Incipient Corp.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the production director for Stickbulb, a luxury lighting fixtures company. I manage how everything gets manufactured and shipped out to customers.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Incipient Corp.?

We needed an ERP system to manage our inventory and catalog all of our costs.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Incipient Corp. has provided ERP consulting services. They’ve helped us implement and improve our workflow as we’ve onboarded the new software.

We initially provided them with a budget, although I wasn’t fully involved in that. We also gave them access to our previous software, which was bulky and large, so they could look at it. Then, we had multiple calls to discuss our needs and the complexities of our products, which have a lot of variance. For example, a lighting fixture can come in multiple thousands of variants. Overall, we had to explain to Incipient Corp. the complications of our product line, the limitations of our business, and the budget we were after.

What is the team composition?

We ended up with around five people on the team, but we have two primary contacts: a software developer and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Incipient Corp.?

We decided between several providers. We found Incipient Corp. through a chance meeting; my boss met Bryan (Partner & COO) through a mutual friend. We had several phone calls to sort them out and determine if it was a good idea. It took us a while to figure it out, but we ultimately hired Incipient Corp. because they were a good choice for our business.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in February 2022. The work is primarily done, so we’re in maintenance. We have check-ins to make improvements and keep our efficiency going.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Before this project, I managed our inventory manually. Now, it has freed up around 30% of my time, which is enough for me to take on an additional role in the company.

How did Incipient Corp. perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management has been good. We have frequent check-ins and constant development; they never deliver past a deadline. Honestly, we’re the ones slowing things down; Incipient Corp. is very efficient.

Are there any employees from the service provider's team that you would like to give a shout-out to in this review?

Bryan is our project manager. He’s incredibly communicative. Moreover, he has a good way of restating questions or problems so we’re on the same page. Bryan is also excellent at keeping track of everything we bring up, big or small. He makes sure that they address everything, and we revisit the problems often to ensure they’re completely solved.

Bryan is fine with changing the things we agreed upon initially. Sometimes we learn a bit more and want to change something; he’s been flexible and patient as we've figured out exactly what we needed as a company.

The software developer has been exceptional as well. He’s very efficient in solving our problems. When we talk to Bryan about what we’re looking for, he’s there to ask if that’s what we really want. 

He has a new development for us to review almost every week. He’s excellent at staging things so we can test them out and implement them once they’re good to go, which is really great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We really enjoy speaking with Bryan. He’s very clear, understanding, and positive. Even if we have a crazy question, he says he’ll research it and find out the limitations. Overall, his communication style and skills are outstanding.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Our only pain point is that we’ve ended up having weekly meetings lasting 1–3 hours. We have so many check-ins, and sometimes we don’t have much to provide because we’re a small company. Also, we’re always busy, so if we were to revisit this and start again, we’d schedule longer time between meetings so that we can have more to provide for them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

You should understand your needs as you go in. One way we haven’t succeeded for our company is being all on the same page, getting together internally, and providing exactly what Incipient Corp. wanted. I fear we’ve made the project last longer than necessary. Nonetheless, everything has worked out great.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.
I'm the managing partner of RUX Design.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Incipient Corp.?

We needed to implement a new instance of Odoo to manage our inventory, bookkeeping, and sales in one platform. Our goal was to have a seamless implementation of the software.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, we did a general knowledge transfer so Incipient Corp. knew what we were looking for. We then engaged them for a small proof of concept scope of work, where the team built a demo version using data we shared. From there, we went to the full implementation. We had a series of meetings so the team could understand our requirements. 

Incipient Corp. then moved on to the actual build-out, which was done in an organized way through different stages. Each stage was gated, and the team didn't proceed to the next until all the bugs were worked out.

What is the team composition?

Our main contact was Incipient Corp.'s principal, and we also worked with a team of 5–6 engineers and implementation specialists.

How did you come to work with Incipient Corp.?

We connected with Incipient Corp. at a virtual career event organized by a local organization.
How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $95,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We engaged Incipient Corp. between February 2022–September 2023. Although the project is completed, we have an ongoing engagement with the team to provide support and further development of our platform. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Incipient Corp.'s implementation led to around 30% time savings and $50,000 yearly savings. Incipient Corp.'s implementation transformed our company in the way we managed our inventory, bookkeeping, and sales.

How did Incipient Corp. perform from a project management standpoint?

Incipient Corp. was super organized throughout that whole process. The team delivered work on time and communicated really well through regular Zoom meetings where we shared screens. We also collaborated through Microsoft SharePoint.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Incipient Corp.'s strength was their communication.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't say anything about how Incipient Corp. could improve. 

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

I suggest being very clear about your goals from the beginning of the engagement.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the VP / Principal of Utleys LLC

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Utleys makes the finest primary & secondary packaging prototypes in the world (3D Printing, CNC Lathe Turning / VMC Milling / Machining, Fabrication, Silk Screening, Traditional & UV Printing, Soft Tooling / RTV Molds + Urethane Castings, Custom Color Matching & Finishing, Vacuum Metalizing, INT Transfers, Decorating, Table Cutting, Hot / Cold / Roll Stamping, Rendering / CAD via SolidWorks / Rhino / Autodesk Fusion 360 & Adobe Illustrator / CS work). 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Incipient Corp. to accomplish?

• Sage 100 analysis / consulting
• End User Pain Point Matrix
• Business Requirements Documentation
• Technical Requirements Documentation
• Odoo Implementation Requirement Mapping Documentation
• Odoo Implementation Roadmap, Timeline, and Budget
• Infrastructure Cost Analysis
• Odoo vs. Sage ROI Analysis from Outcomes of Audit

SOLUTION

How did you find Incipient Corp.?

Referral

Why did you select Incipient Corp. over others?

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

How many teammates from Incipient Corp. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We met weekly & performed a deep extensive analysis of our current Sage 100 product, business workflow & the potential for the implimentation of Odoo as a replacement / upgrade.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

• Full software selection
• implementation
• ROI 
• TCO analysis

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

The project management was excellent.  Feel free to contact me using John@Utleys.com

What was your primary form of communication with Incipient Corp.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Close personal relationship.  No cold big business feel.  Again, feel free to contact me using John@Utleys.com

Are there any areas for improvement or something Incipient Corp. could have done differently?

More on site visits.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO & Founder of FanEase

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

FanEase is the future of interactive video content enhancement.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Incipient Corp. to accomplish?

• Bring the idea I had to re-invent the way audiences engage with digital videos to include information and e-commerce at their fingertips.

SOLUTION

How did you find Incipient Corp.?

Referral

Why did you select Incipient Corp. over others?

• Great culture fit
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from Incipient Corp. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Incipient has brought our initial idea to life and elevated it to a groundbreaking level. In 2018, we envisioned a way to enhance storytelling through video for our audience. Incipient not only grasped this vision but also assisted in refining and expanding it into a comprehensive concept. Their work has culminated in developing an entire backend technology platform poised to revolutionize the digital video business landscape. Key deliverables of their work include:

• Concept Cultivation: Incipient played a pivotal role in refining our initial idea into a robust concept. Through their expertise, they helped us shape our vision into a concrete plan of action.
• Backend Technology Platform: The cornerstone of their work is the creation of an entire backend technology platform. This platform serves as the foundation for the next chapter of digital video business, which promises to redefine industry standards. It's not merely a tool but a transformative force poised to shape the future of digital video.
• Creator Portal: Central to their deliverables is the development of a comprehensive portal tailored for creators. This portal empowers creators by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to craft compelling videos. From creation to distribution, the portal streamlines the entire process, enabling creators to focus on what they do best: storytelling.
• Data Insights: Incipient has integrated robust analytics capabilities into the platform, allowing creators to gain valuable insights into their audience. By harnessing relevant data, creators can refine their content strategy and better connect with their audience.
• Audience Engagement: The platform goes beyond mere content creation by fostering closer connections between creators and their audience. Through interactive features and personalized experiences, creators can engage with their audience in meaningful ways, fostering loyalty and driving growth.

Incipient has not only met but exceeded our expectations. Their work represents a transformative leap forward in the digital video landscape, promising to usher in a new era of storytelling and audience engagement. We are confident that their innovative solutions will shape the future of digital content creation and distribution.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The measurable outcomes from the project reflect both the progress made and the success achieved in pioneering a new vertical within the digital video industry. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Incipient has remained steadfast in their commitment to realizing our vision. Key measurable outcomes include:

• Market Advancement: Through the collaborative efforts of Incipient and our team, we have successfully positioned ourselves ahead of the market curve. By identifying and capitalizing on emerging trends in digital video consumption, we have established a strong foothold in a rapidly evolving industry.
• Long-term Partnership: The enduring partnership with Incipient underscores their dedication to our shared vision. Despite the uncertainties brought about by the pandemic, their unwavering support has been instrumental in navigating challenges and maintaining momentum towards our collective goals.
• Mass Appeal: The development of a compelling landing spot for the masses signifies a significant milestone in our journey. Through innovative enhancements in video technology, we have created a platform that resonates with a wide audience, laying the groundwork for widespread adoption and engagement.
• Future Projection: As pioneers in the digital video space, our aim is not only to adapt to the future but to shape it. The success of our collaboration with Incipient positions us as trailblazers in the industry, offering a glimpse into the transformative potential of enhanced videos. FanEase emerges as not just a platform but a beacon of innovation, heralding a future where enhanced videos are the norm.

In summary, the measurable outcomes from the project reflect tangible progress toward our overarching goal of redefining the digital video landscape. Through strategic collaboration and forward-thinking initiatives, we have anticipated future trends and positioned ourselves at the forefront of industry innovation. 

Remember, they are not a digital video company, but they helped us become a giant in this space. The success achieved thus far serves as a testament to the effectiveness of our partnership with Incipient and the limitless potential of enhanced videos on the FanEase platform.

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

Incipient's project management, spearheaded by Bryan, has been exemplary and unparalleled in my two decades of professional experience. Bryan's exceptional listening skills set him apart, ensuring a deep understanding of our vision and objectives. His ability to translate client needs into actionable solutions has been instrumental in driving the project forward. Key aspects of their project management include:

• Timely Delivery: Bryan and the team at Incipient have consistently delivered items on time, demonstrating a commitment to meeting deadlines and milestones. Despite the complexities involved, they have upheld a high standard of efficiency and reliability, ensuring timely completion of deliverables.
• Client Engagement: Bryan's proactive approach to client engagement has been commendable. By actively listening to our clients and conducting thorough research, he ensures that the project remains aligned with their needs and objectives. His ability to bridge the gap between client expectations and technical feasibility has been invaluable in fostering successful collaborations.
• Transformation of Ideas: Bryan's transformative approach has been pivotal in bringing our ideas to life. From a concept printed on a piece of paper, he has orchestrated the transformation into a tangible reality accessible to the public. His keen insights and innovative thinking have propelled the project from conception to fruition, exceeding our initial expectations.
• Evolution of the Project: Incipient's responsiveness to our evolving needs has been exemplary. Bryan has adeptly guided the project through various iterations, ensuring continuous improvement and refinement. His proactive attitude towards addressing challenges and seizing opportunities has been crucial in keeping the project on track and adaptable to changing circumstances.

Incipient's project management, led by Bryan, has been characterized by a rare blend of professionalism, expertise, and dedication. Their ability to deliver on time, respond to our needs, and translate ideas into reality underscores their exceptional capabilities and commitment to excellence. Working with Bryan and the team at Incipient has been a truly transformative experience, and I have full confidence in their ability to continue driving success in future endeavors.

What was your primary form of communication with Incipient Corp.?

Virtual Meeting

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

What stands out most about Incipient is their unparalleled level of personal engagement and commitment to our project. Despite not being direct employees of our company, they have seamlessly integrated themselves into our team, embodying the ethos of true partnership. Key highlights of their impressive approach include:

• Personalized Engagement: Incipient's personal touch is truly remarkable. Led by Bryan, they have forged a deep connection with our team, fostering a sense of camaraderie and collaboration that transcends traditional client-vendor relationships. Their genuine investment in our project is evident in every interaction, demonstrating a level of dedication rarely encountered in external partners.
• Integration as Team Members: At times, it's easy to forget that Bryan and his team are external partners. Their seamless integration into our workflow and culture speaks volumes about their commitment to our project's success. They operate not as mere vendors but as indispensable members of our team, contributing their expertise and insights at every stage of the journey.
• Genuine Care and Concern: What truly sets Incipient apart is their genuine care and concern for our project. Bryan and his team go above and beyond to ensure that our needs are not only met but exceeded. Their proactive approach and unwavering support serve as a constant source of reassurance, instilling confidence in the success of our venture.
• Instrumental Partnership: Incipient's partnership extends beyond mere technical expertise; they are instrumental in driving the success of our project. Their dedication, passion, and willingness to go the extra mile have been invaluable in overcoming challenges and seizing opportunities. Together, we have navigated the complexities of our industry landscape, emerging stronger and more resilient than ever before.

What I find most impressive and unique about Incipient is their personal touch and unwavering commitment to our project's success. Their seamless integration into our team, genuine care and concern, and instrumental partnership have made them indispensable allies in our journey towards achieving our goals. We are immensely grateful for their dedication and support, and I have no doubt that our continued collaboration will yield even greater achievements in the future.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Incipient Corp. could have done differently?

While our collaboration with Incipient Corp. has been overwhelmingly positive, we continue strategizing to accelerate market adoption and understanding of FanEase as the future of digital video. There may be opportunities for enhancement in terms of market penetration and awareness, it's important to acknowledge that our journey with Incipient Corp. has been characterized by continuous growth and collaboration. 

Together, we have achieved remarkable progress, and I have full confidence in our collective ability to overcome any challenges and continue our upward trajectory.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Controller of Crown Sign Systems

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

We are a designer, manufacturer and installer of architectural signage and wayfinding solutions.   

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Incipient Corp. to accomplish?

• Analysis of Systems Available and Determine Best Suitable for Crown
• Replace Job Shop ERP, Monday.com and Quickbooks with Odoo
• Develop Customized Estimation Widget to allow custom sign building from templates that pass to SO generation
• Centralized, Project Management Workflow that Governs SOs & Fulfillment in addition to coordination with design team
• Customized Purchasing Table to manage Wastage and Different UOMs
• Real-Time Project Status & Milestone Dashboard to Centralize Status
• Implementation of Odoo Modules: CRM, Projects, HR, Sales/Invoicing, Purchase, Inventory, Manufacturing, Quality, Accounting and Expense
• Automated PO, MO, and WHO Generation from SO Confirmation through detailed routing and operation configurations
• Progressive Billing & Invoice Design
• HR, Employee Departments & Timesheets for Productivity Tracking

SOLUTION

How did you find Incipient Corp.?

Referral

Why did you select Incipient Corp. over others?

• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Incipient Corp. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

Discovery Phase: 

• This included current state analysis including surveying our operations and existing software providers.  We started with three independend platforms for our manufacturing, project management and accounting areas with the goal of streamlining operations under a single platform and eliminating inefficiencies from the segmented software packages we were using.
• Recomendation of possible ERP solutions based on current state analysis and goals.
• In depth review of business and technical requirements from current state to desired state including mapping existing operations to recommended software application.

Implementation Phase: 

• We decided to use Odoo as the ERP Solution for our operations based on the discovery phase analysis and recommendations from Bryan and his Team at Incipient.
• Once this decision was made we started to hold regular meetings 2-3 times per week with Bryan's Team and Key internal stakeholders to review specific processes in CRM, Project Management, Sales, Purchasing, Employees, Project Costing, Inventory Management, Manufacturing, Quality Control, and Accounting.  As we went through this process we dove individually into our existing operations identifying current deficiencies, desired state and receiving mini demos on how the new ERP solution would tackle each.  
• Throughtout the Process we had access to a Test environment of the new ERP where we would experience the implementation of solutions discussed during our regular meetings.  We were able to test these implemented solutions and provide feedback for additional changes, polishing, etc. as we moved forward.   This process was incredibly helpful as we were not just discussing options in theory: we had hands-on access to solutions as they were implemented.
• Phase Two identification: as we moved through this process we were also able to identify additional requirements for Phase-Two implementation.  We will work with Incipient on the development and implementation of these (Field Service being an example).

UAT and Deployment:

• Once we went through the Implementation Phase for all our Operations our Team went trough even more testing of the implemented solutions, provided additional feedback and arrived to UAT for all modules.   
• Following UAT we went into Deployment and Go Live phases that included data migration from our three separate platforms into the Final Odoo environment.  Incipient proved very insightful during this time as we worked to bring together data that previously only existed in separate platforms.  

Go Live Support: 

• During this period now that the new ERP has been released globally to all our users Incipient continued to support our efforts by quickly addressing additional polishing and solutions as they came up now that we were in the live environment.   

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Key Impacts & Wins: 

• A Customized Estimator Widget with Product Types for Different sign types and materials was successfully developed and implemented by Incipient.  We anticipate this module to be indispensable for improving our operations going forward.
• Project Rollup - centralization of all contract details and fulfillment from SO to Delivery
• Purchase Conversion Widget for UOM and maintaining wastage for Vendor POs and Production Planning
• Progressive Billing specific to the Construction Industry
• Integrated Design Task Management workflows expand and improve on previous operations that lived in a separate, static platform
• Customized Reporting & Dashboards now provide us with access to information that simply took too much time to consolidate for it to be useful.
• A one solution ERP that replaces 3 former applications and introduces a level of efficiency that was not there before.
• Go live is completed and were now transition into support phase while planning future implementation needs for Phase 2 and beyond. 

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

Engaging in the implementation of a new ERP is a challenging undertaking.  While our initial goals were simple and clear, being able to identify and articulate them at each step of the process as became critical to succeed. 

During the whole implementation process Incipient was a true partner: they listened to our goals, effectively transformed our requests into workable solutions, and offered recommendations and insights, all while moving the process forward.   

When working with Incipient there is a sense that both teams are working together rather than one, dictating to the other to move the process along as fast as possible.  When something didn't work the first time, Incipient was willing to listen, rethink their approach and provide a different option.  

This was a big investment in time and resources for our company and we feel that Incipient shared our passion for implementing the new ERP and improving our operations as much as we did.  

What was your primary form of communication with Incipient Corp.?

• In-Person Meeting
• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Their "we are in this together" approach set them apart from other providers.  They took the time to learn about our operations and needs before making recommendations on which ERP solution they thought was best for us and throughout the process they understood why our asks were important.    

Are there any areas for improvement or something Incipient Corp. could have done differently?

Onboarding a dedicated technical manager earlier on in the process would have been beneficial.  Once Sabari was brought in to better bridge the conversation and help implement the more technical solutions, the project greatly benefited from it.  He definitely provided greater transparency and organization to the milestones and schedule of the project.   

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the President of OnGuard Fence System, Ltd.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Manufacture of aluminum  fence

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire Incipient Corp. to accomplish?

• managing manufacture process more efficient
• Inventory control
• Help cost control

SOLUTION

How did you find Incipient Corp.?

• Online Search
• Referral
• NJ government project

Why did you select Incipient Corp. over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me

How many teammates from Incipient Corp. were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

This project included establishing the framework of ERP system. During the establishing process, Incipient helped us collecting the demands of the Sales department, manufacturing department, inventory management, accounting department, and employee management.

After collecting the demands of each department, Incipient helped OnGuard with specifiy and adopt those demands with the most feasible method. Meanwhile, many customizations were done during the implementation period. Such as, material subsititution, customized printing format, adapting Odoo's production workflow to OnGuards in the ERP system. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The 1st phrase of this project ends fairly success. Not only the demands of each departments are fully understood and implemented, but also many customizations were done during the project.

This successfuly transfer from our outdated ERP system not only saves time for each department but also decrease the mistake rate because many customizations help our employees to do less manual works.

All the reports from Odoo are easier to understand than Epicor which saves me a decent amount of time for understanding the overall planting status.

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

Despite of some miscommnications at the beginning of the project, Incipient works fantastic in the later stage of the project. Incipient is reponding the raised issue fairly quick. All of our requests were being well take of. The entire project was well-managed. 

What was your primary form of communication with Incipient Corp.?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Incipient Corp.'s prompt response time was really amazing. And issues are take care of with great quality.

Are there any areas for improvement or something Incipient Corp. could have done differently?

• At the beginning of the project, requests were not being well-recorded by commnucating via email.
• If Incipient could introduct the Azure dev board at the first stage to record all the request, I believe it will make the entire process even more efficient. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the director of an automotive consultancy firm that also works with software. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Incipient Corp.?

We hired Incipient Corp. to develop custom software for us. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Incipient Corp. developed custom data management and analysis software for our customer's project. I discussed the project with Incipient Corp.'s team to determine how a software solution would work before their team delved into the development process. Their team helped me determine exactly what I needed from the project and evaluated various approaches to the challenge. The finalized data uploading process was heavily customized because we had a very specific data process.

What is the team composition?

I worked with Bryan (Partner & COO). 

How did you come to work with Incipient Corp.?

I connected with Bryan through a networking group, and we discussed another project, but nothing resulted from that discussion. However, when a customer approached me about creating data management and analysis software, I reached out to Incipient Corp. 

How much have you invested with them?

I've invested around $30,000 with Incipient Corp.

What is the status of this engagement?

This project with Incipient Corp. was from November 2021–February 2022. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My customer is pleased with the project — it has provided them clarity in decision-making because the data is present in an easily understandable format. Also, it saves them a lot of time when managing their business because they no longer have to analyze data in Excel.  

How did Incipient Corp. perform from a project management standpoint?

Incipient Corp. was great at communicating with us, although we hit a few roadblocks regarding data uploads. However, they communicated every step of the way and kept me up-to-date on the situation. Since I'm not technically oriented, Incipient Corp.'s team explained each part of the project in-depth to ensure I understood their processes and their challenges. We used SharePoint and several Excel sheets to track the project. Typically, I communicated with ​​Incipient Corp. through email, Zoom, and Skype messages and video calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Incipient Corp. was very professional and had great attention to detail. They ensured they met my needs while pushing the project boundaries to improve the final outcome — they don't deliver generic results. Their consultative approach and ideas made the end product better than I envisioned. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had some issues around COVID-19 that were unavoidable, so sometimes timelines were pushed back. I would've appreciated some additional communication around project delays. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

 I'd advise customers to provide them with as much information as possible so they can take the customer's idea to a higher level. Incipient Corp. is a great company to work with.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of TutorCare. We provide educational services to K-12 and college students, along with veterans.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Incipient Corp.? 

I hired Incipient to create a mobile app that provided testing and tutoring services to K-12 and college students.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Incipient developed a testing app for us. In terms of features, the app allowed users to view sample testing questions. They could also choose different types of testing materials to buy. The app was available on Android and iOS.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two people from their team, including Bryan (Partner & COO). 

How did you come to work with Incipient Corp.?

I was referred to them.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $25,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement lasted from January–December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Unfortunately, I got sick after the app was finished. As a result, it was never launched and I wasn’t able to market it.

How did Incipient Corp. perform from a project management standpoint?

Incipient managed the project well. The team was highly organized, and I was able to talk to them with ease. They were highly responsive; we communicated at least two times per month through emails, phone calls, and meetings. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They made me comfortable, and I trusted them to get the work done. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there weren’t any. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Talk to Incipient’s CEO and co-founder directly regarding the requirements and specifications of your project. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of an automotive software solutions company. We provide software to businesses to help them be more efficient and productive in their workshops.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Incipient Corp.?

We were looking to create a software application that will be our base product, which we can sell to care retailers and manufacturers to help their technicians be more productive and efficient.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We started with several phone calls and various exploratory conversations and drawings. Afterward, Incipient presented us with a scope of work including a detailed breakdown of how the software would work. They understood our needs and listed out the expectations. showing us they weren’t trying to sell us something we didn’t need.

The software is a technician tracking and timing solution. Every car manufacturer has a standard time for their repairs, but everyone wants their mechanics to work quicker than the standard. If the standard is one and a half hours, but you want your people to do it in one hour, you can put in both times, and the software communicates with both the technician and the person in charge of the workshop. There’s also a chat feature, allowing the technician and manager to communicate. When you’re talking about efficiency, you want the technician to work non-stop. With this feature, they don’t even have to leave their workstation, even to ask questions.

We currently use AWS, which balances cost with room for growth. The product isn’t a SaaS tool, so people can’t download it — we sell it individually to customers.

What is the team composition?

Toward the end of the project, and currently, we’re working with Amit (President & CEO). He’s more on the development and support side. Brian (Partner and COO) helped us on the sales side. Amit is helping us strategize how to grow the project, though Brian is still available to us.

How did you come to work with Incipient Corp.?

I connected with Brian through a mutual networking group and spoke for about 18 months before working together, discussing different ideas that my company was looking at.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent just under $20,000 so far.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working with them since October 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have two pilots underway — the first started in January — and we’re still crunching data. The software is web-based, and there haven’t been any issues with that. It’s only enhanced its usability.

The innovation has been strong. We came to Incipient with an idea, and a lot of people have praised the unique approach we’ve taken. We’re trying to help our customers more directly, rather than only trying to sell them a product.

The UI is something that Brian and his team did very well on. The software is intuitive and easy to use. A lot of the compliments we’ve received talk about how great the solution looks.

How did Incipient Corp. perform from a project management standpoint?

We use Excel predominately, as well as email and Sharepoint — and that allows us to see everything that’s going on.

The project has taken a bit longer than we thought it would because we’ve changed things throughout development. Being naïve to software, we’re sometimes unaware of how long things take.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I spoke to one other provider before commissioning Incipient Corp., and the one reason was that I’d been speaking with Brian for nearly two years already. This told me he was committed to me for the long-haul. Additionally, looking at Incipient’s history, it made sense that they’d do right by our product.

While Incipient was a bit more costly than the other firm I spoke with, I felt they were worthwhile because I knew what we could get out of it. Incidentally, we just took on a sales manager, and when he asked how much the software cost us, he was expecting it to be double what it actually was. Incipient goes above and beyond, and they are very professional.

They were very adaptable, which was a good pairing with our being a startup.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It’s difficult because I didn't know where to start in building a platform, and there were some elements that we didn’t think would take as long as they did. For example, we didn’t build a reporting suite before we built the software out, but we didn’t expect it to cost as much as it did. It wasn’t a problem, since we didn’t know to ask about that, but we also weren’t told that initially. A bit more transparency in pricing would help.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Tell Incipient everything you want, including both future and current development to get an accurate cost estimate. Incipient let us know the cost for everything in the scope, but we only scoped out the first part of our software, so we didn’t know how much the rest would cost.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the President and CEO of A-List Network, LLC. We help businesses amplify their message, by connecting them to causes they care about to produce brand ambassadors, who trust you, support your causes and align with your business values – which ultimately converts into serving more people. I oversee the vision and strategy for our company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Incipient Corp.?

Our company created a website 12 years ago an a platform and got hacked. We were looking to create an updated and concise website to increase traffic and sales through opt-in's and to connect with your clients.

We did not have the capability to execute this project in-house, so we outsourced web development, design, automation and integration with apps to streamline tasks and messaging for our company. We needed assistance creating a sustainable marketing tool that would help us connect with our audiences as well as generate sales.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to see our sales double by the end of the year, increase traffic by 25% through our opt-in's, provide a visually appealing marketing tool for our audience. Our website

SOLUTION

How did you select Incipient Corp.?

My team was referred by another colleague who was recently collaborating with Incipient and raved about their service and product. We hired Incipient based off of a referral.

We hired the Incipient team and decided that they were perfect for our needs based on their understanding of our needs, their professionalism, ability to complete the project in a timely manner and the quality of work.

The President & CEO chose this vendor to ensure the vision and messaging for the company was fully communicated and executed.

Describe the project in detail.

Once we selected the vendor, we had a series of discovery meetings and follow up to ensure our goals and objectives were communicated effectively to the team. The vendor was responsible for the concept, workflow, web development, design, integration, optimization as well as automation.

What was the team composition?

We worked with one project manager from the vendor for our contact throughout the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within three months of our launch, we saw a 50% increase in traffic and sales. Our stakeholders find the site easy to navigate, to connect and to understand how we can best assist them because of the design and layout of our site.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The project manager was an amazing communicator, provided updates regularly and managed expectations exceptionally.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I was highly impressed with the vendor's knowledge of web design, optimization and automation. I have worked with other vendors, but Incipient takes time to ensure their clients understand each step and are comfortable with each phase before proceeding to the next.

Are there any areas for improvement?

My experience was amazing and they did everything in a timely manner.