Amanecer Digital

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of an industrial safety management platform designed for manufacturing firms. Our users can input and track safety information to prevent injuries before they occur.

What challenge were you trying to address with Fortana?

Prior to Fortana, I hired developers that didn't have legitimate experience building enterprise software. They completely screwed up the backend, and we were about to shut down the project. That's why we went searching for another development agency.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They took over the project and rebuilt it from scratch. Essentially, they saved our business. They did an initial diagnosis and assessment of what was salvageable, and they completely rebuilt the backend. They also made substantial design, UX, and UI improvements to the system.

Even as an MVP, it's a usable, scalable software program. We were using Firebase, but they transferred us to PostgreSQL. They migrated existing data and made everything much easier to use. They also used React Native and JavaScript.

What is the team composition?

We started working together early in their existence, so we collaborated with their two leads.

How did you come to work with Fortana?

We reached out to them through some of our contacts at a venture studio.

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

They joined us in late August 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

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

Multiple clients use the product, and we're about to complete an agreement to get more seed funding. As of now, we don't have any hard numbers, but we have a functional, powerful MVP. Users already derive value from it, and Fortana worked much faster than other firms could have to complete the project.

How did Fortana perform from a project management standpoint?

Early sprints lasted for about two weeks each, then we moved into month-long sprints. They were very efficient, and they occasionally met with us in person. We had a solid, productive interaction, and they were very trustworthy. They thought strategically about the project and aligned with us completely. We use Slack and have weekly video conferences.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their communication is awesome, and they're fully transparent about their choices. Beyond just talented engineers and designers, they’re really amazing people. They're very collaborative and are a joy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have zero complaints about our experience with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be proactive and decide exactly what you want to build before you sit down with them. They aren't mind readers, but they work well with basic product requirements or ideas.