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We Got Your App

4.8
5 reviews

At Grio, we believe the best apps are developed through collaboration. We work closely with your team to understand your product vision, select the best technology to meet your users’ needs, and develop complete, streamlined solutions.

Over the past ten years, we’ve built large, small, and in-between web apps for hundreds of companies. Our team’s technical expertise includes React, Angular, Vue, Javascript, Node, Ruby on Rails, Elixir, Java, and much more.

 
$25,000+
 
$150 - $199 / hr
 
50 - 249
 Founded
2008
Show all +
San Francisco, CA
headquarters
  • 625 Market Street 6th Floor
    San Francisco, CA 94105
    United States
    415.395.9525
other locations
  • Varsovia 36
    Mexico City, DIF 06600
    Mexico

Portfolio

Key clients: 
  • Rivals.com

 

  • Fitbit

 

  • Texture

 

  • Neustar

 

  • Capital One

Reviews

4.8
5 reviews
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Outsourced iOS App Development for IT

"The team is competent, timely, and consistently doing what’s right for their customer."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
Dec. 2018 - Sept. 2019
Project summary: 

Grio worked on two projects- building an iOS app and solving crashes and ANRs for an IT company's Android app.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
San Francisco, California
Senior Director, Late Stage Startup IT Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The iOS app was built with a high-quality architecture that will last long-term. The Android team has made progress against crashes and ANRs, with both numbers hopefully going to zero soon. The responsible team at Grio is competent, timely, and cares about the product and their customers.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director at a late stage startup IT company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grio?

There were two different needs at different times. We worked on two projects. For one we needed an iOS development team in 2019 and the other was solving crashes and ANR (application not responding) reasons for our Android app in 2020.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In 2019, Grio led the development for an iOS app from the ground up and brought it to parody with our Android product, both in visible features as well as the data produced by the two apps. They also readied the app for worldwide distribution.

In 2020, they were tasked with taking out the top five crashes and top two reasons for ANRs. They are chasing down the thorniest crashes and making progress in removing them. 

What is the team composition?

For the iOS team, there was a project manager, Logan (former Project Manager), Devin (iOS Development Manager), one or two junior iOS engineers, and a designer.

For the current team, we are working with two Android engineers, a senior and a competent junior.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent in the $200,000–$999,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together on the iOS project from December 2018–September 2019. We hired them for the Android project in January 2020, and it is ongoing

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

For the iOS project, they provided the engineers to not only write code to get us to parity but also designed in an architecture of the system that will stay with us long-term.

For the Android project, they were given a goal to work on top five crashes and top two ANRs. They’ve made progress on several of the top crashes and we are in deployment period right now. Hopefully we will be able to see those crashes go to zero in a few weeks.

How did Grio perform from a project management standpoint?

They did an excellent job. Logan derived a very pragmatic plan to get us from zero to parity. She had a gentle touch across the 3 organizations working together, Grio, our company, and some outsourced employees, without ruffling feathers. I learned a lot from her. We meet twice a week for 30 minutes to discuss plans, integration, and check on progress. We communicate via Slack and Google Hangouts, as well as having standups.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The most remarkable thing about Grio is that they treat the project as their own rather than our project they’ve been hired to work on. They own the outcome, deliverable, timeline, risk, everything. The team is competent, timely, and consistently doing what’s right for their customer.

Doug (Partner) is very easy to work with, and he hires an easygoing, confident staff. We made a couple bizarre requests, such as assisting us in hiring an in-house iOS team that would essentially replace his team. He immediately agreed, helping us through the process. The other request was for a 90-day insurance policy that ensured our ability to enlist the help of Grio after we ended our engagement. Once again, Doug had no problem complying. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so.

They charge a premium for their services, but they’re awesome.

Think about how to best utilize their services and where you want to spend your money. They offer premium service at a premium price.

5.0
Overall Score They were terrific partners for us.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They charge a premium for their services, but they’re awesome.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web Dev & Ongoing Support for Lighting Design Firm

“Grio has provided a great support system.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
2014 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Grio developed a website for a lighting design and manufacturing firm to showcase their products. They linked the site to a Shopify store. The team continues to provide web support and consulting services.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
San Francisco, California
Senior Industrial Designer, Lighting Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Year-over-year web growth can be attributed to Grio’s development and support work. Responsive and timely, the team facilitates an open partnership by communicating well and sharing their knowledge. Internal stakeholders appreciate that Grio made it easy for them to manage and update the site.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I work at a lighting design firm and manufacturer. I work on the design side and manage a lot of the web stuff we do.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grio?

My company hired Grio to help create a new website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Grio developed an external-facing website that allows our customers to learn about the various products we design and sell. They also linked our Shopify store to our website so that customers can go from our website to the store and purchase products. 

Since the site launched a few years ago, Grio has continued to provide support and modernize it. We reach out to Grio when we want something web-related done that’s beyond our internal expertise; they’re familiar with the site, so they can add different functionalities or change anything. 

What is the team composition?

I don’t know how many people worked on creating the website, but I’ve been working with 3–4 people on managing and updating the site.

How did you come to work with Grio?

My company began working with Grio before I came on board.

How much have you invested with them?

I don’t know what the budget was for the website development, but it was likely over $100,000. Their consulting and web management services have probably been a couple of thousand dollars each year. 

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement began in 2014 or 2015, and it’s ongoing. We’re still working with them on a consulting and web support basis. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve been very successful. Our website has grown year-by-year, and a lot of that is due to Grio building a really nice website for us. They made the site customer-facing but also easy for us to manage internally. When we introduce a new product, our internal design studio can build out the page easily. We can also do updates very quickly. Grio has provided a great support system.

How did Grio perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been great. The team is very responsive; I just reached out to them a day or two ago asking for a quote on some website work, and they responded immediately. They’re great to work with, and I can’t say I have any complaints. They communicate clearly, and there are never any surprises. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

As a design firm and manufacturer, some of the website work is new to us, and Grio answers any questions we have. They’ve done a wonderful job explaining their work and walking us through the process in a way that we can understand, which is very helpful. When working with other firms in the past, I was often in the dark about what they were doing or how time-intensive their work was. With Grio, I understand what they’re doing and how long something is going to take them. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’ve probably worked with them the most within our company, and I don’t have any critiques. They’ve been really responsive and helpful.

Any advice for potential customers?

Ask a lot of questions to fully understand what they’re doing. They’re very open and will explain all of it to you. In my experience, it’s always better to understand more than less.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Whenever they give us a schedule, they meet that deadline every time.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Their prices are very fair and honest. They always tell us how many hours their work is going to take.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They’re very timely and open about what they’re working on. They stand behind their quality of work, so if there’s an issue, they’re quick to fix it.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

iOS App Dev for Information Tech & Security Co.

“They produced a polished final product and were easy to work—that’s all we could have asked for.”

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4.0

Quality: 
4.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Nov. 2017 - Jul. 2018
Project summary: 

Grio supplied three engineers to develop mobile app software development kits (SDKs) and a demo app to pique market interest. They created the software kits for both Android and iOS devices.

The Reviewer
 
1,000-10,000 Employees
 
Sterling, Virginia
Director of Product Management, Information Tech & Security Co.
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The SDKs and demo app fulfilled expectations and were successfully launched. Grio was a critical and effective partner in development. Though a more collaborative approach to staff selection for the project may have improved efficiency, their team delivered high-quality work.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of product management for an information technology and security firm. We bring fraud prevention and operational efficiency solutions to the market.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grio?

Our internal team needed support in creating mobile app software development kits (SDKs) and a demo app for a new product solution. We didn’t have much experience in the direct-to-consumer business, so we didn’t have the in-house resources for iOS and Android development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Grio built two SDKs for the same product. They integrated several third-party libraries into the systems and effectively repackaged previous work from our partners. Additionally, they added API calls regarding our own services into the SDKs.

Their developers also built a demo app to showcase the SDKs to potential customers. They created each of these products based on wireframes my team provided.

What is the team composition?

Grio provided three developers for the work along with a dedicated project manager. The CEO was our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Grio?

Someone within our organization had worked with the Grio team in the past and had a positive experience. We chose them based on this recommendation and due to their reputable history with other large companies.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $120,000–$150,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2017–July 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were successful with everything we assigned them, especially when they added the more senior developers. They produced professional-looking final products and helped us bring the products to the market efficiently.

How did Grio perform from a project management standpoint?

Grio was local, so they became a part of our team during development and worked in our office. They had full access to our communication tools, including Outlook, Jira, and Confluence. Communicating with their management team and staff occurred through email and we engaged directly with their engineers. The project manager handled all our scheduling and invoices needs with flexibility, as the project duration was uncertain in the beginning.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They produced a polished final product and were easy to work—that’s all we could have asked for. Their adaptability was valuable during the initial stages.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We would've liked to be involved in the selection process to pick the most qualified engineers from their team. On occasion, it felt they didn’t fully anticipate the specific needs we’d have and we could have prevented the confusion by choosing the right teammates. Although the developers did a great job, we’re used to a different approach in contracting employees.

4.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Web App Development for Sports Media Company Subsidiary

“Their adaptability and attention to detail helped make our product the best it can be.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Oct. 2015 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Grio rebuilt and redesigned an existing web subscription service. They optimized payment and tiered access, added third-party integrations, and continue to develop updates.

The Reviewer
 
10,000+ Employees
 
Sunnyvale, California
Sr. Director of Product & Engineering, Sports Media Subsidiary
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Grio’s team successfully revamped a languishing product by improving platform stability. They communicate well and readily adapt to changes throughout a project. They excel with multiple technologies and are willing to learn new ones in order to deliver the best possible product.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director of product and engineering for a sports media subsidiary. I handle all of our product design and engineering operations.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grio?

We were dealing with a unique product that uses a subscription model and it wasn’t well-known inside the company. We hired Grio to help us revitalize the product and make it more marketable.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They rebuilt and redesigned our web platform. Now that the product is launched, they also occasionally do operations for us in addition to rolling out bi-monthly updates and improvements.

They rebuilt the site using Ruby on Rails. Underneath that, we also rely on a number of cloud-based technologies, including Amazon web service capabilities like EC2, RDS (database services), and Redis, which helps with site speed. We also use a number of third-party tool integrations, as well as a modified off-the-shelf software that uses MYSQL and Linux.

Our product’s key feature is premium subscription services, so Grio helped us with critical payment technology integration, as well as the ability to create different tiers of user access based on subscription level. In addition to the web platform, they’ve also developed a mobile app for Android and iOS. In that case, we provided a general outline and let Grio’s design team run with that. They developed multiple options for us to choose from.

What is the team composition?

We have about a dozen people working on our project.

How did you come to work with Grio?

Their name came up when we asked for referrals. I initially met with their president to discuss the project and negotiate the cost.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in October 2015 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve successfully turned things around. Prior to the redesign, this product had been on the market for several years and had been languishing with instability issues. Since we’re dealing with sports, there’s a seasonal traffic pattern, so we’ll have major spikes for just one or two days at certain times of year. The new platform is highly reliable and designed to handle these changes, even as we’ve continued to scale up.

How did Grio perform from a project management standpoint?

Their team’s remained pretty consistent over the years, which is different from my previous experience with contractors. They adapt well to changes and take ownership over projects, going to great lengths to understand what’s best for the product and offering suggestions about how to improve our process. I also appreciate that they’ve adapted to using the project management tools I’m already familiar with, including Google apps, Jira, and Pivotal Tracker. For day-to-day needs, we communicate via phone, Slack, or email, and I’ll also visit their office occasionally.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their adaptability and attention to detail helped make our product the best it can be. They’re very skilled and willing to learn new technologies if there are specific integrations we want to add.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could do a little better on planning and estimating how long projects take so that we can predict product releases with more stability, but that’s a minor issue.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They’re not like a typical contractor, so involve them fully in your process. They’ll put a lot of effort into it, whether you need design, implementation, or operations.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Custom Software Development for Medical Device Company

"Excellent project management and communications make them feel like an extension of our team."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Jul. 2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Grio has developed a web application that enables remote data access. The team created a database on Rails, and coded in React and Node.js. They continue to make improvements.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Mountain View, California
CTO, Medical Device Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The app has received positive user feedback for its convenience and intuitive UI design. They’re great problem solvers with a unique willingness to address new challenges. Clear communication, effective sprint workflows, and quick iterations benefit the collaboration between teams.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO for a medical device startup that works on electroencephalogram (EEG) technology, which doctors use to capture brain waves and diagnose disorders like seizures.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Grio?

Our device streams EEG data from the patient bedside to a cloud server, which enables the neurologist to review patient information remotely. Grio has been helping us to build the remote reviewing site.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The built a web app using React for the frontend and Node.js and Ruby on Rails for the backend.

What is the team composition?

The team includes a project manager and two engineers at any given time; over the course of the project we’ve worked with about six different engineers as well as designers, and the co-founder and president of Grio has also been closely involved in the project

How did you come to work with Grio?

A former colleague referred them. After evaluating a few different companies, we were confident in Grio’s experience and ability to deliver because their portfolio included both large and small projects spanning a wide scope of applications. That comfort level was important because we were building a solution that would involve unique challenges and require the development of new technology.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in July 2016 and the partnership is ongoing. We already have customers and FDA clearance for our system, but continue to work with Grio on improvements and refinements.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Although it’s a challenging project, we continue to get overwhelmingly positive user feedback. Doctors enjoy the remote access and intuitive UI, which enables them to provide better and more responsive care to their patients.

How did Grio perform from a project management standpoint?

Excellent project management and communications make them feel like an extension of our team. Our project manager leads weekly sprint meetings by videoconference to review issues and upcoming work. Since Grio is local, we also meet in-person as needed. We communicate on a daily basis via Slack and phone. For project management, we use Jira, Google docs, and GitHub.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The team’s willingness to take on new challenges distinguishes them from other development vendors that only specialize in specific technologies or types of applications. Their approach to problem-solving also stands outs.

Any advice for potential customers?

The partnership is successful because we stay closely involved in the process and iterate quickly with the Grio team. Our project is not like anything else that has been done before, so being keeping a constantly open line of communication between our teams helped us to quickly address challenges as they arose.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer