Toptal

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of Boxes.Email. Our company provides a new style of email service where people get a domain instead of an email address. With the domain, they can get as many email addresses to create on the fly. For example, if they need to sign up for an account, people can use the name of the service, at sign, and then their domain to create a one-to-one relationship between the services they sign up for and the email addresses they use. If an email address gets compromised, they can just turn it off, which prevents spam problems.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Toptal?

Our platform had a basic design; we needed to hire a UX designer to give us a better look and feel for our product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Toptal provided UX/UI design services. Initially, they sent three candidates for the UX/UI design. Everyone looked qualified, but we needed a different viewpoint for our UI, so we requested a more diverse pool. They provided more potential candidates, and we found Danielle (UX Designer) in the second round. She was an outstanding candidate, and we instantly hit it off with her. She connected with the product quickly and threw out ideas in our first meeting.

We provided our target market in the first round, and Danielle used Figma and followed our direction with her design.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Danielle and a financial advisor.

How did you come to work with Toptal?

Danielle understood the product, so it was a no-brainer. She was exactly who we were looking for; we were excited to work with her.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $50,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our first contact was in November 2021, and we continued to work with them until February 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve gotten great feedback from users for the UI. Four weeks ago, I spoke with a venture capitalist about the product, and he told us it was one of the best UI he’d seen. Moreover, we believe that once we get our funding, the UX/UI will have a huge impact.

How did Toptal perform from a project management standpoint?

Communication was excellent. Danielle was based in Singapore, so we had a 12-hour time difference. Sometimes we couldn’t do Zoom, but it wasn’t an issue once we hired her. Additionally, she used Loom to send videos of what she was doing, and we used Slack and Google Meet when we had to meet face-to-face.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their vetting process was outstanding. Every candidate they sent was highly qualified to do the job.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They had a strict process to hire the person full-time rather than hiring them through Toptal. Also, it was pretty expensive.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you want to utilize the best in the field, use Toptal. Their vetting process will give you the assurance that you’ll have somebody good at their job and compatible with you. If you run into issues with an employee in the first couple of weeks, they give you the ability to back up and try someone else without losing money or moving to a different contractor.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the product owner of an application for administration of a pre-school app in a larger company operating in the nordics

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We had performance problems as our software was first written 2012, then re-written 2016. However at 2020 we started having alot of problems with load times and losing customer.

SOLUTION

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

We had asked our development team to find help, as we were not able to solve it ourselves. But that did not help, so we started searching the web for high end resources that could help us and ended up interviewing candidated from toptal

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

Our new team mate was able to work independendly at the start to find out what the real problem(s) was with performance, and tackled them one after another. Then when we hit a stable performing product we started to refactor to a new framework (net framework to .net). Then we started making features that where not for - but rather integrations with other systems, and the same resource was able to handle that aswell.

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

The team have had differnet size at different times, but as an average we had a designer, a project owner/manager, 3 backend developers and 2 App developers

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results have been great, it would not have been possible to achieve this without the help from our resource from toptal. It is hard to pin down exact what was achieved but some bulletlist could include, 1. Fix performance issues 2. Make integrations work with new big customers 3. Make APP ppl more happy with the APIs they got

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

We usually used whereby.com / slack / google meet / JIRA for communication

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

The ability to find such great developers in such a short time.

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

Not really. The person we got was great. The communication with them was fast. All people I met from the company were professional and helpful.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a Fire Company, we provide servicing & installation of fire equipment, I am the Director of the Company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

Our goal was to create custom forms (reports) to use in our fire based software. These reports are used for Compliance reporting, information reporting to clients and so forth.

SOLUTION

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

We selected Toptal through Google search. The process started our easy, lots of meetings but it progressed quite quickly & was very informative throughout the process. We selected Kamil as he showed a lot of knowledge to meet our goal, he asked a lot of questions which put my mind at ease that he understood or was making sure he would understand.

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

The entire project was HTML coding, creating fresh or editing existing reports, Ensuring the form was grabbing the correct information, & was being viewed in PDF format once created correctly.

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

I dealt with 3 people total, 1 sales person, 1 manager of the talents I believe & then the talent himself, Kamil. Kamil completed the entire project himself & did a fantastic job.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I estimated with Kamils assistance, a 2 week completion timeframe, I was able to add in 4 more forms into that timeframe for completion. So we exceeded our original goal & I had the opportunity to add in more projects as we went along which was fantastic. Kamil also picked up on things that I had not realised, IE footer details being incorrect, page numbers syncing properly & the header on the document changing between pages. His attention to detail assisted us in meeting the Government guidelines for the reports.

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

Kamil & I emailed, messaged in the Toptal chat & zoom called when needed. Predominantly was through Toptal message service, this worked well, we met at the start to discuss the project over zoom & did another zoom halfway when Kamil needed assistance with my specific software.

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

Toptal provided fantastic services and solutions, this service saves having to engage expensive options or suffer without what was needed. Brilliant service!

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

Not really, the first person I interviewed for the project was not knowledgable & was not a good fit, the only feedback would be ensuring the talent is all knowledgeable however he could have just not been a good fit for us & perfect for others. Also just a mention that the currency is US dollars would be great, it doesnt make a big difference but just to be aware.

BACKGROUND

What challenge were you trying to address with Toptal?

We needed to hire a developer who could build and modify artificial neural network architectures.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Toptal?

We needed to hire a developer who could build and modify artificial neural network architectures.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Toptal provided us with custom software development. They developed our platform’s prototype using Python, Java, and C++. Initially, we provided them with documentation. We developed a methodology, tested it, and then Toptal helped us build the solution.

Existing neural network architectures are comprised of trial and error and activation functions that don’t relate to data assets. This costs time, energy, and resources as the architecture selects the right activation functions since they initially assume and choose by trial and error. Toptal helps us to connect the activation functions to the input data using different parameters.

The solution has a deterministic component and a stochastic or probabilistic component. These components evolve the activation functions by combining two functionalities. The combination lets us know whether the platform will use probabilistic or deterministic activation functions and enables us to handle the outputs. 

The team has incorporated these components into the existing architecture and added a custom version. The technology is related to data science, machine learning, portfolio analysis, weather forecasting, climate change forecasting, solar energy, and other parameters that can predict changes. The features also allow the architecture to predict market movements for cryptocurrency. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with an account manager and a developer. 

How did you come to work with Toptal?

After looking for a service provider for over a year, I eventually found Toptal on Upwork. I checked their work quality, experience, and the kind of projects they’d done. Based on this assessment and rigorous research, I chose them as my partner. 

How much have you invested with them?

I spent about $11,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from August–October 2022. The next phase will be automation, and we’ll continue working with Toptal. We’ve already signed an agreement and are waiting for the funds.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The quality of Toptal’s work was amazing, and we’ve had very positive test results from the platform. Other neural network architecture's activation functions are very limited, with up to 40 functions users can apply. Meanwhile, our software can generate up to 500 activation functions for the deterministic component, while the stochastic component can generate more. 

We posted about our work on YouTube, and we’ve had over 3,700 views and very positive responses, acknowledging that we’re bringing something new and exciting to the field. Moreover, the platform has the potential to change the world, especially in Africa, where we don’t have as big a pool of talent to develop and commercialize such a product. This project can serve as a bridge for people to bring forward their ideas and initiatives, and perhaps we can build an even more sophisticated system. 

I appreciate our account manager and the rest of the Toptal team, who assisted me day and night and helped me achieve my dream. Moreover, our developer was the best; he understood the mathematical concepts involved, including abstract algebra and numerical, statistical, and functional analyses. Furthermore, he had a strong background and grasped any abstraction I needed him to. Therefore, the quality of his work was amazing, and the project was successful. Next, we want to make the architecture automatic and add more activation functions.

How did Toptal perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project management was excellent. They met the deadlines and even delivered ahead of time. The only delay was after we signed the contract due to budget issues. 

Although we worked virtually, our collaboration was even better than in-person contact. When meeting with a partner in person, there’s transportation involved, which can lead to delays or even accidents, and we didn’t have that with Toptal. We used Google Meet, Skype, WhatsApp, and phone calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Toptal is excellent overall, and I’m impressed with their work. They had an amazing staff and management, and there was no delay in their work. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d recommend them 100% because they're ahead of many other freelancers and providers. Anyone who has a complicated software development should talk to Toptal.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of engineering for Wash; we provide digital solutions for laundry room management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Toptal?

We hired Toptal for software development on a few different projects.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We give Toptal general outlines for requirements, but we don’t provide them with anything specific regarding how things need to be implemented. 

We’ve been working with Toptal on DevOps infrastructure, web application development, and Salesforce development. The web application software was built from scratch using Laravel. The software allows users to look at revenue, check for repair requests, and monitor their equipment. 

We have developers working on our client-facing mobile application for iOS and Android using React Native. They’ve been adding features to a basic application that an individual from our company wrote. The application is used to start and stop equipment remotely and set up a wallet for customers living in apartment complexes. 

Toptal has also been assisting us with a complicated single sign-on (SSO) for universities and a few other specific feature requests we’ve received. 

What is the team composition?

We work with three developers and one project manager. 

How did you come to work with Toptal?

We’ve worked with them previously on a few other projects. When we realized we needed a few developers for a short period of time, they seemed to fit the bill, and we decided to bring them in for this project. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $1 million–$10 million with Toptal. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together on this project in November 2019, and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The most significant metric is that our app went from being in the two-star range to now being in the four-star range. We recognize that this was particularly difficult to accomplish because the score started so low. People have responded fairly well to the app, and the stability has improved significantly. More people are using the app, but the crash rate has continued to decrease. 

We’ve also been tracking velocity in Jira, which has increased significantly. We can see that their team works faster than our in-house team. 

How did Toptal perform from a project management standpoint?

They have good time management, and always stay within the hours and estimates they’ve given. Toptal is professional, and their project manager provides valuable information about agile practices. We communicate via Microsoft Teams and send invites via Outlook and email. We’re in constant communication throughout the day, and we use Jira for project management. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They take less time in the long run than other companies and give us products with fewer bugs. They’ve been good about handling and implementing feedback, and they go back and make any changes we have after testing. They’re accountable for everything they do, and if there have ever been mistakes, they’ve rectified them quickly and free of charge. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

Toptal’s hourly rate is a little higher than some other companies, but they make up for this because it takes them less time in the long run. There could be better alignment on the budget and duration that someone will be with us initially, but this is a very small critique. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Work with them; we’ve had bad experiences with some other contractors because there’s no accountability, but there is with Toptal.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of a company that develops and implements quality measures to evaluate the safety of community pharmacies so that any patient, caregiver, or other stakeholders can make an informed choice in how they choose their pharmacy. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Toptal?

We wanted to ensure that the quality of the measures we implemented were valid, reliable, and scientifically accepted. We needed to ensure that the data we were collecting was standardized, so when we calculated our measures, we made sure they were done consistently across any pharmacy. 

We were doing all of this manually, so we hired Toptal to help us create a product that could intake data and calculate pharmacy scores automatically so that we could scale. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our infrastructure deals with different client products and Jotform surveys, and links them to our database which is hosted in AWS. The team from Toptal understood Python code and how to write it, and took the large amounts of data that we supplied, extracted it, translated it, and loaded it into the database. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a client manager, someone from their data division, a Python ETL expert, and two account managers. 

How did you come to work with Toptal?

We looked through a variety of databases and coding experts with different platforms. We reached out to a couple of colleagues who had used Toptal in the past, and they’d had favorable experiences, so we decided to move forward. Toptal has a bit of a premium, but we felt working with them would be worth it in the end. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them between April–August 2022.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Everything we used to do by hand is now automated and normalized in our database, which has been a huge help. They didn’t create the MVP, but they were able to take it to the next level for us. 

How did Toptal perform from a project management standpoint?

They had great project management. Our Python ETL expert was in a different time zone, so we found mutually agreeable meeting times that fit everyone’s schedule. We met three times a week and had asynchronous work, but Toptal sometimes reached out to our IT team to set up meetings outside those standing meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They made the process of onboarding and getting started very simple. We were able to hire someone, drop them into the middle of a project, and have them begin working immediately. We were also impressed with their process for intaking data and translating everything. It speaks to the quality and efficiency of the Toptal team that they could take something as complex as US pharmacy data, and effectively convert it into what we needed. 

We know they'll be our first call if we need to scale rapidly again. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing that they could have improved upon for us. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure you have a structured meeting cadence because they bring a lot of expertise to the table, and you want to work and collaborate with them. Don’t just hand over what you want them to do because they’re experts, and you should listen to their ideas.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are the creators of a 3D spatial mapping system that is revolutionizing the accuracy and drastically reducing the cost of traditional joint replacements with holographic technology. With a focus on high-volume procedures, such as hip and knee arthroplasty, we enable physicians to make treatment decisions based on patented, augmented-reality hologram technology.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We partnered with Toptal to develop technology that brings unparalleled insight and real-time coordinates to high-volume surgical procedures. To achieve our goal of improving efficiency costs for orthopedic surgery, we sought Toptal’s help with building our brand-new technology.

As it was then, we used large metal jigs that cost a fortune to clean and transport, which makes knee surgery very expensive. And there’s a lot of human input, allowing for human error as well. We saw a better way of doing that using augmented reality.

SOLUTION

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

Recognizing the level of work and skill needed, we began our search online, discovered Toptal and scheduled a meeting. The price otherwise would have been triple what it ended up being with Toptal, and the project was able to be completed in a timely manner because there was someone in charge to help push it through.

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

A project with monumentally high stakes required a team of subject matter experts at the top of their fields who could work together across an array of time zones. Drawing on the breadth of expertise in the Toptal talent network, the Toptal Projects team enlisted an accomplished C++ developer in addition to another developer already on board. With the development portion of the project well underway, the team enlisted a designer to create a cohesive aesthetic for both the HoloLens interface, as well as the application that would accompany the device. It needed to be a HIPAA-compliant and user-friendly UI that doctors could easily navigate.

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

Several Toptal team members worked with us and the project has been completed and the developers exceeded timeline expectations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Toptal enabled us to succeed beyond our vision. That’s been the one main factor in this whole thing that we’ve never worried about. That’s where we got very lucky—every step has seemed to work out. And Toptal was one of the fundamental reasons.

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

Toptal was prompt and responsive and engaged via Zoom and email reliably and met our company's needs.

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

Toptal has ready access to a vast network of talented and capable contributors, enabling them to connect us with the best resources for our demanding project.

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

Toptal did a great job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Reformation Services.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Toptal?

I was looking for a senior developer who was skilled in software development. We were building a miniature news terminal for the crypto industry.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They used WordPress, React, and AWS to build the news terminal. They did a bit of the frontend design work as well.  

What is the team composition?

There were two people on the team, but I had one main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Toptal?

I heard about their services in the news, and I decided to give them a call. 

How much have you invested with them?

I invested around $60,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2017, and our project wrapped up in August 2018. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They brought my product into existence. By the time they were done developing it, the solution was bringing in tens of thousands of dollars per month in revenue. It was a big success. 

How did Toptal perform from a project management standpoint?

They were exceedingly professional. They have a reporting dashboard that tracks timesheets, project deliverables, milestones, payments, and more. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were able to provide a very experienced developer on demand. I interviewed five people for the project and was able to select the developer that I thought was the best fit. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

They have a premium offering, but I think they could still lower their prices a bit. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

If you want to find a senior developer quickly, I can’t imagine a better place to go. However, just be aware that you’ll be paying for that convenience. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Sidekick, a cloud marketplace that brings business people together to find the right cloud solutions and the local expertise to make them work. The discovery of cloud solutions is currently fraught with bias and lacks transparency, but Sidekick makes it easier and streamlines lead generation.

As a one-person startup, Sidekick needed to get up and running and connect to a global business market that exceeds $68 billion in research.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Toptal?

The challenge was to find the best way to execute the concept and turn this dream into reality. While we already had expertise in design and user experience, we lacked true development skills and needed to find a partner to create our website in the shortest amount of time possible.

I’d been working with a different agency and had a deployment problem—the database was not working correctly with the frontend. I needed an Amazon Web Services DevOps expert that could quickly get in, diagnose my problem, and solve it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

This was my third engagement with Toptal, so I already knew they were reliable. They set me up with a DevOps specialist that handled my delivery environment, database architecture, containerization, deployment, and application development.

It’s truly a marvel to see such a talented person operate so effectively. They started the job 20 minutes after I interviewed them and about two hours later, they had already figured out what the problem was and resolved the issue.

Since then, that person has transitioned from handling immediate problem troubleshooting to being my go-to developer, integrating entirely within my organization. We have a high degree of trust and I can rely on their expertise for advice and for delivering per our requirements.

What is the team dynamic?

We have periodic phone calls with the account representative in Bolivia. I’ve also had ongoing interactions with various inside sales groups that want to make sure I’m happy with what I’m getting.

Toptal has multiple locations around the world, so they respond quickly to emails, Skype calls, and Google Hangouts messages. I’ve also integrated their developer directly into my Slack channel, so we have conversations on a daily basis.

How did you come to work with Toptal?

I initially met one of their account reps at a BoxWorks trade show two years ago. I wasn’t sold on Toptal then because I didn’t need them at the time, but when I got to the point of needing online expertise, they were the ones I contacted.

Soon after my initial outreach, the account manager got in touch with me to discover my needs and help get me through their funnel so I could begin the project. This is where Toptal excels. Other providers don't work this way and rely on an application interface to handle the experience.

While they’re probably more expensive than their competitors, they have definitely reduced the hiring burden and time by filtering out unsuitable candidates and engaging with me on a personal basis.

​​​​​​How much have you invested with them?

The total cost of their work has been $20,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Toptal in June 2017, and have an ongoing relationship for support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

When I initiated the engagement with Toptal, the project was at a standstill. I had offshore groups in India and Belarus developing my software solution, but because of the problems I was experiencing, I was essentially out of business.

The person I hired through them got my business running again to the point of us being ready to launch the product. They got me back on schedule, put a better technology in place, and worked 10 times faster than the previous group I’d used, at a quarter of the cost. The result: Sidekick launches this week and we're anticipating revenue and profit within 3 months. This couldn't have happened without Toptal.

Other vendors tend to suck up valuable time "getting up to speed" with the project, which results in merely wasted hours and cash burn. Toptal's process reduces your project risk.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I’ve used other talent-sourcing platforms like Upwork and none had the personal touch of getting on the phone with the customer to figure out what they need. Toptal does a lot of work in prescreening talent so that my time as a customer won’t be wasted trying to source people who fit.

Typically, in the engagements I’ve had with Toptal, the people they’ve suggested already fit 90% of my criteria, which has reduced my levels of stress and risk. Overall, I have a higher degree of confidence in their pool of talent.

I've used Toptal repeatedly, from design to development and also financial advice. Each engagement has been met with a positive can-do attitude by professionals around the globe who are intent on the success of Sidekick. I have found that spirit to be unique.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Because they do preselection work, they’re a bit more expensive than competitors in terms of price-per-unit. Also, even though Toptal has a lot of talent, their own website isn’t as functionally attractive compared to the web interfaces their competitors have for creating or managing a customer relationship.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

If you're looking for external freelance talent or small teams to hire, Toptal is an excellent source, but you need to be prepared for customer engagement. They will certainly furnish talented people, but without an accurate scope, onboarding processes, and security or governance rules, they won’t be positioned to be the most advantageous choice. As a client, you have to be willing to be the project manager and directly engage with the team on an ongoing basis.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We develop machine learning and artificial intelligence tools for web content marketers. I am a co-founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Toptal?

We work with very advanced systems, and needed some senior development help, specifically for Scala development using the Play Framework, as well as Apache Solr. On the UI side, we needed AngularJS. These were very specific requirements and we had to ensure any assigned resources were well versed in these technologies. The success of the engagement depended on it. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The type of work varied, with Toptal working on everything from bug fixes to new feature development, DevOps work setting up Solr clusters, UI feature development, and product management.

Toptal assigned five developers over the course of our project, with the typical team size being 1–2 people. We managed developers directly and worked with them on a freelance basis.

How did you come to work with Toptal?

One of the people I was working with suggested Toptal as a source of great developers. We tried a number of other channels, including face-to-face networking, but Toptal worked out the best for that class of developer.

How much have you invested with Toptal?

The cost of Toptal's work has been around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Toptal in mid-2014. We have an ongoing project using two of Toptal's resources.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Toptal is extremely efficient, and for the most part, has provided great developers right off the bat. We've had turnover in the case of one resource that didn't work out well for us, but 3–4 of our best developers have come from Toptal, which is impressive.

How did Toptal perform from a project management standpoint?

Toptal made it easy to work with the team. If there was ever anything wrong, it was fixed quickly. When I first reached out to Toptal, I was assigned a recruiter who remained with us for the whole period. I can email that person whenever I have a question, and from time to time, one of Toptal's owners will also check in. For the day-to-day activity, we only deal with the developers.

Toptal has internal tools developed by their team. We can enter any job requests into that system, and also use the scheduling and workflow tools provided.

What did you find most impressive about Toptal?

I've been most impressed by Toptal's hit rate in terms of developer quality. I haven't worked through another agency, but Toptal is able to find freelancers quickly and effectively for specific skill sets and high levels of mastery.

Are there any areas Toptal could improve?

If a developer doesn't work out within the initial 2–week trial period, Toptal will refund us and repeat the process until we've found a fit. The problem is that 1–2 weeks is not enough time to evaluate a developer. There seems to be a lot of pressure in getting us to buy a service, and it has led to some wasted money. This is the only area of improvement regarding Toptal.