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.