ThinkStart Private Limited

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am co-founder, partner and lead developer of Blockchain Financial, a fintech company currently located in Taiwan with talent from Taiwan, the US and Mexico.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkStart Private Limited?

We hired them to bring a new template for our website.

What were your goals for this project?

We had generic templates available but we needed one that helped us bring a modern look that felt easy on the eye and attractive to users.

SOLUTION

How did you select ThinkStart Private Limited?

We are partners with Growers International, a crypto-cannabis online business. ThinkStart has been helping them for a long time, so we decided to give them a shot.

Describe the project in detail.

We left everything to them. They came out with a design straight without our intervention. We needed a Photoshop file so we could break it down according our coding standards and they had to provide a proper layout inside the file.

What was the team composition?

There was direct interaction between project managers on both sides, and I personally spoke with their assigned personnel.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

After delivery, it took us a few days to dissect the design and integrate it in our systems without any delays or need of fixes.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They delivered a perfect file. All within specifications. The design was good enough to be kept unmodified for a long term.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They got skills. They know how to use the tools and they have very good taste in web design.

Are there any areas for improvement?

One and it is obviously neglectable: time zone difference. But we're on different countries.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the Director of Operations for an artifical intelligence startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkStart Private Limited, and what were your goals?

We had a WP custom template website that was created by a contractor and 90% completed, but the developer stopped being responsive when it came time to finalize and publish our site. Upon inspection, the work done was subpar and near impossible for any other developer to take on.

SOLUTION

How did you select ThinkStart Private Limited and what were the deciding factors?

Anil from ThinkStart came highly recommended from a trusted person in our network: "if anyone can tackle a messy project like this one, it's Anil".

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

Finalize a WordPress website using a custom template.

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

1

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

He successfully completed the work, on time, and at the quality.

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

Communications were a breeze, and I quickly understood that I could trust that the project would be completed. You would never have known that we were working on completely opposite timezones.

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

They were able to take on a project that no one else would touch because its state was so messy, and complete it within a tight deadline, while fully remote and without ever needing to get on a call to sync up.

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

The only thing I would have like to see -and this is minor: we paid by bank transfer, but we would have preferred the ability to pay by credit card without using a 3rd party platform that had significant fees.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a small advertising company specialised in webdev. and UI Design based in Luxembourg.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkStart Private Limited ?

We hired them for a lot of different projects

What were your goals for this project?

Our Goals are simple. Deliver at time with the best possible result !

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We need a vendor in which we can trust, which is fair and which works in time.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

ThinkStart provided us with all their skills. WebDev, planification etc ...

What was the team composition?

Webdesigner, GraphicDesigner, Project manager

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

As thinkstart delivered well and fast we could launch earlier as expected

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

10/10 !

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We are always impressed by the flexible reactions from their team. Rarely with more than 2-3 hours without feedback from them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are one of the largest independent own music stores in the US. I am an online sales manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkStart Private Limited ?

To start, we had to migrate our old website to a Magento site that would allow us to grow our business. So the guys from ThinkStart did an amazing job with that task. They also helped with our design. We had a vision as to how we wanted our store to look like and function and they made it happen. Further, they have been helping with our listings and implementing new sales tools.

What were your goals for this project?

The main goal was to keep the listings we had created over the years and transfer them to a modern platform, where integrations were possible.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

This vendor was referred to us by a friend who also happens to have an online store. We had a handful of candidates for the job but after speaking with them they seem to fit our needs.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They developed a Magento 2 website for us from the ground up. It included slide show banners, custom category buttons, live chat features, integration with Amazon and Reverb. There was some special coding for features such as "make offer" button on a listing. They also helped set up the payment gateway.

What was the team composition?

The team offers developers, graphic designers, marketing experts, and owners who are in charge that goals are met.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

For us, it comes down to the reach of our customers. The new website has allowed us to use various methods to reach them. The results have surpassed our expectations.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We had a deadline to launch the new website which they completed. Communication was done via email, Skype, google hangouts and WhatsApp. There were no issues with communication.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive thing about this company is its response time. I can reach out to them and they are available to answer my questions.

Are there any areas for improvement?

The only thing that I personally would love for them to improve would be working hours. They are located in a different timezone making a little difficult to have them on hand.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder of Shhef, an online platform for home kitchens. I drive the company’s overall strategy, marketing, and product development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkStart Private Limited?

We hired ThinkStart Private Limited to develop an Android app from scratch.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to launch a simple and user-friendly app quickly.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I selected this vendor based on a recommendation. Plus, the rate quoted was within my budget.

Describe the project in detail.

ThinkStart Private Limited developed the Android version of a community platform that would help chefs set up home kitchens and get discovered in their neighborhoods. We will work on the iOS version soon.

What was the team composition?

I worked with a project manager, one frontend developer, two backend developers, and a QA resource.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

 ThinkStart Private Limited followed our timeline and budget, allowing us to launch the app within six weeks. The product evolved as we built it, but the vendor was accommodating toward minor changes. They understood our goals, even though we did not articulate them clearly. This saved us a lot of time.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We coordinated with their project manager, who was quite responsive and smart. He understood our requirements and translated them into workflows and schedules.   

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was impressed with their sincerity and compliance with our budget and timeline.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, nothing comes to mind.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Quigig, a software as a service (SaaS) company. We connect service providers and sellers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with ThinkStart Private Limited?

We needed to hire a development team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our website and mobile apps for our platform. They started by developing the idea and deciding which technologies to utilize. They then put the team together, got the design done, and planned out what features would be included. We developed the main website first and then got into the mobile apps.

For the website, they used .NET and on an Amazon server. We have payment transactions that are integrated with Stripe. Now we’re doing an integration with a background platform, as well as an integration with chat software. We’ve also done integrations with Coinbase, which is the cryptocurrency checkout option. The UX is entirely inside our website, but the backend is a tool provided by a third party. The blog is based on WordPress, which is another piece of the website that is on a third-party system.

We already released the web apps. The Android app is ready, except for testing and making sure the content is good. We’ll be pushing it live sometimes this week. The iOS app will be ready in a couple of weeks.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Anil (Co-Founder, ThinkSmart Private Limited) and Anil (Director of Business Development & Product Management, ThinkSmart Private Limited) as well as a lead project manager, a junior project manager, a designer, the iOS and Android app developer, a .NET developer, and someone who tested the product.

They had to replace a couple of team members at points, but we mainly had the same team since they started.

How did you come to work with ThinkStart Private Limited?

I hired three teams; one was U.S. based and the other two were in other countries. I gave each of them an initial part of the project and depending on how they performed, I would choose one. From that process, I selected ThinkStart Private Limited.

How much have you invested with them?

$60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2017 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I had a friend oversee what they’re doing and he provided generally good feedback. The website is working. It’s a massive site, with more than 18 million pages. I have an SEO specialist based in Los Angeles who is also checking the source codes. There are things that are brought up, but they’re things that are naturally part of the process of a project of this scale.

It was definitely a lot of work that they did to get this project moving and growing. There have been times we had a hard deadline and they had to work late nights or weekend to get things done. They’ve been flexible with me on the pay and some of the other aspects of the relationship. Their overall contribution has been great.

How did ThinkStart Private Limited perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s been pretty much managed by their project manager. At the start, the idea kept evolving, with the scope changing daily. We had a point where timelines were being shifted. The entire design had to be reviewed by a much more experienced designer because the initial design wasn’t as impressive as we’d wanted it to be. He was able to upgrade the entire website. Overall, project management was good. I’d give them 90%.

They use my business email for project related communications. They use Time Doctor so I can see the screenshots when they’re working for me. I’ve been able to monitor what’s going on and keep track of their staff working. It’s been a pretty intense relationship. We also use Asana to keep track of tasks.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Part of the reason I picked them from the three teams was that I had confidence in them delivering what I wanted. I could see the project manager was very involved and understood what I needed. The other teams were keeping track of the costs more than making sure they delivered what we wanted. We didn’t have to redo a lot of things. It was smooth and easy to work with them. They would even do research to find our best options. They have a smart and dedicated team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The designer they used wasn’t very experienced. Part of it was because of the budget that was allocated. The graphics were okay, but not impressive, as was the UX. Their content is not their strength. Also, English isn’t their first language—they’re okay with communication but you don’t want them to develop the copy.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re very smart people and they like to be engaged in product development and in deciding some of the details. Keep them involved early on in choosing which platforms to use. They may be able to bring in new insight into the process. They’re good at helping get the project started before the development.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Online Music Store. Musical instruments and pro audio sales

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkStart Private Limited, and what were your goals?

Website development and IT service

SOLUTION

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

I been working with them for years but if I remember correctly I saw a post of them on a website with good reviews

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

They maintain my website with any bugs it may encounter. Constant updates, uploading products and any it issues

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

I only deal with Anil and he delegates work to his peers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They have deliver a great service

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

They are always ready to work regardless the time

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

They are honest and care for their work

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

No, they know very well what they do

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Professional Sound Lighting and Event Sales and Rental Marketing and Admin.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire ThinkStart Private Limited, and what were your goals?

Our goal was to revamp our website while transitioning to the latest software. Fixing issues that caused difficult and slow navigation and connect the site to other selling platforms.

SOLUTION

How did you select ThinkStart Private Limited and what were the deciding factors?

We selected them through a referral.

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

Migrated our site to Magento 2. Increase our speeds and search results. Integrated with Amazon and Reverb. Switch our payment system to Stripe and so much more.

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

Worked with one main contact person but his team consists of others behind the scenes.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our new website now runs more smoothly and we have seen increased traffic and sales. The integration has helped us track inventory numbers.

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

Most communication was done over email but calls and messaging were set up through various other platforms when needed.

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

They are always willing to help and respond quickly to whatever question we have.

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

It would be great if they worked US time but they are more helpful than these matters.