App Maisters Inc.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of RideShare, a ride-hailing app that competes with Uber and Lyft. We’ve changed the structure for the drivers, allowing them to recruit other drivers and benefit from their commissions. Also, we’ve made it possible for drivers to have a certain number of recruits, which will oblige them to work a particular number of hours each week for their commission.

The driver has to work 20 hours a week for 0–9 people they recruit. When they get to 10 recruits, they only have to work for 15 hours to get their commission. With 20 people recruited, it’s 10 hours, 30 people recruited, five hours. When they get to 40 people onto the platform, they no longer have to work for their commission; they receive it as a passive income from four levels of recruits.

If a driver brings a person from point A to B, they get 70% of that fare daily. On the other hand, 5% is put into the shared revenue account with the four levels of recruits, and then 25% goes to RideShare. Other companies pay billions of dollars to incentivize the acquisition and retention of drivers, but we made it inherent to the business model in our platform. Drivers are the ones who expand the driver pool so they can have somewhat natural attrition based on the number of recruits they have.

Additionally, they can continue to recruit in perpetuity. It’s a positive business model because drivers can recruit and get commissions from that, so they benefit from attrition and don’t have to stay in driving mode. They can just have the passive income they generate from recruiting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Maisters Inc.?

I came up with the concept back in 2016, but I didn’t have the capital to create the app for about 10 months. I needed to find a company that could work with me based on the amount of money I had to get started.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I initially presented my concept to App Maisters during a courtship process, and they said it was a great idea. When we started the development process, we spoke again about it, and they created a scope of work. I gave them the overall vision, but I refined it so it could be put into an algorithm. Additionally, I made a map for them, and then they ran with it.

When I came up with the concept, the idea was brilliant, but I hadn’t thought it all through, so it required a lot of change requests. We added an authenticator for drivers; the one I wanted to get had a cost for every authentication, so App Maisters suggested using one from Google that was free so it’d save people a lot of money when signing up for the application.

What is the team composition?

I have a project manager who is an intermediary between the developers and me. I’ve also had several account managers and project managers. Initially, it took from March–December 2018 to work through the concept and scope, and I worked with one person during that period, consulting back and forth. He was a project manager, but he seemed to bet at a higher level than that. We were in touch regularly, and throughout the following years, I’ve had three account managers in total. Right now, we’re on the third one, and they’re doing a great job. Also, there have been five project managers since.

How did you come to work with App Maisters Inc.?

I looked online for notable app developers and compiled a list of 15 companies, but I only called 12 of them. When I was first making calls, several companies gave me quotes of over $160,000. It just didn't seem realistic that it’d cost that much. When I reached out to App Maisters, they gave me a price of around $70,000, which undercut the lowest bid I’d gotten by about $50,000. I was frustrated hearing those high numbers.

I told App Maisters that I couldn’t do the app at the moment, but they should stay in touch with me. They contacted me every 2–3 months to see how I was doing and how things were going. Out of the 10–12 companies I contacted, they were the only ones that pursued it, which was quite admirable.

How much have you invested with them?

We paid about $118,000, including the initial work and changes.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in March 2018, and the app was completed by December 2018. After the end of the development, I had several change requests. They were little things I hadn’t thought of in the initial scope of work, such as mileage tracking. We did them between January–February 2019. Since then, we’ve done over 12 change requests over the years.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I test the app after every change request. On the most recent one, I found a conflict with one of the features associated with the map. I addressed it with them and found some other things that I wanted to tweak. They had to write some new code, which took a couple of weeks. I just received the app yesterday, so I ran some tests. I’m still on course to launch next week, so I'm really happy about that.

Since I’ll launch in Atlanta, I have a toggle switch associated with the city. When I activate it, it’ll allow 500 people to register without being invited by an existing driver. After those 500 people, the only way a driver can join the platform is by being invited, thereby establishing the network. This will be the case for every city that gives me that control.

How did App Maisters Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

I tend to make calls because I like to be able to talk to someone. They’ve always been available. If they’re not available when I’m calling, they call back. We also have a project messaging board where I can put my feedback. The project manager and other relevant people can see it. In general, communication has been spot on throughout the years.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s difficult for me to answer this because I've never developed an app concept before. As far as the actual production, they've worked with me as a person; they don’t see me as a customer. App Maisters has treated me as a friend, having casual conversations outside of the business. I appreciate that they bring a level of humanity to the service because I don’t like the level of formality I’ve had in most circumstances. Formality is good, but when you want to trust somebody, it helps a lot to break the business facade and intertwine your personal life to some extent. I hope they’ve felt the same way over the time we’ve been working together.

Moreover, they want to help me bring this product to the market instead of wanting my money. That’s one of the major motivations for choosing them above other companies.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be more proactive in contacting the customer. They’re available, and the team always returns my calls or answers my messages, but I initiate communication quite often. It might be because I want to ensure that everything is going as it’s supposed to and is on time. However, if they want to level up their services and have a better perception from customers in the future, they should take the initiative before the client reaches out. I’ve been rather persistent, but I’d be happy if they contacted me before I contacted them in most cases.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a financial services company, and we’re currently in the process of creating an app that would facilitate business transactions for small contractors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Maisters Inc.?

We needed someone to provide us with mobile app development services.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

App Maisters provides us with different layers of mobile app development for both the iOS and Android platforms.

They’ve integrated different software into the project including Docusign and templates from Jotform, as well as basic communication features like email and SMS.

What is the team composition?

We work with a QA tester, a Full Stack developer, a project manager, and a lead developer.

How did you come to work with App Maisters Inc.?

We experienced some resource issues from our previous development provider, so we went on the internet to look for better options and came across App Maisters.

After about four rounds of discussions, we decided to hire them because we found that they met all our needs.

How much have you invested with them?

So far, we’ve spent less than $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our partnership started in April 2020 and we’re working on completing the project in the next three months.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve gone through about 30 iterations of the app and thanks to App Maisters’ flexibility, we’re able to pivot our ideation each time.

They have the technical expertise to complete our vision and apply it to the current development of the product.

How did App Maisters Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

We’re assigned to Fahad (Program Manager) and his in-depth knowledge helps him understand what we’re looking to accomplish from a business perspective — he guides the project and makes sure every aspect of the development gets done accurately.

We typically communicate through text, email, phone, and their own portal called Teamwork. We also share an Excel spreadsheet for all our resources.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’re impressed with their ability to capture developers at a market competitive price and produce a world-class product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had an issue in the initial part of the development where our previous project manager transitioned out of the company, but they were able to resolve that fairly quickly.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would advise you to make sure to get your ideas across and maintain a cadence of communication to complete the project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an electrical engineer, and my company develops methane detection sensors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Maisters Inc.?

We hired them to develop an Android application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

App Maisters is developing an Android app that can take data from our methane sensors, which we build in-house. They’re also introducing functionalities that can enable the app to work with the drones on which we attach our sensors. Those are the two primary functionalities of the app: data collection and mission generation for drones. Once this project is done, we’re hoping to have users impose the specific parameters through the app, while the rest of the process is automated and the drone flies around by itself. 

The team is using Kotlin and Java for the development.

What is the team composition?

I work directly with a project manager and a lead programmer. There is also one more developer who’s involved in the project. 

How did you come to work with App Maisters Inc.?

We just searched online. Our main criterion was that our development partner should be only a few hours away from our offices.

How much have you invested with them?

It’s between $20,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working in January 2022, and it is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application is still in development, but there is nothing that I’ve thrown App Maisters’ way that they’ve not been able to tackle. They’re exceeding our expectations.

Comparing them to the previous developers that we’ve worked with, the difference is night and day. What we’ve gotten done in two months is much more than what we’ve gotten done in a year with other developers. 

How did App Maisters Inc. perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been perfect so far. We communicate in two ways: simple phone calls and weekly meetings for reviews and updates. They also have an internal platform through which we share information. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’ve done really well in figuring out what and who is needed for the project. Every issue, bug, or feedback that I’ve sent their way has been taken care of in a very professional way. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t have anything bad to say about this team, but perhaps they could’ve lessened the number of phone calls back when our partnership was just starting out.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you have any questions, just keep sending them their way. App Maisters will answer pretty much everything as soon as possible and as best as they can.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am aiding my spouse in the creation of a Dating and friendship application designed to help military members avoid online dating scams.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire App Maisters Inc.?

Creation and development of the application.

What were your goals for this project?

Creation and development of the application.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Online advertisement.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

App Maisters provides step by step development of android and Apple cell applications. The provide live interaction with development teams throughout the process.

What was the team composition?

They provide a Customer Service Representative, a development lead, an Architect, and Developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Project is ongoing; however, App Maisters does there best to keep up with deadlines. Changes to initial application will cause delays.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Project management is effective; however changes in production leads can cause delays. Suggest that customers create a document that describes the project in minute detail, since most developers are working independently in different locations.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

App Maisters Inc. has a versatile team that works consistently to complete projects.

Are there any areas for improvement?

When a customer provides all the details of their project accurately and have a clear vision for their project that is well documented, App Maisters will provide the results requested. I believe at times, customers expect companies to read their minds and provide their vision without a clear understanding of development processes.

Development is a team effort, and App Maisters does a good jopb of integrating the customer into the team. App Maisters can interpret a vision that a customer conveys and do all the steps up to release on the Apple and Google Play Stores; however, customers should be prepared to respond to questions without hesitation. Coding is difficult, and minor changes can lead to greater financial burdens. Be prepared and choose App Maisters for your next project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of The Final Word, LLC. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Maisters?

App Maisters created an app for iOS and Google Play. My goal was to complete the work at a fair price and to have the items delivered as I expected around the time we agreed on. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the press of a “button,” in a chipmunk-style, Brooklyn accented shrill voice, an adult novelty app was conceptualized to deliver pre-recorded randomized insults and gestures to anyone, anywhere right from any device.  App Maisters brought my vision to life. I haven't worked on app development with any other providers before.

The app is built on a native platform for Android and iOS. App Maisters did some design, but I gave them pretty much everything they needed in order to start the development. I had a design in mind, and they basically nailed it. The app has an Apple Watch component as well, which isn’t true of most startup apps.

App Maisters and I were basically on the same page from day 1. I laid out exactly what I wanted as far as look and function, and they did a pretty good job. We did have to go back and forth a few times to get the details right, but I got a great finished product. I made a lot of changes throughout the process because that’s the nature of life and business.  I’m still using them to add phrases and other details.

How did you come to work with App Maisters?

I found App Maisters through a Google search. At the time, they made a nice presentation. I did look at some other providers, but I ended up choosing App Maisters. Nothing was difficult or surprising about the hiring process.

How much have you invested with App Maisters?

I’ve invested about $45,000 with App Maisters.

What is the status of this engagement?

The app was officially launched in July 2016. They worked on the product for about 6 months, so I think we started around January 2016. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

To me, that means App Maisters did a good job. The app seems to strike a nerve. If I get any negative feedback about the app, it’s not about the function; it’s about the app itself. People are using it and enjoying it. I had 150,000 downloads within 3 weeks of launching.

How did App Maisters perform from a project management standpoint?

I believe App Maisters did well from a project management standpoint. We talked on the phone, and we also used the Teamwork app. We had multiple lines of communication, which was great because I’m in New York and they’re in Texas.

I think I spoke to at most 6 people from App Maisters who worked on the app. They assembled those resources for me. Sometimes, I spoke with the team multiple times a day; at other times, we only communicated on an as-needed basis.

What did you find most impressive about App Maisters?

Their coding ability is impressive. They know what they’re doing.

Are there any areas App Maisters could improve?

If somebody has to leave a company unexpectedly for personal reasons, that’s not really something I can criticize. A replacement project manager was just as good, but he had to relearn what we’d already put together.  I'm a business person, so I understand that these things happen.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with App Maisters?

App Maisters does a really nice job. Future clients can expect to get what they ask for because that’s what App Maisters did for me. Overall, I had a good experience with them, and I will continue to use them into the future as I evolve and modify the app.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My business works on internet solutions for law firms and legal organizations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with App Maisters?

We wanted to expand our business to providing apps for clients, both Android and iOS.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They built an app for one of our clients. It was a fairly complex application that involved a calculation of payments. It’s a native app for Android and iOS. Visually, they took our idea and brought it to life. However, there was no way they could do the app without our input, as it was based on some fairly complex state statutes to compile the data and make the calculation. We had to provide that information to them. We had a project manager who we dealt with primarily. We had direct communication with three to five people.

The app has a very complex calculation. One of the big elements is that it’s based on state law, which is difficult to read, especially when the calculations are so specific as to the necessary elements, but ambiguous as to the full description of those elements. App Maisters was able to communicate with us and manipulate the calculations to match the paper sheet the attorneys had been using to calculate payments.

We weren’t expecting the law to be so ambiguous and yet so stringent in its requirements. As we moved through the project, the complications became more and more complex. They were able to deliver and get us where we needed to be in having those calculations done correctly.

How did you come to work with App Maisters?

We started with a web search, most likely with Google. We interviewed three to five companies and chose App Maisters for a variety of reasons. We reviewed some of their prior work to get a good grasp on their capabilities. We had some conversations with them, which reassured us that they had the capabilities to fulfill our goals for our apps. We had a good feeling about that after the interview process.

How much have you invested with App Maisters?

We were likely in the $10,000 range, but I don’t know specifically.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November of 2015, and the app launched in April of 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I don’t have specific numbers. It has been a successful app.There weren’t a crazy number of bugs. We had an issue when Apple launched an update on iOS, but App Maisters was able to fix it fairly quickly. We expect glitches here and there, but we were very happy with the quality.

There were a lot of junctures during and after the project when we thought we were asking too much from them. However, they really were able to address everything we needed. That’s where we were most impressed on that project. The client uses the app within their business, and then it’s available to the public on the app stores as well. It’s a tool that’s used in-house by the client, so that’s a good success rate there. Then it’s also available to the public with the client’s branding on it as well.

How did App Maisters perform from a project management standpoint?

I think they were great. I have no complaints. App Maisters uses the Teamwork project management tool, which is different than the one we use within our company. The tool was used effectively throughout the project. Everything was delivered on time and on budget, and they were responsive to my communications.

What did you find most impressive about App Maisters?

They were able to solve problems with relative ease in situations that we thought would be difficult.

Are there any areas App Maisters could improve?

I really don’t have anything. We were very happy with the project. We’re a tech company, and I think they were very good from a technical standpoint. Something that may bother a consumer off the street, such as communication and tech-speak, is not an issue for us because we understand the language. Both of our companies work in a very similar way, so I don’t have any criticisms along those lines.  

Do you have any advice or recommendations for potential clients?

It really depends on whether they’re technical or consumer in nature, but I wouldn’t shy away. They were speaking our language, which is what we wanted. Often, when we have people to whom we could give advice, they’re in a different situation as a consumer or client without a technical background.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the Owner of a technology company.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Tech

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Maisters Inc. to accomplish?

• App development

SOLUTION

How did you find App Maisters Inc.?

Online Search

Why did you select App Maisters Inc. over others?

High ratings

How many teammates from App Maisters Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Create a mobile application for oilfield service. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Good communication throughout the whole process. 

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

Great project management within timely manner. 

What was your primary form of communication with App Maisters Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The history of work they have completed 

Are there any areas for improvement or something App Maisters Inc. could have done differently?

Everything seems to be going fine during the ongoing process.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive of BushelPro, Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Agricultural Mobile App for Harvest data capture, storage, and review.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Maisters Inc. to accomplish?

• Create a simple, yet professional User Interface.
• Create a reliable and effective cloud system architecture.
• Implement a core piece of technology into my mobile app.

SOLUTION

How did you find App Maisters Inc.?

Online Search

Why did you select App Maisters Inc. over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

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

I needed App Maisters to create an innovative Mobile App with a built-in data capturing feature that extracted weight amounts from digital scales in order to aggregate, organize, and display the data on an easy-to-use User Interface. They also needed to create a sophisticated cloud server architecture on AWS to generate and store the data. 

App Maisters was able to create a simple, yet professional User Flow exactly how I envisioned and communicated it to them. Working together as a team, we were able to create a mobile app technology that had never been done before.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

App Maisters was able to create a real, 100% functioning Mobile App based off an idea that I came up with from scratch. They were able to successfully integrate a data capturing technology inside the App that provides extreme value to my target market, which I discovered could create a profitable, online mobile app business.

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

App Maisters project management process was very professional and efficient. My Project Manger and I worked together as an effective team to communicate my vision to the DevOps team. 

My Project Manager was extremely smart, helpful, and accommodating with all my needs, as I am a person who focuses on even the smallest aspects and details of a project. All the deliverables were completed within a realistic time frame, especially the UI/UX changes needed during initial development.

What was your primary form of communication with App Maisters Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

I was most impressed with App Maisters' ability to understand and comprehend exactly what type of Mobile App product I needed, as I was trying to create an idea that had never been done before. They were extremely understanding and patient with the vision I had for exactly how the Mobile App needed to look and operate. This vision was extremely important to me in order to maximize the User Experience so I could effectively market and sell the value of the product, as well as the product itself.

Are there any areas for improvement or something App Maisters Inc. could have done differently?

I was very pleased with the overall development process provided by App Maisters Inc., as it went easier than I initially was expecting. I would not suggest any changes or improvements.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Productor of Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

The UPF is a university that is committed to public-institution values; it is a city university engaged in the active, dynamic life of the city of Barcelona, and a university that is wide open to the world beyond. Public, city-based, and cosmopolitan: those are the values that identify us as an institution working in the service of society.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire App Maisters Inc. to accomplish?

• web development

SOLUTION

How did you find App Maisters Inc.?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select App Maisters Inc. over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from App Maisters Inc. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Two websites, one for our department of African American Studies and the other for our department of Ethnic Studies, were created by App Maisters Inc. The websites, which are subdomains that branch out of our current infrastructure, were made with Web5 and WordPress. The websites have links to our social media accounts on them as well.

We have a set amount of troubleshooting hours available to us under our contract, therefore Xfive.co has continued to assist us and respond to our inquiries whenever we've encountered problems with either site. They have also been in charge of our new hires' training.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

App Maisters Inc. has developed high-quality, user-friendly websites, and we’ve been pleased with the partnership. They’ve genuinely managed the whole kit and caboodle; they just let us know when they need action on our end. They’ve also offered us the opportunity to grow our pages within WordPress, which our original website didn’t allow for. When the campus changes the internal infrastructure or wants to run maintenance, we can still update our website in real time, which is great

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

As far as project management goes, App Maisters Inc. has been an excellent partner. When we have had questions, they have never refused us, and their availability is excellent. The crew keeps us organized since they routinely meet deadlines and follow them more closely than we do.

What was your primary form of communication with App Maisters Inc.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

The professionalism and promptness of App Maisters Inc. impressed me greatly. Even when we've contacted them in the midst of our day and their night, they've responded to us quickly despite the time difference. We've been delighted with the collaboration.

Are there any areas for improvement or something App Maisters Inc. could have done differently?

I have nothing they could improve on.