HotShots Labs

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder, CEO. of Xlocat OÜ

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Xlocat is a location-based live streaming marketplace that connects people who want to see something happening right now with those who are already there.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HotShots Labs to accomplish?

• Help with the project discovery and defining core features
• Design app
• Help with end-to-end development

SOLUTION

How did you find HotShots Labs?

UpWork

Why did you select HotShots Labs over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HotShots Labs were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

This project required the development of a mobile application that enables:
Explorers to select any place in the world, connect with available operators in the chosen area, and experience live streams as if they are physically present.

Operators to accept requests, transform their smartphones into live portals streaming unique perspectives, and receive payments seamlessly for every live experience delivered.Key Deliverables were — discovery phase with the PDR as outcome, UI/UX designs, fully functional mobile app, help with publication to app stores.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

1. The app were delivered and published successfully
2. All requirements were taken into account and built out
3. The code was built up to standards and passed to me along with the documentation.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The management team (Jane and Alona) demonstrated excellent project management throughout the development process. The team were organized, transparent, and maintained regular communication, which made it easy to stay aligned at every stage. They were highly responsive to my feedback and adaptable to changing needs, ensuring the final product met my expectations.

What was your primary form of communication with HotShots Labs?

Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

I trusted them completely since the beginning as I only had an idea. They helped me to define the project idea and scope and lead me throughout the project being fully transparent on their processes.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HotShots Labs could have done differently?

They handled the complex project and turned my idea into reality, I think they are professionals in their field.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Co-founder of Tumbil Corp

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Gig economy wash and fold laundry app/marketplace for iOS and Android. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HotShots Labs to accomplish?

• Build iOS app
• Build Android app
• Build Marketing site

SOLUTION

How did you find HotShots Labs?

upwork

Why did you select HotShots Labs over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost

How many teammates from HotShots Labs were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The Tumbil project involved developing a comprehensive on-demand laundry service platform consisting of three interconnected applications: a customer-facing mobile app for iOS and Android, a service provider (WashPro) mobile app for iOS and Android, and a web-based administrative interface. The customer app features user registration, real-time order pricing, location-based scheduling, in-app messaging, and secure payment processing with tipping functionality. The WashPro app includes a verification process, multi-step workflow management (pickup, wash, weigh, deliver), earnings tracking, customizable service radius, and order documentation through photo capture. Key technical integrations include payment processing, real-time messaging, push notifications, geolocation services, customer support (Intercom), and email services (Mailgun). The platform implements advanced features such as dynamic pricing based on weight and service type, an intelligent order assignment algorithm that considers WashPro ranking and customer preferences, a pre-authorization payment system with final weight-based adjustments, and a comprehensive reporting system for both service providers and administrators.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Hotshots delivereed project within budget
• Project was completed very close to within the estimated timeline
• All technical requirements of project were implemented effectively
• All four apps iOS and Android were approved relatively quickly by the Apple and Android Stores (iOS app was approved same day as submission)

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

The Hotshots team working with us (Alona, Eugenia, Maksym, Artur, etc.) were all excellent. The team is highly responsive, communication is superb, and great cultural fit as well.

Project was delivered on time and within budget. Regardless complexity (and our project is complicated), their dev team was able to implement all required functionality and features. 

What was your primary form of communication with HotShots Labs?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their dedication to both quality software and clear, constant communication made working with them an absolute pleasure.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HotShots Labs could have done differently?

Not really, they were pretty much all around great. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive of an information technology company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Video Surveys for Emerging Markets

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HotShots Labs to accomplish?

• Upgrade the surveying application from early Flutter version to current

SOLUTION

How did you find HotShots Labs?

Online Search

Why did you select HotShots Labs over others?

• High ratings
• Great culture fit
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from HotShots Labs were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

In this project we rebuilt our original application from scratch for the latest version of Flutter to remove some dependencies. The team quickly grasped the application’s essence and figured out how to work with the existing survey format and databases. They worked with us step by step and clarified all the details until they were certain they understood all the requirements correctly. 

After five months, the application was published on the Apple and Google stores with all the necessary features. Additionally, HotShots labs helped us refresh the look and feel. We got positive feedback of the new application.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Most importantly, the app is finally available on both platforms, previously it was published only on Google Play, which means significant increase in access to our application. Also, the application’s responsiveness improved significantly. The user interface has also been improved significantly.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

HotShots Labs demonstrated a highly organized and transparent project management. For real-time communication, we primarily used Slack. When it came to task management, we were integrated into their ClickUp workspace that facilitated easy communication. Any issues were communicated proactively, allowing for adjustments to be made. Issues were openly discussed and responded to. We found the team to be very responsive and that they care about their work.

What was your primary form of communication with HotShots Labs?

Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

HotShots Labs demonstrated a deep understanding of Flutter, they were able to guide us through different technical decisions, and they were able to quickly grasp our key requirements and implement them successfully. Beyond their technical capabilities, their team showcased soft skills, keeping us always up-to-date, and responding to issues or concerns without delay.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HotShots Labs could have done differently?

We are happy to recommend HotShots Labs particularly for technically savvy remote-first teams, and where asynchronous communication is appreciated.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Director of (a/an) Design

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Product design agency

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HotShots Labs to accomplish?

• Create a new mobile app for Android and iOS using Flutter
• Ongoing support

SOLUTION

How did you find HotShots Labs?

• Other

Why did you select HotShots Labs over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost

What was the size of HotShots Labs’s team?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

The scope of work involved developing an app for both Android and IOS that required integrating an existing API. We had an old version built on native technologies and needed to completely redevelop it with a new design. The app also had a Firebase integration for user auth (login, signup, forgot password).

There are about 10 pages, which will primarily be tables with some filtering functionality. Additionally, the app has integrated graphs, which involve presenting data in a visual format to help users understand and analyse it more effectively. Also, the app was published to Apple and Google stores.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

• Users are satisfied with the new version.
• It’s fast and stable.
• Users are now more engaged which means the revenue potentially can increase.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

I can say that their project management was first-rate. The team was receptive to my requests throughout the project and was able to deliver all milestones within the deadline. Communication was also excellent throughout the project.

The team was always available to answer my questions and address any concerns I had. They made sure that the finished result exceeded all of our specifications and expectations by regularly updating us on the status of the project and responding to our feedback.

What was your primary form of communication with HotShots Labs?

• Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

What impressed me the most about this company was their commitment to delivering a high-quality product that met our requirements. They paid close attention to detail and worked hard to ensure that we were satisfied with the final result.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HotShots Labs could have done differently?

We were satisfied with their services. Can’t say what could be improved

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a Project Manager for the psychology training company, Uncommon Knowledge, owners of Hypnosis Downloads .com

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HotShots Labs, and what were your goals?

HotShots Labs was hired by our company to develop a mobile app with an audio player and pdf viewer that had offline capabilities. Our goal was to build an app that would allow users to listen to their audio sessions and read scripts, even when they are not connected to the internet.

We also needed HotShots Labs’ expertise in developing a user-friendly interface, as well as ensuring that the app is compatible with both iOS and Android operating systems.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

When we were looking for a vendor to develop our mobile app, we wanted to make sure that the agency had the right experience and could present us with a comprehensive plan. After researching several agencies, we decided to go with HotShots Labs.

We chose HotShots Labs because they have extensive experience in mobile app development. They also provided us with a detailed presentation outlining their process and how they would approach our project. We felt confident that their team was the best fit for our needs and that they could deliver quality results in a timely manner.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

Their services included app design, coding, thorough testing, and finally deployment to the app store. They also provided ongoing support and maintenance services to make sure that the app is always up-to-date. Throughout development we maintained great daily communication and had weekly updates.

At the end of each milestone, we had a test release where we could see the completed features for ourselves.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

I mostly interacted with their internal project manager and with the CTO.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

We’ve successfully launch the app in Apple Store and Google within agreed deadlines. Since it was a renovation of the old version, our customers were happy to have a new advanced version.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

They’re exceptionally organized in terms of delivery and sticking to deadlines. The communication was done with Slack, I’ve got frequent updates from their project manager.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

The team is filled with highly skilled professionals who are always willing to go above and beyond to meet our needs. What I find most impressive about this mobile development company is how quickly they are able to produce high-quality results - no matter how complex the task may be.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Nothing stood out — their team addressed any minor issue right away to avoid setbacks that could impede our progress.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a project manager Founded in 2017, we are a web and SEO agency in Lausanne in French-speaking Switzerland . We are a young, dynamic and very creative team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire HotShots Labs, and what were your goals?

We wanted to develop a mobile app for our users to access our content from their phones. 
Our goal was to have a user-friendly app that was easy to update from an admin perspective.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor and what were the deciding factors?

We searched for app developpeurs in our Area and shortlist 5. After interviewing them, we chose Alex and Alona based on their past projects, skills and cost estimates.

Describe the scope of work in detail, including the project steps, key deliverables, and technologies used.

We had a series of meetings to discuss our goals and objectives. We provided their team with the Figma designs. They always incorporated our feedback in a very short time and delivered the revision version. Before the launching, we can it through beta testing.

How many resources from the vendor's team worked with you, and what were their positions?

The project manager, Alona was assigned to be our main point of contact. Additionally, we talk with Alex regarding the Technicals part.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any measurable outcomes of the project or general feedback about the deliverables?

Sadly we can't at this stage of the launching. We are still in the communication process.

Describe their project management style, including communication tools and timeliness.

Alona, the project manager was very nice and easy to talk with. She provides frequents updates. We had both meetings but most of the feedback was through Slack. Everything was delivered on time, and we received warming if a deadline was not going to be respected.

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Their mobile app development skills is very good. They knew everything about app mobile development.

Are there any areas for improvement or something they could have done differently?

Alona and Alex were very helpful. They helped us until the end. I recommend them 100%.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of Deed Delivery; we’re a small startup focused on communication solutions to help companies improve the efficiency of their processes.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with HotShots Labs?

The app we wanted to build was large, and I needed additional resources to focus on the backend functionality of the system.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’ve been outsourcing our mobile app development work to HotShots Labs' team. We already had the design we wanted for the main part of the product, and they built everything based on that. Their team continues to add additional features that we asked them for.

In terms of technologies, they’ve been using Flutter and Firebase.

What is the team composition?

We’re working with Alona (CEO) and Alex (CTO).

How did you come to work with HotShots Labs?

We found them through Upwork. We interviewed other potential providers, but HotShots Labs stood out with their professionalism, ability to listen to our needs, and decent suggestions that showed initiative and problem-solving skills.

Moreover, before accepting the deal with them, they gave us a detailed breakdown of how they’d manage the project, including deadlines, quotes, and tasks.

How much money have you invested in this partnership?

So far, we’ve spent around $20,000 with them.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June 2022, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

HotShots Labs delivers quality coding work. In addition, they’re good at quickly addressing the bugs we flag out to them without extra charge. 

How did HotShots Labs perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is great; their team is organized with communication, stays within deadlines, and I like how they keep us informed throughout the process. Regarding tools, we use Slack and Zoom.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their overall quality is outstanding. HotShots team is also consistent with their work, differentiating them from other providers.

Are there any areas they could improve?

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

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Roam Global, Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

A travel, hospitality, and technology company based in Palo Alto, California.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire HotShots Labs to accomplish?

• Help me build a mobile app

SOLUTION

How did you find HotShots Labs?

Upwork

Why did you select HotShots Labs over others?

• Pricing fits our budget
• Good value for cost
• Quality of portfolio work

How many teammates from HotShots Labs were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

Describe the scope of work in detail. Please include a summary of key deliverables.

I hired HotShots Labs to create a social travel mobile application based off of designs I created. The requirements were as follows: 

1. Understand my design requirements.
2. Develop and test an application based on my design requirements. 
3. Assist me in publishing my application to the App and Play stores.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What were the measurable outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

I was able to download test builds to inspect quality of work. Several additional milestones such as publication in the App and Play stores, along with additional infrastructure and analytics work which I inspected personally.

Describe their project management. Did they deliver items on time? How did they respond to your needs?

Project was delivered in a timely manner, especially considering the large scope, the team worked well to respond to unforeseen hurdles when they arose.

What was your primary form of communication with HotShots Labs?

Email or Messaging App

What did you find most impressive or unique about this company?

Prompt communication and friendly collaborators.

Are there any areas for improvement or something HotShots Labs could have done differently?

Not at this time. I'm very happy with their work.