Forcoda

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the owner of a private chef platform that connects chefs with guests seeking a unique culinary experience at home.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Forcoda, and what were your goals?

As a new business, I began to prove the concept out on as little investment as possible. When volume grew, it was clear that much of the inquiry and client management work was manual and creating a bottle neck limiting the necessary growth of this business model that requires volume to be successful.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

I was introduced to Forcoda through a mutual connection who originally believed I may benefit from a mobile application.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

The scope was relatively simple. I needed to assess the options and select the right path forward given budget and use cases. Then I needed someone to "do" the development since as a small business-owner, I did not have the time or wherewithal.

How many people from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I worked with two people from Forcoda - Lena, owner and Valerie, project manager and developer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

My response time and client pipeline management has improved significantly. Although, I do not have hard KPIs, I can confirm the automation has quelled any feelings of overwhelm and not knowing where to start. The path is clear which allows me to simply "act" not "think".

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Throughout the development process Valerie communicated often to ensure I was on board with the development as the primary user of the system. If there was ever a delay for any reason, I was given notification and a clear adjusted timeline - this was infrequent but their proactive communication made it almost unnoticeable. My needs as a client were heard and applied to the development. Working with Forcoda, the communication was clear, the work product is quality and the partnership was felt.

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

I enjoyed how nimble and "real" they are. There was a genuine interest in my business and understanding of my needs. One case that stands out to me is the fact that I presented them with a shortlist of systems that fit within my budget (due diligence I had conducted previously but didn't know how to move forward). Instead of leading me to a solution that would be more advantageous to them and more costly for me, they were with me every step of the way to find the right solution. In the end we mutually agreed on a new (to both of us) platform that could be retrofitted to my needs within my budget. That customer-first service did not end there.

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

Any glitches with the process or program were out of Forcoda's control or missed by both of us at the on-set. The system we selected has some natural limitations that cause some work arounds. However, the system developers are constantly pushing out updates and I am hopeful these things will resolve themselves in time.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the co-founder and COO of Transparency Registry. We are a platform that adds transparency, accountability, and more trust to the distressed debt system when banks or hospitals or any organization that extends credit can no longer collect it. We make it a less fraudulent process.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Forcoda?

We needed them more for design, rather than development. When we first hired them, we needed help creating wireframes for our developers. Then, we used them for branding, such as our logo, landing page, letterhead, and business cards. They also do QA testing and frontend work for us.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They created a logo for us, referencing a guide that included our colors, fonts, logos, and stated who we are. We were presented with general colors and logo options, and they asked us a few rounds of questions. They came back with a final design. 
They did any type of correspondence we had and our email signatures. For our developers, they created all of the wireframes. All of the wireframes were created in Sigma and the branding was done in Adobe Suites.

What is the team composition?

We worked with Lena (CEO, Forcoda) and other members of the team.

How did you come to work with Forcoda?

Since we are located both located in Buffalo, they were highly recommended. They are located in the same building as us, so we were familiar with them. Also, since women in tech are a minority, it is great to see that their organization is run by Lena, who has everything we were looking for. 

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent $25,000 to this point.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2018 and the relationship is currently ongoing.
 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to raise $1.5 million in the seed round. We couldn’t have done it without them.

How did Forcoda perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re great; I can always get ahold of someone and they are very responsive. They have really integrated into our system and have a great relationship with our development team. Their team have never been the bottleneck. They deliver the wireframes on time and stay ahead of everyone else. They have their own type of management, but they adapted to ours. Like any member of the team, they have their own accounts within our office system and have their own roles and responsibilities. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re really good at communicating and building relationships, which a lot of contractors I have worked with fall short in these areas, regardless of their talent. They make it really easy, which is why I keep coming back. I never have to worry about having a problem with them.

I like how proactive they are, especially Lena. She got us a card thanking us for the opportunity and stops in just to say hi. It’s really the little things that have meant a lot to me. I always feel like I am in good hands with her.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I have nothing negative to say. The only thing I could hold against her is they are not a one-size-fits-all service. For example, if we need a specific type of backend development, we may need to go with a larger contractor. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Embrace communication. We consistently receive better results from them when we discuss and share more. Treat them more like a member of your team rather than a contractor you hired.
 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

 I am the HR Director of a transportation company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are an employee-owned business built on nearly a century of experience in transportation and logistics. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Forcoda to accomplish?

• Redesign existing websites or portals with a user-centered design approach to enhance customer and employee experience.

SOLUTION

How did you find Forcoda?

• Online Search
• Clutch Site

Why did you select Forcoda over others?

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

How many teammates from Forcoda were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Forcoda worked closely with us to redesign their digital platforms, focusing on creating a more engaging and intuitive experience for both customers and employees. The scope included conducting user research, developing wireframes, and delivering a fresh, responsive design for their website and internal portals. Key deliverables included a complete UX/UI overhaul, a consistent design system, interactive prototypes, and improved navigation flow all aimed at making online interactions smoother and more visually appealing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The redesign led to noticeable improvements across our digital platforms. User engagement increased as visitors spent more time on the site, and navigation became more seamless, reducing bounce rates. Employees also reported greater efficiency when using internal portals. The refreshed design strengthened the company’s brand presence online and provided a smoother experience for customers booking services or finding information, clearly reflecting the project’s success.

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

The project management was well-organized and transparent from start to finish. They maintained clear communication, regularly sharing updates and gathering feedback at every stage. All milestones were met on schedule, and any adjustments we requested were handled quickly and professionally. Their proactive approach made the entire process smooth and stress-free, showing real commitment to meeting our goals and delivering quality results on time.

What was your primary form of communication with Forcoda?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

They truly cared about how people would interact with every element. Their ability to turn complex ideas into simple, intuitive designs was impressive. They also took the time to understand our industry and tailored every solution to fit our goals perfectly, which made the collaboration feel genuinely personalized.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO of an engineering company 

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We build automations

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Forcoda to accomplish?

• Rebranding
• Create a new website
• Improve our brand proyection

SOLUTION

How did you find Forcoda?

Online Search

Why did you select Forcoda over others?

• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Forcoda were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The scope of work with Forcoda was pretty extensive, and honestly, they nailed it every step of the way. We approached them for a full rebranding project, which included refreshing our entire visual identity and creating a brand-new website on WordPress.

They started by really getting to know us—our values, our audience, and where we wanted to take the brand. From there, they delivered a completely new look: a fresh logo, a modern color palette, and a set of brand guidelines that finally made everything feel cohesive.

On the website side, they built a beautiful, responsive WordPress site that’s not just eye-catching but super easy for us to update on our own. They even added custom features tailored to our needs, which made it feel like the site was made just for us.

The deliverables included the logo and branding materials, the full website design and build, and clear documentation on how to use everything. They kept us involved the whole way, and their team was so easy to work with—it felt like they were just as invested in our success as we were.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The results spoke for themselves. The rebranding gave our business a fresh, professional vibe, and people actually noticed. We started getting more positive feedback on our look, and the new website played a big part in that. Traffic to the site went up, people were sticking around longer, and inquiries started coming in more consistently.

The biggest win? The website is finally easy to manage. No more wrestling with clunky updates or wasting time on things that should be simple. It’s streamlined, it works, and it makes us look good. For us, that’s progress we can actually see—and feel in how much smoother things run now.

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

Their project management was solid. They stayed organized, kept us in the loop, and hit all the deadlines. Anytime we had feedback or last-minute changes, they handled it quickly and made sure we felt heard. No drama, just a smooth process from start to finish.

What was your primary form of communication with Forcoda?

Virtual Meeting

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

Their ability to really understand our brand and turn it into something tangible was impressive. They didn’t just deliver a product—they delivered something that felt like us.

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

Honestly, the process was smooth, but a bit more upfront clarity on timelines and milestones would’ve been helpful. Nothing major, just small tweaks for even better communication.