HalfBlast Studios

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm an investor and the chairman of the board at BioTrak Health. We’re a startup and have a headache and migraine app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HalfBlast Studios?

The company started a couple of years ago. The five founders had made progress on the product, but they were having trouble getting it to the next level. Our goal was to have a solid CEO and raise funding to get to the next level.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Their main responsibility is to provide leadership. Lisa (Co-Founder & CEO) has taken over the CEO role. She guides and provides advice for the company. Additionally, she drives our fundraising activities and helps us build and keep partnerships.

When Lisa came on as CEO, we needed to launch version three of the app, raise funding, and begin outbound marketing to drive our user base. That has been our focus for the past year. They’ve occasionally brought in a developer to help with the app.

What is the team composition?

We primarily work with Lisa, but she occasionally brings in a developer to help with the app.

How did you come to work with HalfBlast Studios?

Before I joined, BioTrak Health had worked with HalfBlast Studios on some consulting and advising, as well as a marketing package. They were really impressed by their work. When I met Lisa, I was really impressed too.

Lisa and I had a few meetings. We sat down and talked about our involvement with the company. We discussed the potential that the company had and how they needed a change of leadership to get there. We agreed to engage, and she took the more prominent role as CEO.

It was a combination of a couple of introductions and a strategic breakfast that we got to know each other and launch this relationship.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February 2020, and the partnership is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our key metrics are to establish relationships and raise funds. They’ve been able to establish a couple of strategic partnerships and relationships with companies like Iaso Ventures and Kaiser Permanente. We’ve also raised some funding. It’s still a work in progress.

How did HalfBlast Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

The project management is very solid. Lisa has good organizational skills, and she stays on top of everything. We use common tools like Google Docs and a lot of spreadsheets. She also creates a lot of great presentations through Microsoft PowerPoint.

What did you find most impressive about them?

HalfBlast Studios is very sincere and dedicated to what they signed up to do. Their energy level, excitement, and enthusiasm make everything work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No — in general, I’ve been really happy with what they’ve done. Their communication, timeliness, and work results have been solid.

Any advice for potential customers?

Have a clear and concise scope and good metrics, and know what you want to accomplish. Crisp communication is important, too, to get to the point and move on.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of InMotion Albums. We’re the world’s first print and digital video photobook.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HalfBlast Studios?

They helped me set up our product development plan.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They came in at a really critical time of our product development lifecycle to help with software, firmware, hardware, and electrical and mechanical engineering. Part of this included web and mobile application development. We also worked with Bluetooth, connectivity with battery usage, and kiosk hardware.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Lisa (Founder), Jeff (Co-Founder & CTO), and Heath (Co-Founder & COO). There may have been another team member helping in the backend as well.

How did you come to work with HalfBlast Studios?

I’d heard about Lisa’s previous company and their exceptional work. If we went cheap and shoddy, it wasn’t going to do us any favors. I was looking for quality coding, so I signed with that company. When they were sold, we slowed the product side of our business to focus on the business aspects. I reconnected with her through a startup network. She was the best fit because she built our software from day one.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together most recently since May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve had an enormous impact. They’re exceptional for their enormous skill and experience, solving basically impossible software and hardware challenges. We wouldn’t be where we are with a working product without them. It’s like we made it to the basecamp of Mount Everest and they got us to the top through a snowstorm. We’re taking our product to market because of them.

How did HalfBlast Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They provided invaluable service. I highly recommend them.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re exceptional at solving impossible challenges. They both find a solution and figure out a way to make it work with the software. They’re just magicians.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’re amazing.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

If you get to bring them onboard then you must be an exceptional company; I can’t see them taking just any project.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company is called xBuzz. We are a savings app, and I am the CEO and founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Halfblast Studios?

We needed a development partner to help us roadmap, design, and build out our app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They worked in both iOS and Android versions of the app, helping us to create all of the functionalities we were looking to offer our clients. From there, they worked with us to plan out our path as a company through the future rounds of investment and continued development that we have planned.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two members of their team on the project.

How did you come to work with Halfblast Studios?

They really understood what we were trying to do from the beginning. We had worked with other agencies that did everything we wanted but had no creativity to contribute, and Halfblast came in with suggestions of what the customer might prefer, so we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost is currently around $50,000 in total, but over the next 12 months will probably be closer to $100,000–$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in April 2019 and are continuing together.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have loved the usability and design of everything they created for us so far. When there were any hiccups, they got right back on track and took care of any errors before we even had to raise anything. Their CEO actually came to meetings with us to help present to our investors, which we really appreciated. Overall, the engagement has been fantastic.

How did Halfblast Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

They always kept us abreast of what was going on. We meet in person and talk on the phone all the time, but we didn’t use any particular tools to manage the project. They always made the work as easy as possible for us to participate in and give feedback on.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are incredibly knowledgeable in blockchain, which has been invaluable to us in our work with investors. That knowledge base combined with their over 25 years of experience in the industry really speaks for itself when it comes to the quality of work you can expect.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I was very pleased with everything they delivered.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a commercial construction company in Denver, and I’m the owner.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HalfBlast Studios?

I needed to develop an app for our business.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed a multiplatform app where our employees turn their work time in. We have job codes for the nuances of our trade, such as framing and drywall materials. Our employees check-in through the app, and we can keep track of what they do, and we can also know where they’re at with their jobs. The app also has a map where we can look at the job address, click on it, and send the address via email or text to the people out in the field.

Currently, they’re providing maintenance and assistance for us.

What is the team composition?

We’ve been working with Lisa (Project Manager) and Jeff (Co-Founder).

How did you come to work with HalfBlast Studios?

They were referred to me by Lisa’s husband. 

 How much have you invested with them?

I’ve spent around $15,000 with them so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2020, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The app makes our life easier. People here love the app because it’s helpful; all of our members have it on their computers.

How did HalfBlast Studios perform from a project management standpoint?

HalfBlast Studios do their job on time. They also don’t have a difficult time understanding our requirements; they’re remarkable. They even came to talk to our people and get their input to get the job done right — they’re great.

In terms of communication, we have in-person meetings.

 What did you find most impressive about them?

They listen well to what we need — they’re doing a better job than what I thought they’d do. It’s been a painless process for us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think there’s anything they can improve on. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Tell them what you want — they’re excellent listeners, and I had zero complaints with them.