Chili Labs

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

One-man-army company with me, myself and I. I brainstorm App ideas, hire developers of it, and do my own marketing.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chili Labs?

Chili Labs built an Android app for me, based on designs I provided.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to build a stable, smooth and beautiful app and Chili Labs delivered :)

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

After many bad experiences with many freelancers and agencies. Working with Chili Labs to work on an App for me was the best experience I've had so far. They work very quick, communicate clearly and most importantly - deliver amazing quality work on budget and on schedule.

Describe the project in detail.

The App they developed is a dream journaling app, aimed to help people learn Lucid dreaming - which is a skill to realise when you are in a dream. Once aware (lucid) in a dream, you can explore your subconscious mind though the dream environment. Talk to dream characters, fly and do much more. Chili Labs delivered the App very fast. I already had the designs so they based the App on my provided designs.

What was the team composition?

Chili Labs can work independently, or if the client prefers, they can keep client in the loop with ongoing questions and challenges. I like to be in the loop. I was assigned a project manager, but ofter I also chose to talk to the developer directly to discuss more technical aspects. Overall it was a great experience.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

App was built very fast - definitely within the deadline. There were no "unexpected" expenses - it stayed within the budget which is great. Quality is excellent and App is as stable and as smooth has it can be.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Very effective and friction-less.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Mostly I was impressed with how fast they work and how quickly they can overcome difficulties. And of course quality of the job is also just as impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not really

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of a startup.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chili Labs?

We hired them to support mobile app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Working mostly on the frontend, they helped us build an iOS app that’ll be used for growing plants. They’ve also started supporting some of our AR and emerging tech efforts as well. We intend to work with them on Andriod apps in the future. 

What is the team composition?

We have 2–3 of their teammates working on the project.

How did you come to work with Chili Labs?

We found them via referral from another founder.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started this collaboration around August 2018 and are still working together. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve been extraordinary partners who’re incredibly good at estimating timelines. In my experience, it's difficult to count on the accuracy of deadlines. But, they’ve been hitting milestones, which is notable. 

How did Chili Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They were flexible in adopting all of the project management tools used by our internal team: Jira, Slack, and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They ask great questions. The team is able to manage a more hands-on project or one with more rigid requirements. Super independent, they’re capable and helpful in both situations.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I know they’re growing and would’ve liked to collaborate with more of their team members, particularly their backend people. Even so, everything they do, they excel in.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Tecco, a digital product development firm. We do web and mobile development and deliver custom solutions for our customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chili Labs?

We have our own development team, but when we don’t have enough resources, we partner with an external team.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Chili Labs is helping us develop an iOS and Android app for a client. My team did the infrastructure and backend, and they were responsible for coding. They used Swift for iOS development and custom technologies for Android development.

Chili Labs also provided some design services. At the beginning, the client provided the designs, but occasionally they needed a prompt screen design, which is what Chili Labs did.

What is the team composition?

There’s a project manager, at least three iOS and three Android developers, 1–2 designers, the CTO, the CEO, and a QA specialist.

How did you come to work with Chili Labs?

We found Chili Labs through a recommendation. They’d helped us with small projects.

How much have you invested with them?

My company has spent more than €100,000 euros (approximately $10,950 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2018, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Chili Labs is the perfect team for us. I’d recommend them as one of the most professional companies on the market here. They solve problems very promptly and effectively. We’re happy with the quality of their work.

How did Chili Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

It was a two-scoped project at the beginning with iOS and Android development. Chili Labs also offered a support phase. They did their job very quickly and delivered the projects on time. We worked on 1–2-week sprints. We like that they’re very flexible and agile.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I only have good things to say about the partnership.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing I’d have them change.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of an Estonian company working on software solutions development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chili Labs?

We needed a mobile solution for one of our projects. We first tried looking for partners in Estonia but came back to our usual collaborators.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our iOS app using Swift, with Kotlin and Java for the Android one. We used Twine to raise multilanguage support, as well as other components.

What is the team composition?

I was in touch with their project manager and two team leads, but there were six more people assigned, plus a designer. We had 2–3 working on the project at certain times as well.

How did you come to work with Chili Labs?

I’d known them for many years, and I knew that they’d developed an effective company. They prepared a very good proposal for us, keeping in mind all the things we’d need during the project. They seemed to have very good knowledge of project management and gave us a good deal in terms of money/services.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve worked on three projects with them, and the overall cost has been above $300,000. The current one was over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the prototyping phase around April 2019, and the collaboration is ongoing. We have two active projects.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve always helped us find effective solutions. They know much more about mobile apps than we do, so they’ve helped us define tasks, as well as very good programming skills.

How did Chili Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They did need a bit of improvement with management in the beginning, but they’ve become quite effective since then, and everything ran well regardless. It was all done on time, aside from a few small items.

We’re also working with them on a client project, which is done in scrum. Almost all milestones were met on time, every time. If there was a possible delay, we always collaborated on managing it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They always tried to improve, not only their knowledge but also their organizational skills. They’ve implemented systems to minimize the delays, as well as automated testing for each deployment. They’re always moving forward.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The project manager assigned to us wasn’t always online as he was sometimes busy with other projects. However, this is normal and wasn’t a problem for us.

We also had some tasks for which they didn’t have the technical skills yet, but they tried to find a solution.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

No.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the product owner of an online casino game.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Chili Labs?

Apple changed their guidelines for gaming applications, so we needed to convert the coding for our game from HTML 5 to native Swift code. Otherwise, our games could be discontinued.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They used Swift coding to develop our iOS app.

What is the team composition?

There are two people working on our team.

How did you come to work with Chili Labs?

They were the first company we interviewed. We were really impressed by their technical knowledge, and they answered all of our questions perfectly.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2019, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

So far, our experience has been amazing. We were nervous that we wouldn’t be able to complete the project by our deadline, but they kicked the project off very quickly. They were able to develop faster than I expected, and I’m impressed that they were able to deliver a quality product.

They often go beyond what we expect. For example, one of their employees was at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), and he went out of his way to ask questions and get feedback for us. It was just one additional thing we didn’t even ask for.

How did Chili Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re professionals and communicate as such. They’re organized and will discuss any problems as they arise. They always deliver on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In addition to their expertise, their professionalism and communication skills are fantastic.

Are there any areas they could improve?

 No, I only have good things to say about them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I would definitely recommend them.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We provide software development, web development, and backend development for our clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chili Labs?

To deal with the variety of projects we work on, we look for partners with expertise in design, development, and UI solutions.

What were your goals for this project?

We had to deliver a project for one of our clients that included a web and mobile app.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We met on a project as freelancers while working for a large American business. After working together on a couple of projects, we decided to partner up on different ventures.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Our teams built an internal education system for an enterprise based in Scandinavia.

What was the team composition?

We worked with one project manager and several developers.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Clients are impressed with the speed and quality of the solution. We appreciate their assistance.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Their project management style was beneficial. There was a project leader on the mobile side who managed all tasks, answered questions, and streamlined communication between both teams. Our teams appreciated that approach.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I appreciate how involved Chili Labs gets in every project they take. From the moment we signed the agreements to the support phase, we felt that they genuinely cared about solutions. Their team noted areas that needed work to improve the product and solution.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We had a difference in time zones, so sometimes communication was difficult. Working remotely is hard to do, but we managed well.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a product manager at an R&D-focused product studio that has created products and services for consumer brands, government agencies, cities, nonprofits, architecture firms, business consultancies, destinations, and high-profile startups. Our work has been featured in Forbes, The Boston Globe, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and Fortune.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chili Labs?

We hired Chili Labs to help develop a mobile product that included geolocation features, social media integrations, and event management.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to quickly launch the first version and then add additional features based off of user research and client demand.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We've worked with them on mobile projects before. They always deliver successfully and provide a great customer experience.

Describe the project in detail.

Chili Labs built an iOS application for a nonprofit client which is used to promote/support nonprofit initiatives and connect civilians to local causes. After building out the first version of the app, we later implemented additional features requested by the client.

What was the team composition?

We worked with one mobile developer and a project manager. Both were extremely responsive and great at communicating.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We successfully launched the product under a tight timeline and were able to win additional engagements thanks to their work.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Chili quickly adapted to our product development stacks such as Jira, GitHub, Slack, etc.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They deliver exceptional work with speed and precision. We've never run into any issues during our two years of working with them.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I have nothing to note at the moment.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Manager of Virgo Development

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Custom Software development and mobile app development.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Chili Labs to accomplish?

• Convert existing mobile app from the Cordova platform to the Flutter platform
• Improve the user interface

SOLUTION

How did you find Chili Labs?

• Online Search
• direct email

Why did you select Chili Labs over others?

• Company values aligned
• expertise

How many teammates from Chili Labs were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Convert an existing mobile app built in JavaScript + Cordova to Flutter, while retaining all back-end API functionality and backwards compatibility for upgrading existing users to the new platform.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Weekly meetings to review progress

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

Chili Labs has great communication and customer service. The project manager assigned to this project kept in regular contact with me and updated me on all stages of development. The developer was skilled at understanding my needs and producing what was needed.

What was your primary form of communication with Chili Labs?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

A good grasp on the scope of the project and effective communication throughout.

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

None that I can think of at this time.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I worked as a senior project manager and was responsible for the development of a mobile application and its promotion.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chili Labs?

Mobile application development (front)

What were your goals for this project?

Creature MVP Testing business hypotheses Getting the first feedback from real users

SOLUTION

How did you select Chili Labs?

RFP

Describe the project in detail.

The mobile application is a geolocation messenger for dating and communication. Restaurants and food service establishments offer end-user coupons that can be redeemed for food and drinks

What was the team composition?

Customer-side product owner Development team on the side of the service provider

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

yes, the project was launched and tested in Minsk before the onset of the pandemic

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We were happy with the communication

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The employees supported us from the development and marketing until the launch.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We wish the company to develop back-end development to carry out full-cycle projects

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We’re a creative solutions agency called TRIBE. We’re running campaigns for an app called Bezvests.lv, working on the idea, the concept, the photoshoot, and the animation. The app makes searching for missing people faster and more efficient.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Chili Labs?

They were hired to creating the mobile application, while our creative agency took on the information campaign.

What were your goals for this project?

The main goal was to show society that missing people are a big problem through the mobile application and advertising campaign.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Тhere aren’t many options in this field in Latvia, where we’re based. Аfter a personal meeting with Chili Labs, we decided to work with them.

Describe the project in detail.

They developed the application. Their team was involved in search training, so they could gain a better understanding of what functions the app needs and to find the optimal balance of signal precision, mobile data, and battery usage.

What was the team composition?

The team was quite large, with lots of people involved.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Since July 2018, the app has been used in nine search parties, and three missing persons have been found alive.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

They’re available 24/7, and there were no communication difficulties between our agency and theirs.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The synchronization between our company and theirs was impressive.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There’s always room to grow, but we enjoyed the process of working with them.