Aligned Code

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Chief Executive Officer of a financial services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We build institutional-grade portfolio risk management software for crypto / digital assets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Aligned Code to accomplish?

• Professional UX design for our product
• Additional UI development capacity

SOLUTION

How did you find Aligned Code?

Referral

Why did you select Aligned Code over others?

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

What was the size of Aligned Code’s team?

2-5 Employees

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

We retained one UX designer and (later) one UI developer from Aligned Code to be embedded in our startup's development team, working very closely with both the CEO (product) and lead UI developer. Wireframe design in Figma was 100% done by Aligned Code's designer, and when we needed additional UI development capacity in the React-based front end, we turned to them first.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• We successfully raised VC funding based on wireframes developed with Aligned Code; those wireframes were then the basis for a product that we brought from alpha in summer of 2022 to full production in January 2023. The front-end's clean design and sophisticated implementation gets routinely called out as very high quality especially for an early-stage startup. Lots of people in startup talk about creating a product that "delights" their clients: Aligned Code helped us do just that.

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

Aligned Code was highly responsive to our needs. We checked in with their management monthly; the CEO got personally involved where required (very rare) and we mostly worked with their PM team for day-to-day. We saw zero issues and all deliveries were on time or ahead of schedule. Bear in mind though that this was a fully-remote, embedded type arrangement rather than outsourced PM+tech; the success here was that they merged into the team seamlessly.

What was your primary form of communication with Aligned Code?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Aligned Code has a great eye for talent. I have seen a number of firms that offer these sorts of services which are basically a wrap-around of a recruiter who do not add a lot of value. They operate as a team and company, and it shows: as a client I felt we were able to tap more than just the people they hired, and the people they had were top-notch.

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

No, we have been very happy to work with them and faced no issues. Highly professional and well-run.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of a geo-information company with a navigational app. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aligned Code?

I hired Aligned Code to develop my application. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aligned Code developed a mobile navigation application for Android, which they equipped with several subscription options. I outlined what I wanted from the project, providing Aligned Code with a short document detailing the features I wanted to include. I had a quick call with Aligned Code to discuss the project, and then they began development, which included designing and developing the app’s UI/UX. The final product allowed users to find businesses and plan routes.

What is the team composition?

I worked with four teammates from Aligned Code, including Artyom (Middle Frontend Developer), a designer, and an administrator.

How did you come to work with Aligned Code?

A friend of mine recommended that I contact Artyom. I quickly conversed with him over Skype, sent him my idea, and then hired Aligned Code.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with Aligned Code from August–December 2021.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Aligned Code provided top-notch deliverables — the app launched in December, and we haven’t had any critical issues that required changes. The app has received a lot of five-star reviews on Google Play. 

How did Aligned Code perform from a project management standpoint?

I only communicated with Aligned Code through Skype and Slack, and tracked project progress through Figma. The project timeline was extended from three months to four, but the change wasn’t detrimental to the project. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed that Aligned Code could translate my general idea into a working final product. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything for Aligned Code to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d advise customers to be clear about their technical requirements before beginning the project with Aligned Code. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a project manager at Promwad, an electric design house with a sub-focus on digital television.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired Aligned Code for their expertise in smart TV application development to help us out with a project to develop an app for Samsung Tizen. The goal was to bolster our own expertise with that of Aligned Code.

SOLUTION

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

We've had previous contacts and connections with Aligned Code, and they've shown and proven their expertise in DTV and smart TV software development before.

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

The scope of work included analysis of the requirements provided by the customer, estimation and project planning, tasks breakdown & versioning. Tech stack is mostly web-based (i.e. React/Redux, HTML5/CSS3, node.js).

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

We've directly engaged one software developer from Aligned Code, Maryna, with management and accounting from Aligned Code providing the necessary support for the engagement.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

As of right now, we are halfway through the final version of the end product. Aligned Code has greatly aided us with their expertise. So far the deliverables from Maryna have been great, and she is a valuable member of the team.

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

The timeline for the project was pretty tight, but thanks to Aligned Code we managed to fit into it with time to spare. Project management is executed by me (Kanban methodology with slight modifications & versioning). The main tools used are as follows:

1. JIRA for task & progress tracking
2. Zeplin for work with UI/UX designs
3. GitLab for storing and managing the codebase
4. Discord & email for communication

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

Their expertise, combined with a positive attitude, attention to detail, and strong soft skills were most impressive. Of all the people from Aligned Code we've worked with.

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

I don't think so. Their approach is very thorough and proactive, can't really see anything that could be done better.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a small software company that provides software services for German clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aligned Code?

One of my clients required more work than what I was capable of so I hired Aligned Code to assist with that.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provide development services and project management for web applications and software. We use React.js, TypeScript, .NET Core, C#, and Microsoft SQL.

What is the team composition?

I work with three different developers, two for frontend development and one for backend. I also work with a project manager.

How did you come to work with Aligned Code?

I met someone at a conference who was a friend of the CEO at Aligned Code and they provided me with contact information. I contacted them and we started with a one-month testing period. The trial was successful and from then on we continued working with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about €100,000 (approximately $119,000 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in April 2020 and the work is currently ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The collaboration so far has been successful. We already have two web applications in production. They delivered the quality I was expecting.

How did Aligned Code perform from a project management standpoint?

Their communication is great and we utilize Slack as a chat tool. I can ask a lot of questions and get a response or feedback in seconds. We have bi-weekly calls to discuss and review our work.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are really customer-oriented. It doesn’t matter what I ask for, I get great services.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing particular in mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Speaking the native language of Russian is helpful and made it easy to communicate.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I own a software business that does bespoke development and integration services for large blue chips and startups.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aligned Code?

We were working on a large ERP system for a data center.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked on an extension to the ERP and with some of the algorithms behind the analysis of data coming out of the system. They then supported my team working on a large database, app, and portal.

Our teams worked closely together to develop the brief and system specification. We signed it off between ourselves and the client. We used .NET for development.

What is the team composition?

I believe we worked with two or three people. It might have gone to four at one stage.

How did you come to work with Aligned Code?

They were recommended by people in our organization. We knew we could trust them because of that recommendation.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent probably between $50,000–$75,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in the second half of 2013, and we ended the engagement in early 2014.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were flexible. When we had a challenge or a problem, they worked through it with us. If it was a deadline issue, they worked extra hours. It was very similar to our customer service. Aligned Code made up any imperfections by being extremely customer-focused.

We’ve never lost a client, and they worked with us to achieve that.

How did Aligned Code perform from a project management standpoint?

Back then, we gave the client a choice for project management tools. They were able to work with what we had in-house and with what the client wanted. It was easy. Their communication was also excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team at Aligned Code is filled with ambitious and hungry workers. They’re small and agile. Their team is willing to listen.

Are there any areas they could improve?

When I worked with them, they were in growth mode. Having that extra resource to rely on when they needed to increase their speed or pick up any challenges would’ve been helpful. But they’re a bit bigger now than they were then.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be clear that you want the work documented upfront first. They should be good at explaining what you agree upon.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a project manager for Viasat Global LLC. Our department works on mobile apps, TV apps, and a website. We are located in Russia, but we are part of the Viasat world organization.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aligned Code?

Aligned Code is our contractor for a Smart TV application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aligned Code has fully staffed us with all the Smart TV development for the Samsung and LG apps. The project is split into four teams and each team is responsible for each part of the project. One of their team members works on the backend, one on mobile apps, another on the website, and the fourth is responsible for the Smart TV segment.

Aligned Code works on the full cycle of development, including the technical design of the application. We provide them with sketches and design maps, and they’re responsible for building the application. The team has integrated the app with our API. They’ve conducted full code reviews, full code distribution, and project processes. 

What is the team composition?

Our main contact is Arthur (CEO & Founder), though we also have another legacy contact. We work with two developers, and for a period of time, there were other team members that worked for us including a project manager.

How did you come to work with Aligned Code?

We searched within the market and found three or four companies, and Aligned Code was the only one not based in Russia. During the second round of tender, their team stood out as the best for our project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in the first quarter of 2017, and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In terms of deliverables, they’re always completed when Aligned Code says they will be, including testing and code distribution. They do their work really well.

How did Aligned Code perform from a project management standpoint?

We’d been using Trello since the beginning and as the project has grown, we transitioned to Jira. We are now using Git track, which connects every aspect of the project. Each feature we’ve developed is not only connected on the frontend, but the backend as well.

We mostly use Slack to keep in touch, and there are never any problems with communication.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Aligned Code is always online and ready to communicate. The team is deeply involved in the project, and they’re constantly trying to improve it by making suggestions on certain features, even without our involvement.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There is nothing to improve at the moment in our relationship with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Anything related to Smart TV development is something Aligned Code does very well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.                                    

I’m the founder of Tigermilk Media, a content publisher and distributor. We own several media resources and create video content for YouTube channels, mainly in the realm of DIY projects. We monetize the content on different platforms via advertising, subscriptions, and some partnerships.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aligned Code?

We wanted to distribute our content on smart TVs, so we needed a partner to develop an app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Aligned Code developed the entire architecture concept, from the technical components to the final product. They designed and developed the app for various smart TV platforms, and it was initially for our DIY food projects. However, the app can easily be modified to work for our other topics, like décor and health.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager, designer, four developers, and an expert in business analysis and product launching.

How did you come to work with Aligned Code?

A friend recommended them. We reviewed a few other companies, but Aligned Code best understood what we wanted, so we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $140,000–$170,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from July 2015–April 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They helped us launch onto new platforms, which has grown our audience by more than 10%. We’re able to monetize our content on smart TVs, which is exactly what we wanted.

How did Aligned Code perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly calls and monthly meetings with their team. We reviewed what they did and their upcoming plans. They communicated well, and everyone seemed to know what we wanted to accomplish.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were proactive and didn’t just wait for us to give them instructions. They came up with great ideas for our product that would make it more effective.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could create a bigger team to be able to scale as needed. They could also improve their presentation material.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I'm a managing member of a consulting business.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Aligned Code?

Aligned Code assists us with software development and integration work.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Aligned Code works with us in a variety of different contexts. They work primarily with Java and Node.js, Spring MVC, and MySQL as the backend stacks. On the frontend, they use both Angular.js and React. 

What is the team composition?

I've worked with a total of 12 developers over several projects. 

How did you come to work with Aligned Code? 

They were working on a project with another client of ours. We had a number of fundamental issues with the client that required my team to coordinate closely with Aligned Code. I reached out to them to do work outside of that client because they were thoughtful and capable. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've probably spent between $300,000—$500,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We've been working with them on and off since 2015. The most recent collaboration started in mid-2018 and is an ongoing collaboration.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Aligned Code is always very helpful in completing assigned tasks and supporting our work.

How did Aligned Code perform from a project management standpoint? 

I tend to be simple, so we communicate over Slack and Skype. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

Aligned Code excels fairly well at the tasks they're given. That’s a key reason why I've had a long term relationship with them. 

Are there any areas they could improve? 

There are the typical challenges of working with a remote team, especially the difference in time zones. It's much easier to work with them when I'm in California that when I’m in New York. They’re well-reasoned and mature about how they approach problems, so it's not a major issue. Aligned Code is good at providing reasonable options and windows for communication. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

We've made it a point to visit Aligned Code a couple of times to build personal relationships. I would encourage anyone to get to know them. The developer culture is one such as they like to deal with big picture items. Pushing a broad vision may not be part of your job, but they work better when they have a broad mandate.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-founder & CEO of a financial services company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Digital Asset management

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Aligned Code to accomplish?

• Developers and design

SOLUTION

How did you find Aligned Code?

Previously worked with one of their team

Why did you select Aligned Code over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Aligned Code were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Build out back and front end of portfolio management system with design

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Delivered exactly what we asked for

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

Everything on time and within budget, excellent!

What was your primary form of communication with Aligned Code?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The capability, integrity, and openness of the entire team were impressive!

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was a product manager at Moydom.kz leading the development of mobile app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We wanted to develop a mobile app for our users to access our products from their phones. We'd noted a trend towards that. Our goal was to have a user-friendly platform in 3 months at the MVP stage.

SOLUTION

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

We searched online for app developers throughout the world. We shortlisted 4 companies based on their expertise, price, and estimated submission date.

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

We had a series of discovery meetings to discuss our objectives and goals. We provided Aligned Code with workflows, designs, and wireframes. Within 2 sprints (1 month) we had the first round of an app.

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

There were a project manager, flutter developer, QA lead, and product manager. I closely interacted with the project manager and QA lead. The product manager was provided to us to consult on issues we didn't have the expertise and they didn't charge anything on that.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We had an app in a month. It was the most important deliverable for us. The app was good even if it was MVP of MVP, but was very valuable.

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

The project manager was easy to communicate with. We had phone calls, zoom calls, once a week meetings. We had bi-weekly team calls, almost everyday texted each other on slack and series of 1 on 1 meetings via phone calls and zoom

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

They are truly reliable and easygoing.

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

Definitely, there might be something they could improve, but I personally didn't notice anything bothering me.