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    Houston, TX
    +1 (713) 397-6594

Where human-centered UX/UI meets agile development

4.9
12 reviews

At December Labs, we identify, design and develop innovative software solutions, applications, services and platforms.

With offices in San Francisco, Houston and Montevideo, our team of 40+ top-notch PHD's, Architects, Researchers, PM’s, Strategists, Developers and Designers specializes in creating vibrant, game-changing products through Mobile and Web Design & Development and harnessing the most avant garde emerging technologies.

 

At December Labs, we are Mission-Driven, People Focused, applying startup-style customer development and agile engineering for new products and areas of business from concept to launch. We leverage your existing stack or analyze and recommend the best approach and solution for your needs.

► Pixel-Perfect Design: From User-Flows, Lo-Fi & Hi-Fi Wireframes and Prototypes to polished slick end-products, we craft high-touch digital experiences that engage through our human-centered UX/UI approach.

► Mobile Development: We specialize in experience-driven native apps for iOS and Android, coding in Swift, Objective-C, Java or Kotlin, as well as hybrid-platform frameworks such as React Native.

► Full-Stack Development: From infrastructure to HTML, we develop data-driven Full-Stack applications using React JS, Node JS, Go Lang and Ruby on Rails, among others.

► Emerging Technologies: We harness a wide array of emerging tech, such as AR/VR, AI technologies & Machine Learning, Blockchain and Computer Vision, pushing the boundaries of user experience across physical and digital.

READ MORE...
 
$10,000+
 
$50 - $99 / hr
 
10 - 49
 Founded
2014
Show all +
Houston, TX
headquarters
other locations

Portfolio

Key clients: 

Google // Accenture // Zurich // Santander // Brain.fm // Rheo // Hint // Nest // Biostrap // Trade PMR // Welwaze // Apartment Butler // Heroly // Sinq // Databook // Semtive // Seneca

Seneca - Constituent Services for Local Government

Romulos is a Constituent Services Platform by Seneca Systems. From Houston to Chicago, San Francisco and Miami, Romulus seeks to strengthen the relationship between local governments and people by centralizing communication, service request management and reporting.

Seneca selected December Labs due to our cultural fit, time zone (as they had previously experiences problems with Eastern Europe providers), startup style and competitive pricing to create the Romulos mobile app in React Native from scratch. Transparent communication, on-time delivery and high-quality work were key to a successful project and satisfied client.

Deliverables: UX/UI, React Native Mobile Development, (iOS & Android)

Accenture - Custom informative tool for World Economic Forum Value-at-Stake

The World Economic Forum Value-at-Stake was searching for a solution aimed at transforming the way CEOs and policymakers think about generating value for their business and society, including support to incorporate societal concerns into their decision-making on digital transformation. 

December Labs partnered with Accenture Liquid Studio to deliver a solution for the specific needs of the World Economic Forum Value-at-Stake. From concept to prototype and development of our custom tool, we are proud of our agile design and development efforts for one of the world’s leading consulting firms. 

Deliverables: Wireframing, UX/UI, FrontEnd 

Rheo - An award winning video stream curation app

Rheo is an award-winning video stream curation app that delivers a personalized stream of curated videos to the consumer. 

December Labs partnered with Rheo to develop an original and powerful iOS app used by over a million users and featured as one of the best apps of the App Store. A senior iOS team co-located in San Francisco and Uruguay participated in the creation of the product. 

Check out our full case study here https://decemberlabs.com/work/rheo.html.

Deliverables: iOS Development, Facebook SDK 

 

Databook - Your AI powered company and industry insights platform

Databook is a B2B AI powered company and industry insights platform, leveraging data provided by publicly- listed companies. 

Bringing together industry, technology and design expertise, Databook partnered with December Labs for a mobile-first value approach to B2B sales.
We designed and developed a Mobile and Web offering and partnered with this long-term partner for ongoing support. 

Check out our full case study here https://decemberlabs.com/work/databook.html

Deliverables: Product Roadmapping, UX/UI, iOS Development, Responsive Web Development. 

Biostrap - Machine-learning meets dual-device wearable technology

Pro-sumer wearable platform Biostrap offers advanced heart, sleep & full activity monitoring through dual-device technology and machine learning integration. iOS and Android mobile devices can connect through Bluetooth technology with Biostrap hardware to record advanced biometric data and gather deep health and fitness insights, driving athletes towards smart data-driven workouts.

December Labs was approached to give Biostraps’ existing iOS & Android apps a true senior-level jump start and serve as strategic UX & IT partner who would take on product- ownership, help the client meet imminent and long-term deadlines and build innovative new product features. We provided a flexible approach to short-term needs and projected scalable growth. 

Check out out full case study here https://decemberlabs.com/biostrap.html.

Deliverables: UX/UI, iOS, Android, BackEnd

Trade PMR - Technology, brokerage, and custodian services

Trade PMR provides financial B2B services to independent registered investment advisors (RIAs). 

Trade PMR approached December Labs for a complete UX/UI makeover of EarnWise, their sophisticated but too complex WebApp advisor workstation, adding a clear hierarchical structure and providing its clients with a gratifying mobile-responsive experience. Though at December Labs, we had successfully catered several clients within the finance space over the years, this projects’ success depended on us truly understanding the specifics of Trade PMR’s complex area of business - the trade sector. Our team of UX/ UI experts started out by studying all flow charts, dashboards and information to be displayed or used within the platform, but most importantly, we studied the trade market, how it works and what takeaways could be leveraged for an optimized customer journey. 

Full case study at https://decemberlabs...

SinQ - Integrated health cloud and mobile-first platform

SinQ is an integrated cloud and mobile-first platform, empowering health plans and care providers to focus on @home care delivery.

After a kick-off sprint, December Labs gradually started providing SinQ with what grew to be a full-time full-service 6 person development team. Adding value since day one, when completing an initial piece of the project in 2 months which had been scoped by previous developers for 8 months, December Labs has been working with SinQ for over 2 years through ongoing iterations of their React Native iOS/ Android Apps and Web Solution. Showcasing out initial work at a conference, SinQ was able generating funding of $600-700K for the company. 

Full case study here https://decemberlabs.com/work/sinq.html

Deliverables: UX/UI, FrontEnd, BackEnd, iOS Development, Android Development

Apartment Butler - Mobile-first concierge platform for apartment communities

Apartment Butler is a mobile-first concierge platform and Quality Broker for top-tier apartment communities for high- value services, such as pet sitting, dry cleaning & laundry, and housekeeping. 

After having tried several dev shops and freelancers who hadn’t been able to deliver what the client needed, Apartment Butler approached December Labs to become their full-service design and development partner. We re- organized and optimized the existing code, added multiple new features and functionalities and accompanied this startup towards its most recent funding. 

Deliverables: UX/UI, iOS Development, FrontEnd, BackEnd

Hint - Business Operating System for Direct Pay Healthcare

Hint is a Business Operating System for Direct Pay Healthcare. 

December Labs provided a Ruby on Rails staff-
augmentation Development Team that allowed Hint Health to build product effectively and in a cost-effective way. In addition, a design crew joined the team to improve the UX and offer intuitive and quality design.
Hint Health provided a specific on-boarding process for building a World-Class Rails team which led to a successful integration of our Senior Developers under the direction of Hint Health’s CTO. This ongoing project continues to grow, as the company is processing $150 Million currently and must continually iterate at a high speed. 

Deliverables: UX/UI, FrontEnd, BackEnd

Semtive - Disruptive Clean Energy Technology

Semtive is a renewable energy company that offers vertical axis wind turbine systems for urban, remote and humanitarian use. Through a decentralized and democratized approach, the startup promotes an efficient and socially impactful clean energy solution that can be employed by eco-conscious individuals and companies alike. 

December Labs was challenged with transforming the clients’ rough idea of how to guide potential customers through the purchase decision-making process coupled with high expectations into an intuitive and valuable user experience, providing thought leadership and guidance throughout a process of continuous product evolution.

Check out our full case study here https://decemberlabs.com/semtive.html.

Deliverables: UX/UI, FrontEnd, BackEnd

Reviews

4.9
12 reviews
Sort by

Web & App Dev for Apartment Concierge Platform

“They took ownership of the project and made sure it was a success.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
2017 - 2018
Project summary: 

December Labs helped migrate a tech stack and oversaw the development of a new database schema. They managed both front- and backend development and provided recommendations on security issues.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Houston, Texas
Ben Johnson
CEO, Apartmentbutler.com
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Having development resources on the team played a vital role in closing a deal with a new investor. Professional and invested, December Labs went above and beyond to meet all needs, while their expertise and ability to deliver a high-quality product on time exceeded all expectations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Apartmentbutler.com. We're a B2B2C platform for apartment communities. We sell our services to large management companies and they offer those services to their residents as an amenity. Our platform is three-sided. We have a technical side for the property management companies to engage with their residents, and we have a supplier side, which we use to partner with local businesses. In addition, we have a dashboard and a web app that they use to schedule their jobs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with December Labs?

We were looking for a company to help us migrate our tech stack from version 1 to version 2.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with a mobile app and we were designing a new database schema. First, we brought them on for a very small project–they were going to do the migration for us. But the scope of the project expanded quickly and they brought more developers on. December Labs successfully implemented every project we gave them, properly estimating the costs and the timeline. They were primarily working in PHP with MySQL database. They also used JavaScript and React on the frontend and node.js on the backend. In addition, they did some iOS work for us.

They were very engaged and brought a lot of things to our attention that we were missing, such as security issues and better ways to do the schema. Relaunching our whole teck stack was a large and costly project, in which December Labs played a vital role.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager and four developers, some of whom are still engaged on a retainer basis.  

How did you come to work with December Labs?

We desperately needed additional capacity. One of their co-founders lives in the area (even though they're primarily based internationally). He was working out of our co-working space, so we got in touch with him. We were lucky to find them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $400,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2017 and the project lasted eight months, so it was completed in 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We recently closed our first venture capital round. We don't have in-house developers, which our venture capital considered a red flag. So having December Labs on our team made a big difference: our new investor became more comfortable (despite the fact that December Labs is an independent contractor) and ended up securing a deal with us.

How did December Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

It was a collaborative process, and we mostly used Trello for project management. Also, they were great at meeting our deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They took ownership of the project and made sure it was a success. That's something you don't see often from a contractor. They're still part of our team.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They're a bit more expensive than other offshore teams, but the quality of their work is also higher.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

UX/UI Design for Financial Services Firm

“December Labs provided high-quality design work, and they delivered exactly on time.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Apr. 2018 - Jun. 2018
Project summary: 

December Labs designed the UI and UX for a custom workstation platform, including mockups.

The Reviewer
 
50 - 100 Employees
 
Gainesville, Florida
Director of Strategy, Financial Services Firm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

December Labs made client satisfaction a top priority, delivering a high-quality UI/UX design exactly on time. Communicative and easy to work with throughout the engagement, it was a great experience overall.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of strategy for a financial services firm.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with December Labs?

We're launching a workstation for our clients, and we engaged December Labs to design its UX and UI.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

December Labs designed the UI and UX for our custom platform, producing mockups in Sketch.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one designer.

How did you come to work with December Labs?

We found them through Clutch after researching various design firms. We liked that they had experience in our industry, and they also offered competitive pricing and had a very professional website.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $20,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on the project from April–June 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

December Labs provided high-quality design work, and they delivered exactly on time. They estimated the work would take eight weeks, and they weren't a day late.

How did December Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very easy to work with; any feedback we provided was incorporated well, and they understood where we were coming from. We mostly communicated through Skype without any issues.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We enjoyed working with them overall. One of their representatives even visited our office, which showed how much they cared about the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Mobile App Dev for Breast Cancer Detection Startup

“They take ownership of the product and operate as an extension of our startup.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
Jan. - Aug. 2018
Project summary: 

December Labs provided a full-service development solution for a cancer detection app. They managed the project’s development and design and originated algorithms to interpret scanned data.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Miami, Florida
Matias Campiani
CEO, Welwaze
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Though the app has yet to launch, December Labs provided a quality product and a high level of involvement. They met every deadline and project milestone and made useful suggestions for improvements.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the CEO of Welwaze Medical, a startup that is developing technologies for early breast cancer detection. We have two products: a pad that detects cancer and an app that reads the pad’s results.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with December Labs?

We needed help developing the full app. We didn’t have the expertise we needed in-house, so we partnered with them to complete the development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They provided a full solution. They oversaw project management, design, front- and backend development, and all the technical aspects. They also worked with AI to develop a computer vision algorithm to read results.

They have multiple technological capabilities and really took ownership of the product. They asked to speak with an oncologist to understand the data and get their insight. They were very involved and were like a part of our company.

What is the team composition?

We work directly with Washington (Executive VP of Mobile & UX, December Labs).

How did you come to work with December Labs?

I needed a team with a range of capabilities, including computer vision expertise and blockchain knowhow. I interviewed four different suppliers and December Labs was the only company that could fill all our needs. I explained everything over several calls and they came back with suggestions. I met with them in person and decided they were the right group to work with.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested around $400,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2018. We’re currently in development and will launch the beta in August 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve delivered a good quality product.

How did December Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They execute everything according to the project plan. Their timelines are always realistic and they’ve hit every milestone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They take ownership of the product and are a part of the team. They are available at all hours and their level of commitment and engagement is very high. They understand our philosophy and are willing to argue their points and make improvements. They operate as an extension of our startup.

5.0
Overall Score They’re excellent; we’re very happy with them.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They met all the milestones we set.
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    It’s a big item in our budget. Based on the quality of the work, we are pleased with the cost.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Their software design and UI are really good.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’m very likely to recommend them.

Mobile App Dev for Communication Management Platform

"Most of the time, they were able to identify and solve problems before I ever mentioned them."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Feb. - May 2018
Project summary: 

December Labs used React Native to build a mobile app available for iOS and Android. They developed wireframes and features based on an existing web app.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Redwood City, California
Akhil Naini
VP Engineering, Seneca Systems
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

December Labs exceeded expectations on schedule and design, creating an app that looks good and is easy to use. They were able to take control of the project, researching unfamiliar aspects of the API and delivering internal project management.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the VP of engineering at Seneca Systems. We sell our application to local governments to help them manage their communications and workflows.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with December Labs?

Our application was primarily web-based and we needed someone to develop a subset of the features from the web app into a mobile app for both Android and iOS.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We began by giving them a demo of the web app, listing out which features we wanted in the mobile app, and providing them with documentation of our API. Then, they developed the wireframe and preliminary design work. That went through a few cycles of revision until it was approved, and from there they started doing the design work.

Every two weeks they would give us a new build, we’d provide feedback, and they would implement that for the next build. Toward the end of the project, they went through the web app and identified and implemented additional features they thought would increase the user experience.

They developed the app with React Native and it’s available for iOS and Android. They designed everything from login to listing out communications, and enabling city employees to respond across multiple channels from one interface. Users can also manage workflow so that they can track progress details until completion, as well as add notes and locations.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two engineers, two designers, and had a business contact that would check in every few weeks.

How did you come to work with December Labs?

They reached out to us through email. We decided to work with them after I spoke with one of their customers who had a great experience.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with December Labs February–May 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The only metric we were tracking was project length, and they exceeded our expectations.

We haven’t launched yet, but I can say that their design skills are great. The user interface they created is beautiful and easy to use.

They pay attention to detail, try to understand the problem, and come up with solutions instead of just meeting requirements. December Labs thinks through what you tell them to do and suggests alternatives when they are better for the project. Most of the time, they were able to identify and solve problems before I ever mentioned them.

How did December Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

They gave us updates every two weeks on changes in the build, project progress, what work remained, where the project was in relation to the established timeline, and the expected end. In addition to these updates, we had daily communication through Slack.

What did you find most impressive about them?

December Labs was familiar with the agile management methodology, which enabled them to adapt to changes in the app and overall project needs. I appreciated that they didn’t need much detailed guidance. They knew our API, and whatever they weren’t familiar with, they would find out. We didn’t have to invest a lot of our own project management or development time to support their development.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not really, I was impressed with their work.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I think December Labs works better when they are given an entire project versus working as part of a team mixed with their developers and their customers’ development teams. It requires trusting them, but it’s worth it.

5.0
Overall Score They were a pleasure to work with, very driven, self-reliant, and friendly.
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They were accurate with their estimates and tried their best to hit our requested timeline.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    I was not expecting to get such a complete mobile app for such a low price.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Their deliverables were excellent. They had well-written and detailed code.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    We've already referred them to other companies.

iOS App Dev for Investment Services Startup

“Our users are happy and so are we.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Oct 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

December Labs assisted in development of a native iOS app with a .NET backend. The platform is hosted on Microsoft Azure and integrated with several third party entities, including one for ACH authentication.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Los Angeles, California
Founder, Investment Services Startup
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The app’s scalability has fostered confidence in the possibility of future growth. December Labs’ communication, accommodation to U.S. time zones, and first-class project management processes were impressive. A versatile approach bolsters their ability to meet startups’ needs.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of an iOS investment app that people can use to generate intelligently-tailored portfolios and have our team of investment professionals actively manage their accounts. We’re part robo-advisor and part traditional advisor.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with December Labs?

We started off with some other developers to build the app’s backend foundation, but they were too slow and some of the code was a bit sloppy. We were trying to create a scalable, robust system that could grow with us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

December Labs worked on our platform. It’s a native iOS app with a .NET backend that’s hosted on Microsoft Azure. We have some deep integrations with our custodian bank and broker dealer, as well as with Plaid for ACH authentication.

What is the team composition?

They assigned two developers and a project manager to the project.

How did you come to work with December Labs?

Another startup we knew had used and recommended them. We were ending our angel round and looking to enter the seed investment phase, so timing was very important. I used to be software engineer, so I know how hard it is to find talented and affordable in-house developers and convince them to join a startup.

Within two weeks, December Labs gave us two senior developers who worked well and fit our budget. We didn’t have to pay additional expenses, so it wasn’t just a matter of outsourcing, but being able to scale up and down. They essentially helped us get to the next stage.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost so far has been around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October or November 2017. The collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve fixed all of the bugs and the app is scalable. We’ve become confident in our ability to grow without the technology platform becoming an issue. Our users are happy and so are we.

How did December Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

We’ve worked well with them. Their English-speaking abilities and communication skills are great. December Labs works according to U.S. time zones, so it’s worked out well.

We use Slack, Google Hangouts, and Trello for project management. Their process is on par with that of any top-tier, U.S. startup.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re willing to work with startups and understand the hardships we’re facing. Their team can act as a good sounding board for us because they’ve been there before. They simply employ quality developers. Everyone on their team is great.

I know of another startup that’s using them. They have machine learning and AI components, and December Labs gives them access to anything they need. They have developers who can do anything effectively. We’re hoping to implement some machine learning later on as well for some parts of the app. We’ll easily be able to do that because of them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have no complaints.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    The developers dedicated themselves to making sure everything was completed when they said it would be.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Having worked in the industry before, I can say that their value is amazing.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They’re some of the best communicators we’ve dealt with.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I would wholeheartedly recommend them to any startup that needed or wanted developers.

Web and App Dev for Wind Energy Startup

“I had an idea that wasn’t very clear, but December Labs materialized it.”

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4.5

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Sept. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

December Labs developed an application for users to estimate energy consumption and services, and also updated an existing WordPress website to interest potential investors.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
San Francisco, California
Marketing Director, Wind Energy Startup
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The website’s elegant redesign more accurately represents the client’s vision and has garnered potential customers for an expansion. Availability, a startup-friendly atmosphere, and flexibility amidst shifts in timelines and requirements have secured the possibility for future engagements.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a company working with renewable energies, and the main product that we’re entering the market with is a turbine for residential and commercial use. I don’t have an established position since we’re a startup, but I’m generally in charge of all marketing activities. I also assist with human resources.

Our turbine is small enough that it can be placed on the roof of any home and supply its energy consumption. We started in Argentina seven years ago, but moved to Silicon Valley two years ago in order to expand to the U.S. market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with December Labs?

Potential consumers often inquire about how our turbines work and how much energy they generate. To answer this, we asked December Labs to develop an app for us that we will launch next week.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

My relationship with December Labs started when I decided to create a web app as a complement to our website. Through this app, users get an estimation of how much generated energy they could get, how much they’ve consumed in their home, and how these could be supported with use of our products. December Labs showed me different options during development, and also kept me updated on progress.  

The app allows users to draw a map of their home to calculate their electricity consumption. It also combines this information with the consumer’s location in order to calculate turbine performance. Everything is presented in a very fun way to the user.

Later on, we needed to refresh our website’s image, so we placed the app development on standby. We dedicated ourselves to relaunching the website with updated simplicity. We finished this two weeks ago.

What is the team composition?

A project manager led the team they assigned to me, and also coordinated everything as well as participated in discussions about our needs. I also had a designer and 1–2 team members in charge of development. We started with a team of four, but eventually scaled it down to three.

How did you come to work with December Labs?

They actually contacted us. They have a sales representative in San Francisco, but I’m unsure how they found us. I chose them because they provided a mockup that allowed me to visualize the outcome. Other companies I’d been in contact with didn’t do this, and the mockup really helped clear up what I wanted for the app.

I also really liked what they presented during the interview in which they explained the proposed development in detail. They managed it well, and also spoke Spanish, which made everything a lot easier. I’ve interacted with other companies who didn’t speak Spanish, and found it difficult to communicate project details clearly with them.

December Labs wasn’t the cheapest, but their budget was logical and adapted in a way I could with with. They were flexible in order to accommodate our needs as a startup with a tight budget.

How much have you invested in them?

We’ve spent about $30,000 between the two projects.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in September 2017 and will continue doing so until we’ve finished both projects. If everything goes well post-launch, we will have more projects in the upcoming year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We still need to work on the website, and I’m thinking of new things to add to it. The website has been greatly improved due to the redesign. Creating a custom website would’ve required a lot more time and money. We needed a quick update in order to present to investors, and December Labs managed to do it in a rapid fashion.

They took the existing platform and content and refreshed it to more accurately and elegantly represent our company. We now have a lot of pending jobs for our U.S. expansion as a result.

How did December Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Slack to communicate and share documents with team members involved in the project. They also have Slack on their phones, so we’ve been able to reach them at any time. They’ve been consistently available to address any needs or issues.

Our engagement has been more informal in the sense that we only meet as needed instead of establishing regular times. We established deadlines, and although we had to change a couple of dates, those deadlines remained the same. There was only one delay, and it was because we didn’t provide data when it was needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They quickly understood our ideas. When I first started thinking about this app, I had an idea that wasn’t very clear, but December Labs materialized it. We understood each other easily, and everything happened very fast. They also quickly understood the design I wanted, which made the job easier for us.

I really like that December Labs is flexible in working with us as a startup with needs that change on a daily basis. For example, I asked them in the middle of developing the app if we could put it on standby in order to work on another project. I also asked them to remain flexible with the budget, schedules, etc., and they were completely accommodating. They got into the project without any hesitation. I’m really happy, and the results and quality have both been amazing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I haven’t had any bad experiences. They’ve been flexible when we’ve changed dates and requirements, and they always understand. I have nothing negative to say.

4.5
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

iOS App Dev for Video Content Platform

"Having them work side by side with us was incredibly valuable."

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4.5

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
4.5
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Feb. 2017 - Apr. 2017
Project summary: 

DecemberLabs partnered with a social video platform to develop an iOS app for short form content. The team worked on a signup system, user profiles, and UI. 

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
San Francisco, California
CEO, Video Content Platform
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

DecemberLabs stands out for their ability to deliver quality work quickly. They were flexible in project management and sent one developer to work in person. The team has a wide variety of tools at their disposal.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a social video platform where we curate and personalize the best short form content. I’m the CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DecemberLabs?

We had an aggressive schedule to develop our iOS app. Hiring in the Bay Area has been a difficult process due to all the competition. While we were looking for the right candidates, we decided that we needed to bring on a consulting firm to help us accelerate our building.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DecemberLabs provided iOS development for our application. They had two full-time individuals on the team, but one of them jumped in and out. We were very impressed with the way they handled that. I’ve always worked with geographically close teams so what DecemberLabs did was send one of their developers to spend four weeks with us in the office. They were very dedicated.

How did you come to work with DecemberLabs?

One of their team members reached out and pitched their company just when we needed someone. I always check out the portfolios of people that contact us. When I saw one of DecemberLabs’ apps was about music, it was really polished and it was an easy choice for us. I met with the team and was very impressed by them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2017, and the project was completed in April 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The speed of their development was the biggest pro in working with them. They built a significant part of our user profile in two months. They were efficient and dedicated. I don’t have any specific metrics. To build a signup system, user profile, and all the UI in two months with one full-time and one part-time developer was impressive.

How did DecemberLabs perform from a project management standpoint?

We did our own project management for this project.

What did you find most impressive about DecemberLabs?

Their knowledge of the framework and the variety of tools that are available to us and their ability to bring that to our development to speed things up and guide us was very valuable. I know iOS very well but I don’t have the exposure that they brought to the project from a variety of tools, framework, and services available. The breadth of what they offer was really notable.

Are there any areas DecemberLabs could improve?

Having them work side by side with us was incredibly valuable. When I contrast the productivity from them being local where they were amazingly killing it to moving to remote, it was tough thing to compare. Their communication was really good. Efficiency in the remote relationship was not as strong as when they were here with us.

4.5
Overall Score
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    The time when they were here was incredibly efficient. When they were remote, we had some scheduling issues that we needed to work through.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    The fact that one developer came and worked in San Francisco with us as part of the contract cost was great.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The quality was excellent.
  • 4.5 NPS
    Willing to refer
    We were very happy with their work. There was some apprehension during the remote time, but we were generally happy.

iOS App Dev for Digital Consulting Firm

"DecemberLabs played a pivotal role in us launching our business."

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Sept. 2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

DecemberLabs helped to launch a B2B iOS application that provides a data-powered insight solution. The team now works on a fixed contract in an ongoing maintenance capacity. 

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
San Francisco, California
CEO, Digital Consulting Firm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

User feedback has been consistently positive because the app is responsive and easy-to-use. DecemberLabs is proactive in giving suggestions and played a vital role in launching the entire business. The team has a can-do attitude, making them pleasant to work with. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a digital consultancy offering a data-powered insight solution on iOS and web, around publicly-listed companies. It provides large organizations working in the B2B space with the ability to understand what their business is, what is important to them, and how the product fits with market needs. I am the CEO and a co-founder of the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DecemberLabs?

We’re a young company founded a year and a half ago. After 6 months of development, DecemberLabs stepped in to help us fix a problem in getting our iOS solution launched.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DecemberLabs scoped out a project plan and delivered it. Since the launch, they’ve continued to support us with further iOS development, both on a maintenance and enhancement basis.

They assigned 2-3 developers to the project, as well as a designer. Among the technologies used were Swift and Node.js.

How did you come to work with DecemberLabs?

We chose them based on their attitude and the reasonable price/value proposition. DecemberLabs was neither the cheapest nor the most expensive company, but they had good value for what we needed.

How much have you invested with DecemberLabs?

There were 2 phases for the project. The development for getting an initial piece out cost $40,000. There was a continuation of the work, which occurred over the last 6 months, and is of roughly equal value.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with DecemberLabs in September 2016. The collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

DecemberLabs played a pivotal role in us launching our business. We are a mobile-first company creating and developing apps before working on the desktop version. This was instrumental in our ability to launch the business and secure customers early in the cycle.

The feedback we’ve heard from users from day-one has consistently been that they love the app. The interface is intuitive and easy-to-use, and the app is fast and responsive.

How did DecemberLabs perform from a project management standpoint?

We tended to use Trello and Slack for project management and collaboration. There were also calls on a regular basis, and we received project reports showing DecemberLabs’ progress, versus the plan. They were very good in terms of communication overall.

What did you find most impressive about DecemberLabs?

They’re extremely responsive, and one of the reasons we chose DecemberLabs was their ability to understand a challenge we were having and provide help. This can-do attitude was extremely important and helpful, and it’s not something all developers have. DecemberLabs has done a good job of delivering the table stakes and has been excellent with the rest of the collaboration, in terms of responsiveness, courtesy, flexibility around scope changes, and proactiveness in giving us suggestions.

Are there any areas DecemberLabs could improve?

We’ve worked better on a fixed-price contract basis, with clear deliverables and timelines, versus a time-based service, which required us to check in every week and talk about what needed to be done.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Based on their responsiveness and ability to deliver a great product.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’ve already made several referrals for DecemberLabs.

iOS App Dev for Media Jobs Company

“DecemberLabs only chooses projects and companies that they believe in.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

DecemberLabs built the MVP of a unique app that lets users hire or apply for jobs in the entertainment industry. Aside from refining the iOS app, the team is also developing an Android and web version.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
New York, New York
Lauren Magura
CEO, Cinematcher
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

DecemberLabs focuses on projects that they believe in, which helps them maximize their resources. They are refreshingly up-front about what they can provide given a certain budget. The team is invested in the success of their clients and proactively gives updates about tech trends.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of a mobile app company called Cinematcher. It’s a matchmaking app that enables users to hire and get hired for film, TV, and digital projects instantly and globally using geolocation.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DecemberLabs?

We hired DecemberLabs to help with app development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I believe DecemberLabs built the native iOS app using Objective-C and Swift. We’re still working with them to enhance our current iOS. Right now, we’re also trying to roll out an Android version and a web app. They pull in people along the way, but they usually have 2–3 developers working on our project.

How did you come to work with DecemberLabs?

I met DecemberLabs about 2 years ago when we were chosen to showcase at the South by Southwest [SXSW] Startup Spotlight. I met Martin, one of the owners of DecemberLabs. I spent some time with him and some of the members of his team. A few weeks later, they flew out to New York and we discussed my project further — what my vision was for my company and how I wanted the workflow to look. It was great. We kind of jumped right into development. I really liked them. They were enthusiastic and nice.

I had already gone through bad experiences with 2 outsourced developers before I found DecemberLabs, so I did a lot of due diligence. The other 2 developers were like, “Yes, we can do everything. Every single thing you're asking, we can do for this price.” But DecemberLabs was realistic with their timelines and budget. They said, “We might have to cut some things out. We need to figure out how we can fit your vision with the budget you have.” There was no fluff.

How much have you invested with DecemberLabs?

I don't feel comfortable saying how much my company spent. We’re continuing to work with them on a much larger scale, so we’re definitely going spend more on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

I can't remember when I started working with DecemberLabs. Time goes by so fast when you're a startup owner. It was probably sometime in 2016, and we’ve been working together for about a year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve just launched our app about 4 months ago. It’s now pushing 1,000 users. We’re in all 50 states and 15 countries. DecemberLabs was able to build our app so we can connect TV and film people internationally, which is pretty huge. We’ve also just locked in 2 massive partnerships. I'm not comfortable with going over sales metrics or anything like that.

How did DecemberLabs perform from a project management standpoint?

We mainly use Slack and Trello to communicate. I can put in Trello, “This is something really important to me. This is something that is high priority that I need to get developed or fixed.” When they complete a task, they put it into “completed.” It’s pretty easy. We don't do a lot of calls, which I love because it’s hard sometimes to make phone calls.  

What did you find most impressive about DecemberLabs?

DecemberLabs only chooses projects and companies that they believe in. They also prefer ones that have a high potential for growth. I don't think they just take anything, so you don't feel like they’re banging out a bazillion projects and yours doesn't really matter. You can tell that they are passionate about what they do. They’ve been amazing to work with. They did what they could for me at every single moment, even if I had to figure out funding or something. They’re patient and willing to work with you.  

Martin and Washington, who are some of the developers I work with, send me articles that are relevant to my company or what we’re doing. I know they also attend a lot of tech events, so they always know about the newest things, such as machine learning and AI. That’s great because then they can give you suggestions. DecemberLabs is innovative and wants to see you succeed, because if you succeed, everybody succeeds.

Are there any areas DecemberLabs could improve?

I can't say anything negative about DecemberLabs.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They’re amazing. Before I met DecemberLabs, I was getting quotes that were much higher and for less development. I would definitely give them a higher score if possible.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Nothing DecemberLabs did for me was ever missing or late.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I refer people to DecemberLabs all the time. I highly recommend them to anybody who is building a minimum viable product for iOS, though they also have Android developers.

App Dev for Management Consulting Firm

“They’re conscientious about deadlines … and think about problems and the best ways to solve them.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

DecemberLabs developed a web solution for a hair styling company. They used backend technologies, including PHP and Heroku for the database. 

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
California
Owner, Management Consulting Firm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

DecemberLabs’ team is attentive to deadlines, making them an ideal vendor for clients on a tight schedule. DecemberLabs’ proactive attitude also stands out. Developers would often add features outside the original scope in order to optimize software performance.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the owner of an independent product management consultancy.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with DecemberLabs?

I’ve used them a number of times in a subcontracting arrangement. In this particular case, I was working on a hairdressing stylist service for senior citizens.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

DecemberLabs developed my web solution. We mainly used backend technologies, including PHP and Heroku for the database. There were no iOS or Android apps associated with the platform. DecemberLabs had 2 developers working on the project at its peak.

How did you come to work with DecemberLabs?

I’m a one-man operation, so I don’t have formal selection criteria. I got to know DecemberLabs through some of the projects I’ve worked on. I liked the attitude of their team. It’s hard to find engineers, especially remote ones, who are more than order-takers. Order-takers are engineers who won’t build anything outside the scope. However, building software requires taking some initiative during the process. Although some things might not be set, DecemberLabs will build it anyway. I also found them technically competent, with a good work history. I believe that their founder, Martin Palatnik, has a Ph.D. They also care about deadlines. Since they are paid a flat fee, they will go the extra mile to follow the schedule we agree upon.

How much have you invested with DecemberLabs?

We’ve had projects of above $100,000, including the hairdressing tool, while the lowest project was around $50,000. DecemberLabs is a premium-quality developer, not an offshore provider. I don’t believe in nickel-and-diming them or negotiating cut-rate prices.

What is the status of this engagement?

I’ve used DecemberLabs on and off for various projects over the last 2 years. The collaboration is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

All of our customers have been happy. A few of them have even come back for ongoing work when they needed support or upgrades. Almost all of our clients have signed some kind of limited support contract after the initial development. I think that this is a good sign since if they were truly unhappy, they would not want us to handle further work. After the initial build, there might not be a phase 2 for whatever reason. However, we’ve almost always continued the engagements after the initial development.

How did DecemberLabs perform from a project management standpoint?

Because I’m just a one-man operation, the project management depends on how involved the client wants to be. If they want visibility into what’s being built, they can create user stories that I would manage. Generally speaking, I’ve written specs up front. This basic use case specification document serves as DecemberLabs’ blueprint. After that, we agree on milestones, breaking up the overall project into components like user interface and coding. The customer knows exactly what they’re getting each week. Payments are also milestone-based. If the client is unhappy, we don’t get paid. I can give them milestones and a high-level plan of what needs to get built, and DecemberLabs will deliver to order.

The collaboration has never involved more than 4–5 people, even with the customer involved. That helps keep things efficient. I’ve given the engineers a lot of latitude in terms of how they should go about building and estimating work. As I’ve said before, I don’t believe in order-takers or in giving a 50-page spec to engineers and having them ignore functionalities because they weren’t included. I much prefer giving raw outlines of what needs to be built, saying that something needs to be done by a certain date and expecting it to get done. This has worked well over the last 2 years.

What did you find most impressive about DecemberLabs?

They're conscientious about deadlines, provide top-quality work, and think about problems and the best ways to solve them. Another advantage is that DecemberLabs is in the US time zone. People don’t realize how much this matters, but overlapping is much better than having a 24-hour cycle of waiting for a Ukrainian or Romanian dev shop to start dealing with issues.

Are there any areas DecemberLabs could improve?

No. They’re a quality outfit overall.

5.0
Overall Score They’re flexible. They pay attention to detail and deadlines.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They were never late on a milestone. If a task was a bit too heavy, I was warned well in advance.
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    DecemberLabs provides good value for the quality of the work. But they are not the cheapest out there, compared to Indian developers, for example.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The work is always delivered on time and built to specifications.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’ve recommended them to a bunch of people.