Forcoda

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.

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.

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.
 

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.