Untitled Kingdom

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a software development manager at Remedee Labs, a software development startup. We’re developing a medical device that stimulates the endorphins of the human body.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Untitled Kingdom?

We needed someone to develop our mobile app. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our mobile app from scratch. We also needed them to challenge us on the market needs and the goals of the application which they did perfectly. We used them for graphic design for the user interface of the mobile application. We used them to develop the core of the application for iOS and Android. We use it to train our customers on how to use the device and how to help them. For this application, we’re using two different factors, which are sleep and stress. We have a training program to help them with sleep or stress issues.

What is the team composition?

There’s one project manager, one product owner, one UI, and two developers. We had two developers at the same time but we had different developers during the lifetime of the project.

How did you come to work with Untitled Kingdom?

They were a recommendation, and it was a very good idea.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2018, and we wrapped up in July 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The feedback has been very great. We love working with them. Their quality of work is great. They do what they say. At the beginning of the project, we didn’t know how to develop an application, and they taught us.

How did Untitled Kingdom perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was perfect. Some of the project management was on our side when it was needed. They’re very professional. At the beginning of the project, we had a specific timeline and budget which were respected.

What did you find most impressive about them?

My favorite thing is their honesty and the quality of their communication. Whenever we have difficulties, we just talk about them. They always understand our concerns.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Their CEO asked me as well and I didn’t have an answer. I don’t know what they could do to provide better services.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to be honest with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of Hunt, a rental marketplace.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Untitled Kingdom?

We built our web platform and wanted to build native mobile apps as well but we didn’t have the capability in-house.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had nothing as it related to native apps so they developed our iOS app from scratch. They helped us get our backend infrastructure set up and designed APIs.

I worked with them very closely on implementing designs that we have worked on, testing, and ultimately deployment of a production-level app. They built the whole app and, through the years, they continued to improve the app.

What is the team composition?

I interfaced with the founder on a contractual level. The team that was staffed on the project were developers and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Untitled Kingdom?

We talked to a range of companies about first building an iOS app. We decided on Untitled Kingdom. We got some references at the time and say that they had done some good work in the native app ecosystem. We took a gamble on that.

At that time, Apple had already announced that they’re moving over to Swift and away from Objective C, which was a difficult decision for us. Other teams suggested we code our app in Objective C and then convert it to Swift, even though it would be significantly more expensive and would partially duplicate the work. 

We didn’t have the money to do that and Untitled Kingdom said we should code in Swift, and that it would be stupid not to. I liked the attitude they had. They acknowledged they’d done Objective C and this would be a big change in moving over to Swift, but they took it on and did a phenomenal job.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent over $100,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July 2014 – May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We started ranking very competitively in the App Store. For some of the most generic and high volume terms, we started ranking in positions 1–5. We started getting 10s of thousands of downloads a month. 

One thing that stood out to us is our crash rate of the app was very low. It was below a percent of users had their app ever crash. At the time, the industry average was 2–3% so that spoke to their quality of work.

How did Untitled Kingdom perform from a project management standpoint?

We had daily calls with everybody on the team. They helped structure the sprints in our software account and it worked well. Communication was very good between our teams — we started with voice calls and had video calls. 

They were very structured and their project manager was really good. He would push back and reshuffle the sprints according to how it made sense for quality. He did a good job interfacing with his engineers because he had a slightly better understanding of our business goals than they did. He was able to balance quality versus our innate attempt to chew off a bit more than we should have. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

My experience with them was very positive and I was delighted with their service. They had a very structured approach to work. They weren’t afraid of new technologies and were very creative in how they problem-solved. They’re a really solid company and team. I’d love to work with them again.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s nothing where I’d say it’s their fault. One thing that was difficult at times was the time difference between us — they’re in Poland and I’m in San Francisco so we were working with a 10 hour time difference. We had calls early in the morning but if something came up later during the day, even just a question, it wasn’t always possible to reach someone there.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice would be to trust their process even if you don’t immediately like it. They have gone through this process several times to build a mobile app. They simply had a lot more knowledge and still have a lot more knowledge about that process than we do internally. Their project manager is really solid and good.

Their engineers are also very good because they actually produced a high-quality product. Don’t battle the project manager on everything because you can just shoe in more features or requests. It will dilute the quality of the product and make everybody unhappy along the way.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Chiaro Technology manufactures hardware and software products for women. We pinpoint problems in women’s lives and build a product to solve that problem primarily focusing on wearable technology. I’m the CTO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Untitled Kingdom?

We needed an app development resource, but we didn’t want to hire anyone in-house at that time.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We went to Untitled Kingdom with a prototype, and the scope was for them to bring an iOS and Android product to market in a collaborative effort. The app connects with a Bluetooth low energy device with real time feedback. We were able to complete the project in 7 months. Once the product was on the market, we continued using Untitled Kingdom to develop new features.

How did you come to work with Untitled Kingdom?

I researched various agencies in different parts of the world. I have a lot of experience working with agencies in Poland. I had a shortlist of five agencies where four of them were in Poland, and one was in Estonia. We gave all five a brief and asked for a response to it. We wanted to know how they would approach the project and how they would allocate resources. We weren’t necessarily interested in the quote as much as the approach they would use. We had two meetings with each of the companies, and in the end, Untitled Kingdom seemed like the most appropriate choice. I was impressed with their CTO and his experience. Untitled Kingdom already had experience with Bluetooth devices, so that was helpful as well.

How much have you invested with Untitled Kingdom?

We’ve spent £250,000 [approx. $305,000] with Untitled Kingdom so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Untitled Kingdom in April 2015, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been doing well as a company. We’ve been selling well, we’ve raised a Series A, and that was the goal after having a working product. Untitled Kingdom has been a very good partner for us in terms of providing development resources and being flexible. They’re always thinking about the products and give constructive feedback. Untitled Kingdom really feels like a partner. Users and investors both see it as a high-quality product.

How did Untitled Kingdom perform from a project management standpoint?

Untitled Kingdom assigned a project manager, and we were using Pivotal Tracker and GitHub for the first year and then moved to JIRA. They’re a very organized team.

What did you find most impressive about Untitled Kingdom?

Our relationship has gone well. They’re very open, committed, and honest people. Untitled Kingdom works as an embedded team which is something I haven’t experienced before with any other agency. They’re committed to our projects. I also talk to them about best practices, and they’re keen on implementing new products regarding best practices.

Are there any areas Untitled Kingdom could improve?

It would be nice for Untitled Kingdom to communicate when a feature is too complex and will need more resources. Every six months to a year we discuss processes and how to make things better.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO of MysteryVibe. Our company makes toys which are very smart and they work with apps. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Untitled Kingdom?

We needed a company that could do development for hardware connected apps. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Untitled Kingdom did 2 projects for us. They did very specific programming for our entire Android app, handling the project from start to finish. They also planned and implemented our website. We designed the website and they built it.

How did you come to work with Untitled Kingdom?

A friend of ours worked with Untitled Kingdom in the past and recommended them.

How much have you invested with Untitled Kingdom?

The total cost for both projects was £100,000 in total.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project lasted for around 6 months. We started February 2016 and finished September 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Generally speaking, the project is very solid.

How did Untitled Kingdom perform from a project management standpoint?

They had very good project management and everything was tightly controlled.

What did you find most impressive about Untitled Kingdom?

What sets them apart the most is they have very good planning. The best thing about them is that they are technically sound, much more than most development teams I have worked with. I’ve worked with a lot of development teams.

Are there any areas Untitled Kingdom could improve?

No, I think they did a really good job.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We act as a yoga concierge, aiming to become the Uber of yoga teachers by developing an on-demand mobile app. We work with teachers who post their availability, and the app allows clients to be able to choose when, where, and how they want their yoga lessons, and book and pay through the app.

I am the chief executive officer.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Untitled Kingdom?

I needed them to build a mobile app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ll have an iOS application which will also have a teacher login. I met them back in July. They’re based in Poland and I went to meet them and did a two-day workshop on the app. That was very beneficial for me because although I had the idea and I always knew where I wanted to go with it, it was really great to sit down with the whole team for two days and drill down into the details and figure out how we’re going to do this. It was also good to meet the team and get a feel for each other and for them to get a feel for me and what I’m trying to achieve with this.

Once we had the workshop, I then had a document detailing all the steps of my app so I could adjust in technical details the full scope of it. This is my concept and I need experts on board to help me bring it into reality. It was really good for me to have that workshop in order to really understand the scope of what I’m trying to do. I decided to continue to carry on with them to actually build the app. I think we’re about 2 ½ months down the line now and I really like how they manage the build. I speak to them every morning and they tell me what they’re going to be working on that day, what they have been working on, any issues they’ve encountered, and what they see going forward. I can also manage it through various programs on the laptop such as Jira, and then I’ve got a few little things with them which means I can manage and see what they’re doing at all times. We’re not at the end of the process yet, and I know how these things can be. So far, I’m very much enjoying working with them and I really do feel they keep me very updated and very involved in the decision-making process. This is an end-to-end development.

How did you come to work with Untitled Kingdom?

I had the idea but I really didn’t know that many people in the tech world. I found Untitled Kingdom because they built Bizzbym which is an on-demand app in London which provides workman’s services, decorators, whatever you want. I like that app and that app has done very well. I was speaking to a few other people, but Untitled Kingdom gave me the most confidence in how they spoke. I went to the workshop at the point where I wasn’t even going to do the app with them but just really get the full scope of the app in a document really, in technical specifications. I enjoyed the workshop so much and I really liked the team that was working on it that I decided I wanted to do it with them.

How much have you invested with Untitled Kingdom?

The project cost 100,000 pounds for the complete app [US$123,540].

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in July 2016 and it is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve got the app on the phone but it’s very basic, they’re still building it. I’ve shown the work to some people and they love how everything is looking. We’ve had positive feedback from everyone who’s seen it, which includes yoga teachers, family, and friends. I’m really happy with where they’ve gone with the design. It’s very clean, very modern, and very well-tailored to my specific target market.

How did Untitled Kingdom perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m very pleased with it. I can see that they’re doing it in sprints, and what they’re planning to do on each sprint, and that they do achieve it. Nothing gets approved without me. Once they’ve completed everything, I test what they say they’ve done and make sure it works. If I don’t agree with something, I write comments and they go back and work on it further. Overall, I’ve been involved with several tech companies before and generally, I find them very difficult to keep an eye on. With how they’ve done it, I’m actually very pleased. I feel like I’m kept up to date and in the loop.

What did you find most impressive about Untitled Kingdom?

It’s the communication. They’re very good at that. I really like that they’ve taken the vision on and thought about it independently themselves, and they’re happy to give me feedback. They tell me when they don’t agree with me, which I really like because I feel confident that they believe in my vision. They’re doing the best to execute it to the best of their ability.

Are there any areas Untitled Kingdom could improve?

We’ve only been working together a few months and the app isn’t going into testing until February. At this point, I don’t have many criticisms. I think they’re on the expensive side, but I think I’m paying for quality and I can see the quality in how the projects are managed so far. Overall, I have to say I’m very happy with them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an Executive of 5wins Inc

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Women’s sports digital media company

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Untitled Kingdom to accomplish?

• Build a prototype platform

SOLUTION

How did you find Untitled Kingdom?

Worked with previously

Why did you select Untitled Kingdom over others?

• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned
• Worked with in the past

How many teammates from Untitled Kingdom were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Scope of the work entailed developing the project plan, implementing the plan, developing and designing a prototype platform.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project was completed on time, within budget and met or expectations, goals and objectives.

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

They were very responsive and timely with their work. They met our needs.

What was your primary form of communication with Untitled Kingdom?

Virtual Meeting

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

Good cultural fit, and used a very successful project roadmap to complete project on time and in budget.

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

All good. I have enjoyed working with them on 2 startups with successful outcomes.