for us consistently, whether it's a busy or a quiet month. We can't be in a working relationship for more than four years without having peaks and valleys, but the team is accountable, forward-thinking, nice, and a good fit for us personality-wise.

I can't say enough nice things about them, especially because it has taken a leap of faith on their part to take over a project that had already started and act as a new co-captain— I'll never forget that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they can improve on. What they've done over the years is really meaningful.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I greatly recommend working with Slingshot. We've gotten lucky with the people that Slingshot has assigned to us. Still, it's largely the same team, which is also great to have a consistent presence with teammates because that generates a familiarity with the products they're working on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and co-founder of The Kentucky Hug, a dual-sided marketplace and booking system that centralizes bourbon experiences in Kentucky into an easy-to-search-and-book platform for tourists. Next month, we’ll be rolling out a booking system that accommodates a more diverse inventory for modern bourbon distilleries.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

Slingshot has been in charge of all the product development and design involved in my project. Originally, I was looking for a developer who wanted to come on as a partner and continue the product development for five years to innovate with me as the needs for this industry arose.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slingshot has helped me develop and launch a mobile-first website. Following a research and discovery process, we went into the design phase. Once their designer completed the initial designs, they sent them to me to provide feedback. Once my feedback was integrated into the designs, we sent those designs to the partners who would be using those systems for a second revision. Then, we went back and adjusted those designs as required.

Once we had the final design draft, Sarah (Principal Product Owner) was assigned to lead the product development roadmap. We’ve been working with about 17 distilleries, so all those people are looking at every design. Sarah is taking all that feedback and ensuring that the product roadmap reflects their needs, prioritizing those needs accordingly. The goal is to ensure that every need is met with just the MVP.

This website is designed to be turned into a mobile app in March 2024. Additionally, they’re now developing the booking system I mentioned previously. This booking system is a digital platform accessible via phones, tablets, and the POS system at the distilleries’s gift shops. When we launch the mobile app, this booking system will also be integrated into it as well.

As for the technology stack, Slingshot has used a lot of different technologies. They’ve used Figma to create demos, but as far as the technology behind the website, the decision for the technology to use is up to them. I know it is a completely custom website, so we haven’t used WordPress or another platform like that.

Our product has four main key features. The first feature is the marketplace itself, which centralizes the experiences. That system is incredibly complex and robust. We’re the ticket providers for these experiences both on the distilleries’ websites and our own website, so the tickets have to exist on both pages. Additionally, the design for those centralized experiences is consistent across multiple different brands and offers.

The second feature is a waitlist. If an experience is unavailable, tourists can sign up for a waitlist, which keeps track of who is the first, second, and third person on the list all the way down to 1,000 if that’s the case. When tickets become available, we send text messages to the people on the waitlist to let them know tickets are available and that we hold them for them until they’re ready to book. If they don’t book, we continue down the list until the tickets get sold.

The third feature is itinerary building using informed AI. When tourists add a lot of experiences to their cart, they can go to their user profile and find plans for that trip based on their choices. The itinerary assistance is backed by 10 years of data from my previous company, a destination management company. This feature uses all that information to ensure tourists have a successful day and show up on time.

What is the team composition?

We work with three main teammates from Slingshot. Sarah leads the product development. Dan (Executive Director of New Ventures) works as our chief strategy officer, helping us connect with investors and supporting our sales and strategy. Basically, he steps in where I can’t.

We also work with David (President & CEO), who is technically my co-founder. He speaks to the developers on a daily basis to ensure things are getting done and the work is completed on time.

Savannah (Director of Marketing & New Business has helped us set up our social media campaigns and other things like that. Overall, she has been fantastic to work with.

Additionally, we have 36–37 full-time developers working on the project. Still, every one of their employees has worked on this project at some point. In total, Slingshot has 60–70 employees who have put their hands on this project.

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

When I was looking for a partner, I interviewed 17 different companies similar to Slingshot within the region. During this process, I assessed these companies’ development processes. I needed a large team because rolling a product within the bourbon industry had to be perfect due to the challenges of this industry. I was looking for a company that could handle the project and create something new.

What sold me on Slingshot was their process. I come from 10 years of experience in this industry, and they didn’t take my word for it. Instead, they validated my concerns through research and created a product roadmap led by the industry and customer needs and not necessarily by our design desires or interests.

How much have you invested with them?

Thus far, we’ve spent $344,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I had my first conversation with Dan in July 2021. However, we didn’t begin the process until August 2022. We launched the MVP in August 2023, but the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since launching the MVP, we’ve seen over 15,000 unique visitors to our site. We also now have over 177 registered users on our site planning trips for future dates.

In addition to that, we now have close to 20 distilleries that have agreed to onboard with us once we launch the mobile app due to the quality of the designs they’ve seen. Now that we launched the MVP, we have a lot of trust within the industry due to its quality.

Moreover, multiple state agencies are supporting us on this project due to the quality and ease of use of the software Slingshot has created. We’ve also received a web excellence award for our marketplace, as well as the Vogt Award, a technology award from Louisville, Kentucky, that consists of a $25,000 grant.

On top of those results, we’ve gotten a lot of articles written about us on pages like Yahoo News and The Courier-Journal, as people are very excited about this product.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

As for budget management, we haven’t gone over budget, which is good. As for time management, we originally expected to launch on June 1, 2023. Still, it wasn’t Slingshot’s fault that we couldn’t hit that deadline; the distilleries were very slow to email us back. Slingshot has hit every deadline they’ve set out to hit.

We’ve used Whimsical to create our product roadmap and communicate with the developers. We also use Slack for daily communication and Notion to keep all the project files in one place.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Slingshot’s whole team has been very important for this project. I couldn’t have done this project without any member of their team. They’ve been great teammates and leaders, and everyone has been needed to get us where we are now.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Slingshot can take a tremendous amount of feedback, ideas, and challenges and turn them into a perfect product. I had been thinking about building The Kentucky Hug for eight or nine years, so I had seen a vision of the design in my mind 100 times.

The first time Slingshot’s designer sent me the Figma file for the homepage, I was blown away. It wasn’t only what I had been dreaming about for almost a decade, but it was also so much better, prettier, cleaner, and more useful than I could have ever imagined.

Are there any areas they could improve?

This is more of a personal opinion, but I don’t like Slack as a form of communication — I prefer phone calls or in-person communication. Slingshot communicates so well that sometimes I have trouble keeping up with them. Still, it’s not their fault, and I’m sure that if I told them that I needed less information, they would turn that down.

If anything, a weekly or monthly report instead of Slack communication would be better for CEOs and company leads who may not want messages as a form of communication. Still, I can’t complain about that because it’s more of a personal preference, and I’m sure that they would do that for me if I asked for it.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Firstly, Slingshot is team-oriented, so every voice matters to them. If you want to go with them on any project, you need to trust them. If you want to be in charge of everything, they can adapt, but they’re probably not the best company to go with.

Trust is key, so let Slingshot lead the project and be open and receptive to feedback. Even if you go to them with something specific in mind, they’ll validate if it’s, in fact, what you need.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an executive of a healthcare monitoring platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We were creating a new platform for our service and needed help with UX/UI design and some aspects of development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We initially gave Slingshot the background on our company, our current offering, where we’re going, and some level of design aspects. They’ve given us a new design, working with our team based on our needs and desires for the product and their recommendations. They’ve used Figma for the design and development tool for the UI and Xamarin on the backend.

What is the team composition?

We’ve spoken with many team members, including the owner, a business development lead, a business development consultant, a project manager, and several UX/UI developers. In total, there are about five people.

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

We found them online.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them around April 2022, and the mobile app development work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve taken a rough version of our initial product and helped us create a design experience. We’re very excited about it, and we’ve received positive feedback from customers and people in the market.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve met deadlines. We communicate through phone calls, emails, text messages, and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

One of their significant attributes is their experience in the space. Also, their end-to-end design process is outstanding. They do well on the interview process, testing, and feedback for the final product. Overall, Slingshot comes with a helpful perspective because they’re experts.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we were pretty aggressive with our timelines and requirements, and they’ve done a great job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Come prepared with what you’re looking for, including specific apps you have in mind and examples to help.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder and CEO of C2 Keep. C2 Keep is a start-up company. building a solution to help healthcare providers and businesses save money, improve compliance, and reduce risks associated with managing their controlled substances inventory.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Slingshot, and what were your goals?

I had a working demo of C2 Keep that was hosted on my developer's server, and not ready for launch. The working demo also needed a brand new user interface and an improved user experience. I hired Slingshot to:

1. Redesign the UI/UX of the application.
2. Develop and deploy the application from a cloud-based server.
3. Update the (front-end and back-end) website for the company.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I searched for a large & experienced software development firm in the Louisville area to partner with after realizing I could not rely on freelance developers to build my application the way I envisioned it.

I reviewed other companies in town and felt that Slingshot's previous line of work with healthcare companies, schools, and other large and smaller businesses like my own, made them a good fit.

I liked the content they shared on their blogs, particularly the information about building brand new software versus using existing software and looking at the cost comparison for both.

I even read Clutch reviews of the company and reached out to a previous customer of theirs, who praised their process and work. I was also touched that the CEO answered my very first phone call to the company. This doesn't happen often.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Introduction to Slingshot Ventures: Slingshot Ventures is the innovation and startup arm for Slingshot that seeks to help B2B Tech founders like myself with their technology ideas.

During my first conversation with the CEO, he thought this would be a better avenue for what I was seeking to accomplish. C2 Keep Business Validation: Working with Slingshot Ventures, we interviewed potential customers to validate the market for C2 Keep.

The information we gathered was organized in whimsical. C2 Keep Redesign: Over 12 weeks, I meet regularly with the CEO of slingshot along with 1-2 designers to brainstorm workflows and features the C2 Keep MVP needed to have. After discussing the workflows & features, we would each design them during brainstorming sessions.

The designer(s) used our brainstorming work to create the C2 Keep application mock-up screens in Figma. User Feedback: Once all screens of the MVP were complete, Slingshot completed two rounds of user testing with pharmacy technicians and pharmacists. Based on their feedback, they made design changes and updates.

C2 Keep App Development: This is ongoing. Product Features: API to update and maintain a proprietary drug database. API to simplify the sign-up process for new businesses. EDI feeds for integration with multiple drug suppliers to facilitate inventory management. Barcode scanning technology to improve accuracy, compliance, and save time.

Use of user-specific PIN numbers to link data entries to users to reduce the risk of diversion. Ability to modifying and run reports. Push notification for updates when new inventory is received.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

At any given stage, 4 - 6 different people worked with me. They included the CEO of Slingshot, a project manager, a lead designer, a software developer, etc.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

As I said, the development of the application is still ongoing. However, the lean processes Slingshot employs when working on a project have resulted in a significantly improved user interface and user experience so far. It is better than I would have imagined/come up with myself. It exceeded my expectations.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Project management is Excellent. Slingshot's culture is one in which designers and developers are empowered to do great work. There is very little, if any, micromanaging. The team at Slingshot is flexible and reliable. Within the company, they use Slack.

With me, besides exchanging numerous text messages and phone calls, we also meet regularly (at least weekly) to discuss progress, provide and receive feedback. We take advantage of cloud-based tools like Whimsical, Figma, Google drive to communicate, too.

Slingshot has been developing applications and software for a long time now, and that they're still in business speaks to their focus, ability to adapt, and passion for such work.

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

Many things! Primarily, the people that work at Slingshot and the culture of the company. As I mentioned earlier, the staff is empowered to be their best and do great work. There is a strong emphasis on understanding what their customers need and communicating how they (Slingshot) can best meet those needs.

I also appreciate that the Slingshot employees manage each other up. The CEO trusts and often speaks highly of his co-workers. This puts me at ease when I am being introduced to new staff as we move along on the project. There is much more to say and you can reach me to share with you :-).

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

Nothing worth sharing here. As a first-time founder of a SaaS company, I understand the need to constantly change in order for the business to be successful. This change doesn't come about without being open to receiving feedback and being honest about what you know and do not know.

The fact that Slingshot has been in business for as long as they have, with employees who have been with the company for over 17 years, speaks to their ability to improve intrinsically based on feedback they receive.

This is a long and drawn-out way of saying, there are always areas for companies to improve, but unlike some companies, Slingshot is ceaselessly and actively working on them. Take something as simple as redesigning their offices to accommodate more staff as a result of COVID.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of P3 Technology, a software provider for pharmaceutical companies.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We’ve contracted with Slingshot to develop a case management system to be used by pharmaceutical companies. I needed a partner to take my thoughts and ideas and develop a software program.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we first started working with them, we began a six-month design phase. We sat down to discuss the process we wanted to implement into the software, and they came back with recommendations on how to accomplish our goals. Together, we created user flows, mocked up user screens, and went through the UX design. Then they developed the platform using AWS and JavaScript.

What is the team composition?

I worked with David (CEO), Cheyenne (UX Designer), and David (Senior Developer & Team Lead).

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

I worked with them at another organization. From that past experience, I trusted them and I knew they delivered high-quality work.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $400,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2019 and they delivered the final product in December 2020.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I expected to have to go through multiple iterations, but I found very few bugs after their first attempt. Because of that, I was able to start demoing the product shortly after it was deployed. Overall, our customers are very pleased with their work.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

They met their deadlines, but still delivered quality work. We met weekly. They used a couple of different tools for web conferencing, including Whimsical and Zeppelin.

They were very professional. They truly exceeded my expectations.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were incredibly creative. I’ve been involved with this process for many years, but they came up with new and creative ways to include the process in the system. I was very pleased with the ideas they brought to the table.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t really have any critiques. I personally prefer Microsoft Office and they use Google Docs, but that’s only a personal preference.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Articulate what the challenge is and let them come back with the recommendation. Be open to their ideas, because they came up with creative and effective solutions.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a company that manufactures musical products.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We wanted to modernize our online presence and integrate our website with a unique e-commerce solution.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slingshot completely overhauled our primary domain. In the early stages, Slingshot conducted research, which involved interviewing our customers and retail partners. That feedback informed what our product pages needed to accomplish. Then, their team created wireframes and performed UI/UX research to inform the design and the layout.

They completely revamped the website, delivering product pages and a WooCommerce database. It’s a WordPress platform that their team customized. For example, we can remove the commerce portion of our website at the click of a button.

Their team helped us pick an e-commerce platform to fit our business needs. Although we don’t directly sell to consumers, we wanted to take advantage of our website’s traffic. They created a system that allows customers to buy on our site but then our dealers fulfill those orders.

What is the team composition?

I worked with David (CEO & President) and two UI/UX consultants. To actually bring their design to life, Slingshot also relied on a partner who manages their WordPress implementations.

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

I was aware of Slingshot for about two years and met David. I saw the work Slingshot did for local hospital systems, and the local community thought highly of them. They were one of my first phone calls. Their team not only had the bandwidth but also submitted a competitive bid.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $100,000–$110,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We kicked off this project in August 2020, and it’s 95% done. The website’s live but we’re still making minor tweaks as we learn how people engage with it.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our previous website had an atrocious bounce rate. Since launching their design, our bounce rate decreased by over 25%, meaning it’s a site that encourages people to explore and click further to discover products. I expect the bounce rate to continue to go down. We’re happy with the design and the interactive process of building the website.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

They more or less met every deadline. Their team had the site ready to launch by the aggressive deadline I set. However, we decided to hold off and make improvements, which was a business decision.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was never hard to reach them because Slingshot was engaged and responsive. They also weren’t afraid to tell us when our requests didn’t make sense and were willing to try new ideas. I enjoyed that back and forth and their consultative nature.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Although we’re happy with the end product, their team could improve their communication during the early stages of projects. I found myself having to ask for a project plan and timelines during the first 4–5 weeks of the project. Even though the first stages require research and may not require deliverables, it’s important that their team communicates any progress even if there isn’t anything to see.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You need content. If you’re having a team overhaul a digital property, a new design will only pop if you have enough digital content. Give thought to your brand identity and have content available ahead of time so that Slingshot’s design team will be able to make the most out of them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the executive director and one of the founders of New Roots, a small grassroots food justice organization. We focus on igniting community power for fresh food activism.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We needed a better customer-facing platform for our shareholders, the families who purchase our fresh food. After conducting a survey of these shareholders, we discovered that almost everybody had access to smartphones and decided to create a mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slingshot developed a mobile app for us. The app helps our users get information about food easily. Users can set up a profile and payment method, including food stamps and snap benefits. It was important to us that all of our customers feel like they are on an even playing field regardless of payment method.

After inputting this information, users sign up to receive their fresh food during the growing season in May. They also receive reminders and alerts about what’s coming in the bag as well as some recipes from our blog. Users can also cancel their shares, donate directly through the app, and view different market locations. 

The backend of the app allows us to download spreadsheets and see which farmers are coming to each market. The app has been completed and is currently in the testing phase before the next growing season.

What is the team composition?

Initially, we worked with 10 members of the Slingshot team. As the project went on, the team whittled down to five and then three members. We worked with David (Owner, Slingshot) throughout the project, as well as a project manager, artists, and coders. 

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

We heard about them through social media and also had a board chair with a personal connection to their president. We applied to work with them and were chosen out of 30 applicants. 

How much have you invested with them?

Slingshot is providing us with pro bono work. We are very fortunate to have been chosen for this opportunity. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with Slingshot began in December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everybody’s incredibly excited about the app. While it is still in the testing phase, it has received positive feedback internally from staff members. From the minute you download the app to buying your shares and getting information, it’s a very beautiful experience. The app features our branding and the colors and icons are perfect.

Slingshot is also fun to work with. They get everything done but we have a great time working together. We had the time to get to know everyone personally and they were really delightful. 

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

Slingshot is always on time. Their team is consistent and responsive. They were also incredibly patient with us throughout the project, especially since we kept adding on to the project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We appreciated their emphasis on aesthetics. They make products that are beautiful not just functional. Having an artist on their team is a real asset. They are technically skilled and went above and beyond in terms of the design.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, everything has been great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Think ahead about all of the things that you’re going to need in an app. Go down the road in your mind about everything that has to happen to make the project successful. Thinking about every detail ahead of time makes the process run smoothly.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief technical architect for an entertainment and gaming company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We were looking for a development partner to develop a raffle program for us so that we could take it online. This would allow us to have patrons enter into the 50/50 raffle during some of our races. It’s a charity program where the other 50% goes to charities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our website for a raffle that would enable certain people and states, by geolocation, to purchase raffle tickets online via PayPal. They ran testing efforts with people using mockups and that proved to be pretty worthwhile. 

For the site, there could be several different campaigns running on different days or the same day, and people can do guarantees and seeds that are normally in raffles. The platform shows the winning ticket result and it essentially turns off at the designated time to buy new raffle tickets. It shows the total pool to the patrons when they’re looking to purchase a raffle ticket. Then we print the raffle tickets on the backend at the facility and do a live draw while putting the tickets in a drum.

What is the team composition?

I worked with five people, including the CEO, the CIO, developers, and UX people. The CIO managed the project. 

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

I was introduced to them via some people I work with at another company. I received three different quotes. Slingshot wasn’t the cheapest but they were in the right ballpark and were actually across the street which helps.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–May 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They had elaborate UX design skills. They had some really good graphic expertise. All the people I worked with were very good. Their team was all professional and excellent to work with.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was excellent. We did sprint retrospectives with them that went well. The relationship was very good. Communication was prompt and clear. They weren’t scared to ask questions or bring up any concerns or troubles. They worked in a scrum methodology. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to work with. As a team, they were solid and delivered what they set out to do. They stay within budget and are excellent people to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had a really good experience with them and they delivered what we needed. There was one little bug we found later on but that’s just typical in development. I don’t have any criticism.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust them and work with them — you’ll get good results. They’re smart.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an associate professor of management at the University of Louisville. I’m also the academic director for the Project for Positive Leadership.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We were developing a package of education materials related to positive leadership for executives and students. As part of the package, we wanted to build a leadership development application for mobile phones. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slingshot built the mobile app. It integrates with calendars and helps users select events to plan for so that they can practice leadership. The app then walks them through the planning process to help them exhibit leadership in the event. Each user also gets placed in a community where they can share plans, get feedback, report on how an event goes, and give insights to others forming plans. The purpose is to help people exhibit exceptional virtue through an activity and to inspire people around them.

The app is for both iOS and Android; Slingshot used software to build it once for both platforms. We already had built a web app for a similar purpose and had been using it for a number of years. It worked well, but I still wanted to improve some things about it. Slingshot still did the normal process of lean development: they interviewed people, led a design phase to come up with different ways to visualize the app, and built a prototype. However, the web app also informed their process.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two designers and a project manager. He had design and development expertise and managed an outsourced dev team. I also talked with the president to contract the app.

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

We did a competitive bid, and three companies submitted proposals to our RFP. We selected Slingshot because they had the best proposal and were highly recommended in our community. It was an easy decision.

How much have you invested with them?

It was a $150,000 contract.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January of last year. The development is done; Slingshot is now doing finishing touches, putting the app on AWS, and uploading it to apps stores for approval.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m afraid I can’t give any numbers. I’ve have shown it to a few other people, and they like the design, but they haven’t tested it out as fully as I have.

The development process had a constant cycle of feedback; Slingshot would send me an iteration, I’d give feedback, they’d incorporate my thoughts, and then we’d go through there. There was only one time in the process where a bug affected functionality, and Slingshot fixed it within a day or two. I’m sure they caught others along the way. Overall, I’m pleased with the product and process.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

From the parts I saw, they were very responsive and quick. In all cases except one, they were ideally responsive. In one case, they were too responsive. I think they maybe should’ve pushed back on me more in the case. Otherwise, Slingshot did push back when needed. 

They also adapted to our cost structure. Slingshot is used to working hourly, but our organization uses contracts instead. Slingshot probably worked more than they agreed to and did the rest of the work for free. They were extremely responsive to the customer.

Slingshot kept me more informed than I needed to be as well. We used to meet weekly until I pushed to have updates every other week; we didn’t have as many pressing updates, and I was confident in their abilities. We communicated mainly through Zoom meetings, but we also sent ad hoc emails and texts. I tried to visit their team in person as often as possible before the coronavirus hit; their office was conveniently located for me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s hard to pick one thing. Slingshot was great at blending technical expertise with personalized communication. I also liked the lean process; it worked well for the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some minor things along the way, but I wouldn’t change much. One thing I’d change was my fault; I pushed for market research but we probably shouldn’t have wasted our time on that. That was on me, not them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Xooker, a mobile rewards platform for local businesses to interact with and reward customers through games and loyalty programs. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We wanted additional support with the development of our mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we brought Slingshot on to the project, the app was already developed, but we wanted assistance overseeing the programming and engineering. They facilitated the development of a multiplayer game on our app with UNITY and Amazon Game Sparks. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of around five people from Slingshot, but had one main point of contact who managed the project. 

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

We were introduced to them through a referral. Their previous clients spoke very highly of them which is why we decided to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a little over $200,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with them began in mid-2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application has been well-received by users. We aren’t getting negative feedback which shows that it works the way it’s intended to. They’ve delivered on what they promised and even exceeded our expectations.  

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

Since much of the work is happening remotely, we use Slack so everyone can remain up to speed. However, it’s easy to pick up the phone and have a conversation with their team. For example, if there’s ever a glitch in the system, they start working to fix it immediately, even if it’s after hours on the weekend. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They deliver products on time and do what they say they’ll do. They’re great to work with. We wish we had found them much sooner. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve been the best developers we’ve worked with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Communication is key. The team at Slingshot is flexible and receptive to different project management styles.