Exyte

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a small company that primarily develops software libraries for various companies. We work on algorithms and machine learning. algorithms and machine learning for various companies.

What challenge were you trying to address with Exyte?

We work with various sensors for mobile devices, which meant our server received a lot of data. Our team needed a partner to help develop a web backend to develop a more sustainable server. We also wanted to learn more about sensors for iOS apps, which forums weren't versed in.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve collaborated on two projects with Exyte. Working on a web server for a mobile app and a small iOS project, their team has supported data collection and self-learning efforts.

Initially, their team created the architecture for the backend of a mobile gaming app. After each game, data was uploaded to the server, which could be a large amount. We met with the Exyte team to prepare the scope for transitioning to a cloud-based server. To migrate our data collection, the team used Hadoop and Java to create a backend based in AWS. They integrated the Android API and product library—which we'd developed using C++—with the new server.

During our next collaboration, Exyte supported our experimental iOS project. Their team ran tests concerning the sensors for iOS platforms. They developed the product with Swift and ran numerous tests.

What is the team composition?

We worked directly with Igor (CEO, Exyte).

How did you come to work with Exyte?

Several colleagues recommended Exyte. Since we were familiar with their portfolio, we reached out when we needed support with web development. Our conversation went well and their team followed-up, which led to our decision to partner with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We collaborated on the backend for the gaming app between April 2015–June 2016.

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

We didn’t develop the mobile app because the project wasn’t successful for the client. This wasn’t because of Exyte. Their quality of work was fine.

How did Exyte perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated through e-mail and Telegram. We also had in-person meetings since their team is located nearby. Our team enjoyed working with Igor. We didn’t experience any issues with deadlines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We were satisfied. I cannot say that it was a superb or terrible experience. It was just fine.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Exyte could improve their budget forecasting. The projects were more expensive than expected.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Work with them for iOS development or products for the US market.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the product director for Trace, a company that offers a set of supply chain tracking tools for the legal cannabis industry. I’ve been with the business since the beginning, helping to set up the launch strategy, build out the product ecosystem, and even execute the user and market validation. Currently, I’m responsible for coordinating the iOS app build along with some of our other web tools.

What challenge were you trying to address with Exyte?

We were working with a previous agency to develop an iOS app of our tool. However, we realized that we needed dedicated developers working on the solution rather than investing in a full team. As a result, we reached out to Exyte to come on as our tech partners and complete the work.

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Exyte is developing a Swift-based iOS app for a legal cannabis supply-chain tool. During the initial onboarding work, Nick (Lead iOS Developer, Exyte) took the initiative to thoroughly look over our existing app. He suggested UI/UX design changes and technical improvements right off the bat, and I was impressed that he was able to go into that level of detail.

Since then, we’ve been working in an agile/sprint format to implement those changes, resolving bugs and preparing to submit the product to the App Store. On top of that, we’re also working with some of their other engineers to create blockchain-oriented smart contracts. Those are based on Ethereum and Solidity.

What is the team composition? 

We mostly engage with Nick on the iOS team. He was the first person we’d worked with and continues to be our main contact for day-to-day operations. We also coordinate with Igor (CEO, Exyte) on invoices and team resourcing as well as project managers and other developers. In particular, Yuri (CTO, Exyte) and Andre (Key Account Manager, Exyte) have helped us explore architecture options, implementation, and blockchain code.

How did you come to work with Exyte?

Like I said, we were working with a previous development agency but realized that we needed a more cost-effective option. Our former agency actually knew Exyte’s team personally, so it was a warm introduction.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $20,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

Beyond that, they’ll continue to provide backend and smart contract support, and we’re estimating some Android builds. We love working with Exyte and hope to continue the engagement for as long as it’s viable.

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

Working with Exyte feels more like a partnership than just another development firm-for-hire. The team delivers on time, keeps to their word, and is proactive about what they can and can’t do. If I have to take a day off, they continue forward and are able to intuit what needs to happen next. That way, I never feel like the work is on pause. Additionally, they’re always ready to participate in product or UI/UX solutions; it’s a treat to work with developers who care about usability.

How did Exyte perform from a project management standpoint?

I’ve found them to be extremely communicative, which is a Godsend when it comes to remote teams. It’s easy to use project management tools with them. We coordinate through Slack, Jira, and tickets primarily, and I always know what’s going on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In general, they seem to have a good, holistic sensibility. The team obviously follows solid development practices because they’re skilled at what they do. But I find their ability to manage a remote team to be incredibly proactive. Exyte makes it easy to manage communication and time zones, and they usually deliver bug-free software.

Nick specifically has been a steadfast resource, and we’ve built a strong rapport with him and his team. When we asked them for resources to help with smart contracts, they really stepped up to meet our demand. Likewise, when they had Android developers opening up, they approached us first to explore opportunities before taking on a new client.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of any at this level.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The more technical specifications that you can give them, the better they’re able to work. In my experience as a product manager, I’ve found that they’re great at reacting to and participating in all of the materials I’ve provided them. Whether it’s a backlog of tasks in Jira or diagrams of a product roadmap, they always make a point to get back to me.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of engineering at EastBanc Technologies. We’re a full-lifecycle software development company focused on delivering flexible technology solutions that integrate with existing systems. Our customers are primarily large enterprises but we also work with several startups as well as some state and local governments.

What challenge were you trying to address with Exyte? 

A hybrid team was required for a new project. Half of the team would be staffed by EastBanc Technologies and the other half by an external partner.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Exyte collaborates with EastBanc Technologies on a mobile project. While I’m not able to disclose details about the project at this stage, I can say that they’re helping us mostly with frontend development—design is done by our team. The current phase is for iOS. Android will be scheduled later in the pipeline.

What is the team composition?

We work with two full-time developers.

How did you come to work with Exyte?

After visiting their office to learn more about Exyte, I saw that they had a great team. It felt like a good fit, so we decided to move forward with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent about $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Work began around November 2018 and the engagement is ongoing.

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

I’m really happy with the quality of their work. Exyte has become a solid extension of our team. We're always looking for vendors to partner up but are quite picky. That’s why we always do a site visit in order to talk to management as well as the developers. They met our standards, so we started out with a small project. Since the partnership worked out well, we plan to expand our collaboration in the near future.

How did Exyte perform from a project management standpoint?

Working with the Exyte team has been a true pleasure. We manage the development process on our side, they follow it easily, never miss a deadline, and consistently deliver on time. For project management purposes, we use Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their laser-focus on iOS. Instead of trying to do it all, Exyte focuses on one specific capability where they clearly excel.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It's hard to say because since we tightly control everything. Whenever we needed to adjust the process, they responded immediately. Since then, we’ve been in agreement on how to move forward, and we haven’t had any issues.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to do what we did, which is to start small and then grow your project.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director and CEO of Aerum, a blockchain engineering company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Exyte?

Experienced Solidity developers are not easy to find, because deep knowledge of Solidity is not necessary to develop mainstream applications. We needed someone with a very in-depth understanding of this programming language because we were developing a new protocol and platform. We hired Exyte to build smart contracts with Solidity for enterprise development.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Exyte used Solidity to develop smart contracts for a seasoned network related to on-chain governance processes. They worked with Salesforce repositories.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Yuriy (Blockchain Consulting Lead, Exyte). He fully integrated with our team but in more of an outstaffing than outsourcing way. He was present in our meetings and acted as a team member.

How did you come to work with Exyte?

My company posted on Upwork and interviewed multiple candidates. Exyte was the ideal match for the skills and experience we wanted.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement spanned May–October 2018.

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

The code that they submitted to the repository was high-quality. Exyte provided the skills that we needed and completed an important part of the project.

How did Exyte perform from a project management standpoint?

My team handled project management. The project progressed a bit slowly because of the time zone difference, but Exyte always met deadlines. We worked in an agile methodology and used Confluence, Jira, and Bitbucket. We’re happy with how the project went.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their skill level and integrity were impressive, and they completed all of the milestones. They were good people to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Some communication could be improved.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Because you’re working from different locations and time zones, you need to plan specifics upfront to keep everything synchronized.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO and founder of a digital consulting firm. We develop software for clients around the world.

What challenge were you trying to address with Exyte?

My company needed help with software development in the blockchain space.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I cannot disclose many details, but we have worked with Exyte on multiple blockchain projects. For instance, they helped us build hardware wallets. They also developed a security protocol on the block for blockchain initiatives. Our work together is ongoing.

What is the team composition?

We have worked with a lead architect and a full spec engineer.

How did you come to work with Exyte?

An industry associate recommended Exyte to us. We chose them based on their communicative nature and knowledge of the software we needed.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project commenced in 2018, and it is ongoing.

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

Based on code reviews conducted by my company and our clients, Exyte’s work provides a huge amount of value. Clients are pleased with our progress and output.

How did Exyte perform from a project management standpoint?

Exyte performs well in terms of responsiveness, timeliness, and organization. They communicate effectively via email, phone, Jira, Slack, and Telegram.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They maintain strong communication skills and vast technical knowledge. The team provides regular updates on project milestones, which ensures transparency and clarity.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, not that I can think of.

Any advice for potential customers?

Determine your requirements and have them ready for the vendor before proceeding with the project.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

BB: I’m the VP of marketing for SoliPoints, which is an environmental loyalty program. Our mission is to reduce consumers’ carbon footprints. We’re the first company that rewards consumers for reducing their carbon output with their everyday purchasing.

RM: We convert carbon emission offsets and credits into consumer rewards. This is the first time that the consumer is enabled to create a measurable impact on their carbon reduction at the point of sale. It’s a punch-based program where every point that the consumer earns lowers the carbon footprint by two pounds. I’m the founder and president.

What challenge were you trying to address with Exyte?

BB: We needed an app developed. We needed the means to capture the transactional data at the point of sale.

What was the scope of their involvement?

RM: They were responsible for design and development of the UX/UI.

The mobile app shows the merchants nearby or online who are members of our program. It also shows users how many pounds of carbon they’ve reduced by using our program.

BB: If you register your credit or debit card with us, we automatically pick up the transactional information with any merchant in our global network. It’s seamless for both the merchant and the consumer.

It’s developed only for iOS; we’ll do Android at a later date.

What is the team composition?

RM: They had programmers and QA people. I interfaced exclusively with the project manager.

BB: They worked with our developer for the backend.

How did you come to work with Exyte?

BB: They came highly recommended. We interviewed several firms and went with them.

RM: We needed expertise in UX/UI. It was critical that our app was consumer-friendly and functional. Of all the people we looked at, they were the best.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February until November 2018.

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

RM: It’s a robust app. They did a phenomenal job for us.

BB: The app took a lot of critical development and they did a fine job. The app was absolutely essential to us to conduct the beta tests of our model, which we did successfully last year. They were with us as we made tweaks and changes to the beta tests based on responses. We finally got it to a stage where it’s ready to roll out. We’re in the process of fundraising. When it gets launched, we’ll take a look at starting the Android version.

Everybody says the app is cool. It’s an essential tool for us to line up higher educational institutions to deploy our app to their staff and students and as a means for us to demonstrate to venture capitalists and angel investors that we have a viable product and can scale quickly. That supports our need for additional capital.

How did Exyte perform from a project management standpoint?

RM: They were great. We had two phone calls per week. One call was for future planning and the other was based on feedback on the work that was completed. We used Trello and Slack. It was a seamless relationship.

BB: They were extremely responsive. We were impressed if we asked a question, we didn’t have to wait a day to get an answer. They interacted with our developer constantly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

RM: They were exceptionally easy to deal with. They were adamant about maintaining the Apple human interface guidelines; our app is perfect in that regard, which makes it easier to use. By adhering to those guidelines and doing it the correct way, we ended up with a better app. They have good attitudes and a good sense of humor, and their English is excellent. We had a great experience with Exyte.

Are there any areas they could improve?

BB: No.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

BB: It’s the client’s responsibility to make sure they provide specific details, instructions, and use cases. Clearly outline the objectives and the goals.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CFO of TIME Quest Lab. We provide business solutions and are currently working in the entertainment field with VR technology.

What challenge were you trying to address with Exyte?

We wrote the scenario for our game but lacked the skills to develop the software. We needed a team with extensive VR experience to help us create the product.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They’ve done all the software work for us. The Exyte team is developing the game as a separate, turnkey product that will be sold as a business solution. They’re also creating the content for the game based on our ideas, scenarios, and descriptions we give them. They use Unity to develop the platform and are integrating all of our equipment into the system. For the headset, we’re using HTC Vive Pro, and backpacks from MSI. 

Their developers are finishing up the game, so we’re nearing the official release. From there, they will continue to improve the final product with us.

What is the team composition?

They supply between 3–4 software engineers, 1–2 freelance modelers, and an IT director.

How did you come to work with Exyte?

We were introduced to the Exyte team through a shared connection, and they met our standards with price, quality, and deadlines. We trusted them and knew they’d be the right partner for the project.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in May 2018 and the project is ongoing.

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

Because of Exyte’s help, we presented our first demonstration at an industry conference and earned presales on the product. We were able to make sales on the work after three months, whereas it could take others up to two years. Our clients are pleased with the demonstrations of the game, and we’re satisfied with how everything functions.

How did Exyte perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Trello, and the Exyte team integrates Jira and Slack. They meet all the deadlines and the project management applications have been helpful tools. They give us very detailed information, and we’re pleased with their approach.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The Exyte team inspires us—we believe in the product we’re making because of them. We’re lucky to have found them, and we think working with them will bring us success.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Although this could increase our expenses, we’d find it helpful if they had more software engineers to improve the speed of the work.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the managing director of microCAR Ltd. in New Zealand. We’re a startup company that’s looking to build more single person, electric microcars.

What challenge were you trying to address with Exyte?

We are building a platform to operate the microcars and needed someone that was skilled and experienced in implementing blockchain-based smart contracts. Since those skills are limited in New Zealand, we knew we would have to outsource the work and wanted to work with an organization that could help our team develop those skills.

What was the scope of their involvement?

It’s a multi-step project. The first step is developing the smart contract and the second is developing the platform. It has been a slow process because as a startup we can only do small amounts of work each week, but the blockchain-based smart contract has been developed. We are currently unit testing it, and building our skill and knowledge internally so that we can make modifications in the future. The last step will be to put the smart contract in the production environment.

What is the team composition?

We primarily work directly with Yuriy (Software Engineer, Exyte) because his focus is on smart contracts.

How did you come to work with Exyte?

It was hard to find reputable companies with smart contract knowledge and experience. I posted the project opportunity and specifications on Upwork. About a dozen companies responded and we interviewed a few, including Exyte. They provided us with good examples of their work, which I verified, and it was based on their success that we decided to go with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in March 2018 and are currently in the unit testing phase of the project.

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

We verify the success of the smart contract through unit testing, and to date, it has performed very well. As part of the contract, we also wanted our local engineer to build his skills in order to modify the smart contract in the future, and he’s progressing nicely. I’m very happy with how it’s worked out.

How did Exyte perform from a project management standpoint?

I’m currently acting as the project manager, and have found them to be very flexible and accommodating to our schedule. Yuriy, our local system engineer, and I have a weekly update to check in on project progress, development, and testing results.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Yuriy is very personable, with broad experience that he is happy to share. Even though there is a six-hour time difference between our office in New Zealand and Exyte’s office in Russia, it’s been very easy to contact him. He usually responds via email or Skype within a day of reaching out to him.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t have any complaints. I think Yuriy is skilled enough to have completed the project within three or four weeks instead of months. However, we’ve had to draw out the project because we are a small business and don’t have the resources to focus solely on one project at a time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Nothing comes to mind. We’ve had exactly the type of engagement I was hoping for. They are flexible, professional, and knowledgeable.

Please describe your company and your position there.

I'm the director of a blockchain development company based in Panama. We do concepts, smart contracts, and decentralized app (dApp) development for several companies.

For what projects/services did your company hire Exyte?

We needed help with a gaming and gambling platform on the Ethereum blockchain.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop secure smart contracts, write documentation, and coordinate dApp development.

How did you select this vendor?

We hired one of their team members because of his appealing profile. It’s hard to find good developers in the blockchain arena.

Can you go into detail about the services they provided and the scope of the project?

They’ve helped us on more than one project, but the main one consists of a game series on the Ethereum blockchain. They’ve assisted with smart contract work and team coordination.

What was the team composition?

I assembled an eight-person team for this project, though not all of them work on it full-time. One of them is from Exyte, however, a second Exyte member has helped on other projects.

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

Their help with the coordination of this specific project resulted in me having more time to manage and acquire other projects.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Although we’re in very different time zones, we managed to work well together. There was no language barrier and we used Slack as the main form of communication. They always replied quickly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

They have good communication and blockchain skills.

Are there any areas where they can improve?

They can improve their time estimates.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am in charge of all architecture and technology. I founded the company with an investor partner who is in charge of all business elements. I would normally call myself the CTO of the company, but we are not that large.

Scade.io has been working for four years on developing a cross-platform framework for mobile web development. We are currently in the beta phase, and we plan to release it in 2018.

What challenge were you trying to address with Exyte?

We’re working on two parts of the project: a framework for developing mobile apps and an integrated development environment (IDE) that would allow inexperienced developers to create mobile apps. The main idea of the IDE is to allow designers to import designs without any changes and allow developers to use those designs. We’ve concentrated on business apps, but we’ve also focused on creating great-looking apps that can be created without requiring a lot of knowledge from developers. Designs can be created using Adobe Illustrator or Sketch and imported by developers directly into the IDE. Our idea was to eliminate the need for developers to contact designers for adjustments. The designs being uploaded should work on all devices, allowing developers to focus on the logic of the app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Exyte started by working on our IDE. Since then, they developed mobile apps using the IDE and our framework. They’ve consulted and given us feedback on mobile app development. The framework allows for the creation of apps for both Android and iOS devices. We also use Swift, which was a challenge to bring onto the Android platform.

Exyte was responsible for design as well. We don’t have an in-house designer so they’ve found subcontractors for us on a few occasions and managed those resources.

QA testing is also done on Exyte’s side. They have a person that performs testing, and who also provides support to beta users on our Slack channel. If a user has an issue with the IDE, Exyte provides support.

What is the team composition?

We initially worked with Igor (CEO, Exyte) and their CTO. We currently have four developers working solely on our projects. We also have QA resources. I’m in contact with 4–5 people from their side.

How did you come to work with Exyte?

I found an article four years ago written by Igor which described their work on the Eclipse IDE. We wanted to use that platform to create our own IDE. I made a note of that article because it was an uncommon topic, and I contacted Igor asking for help.

How much have you invested with them?

The cost of their work has been between $50,000–$199,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with their team in 2014 before Exyte was founded. I would like to continue the collaboration.

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

We are happy with the quality of work. If the deliverables work, they are almost always bug-free. Exyte has expertise in developing mobile applications. Therefore, they give us feedback and suggestions on how to develop the IDE. Exyte brings a lot of recommendations for simplifying users’ interaction with the IDE. They developed using the Xcode and Android Studio environments, and they can tell us what a developer working with those tools would want.

How did Exyte perform from a project management standpoint?

We have four-week sprints and try to release a beta at the end of each phase. We are currently preparing a release. I discuss new features, sprints, and releases with Igor. I explain what we need for the next step, and they do it. We have our own Slack channel.

Igor, my partner, and I have a planning meeting every four weeks to discuss what features we want to include. We also include the developers from our internal team who work on the backend of the framework. We count what was achieved or not and analyze the reasons why a feature didn’t work or wasn’t implemented.

I’ve been satisfied with their work, and the management is great. I haven’t had to explain to everyone what needs to be done. Igor is my main contact and he clarifies details with the other members. The management and workflows are great.

Exyte will be the first group I contact should we need native mobile development in other languages to see whether they can find a subcontractor or whether they can do it themselves.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are very fast, and the communication is also great. I am in Europe while they are in Russia so we have a common window of five hours in the winter, but this has not been a problem. We have very good communication, they are always online, and the time that they plan for features is always exact. Time estimates are almost exactly what they say in the beginning. Also, Exyte finds and manages designers that deliver great results.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could enlarge their support team. Having more QA specialists could be great for us, but we are satisfied with everything we’ve done together.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I advise clients to listen to Exyte’s recommendations.