Founders Approach

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a technology startup called Knitrino, and I’m co-founder and CEO. We’re creating interactive knitting patterns optimized for mobile devices. Modern knitters are craving innovation in this space.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Founders Approach?

After nine months doing market and user research and zero-code prototypes with knitters — we have a really engaged base — we had a really good idea of what we wanted. We had hired a couple of offshore development teams through UpWork simultaneously and gave them each the same very-limited scope of work. Essentially, we were red-teaming it. They knew they were competing against each other and that we were going to pick the best team.

Our biggest challenge with both teams was communication. We had multiple language barriers: the actual language, development language, and knitting language since knitting has its own jargon. On top of that, neither code base was architected in a scalable way. We started off just looking for product managers because we thought we could have them manage one of the previous two teams, but in the end decided that neither team performed well enough that we could proceed with them. We had to abandon the code and start over, but thankfully it wasn’t detrimental.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We hired Founders Approach to do a code review of our existing code base first, and to let us know what they thought was salvageable and how they would approach this task differently. The outcome was very detailed, and we decided to move forward with them to build our MVP. We iterated on a scope of work and a fixed fee. In addition to the prototypes and proofs of concept and user feedback we had, we also had some initial design work. All that enabled us to hit the ground running with Founders Approach.

What is the team composition?

Phil (Co-Founder) is our project manager, and we love him. Recently Jasmine was added to the team. We also really like her and feel she has tons of potential. Both of them are based in the US, and we have an offshore team comprised of both full and part time staff that includes a mobile developer building the app, a designer, a technical project manager, and web developer (we’re also developing an admin portal that allows us to create the patterns and get them into the app.)

How did you come to work with Founders Approach?

We looked at and talked to at least a dozen different firms. Communication, in my mind, is why projects most often fail, and we communicated very well in the opening days about the code review and scope of work. Taking things pice by piece helped us see it was going to work out.

How much have you invested with them?

To date, probably around $70,000.What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together until December 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The product looks and feels excellent. It far exceeds our expectations. They’re also very open to feedback and changes. I’ve worked with a lot of developers who take things personally when you want to change something, but Founders Approach doesn't do that at all. They’re really striving to create the best product for us.

How did Founders Approach perform from a project management standpoint?

Every week we have a tactical team call where we run through all the features that have been added and where we are. On top of that, we have a second call for me and Phil to talk through bigger stuff — strategy instead of tactics. 

For day-to-day management, we have a shared Trello board to manage different tasks. We worked with a previous firm who shared our Trello board but tracked their work on another platform, so there was a lot of duplication. I couldn’t always see what they were doing. With Founders Approach, the whole team uses the board so I can give feedback at any time. It adds a level of transparency that makes it easy for me to trust them. They’ve been really excellent.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In my mind, they’re very authentic people who are open and honest and direct. They’re also a lot of fun. After we fired the two initial teams and started with Founders, I wanted to ensure we got off to a good start so I flew out to Baltimore to meet them for a few days of kick-off. We spent that time working through the products we wanted to build, how they would work, and how the different pieces work it together. I’ve managed global teams in the past and sometimes there’s no substitute for that kind of in-person communication. Having that intensive time to talk and brainstorm and get to know how each other communicates got us off on the right foot.

One of the things I miss about working from home in a startup is the fun comradery you get being in the office, and I feel like we have that with Founders. Phil has even started noticing knitting in his life and even once sent me a picture of a movie character wearing a cable-knit sweater!

Are there any areas they could improve?

Honestly, I'm sure there must be, but compared to the other teams we worked with, they are stellar. They're so open to feedback that any issue or area for improvement we see, we just address with them.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a web development and digital marketing company. We primarily and originally focused on web design and development as well as PPC/SEO management.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Founders Approach?

About three years ago, our services started to shift toward software development. We have an internal team—but we decided to partner with Founders Approach on development-heavy projects because we thought they’d be an invaluable value-add.  

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We decided to work with them for our first major project—developing a POS system—and they did such a fantastic job that they continue to be an extension of my own team. So far, we’ve collaborated with them to create CRMs, recruiting platforms, and backend management systems.

We usually rely on Founders Approach’s design team. Typically, after a discovery call with the client, we’d come together to brainstorm ideas. Phil (Lead Project Manager, Founders Approach) then takes these ideas back to his design team. He’ll come back to me with mockups and final designs, which my team approves.

Although it depends on the project, we frequently use CodeIgniter for developing web applications. For mobile projects (although we confirm with the client whether they’re looking for an iOS or Android product) we often use React Native.

What is the team composition?

Phil is my main point of contact, although I also communicate with his partner Dave (Chief Marketing Officer, Founders Approach). They primarily leverage an overseas Indian organization for development and programming resources.

How did you come to work with Founders Approach?

Phil and I go all the way back. We split ways in college, but we kept in touch because we were doing something similar professionally.

We officially began to collaborate at a time where my own company was really growing. It was just me and my partner, but we kept on getting referrals for larger-scale projects. I decided to give Phil a shot based on his proposal, his diligence, and the trust I had in him. He delivered beyond expectations—and that’s why we’ve kept it rolling, to this day.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve done everything from four to six figures. Our projects haven’t reached a million, but an upcoming project will roughly be $350,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in January 2017, and we have an ongoing partnership.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve become a direct extension of my team as they’ve been able to deliver on all of their promises. With their help, I’ve been able to take on big projects, knowing that they’re going to be delivered well. They’ve delivered to our clients beyond expectation.

Phil is an entrepreneur at heart and has been incredibly helpful in the discovery phases. He’s an exceptional project manager with great sales skills. That means he’s able to secure us a lot of business in all the meetings we have together.

How did Founders Approach perform from a project management standpoint?

Phil has done a phenomenal job of putting together the platform and tools we use for project management. We primarily use Trello to track all tasks, which are organized in a particular format which we use for every project. We all use Slack to communicate, and, leveraging tools with Zapier, we’re able to connect that Trello board with Slack. Thanks to Founders Approach, we’ve been able to keep projects on their respective timelines.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their response time, their dedication to the project, and their dedication to us—essentially, their loyalty—have made them exceptional to work with. They’re a great partner, and more importantly, great people.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I think they’re doing all the right things. It only comes down to internal resource management, which only improves with time.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Don’t think twice about it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Not applicable.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Founders Approach?

We needed a company to design and build a mobile application pursuant to our specifications. The application required both a graphical user interface, and connectivity to a back-end database. We also needed third-party payment integration and connectivity between users.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to have the mobile applications built and ready to go by June 1, 2019. We wanted a clean and organized user interface.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We sorted through hundreds of online proposals using a third-party website. We found most other companies to be either unresponsive, or ill equipped to handle a project of this magnitude and this complexity, within the budget we provided. Once we spoke to the team at Founders Approach, we immediately recognized their unique approach to app development and were given a comfort level regarding their ability to handle this project. Their fees were very reasonable and they stuck to their word in every instance.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we signed on with Founders Approach, we began regular telephone meetings to discuss the idea and the general design of the mobile application. We received initial design UI mock-ups within one week, and screenshots of the actual UI shortly thereafter. Working with Founders Approach, we reviewed various functioning beta versions of the app over the ensuing months and were able to work out UI issues and various bugs. In the end, we were provided with a fully-functioning app that met all of our design goals and functions flawlessly. The app came in within the original budget we agreed to.

What was the team composition?

We dealt primarily with Dave. He was very diligent in following up on every aspect of the project. Not a single email or phone call ever went unanswered. He could not have been better in moving this along and getting us to the end as quickly as possible.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have received very positive feedback from everyone who has previewed the application. We have thoroughly beta tested the final version of the app and it works flawlessly. We intend to start marketing the application in the coming weeks.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was outstanding. Dave was in constant communications with us during the build and development process. We never had to follow-up more than once and we never were unable to communicate with Dave when we needed to. The whole process was absolutely flawless.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The most impressive aspect of our work with Founders Approach was level of service we received, especially given the competitive price we were quoted. Founders Approach gave us better, more customized service than other companies that literally charge two to three times more. They are absolutely a first-class outfit and will move your project forward with competence and diligence. My partner and I constantly remarked during the process about how thorough the team at Founders Approach was and how pleased we were with their service.

Are there any areas for improvement?

There are literally no areas I can see for improvement. We gave them a very strict deadline, a very complicated app to develop, and a very soft budget, by they came through x1,000. Personally, they are one of the best companies I have ever done business with, period.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a co-founder of Kala Mobile Meditation Studio. We're a mobile business and we offer individual meditation sessions. We use a tablet and headphones for our self-guided sessions, so each guest can select their meditation session from the menu on our tablet.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Founders Approach?

We were looking for a vendor to develop an app for us to use in our studio.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We gave Founders Approach our audio files, the designs, and the logo, and they built an app for us. The app allows our guests to use an iPad to select a 15-minute meditation session from our menu. We don't have Wi-Fi in our studio, so we wanted to have something that is simple and plays an audio directly from the app. We also wanted the app to be user-friendly and intuitive. 

What is the team composition? 

We have one main point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Founders Approach?

Founders Approach was referred to us by someone who shared a co-working space with them. Their prices were in line with our budget and we liked their personable approach, so we decided to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We've spent about $7,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We started working with Founders Approach in May 2019 and the relationship is ongoing. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Founders Approach delivered the app on a tight deadline and we haven't experienced any issues with the functionality. They even offered to come to our studio and try the app out to see how it works.

How did Founders Approach perform from a project management standpoint? 

The communication has been great. We mostly use email and text to stay in touch and we use Trello for project management. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They're very approachable and easy to work with. We don't have a tech background, but Founders Approach has made the process very simple for us. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything. They're a great team to work with.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the owner of a social media company called Caption This, which allows users to increase their following on social media by generating great captions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Founders Approach?

We needed a team to handle the full development of our mobile application.

What were your goals for this project?

To launch with a product that would attract and retain users because of its ease of use and value-added.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them on Upwork. I interviewed several other freelancers and companies, but they didn't seem to have nearly the same industry knowledge that the Founder Approach team did.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

They handled every step of development, making sure all the code was in an account in my name. That allowed me to breathe easy knowing that I was in complete control of the work that they were doing.

They also walked me through the setting up of our Apple Developer in order to launch in the App Store. It really helped as a person who is new to the space and allowed me to learn about each aspect of the process in its entirety.

What was the team composition?

I mainly worked with Dave (Co-founder, Founders Approach). We discussed what needed to be added and changed within the app, then he would send the required tasks to his team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

This project has been such a great experience for my business. The amount of knowledge that I’ve gained itself was probably what I paid them to build the app. On top of that, they delivered a fully functioning app that is now on the App Store.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Dave was a super effective communicator for both sides. It was very easy to discuss what features I thought were necessary, and we used tools like GitHub to ensure that the code was in my name.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to take an idea and bring it to life impressed me. From the first phone call, they were immediately interested in my idea, giving us tips before we were even under contract. Their main goal was to see us succeed, which meant they did most of the heavy lifting; all we needed was our idea.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I didn’t come across anything. They were on it 24/7; whatever I needed they were ready and willing.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder of Bikealerts LLC, a web-based mobile app and website company in the motorcycle industry, and bikemeets.com.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Founders Approach?

I needed to hire an external resource to develop a new web platform intended to help connect motorcycle enthusiasts to get out and ride together.

What were your goals for this project?

I wanted to launch an MVP website for validation of my startup idea.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I found them through a local Google search.

Describe the project in detail.

Founders Approach held an opening call to discuss my concept and provide a recommendation on what to do next. We ironed out the details of the scope, anticipated hours, and a fixed rate cost of development. Throughout the development, we had regular calls to exchange notes, questions, and feedback as they progressed to the final product.

Upon delivery, Founders Approach offered continued support via a "Do Not Exceed" program. I set a monthly budget for continued communication and regular updates.

What was the team composition?

I worked with Dave (Chief Marketing Officer, Founders Approach) as my project lead. He took my feedback and executed it with the development team. Philip (Lead Project Manager, Founders Approach) was also involved as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We just officially launched our website this week and have begun to drive traffic to the platform. We've not experienced any bugs, and user feedback has been very positive. I’m looking forward to continued development and growth with the Founders Approach team.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was very productive. Founders Approach held a weekly video conference on a flexible schedule. That provided us the time we needed to hash out feedback, questions, and recommendations. All updates were visible to me on a Trillo board, and Dave took care of all my requests in a timely manner.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Most impressive was their shared passion for my idea and the flexibility of regular check-ins. I really appreciated Founders Approach’s willingness to schedule face-to-face interaction upon request as well as regular video conferences.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None at this time. I very much enjoyed working with Dave & Philip.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Napp is an on-demand babysitting mobile app connecting local families with background checked and community involved sitters. I am the Co-Founder at the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Founders Approach?

Napp hired Founders Approach as development consultants to continue building Napp's mobile application.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to secure a supportive and like-minded team that would help us plan and integrate new features and development of our mobile app after launching v1 to the market.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Founders Approach through an ad I placed on UpWork - we were so impressed with their portfolio and response rate and it turned out we were in the same co-working space here in Baltimore!

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Founders Approach has provided nothing but the most professional and seamless approach to development - exactly what our team needed. We came to them with some basic needs, at first, maintenance-type tasks, but we were so quickly impressed with their skill and project management, that we continued developing larger features, such as Stripe and Mixpanel integrations and geolocation, down to admin fixes that quickly improved our efficiency and productivity as a company,

What was the team composition?

The team consisted of 3-4 people. We worked mostly with two Co-Founders to plan and budget each sprint as well as communicated with 2 others that were working for Founders Approach on development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are so thrilled to have the development relationship we have with Founders Approach. They are responsive, professional, and workable with our timeline and budget. They are always helping us decipher feedback and user response to our launched features and mobile app, and always go above and beyond to help us analyze, understand, and improve our product.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

We project managed our sprints through Trello and communicated frequently through Slack, it was extremely efficient and always well-organized and updated.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their support and professionalism. They are true cheerleaders to our company, always bringing positive and motivational perspectives to development.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't thing of even one!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My company, Arbit, is a competitive intelligence startup. I am the co-founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Founders Approach?

As we transitioned Arbit further as a business, we needed to understand how we could build out our product better. Founders Approach was used to leverage there remarkable sense for thinking through problems, understanding the user experience, and scaling products.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to go from a very basic product to a roadmap we could confidently run with that would allow us to scale up our business quickly. Our heads were in the weeds about how to shape our product and we relied on Dave and Phil to consult with us on tweaking our product and figuring out the most important aspects to focus on building.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Arbit's gone through many iterations in the last two years. While I've always held side discussions around product concepts with Dave and Phil, I truly leaned on them at the start of this year to help us flesh out our product and where we wanted to take it. Their technical knowledge as well knowledge for different markets is unmatched in the startup ecosystem and they were a great fit.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected Dave and Phil, we connected with them on calls, met with them in person, had them test our product, identify areas of scalability, think through our target customer base, and build a product roadmap from there. They have been one of our greatest investments to date.

What was the team composition?

It was mostly my co-founder and I working closely with Dave and Phil.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We were able to confidently strategize our next 6 months to a year with our product, understand what requirements were needed from a technical perspective, gain a deeper understanding of the problem we were solving (and what market to address). Overall, it was mostly having a fresh set of eyes that know startups better than most people do. They see things you aren't privy to. They carry themselves professionally like they're genuinely on your team.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Workflow was easy. Between calls, emails, and in person meetings, they are on top of the workflows and are super smooth to work with.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Dave and Phil care more about solving your problems than a typical consulting firm would. They carry themselves with a level of genuine professionalism and skill that I haven't seen before.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I can't say there are to be honest.