Intellica

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a cross-funding platform for the domestic market in the French part of Switzerland.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellica?

I was looking to develop a cross-funding platform that would allow users to make minor investments in Swiss real estate.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Adhering to our specifications, Intellica executed the front- and backend development of the web platform. We wanted the product to be as flexible as possible in terms of admin maintenance.

We decided to forgo the project launch since it just wasn’t viable in the current market environment.

What is the team composition?

I worked with a project manager, two content developers, a backend developer, and a graphic designer.

How did you come to work with Intellica?

Vladimir (Managing Partner, Intellica) contacted me on LinkedIn when I was in the wine business. I kept in contact and reached out to them, along with two other potential contractors, and Intellica made the best impression. They gave us an extremely competitive price and showed great professionalism.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in September 2018 and ended in February 2019. Most of the project was completed by December, but they continued to fine-tune and refined the application. We eventually scrapped the project when we realized the market was too harsh.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They developed a fully scalable platform that possessed the flexibility we desired. The feedback, from our user testing, was very good. Any struggles were from the natural process of users acclimating to a new web environment.

How did Intellica perform from a project management standpoint?

They really shone in that department. Despite being a remote team, they were exceptionally responsive and collaborative. We worked together through Slack, Skype, and Zoom conferences. The geographical distance was never a big problem.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were immediately available whenever I needed them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything on their end. If anything, I would have increased my own availability to be able to assist their workflow. This was a side project for me, so that was a personal problem.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure they understand your business model well and be communicative. Ensure the specks are sharp enough so they can work at full capacity.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a recruiting solutions company called GetHired.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellica?

We needed to quickly scale up and get our beta product to market. Intellica helped us develop mobile apps, accelerating our time to market.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We decided upon an agile development method for the project. Together with Intellica and my CTO, we started gathering requirements, creating a vision for the final features and functionalities of the product, and providing the development team with the UI design for the apps. 

Their team began to code, building mobile apps and web apps. For the development, they utilized Java, JavaScript, Cocoa, Spring, and Hibernate ORM. They submitted all their code to us and gave daily standups. We were able to successfully launch the mobile apps to the App Store and Google Play respectively.

Notably, they created key functionalities. Intellica worked on a digital token system using hyper ledger blockchain technology. They also built a digital wallet that enables recruiters and candidates to exchange tokens. Of course, they also developed a login function with all the information required.  

What is the team composition?

We worked with the owner, a web developer, and two mobile developers.

How did you come to work with Intellica?

They contacted me through LinkedIn. We decided to meet in New York to discuss their portfolio and capabilities. The meeting went well, and they seemed flexible. That’s what encouraged me to hire them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent about $60,000–$70,000 on the project.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement lasted from March–September 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Internally, we feel that they did a phenomenal job of delivering exactly what we asked. We just launched the app, so we’re still waiting on some external feedback to roll in. But, their services were professional and incredibly cost-effective. It likely would’ve cost us three times as much to work with other developers. 

How did Intellica perform from a project management standpoint?

We didn’t experience any delays, and their ability to coordinate delivery was great. They were an offshore partner, but we never experienced gaps or ambiguities in communication. In our daily standups, they were always punctual and informative.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They truly understood what we were trying to achieve and were up to date on the latest technology. Despite being remote, the team was always easy to work with. We never had problems with communication. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We didn’t come across any major challenges, so I don't’ have any complaints at this point.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Keep a close eye on the inputs and outputs to monitor the progress. It’s also important to make sure their hours are properly evaluated and approved.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the Chief Commercial Officer for Trippki. We're a booking platform that uses cryptocurrency as well as fiat money to pay for bookings. Our platform also offers trip tokens as a form of reward when bookings are made.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellica?

We needed help with web development for our cryptocurrency booking platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I was focused on working with Intellica to build out the platform that we were using. The main focus was really on the website, but we were also developing the mobile side near the end.

Their team took the project from conception through to deployment. My initial engagement with Alex (Managing Partner, Intellica) was a general run-through of the product. Then we went through the user requirements and then built out the platform. They did sprints every couple of weeks to effectively check where we were. That gave us an opportunity to test the platform, both from a functionality standpoint and from a product perspective. They also ironed out any issues in terms of bugs and functionalities that we found along the way. It was an effective process that we used to take through to the final iteration.

They were the first team to help us work on the website. They performed back- and frontend development. They were always conscious of the fact that we had a budget and we were able to get things in according to budget and they were accommodating. They probably let us put in a little bit more than we potentially budgeted for.

The requirements were relatively vague, but they were happy to work closely with that whereas other organizations would have wanted a full requirements list. From Intellica’s point of view, they were more pragmatic and able to go through some iterations to effectively come up with what we needed, which we appreciated. It was a brand-new concept and wasn’t something we could just fully document upfront.

What is the team composition?

I worked with about four or five people, but there were more developers behind the scenes that were coding as well. We had a project manager who was our main point of contact. We also had one of their heads of development as well who would also jump on a call when we had specific questions that needed answering. Vlad (Managing Partner, Intellica) and Alex predominantly were on the phone as well which was very useful. Because Alex was on the phone as well, we could make decisions very quickly, whereas if we just had pure tech people on the call, it could be very siloed.

How did you come to work with Intellica?

I went and spoke to a number of different organizations. Alex had contacted me via LinkedIn. We spoke on the phone and I met them in-person when they came to London. It sounded like they were pragmatic which was a key thing for us. I liked them, and I liked how things were being run. Ultimately, they were able to do what we were trying to do, which was key. Because they had a full staff of around 50 developers, we knew that they had the capacity to build the platform that we needed.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them from 2018–Sept 2018. The platform is now in an operational phase.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We got the project to a certain level. However, because lots of people wanted to book hotels upfront, we had to look at alternative solutions and use that as a basis to get that out to the market and then expand on what Intellica had done. Their platform was great in terms of the functionality side, but it didn’t have the hotels and the market we needed to be taken seriously, particularly with investors.

Intellica’s scope was software development, and not gathering hotels. Overall, in terms of the job they had done, it was good. The issue was more commercial than technical. They took those rough requirements I put together and started building it out. Through iterations, it evolved into what it should be. They were quick to make any changes we wanted and were very accommodating. I would be more than happy to work with them in the future.

How did Intellica perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very good, and we were very happy with them. Communication was through email and regular phone calls. Alex and Vlad would visit London fairly regularly as well so we would meet face to face. Communication was always good.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Being pragmatic was key. The fact that they were willing to invest in the business with us showed a lot of commitment which was positive for us. I think their pricing was also favorable because of the fact their development team was based in Ukraine. General communication was good as well.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don’t think so. We were on a limited budget and they did what they could with that. They worked closely with us and my experience was very positive.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Like any software company, the closer you can get to the requirements, the easier it is to get a platform that you want. Travel technology wasn’t their forte and I had to explain things in the beginning, but we picked them knowing that they didn’t have the domain background in the first place. Thus, I can’t blame them for that.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CTO of a blockchain fintech company that provides digital payment solutions that bridge the digital and real worlds using a unique, transparent, and legally enforceable stable coin based 1:1 on the Swiss Franc. Our solutions provide:

• corporate clients a safe way to accept crypto payments
• professional traders a way to lock-in their crypto gains
• institutional investors/funds a way to hit “pause” without  having to exit the market
• end-clients a way to keep their savings in the safest market/currency all while maintaining liquidity and still being able to make payments in the real world
• end clients with a way to pay for goods and send funds internationally

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellica?

To assist in the development of our web-based platform, we needed an experienced partner who could navigate the blockchain world. We were looking for a flexible team with financial expertise to boot.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I explained our business requirements to the team. I also provided them with a visualization of our workflow as well as UI mockups and spreadsheets of the necessary calculations. In turn, they created a specification document and launched development. 

They utilized JavaScript—in particular, Node.js and React.js. While we’ve developed a container-based web platform, we’re also looking into creating a mobile app.

They worked in an agile manner, with their project manager and business analyst being in constant communication with us.

What is the team composition?

Their team consisted of a project manager, a business analyst, two front- and backend developers each, a blockchain developer, an architect, and a DevOps engineer. At some point, we scaled-up the team by adding two new developers (front- and backend).

How did you come to work with Intellica?

They were referred to us by people we know.

What is the status of this engagement?

The engagement began in March 2018 and the work is still ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We accomplished the remarkable feat of getting the platform up and running in just  10 months. Given that the business requirements were complex and that we were working in the so-called crypto-winter—where cryptocurrency prices saw a market-wide drawdown—this was quite an accomplishment. Our userbase is growing, and our customers have indicated their satisfaction with the platform.

How did Intellica perform from a project management standpoint?

They were very responsive, so it was a very positive experience on that front. They were always available to talk. We communicated primarily through Skype and by email.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I was impressed by their openness and communication skills. We had full access to their internal development resources. Whenever any issues came up, they dealt with it in an extremely transparent manner where we’d just exchange different numbers, metrics, and explanations. Their keenness in discussing different developments really facilitated the development process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We would’ve appreciated a faster turnaround time, but to be fair, our requirements frequently changed as well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure to communicate your expectations. It’s also helpful to see and work with them in person from time-to-time. Constant and effective communication is crucial.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder of a bespoke digital product development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellica?

We rely on Intellica for additional manpower whenever we’re handling multiple projects. While it doesn’t make sense for us to hire full-time resources, we find value by outsourcing some of our work to their developers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

In one project, we collaborated to build a demo application for a third-party client. We had to deliver according to a short, aggressive timeline.

They helped us execute the iOS component of an app that allows kids to learn how to code. Its main functionality is drag-and-drop of code fragments, which trigger corresponding animations on the screen.

What is the team composition?

We engaged with two developers in total, but they worked one at a time.

How did you come to work with Intellica?

Their CEO reached out to me saying that he was in London. We met for a coffee, and they pitched their business offering to us. We thought it was a workable partnership, so we decided to bring them on.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent somewhere between $10,000­–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began in November 2018 and the work was completed by February 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since the product is one subset of another application created by our third-party client, it’s difficult to access metrics or feedback. However, they did deliver the product in a timely manner.

How did Intellica perform from a project management standpoint?

Whenever I needed resources or a particular spec, they’d get back to me very quickly. While we managed most of the project management, they were very good about checking in about the account.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate their CEO’s proactivity. Whenever he’s in London, he sends me a message so that we can meet up. He has a thirst for capability growth and is active in the tech scene.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Although their technical capabilities are excellent, the developers sometimes have limited English. When communicating a project’s requirements, things are often lost in translation, so we would appreciate a higher linguistic ability.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have great project managers at hand to oversee the specific tasks and deliverables. That would limit the translation issues and serve as quality control.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of PayDownHero, Inc. We’re a web and app-based platform that helps users aggressively pay down auto loan debt.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellica?

We were seeking a development team to develop our app.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Intellica is creating an iOS MVP of our app. Before we started development, we sat down and discussed the scope for each of the 12 sprints. We provided our ideas and collaborated with their developers on how to write the code to create our desired design. After we get the MVP finished, we’ll move towards developing an Android version.

What is the team composition?

We worked with two business development team members that were there for every conference call and available 24/7 if needed. We had one project manager, 1-2 developers, and I also had access to Alex (CEO, Intellica) to discuss things daily.

How did you come to work with Intellica?

They were referred to us by a friend they built a health app for. When we started our development search, they were one of five front runners. We got two stateside companies lined up, and ended up choosing Intellica because we felt most comfortable with them after a lot of in-depth discussion and diligence.

They weren’t like some of the other companies who were more interested in just getting the project; they were trying to see if it was a good fit and made sense for their company, which I appreciated.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested approximately $110,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began talking in Spring 2018, and our work is ongoing. We went back and forth several times to solidify the scope of the project and a timeline that made sense. We didn’t end up signing a contract until Fall 2018.  

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

My feedback with Intellica centers on their attention to detail. Their costs are reasonable, they were invested before they even took the project on, and they’ve been with us step-by-step to figure out the project. They’re willing to answer hard questions and scenarios, and take address them head-on. They’ve been instrumental in helping us figure out this project.

How did Intellica perform from a project management standpoint?

They’ve been excellent. We typically communicate on Skype, just because they’re offshore and its easier for both parties. We talk to them pretty much every day, and I don’t think I’ve waited more than an hour to get a response from them. Even when it’s after hours in their time zone, I always get something early the next morning in my time zone.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s been a good experience so far. We started out with a really great project manager, but he moved to a different company. While I was sad to see him go, they segued quickly to fill that role. Their business development side was really on top of things to make sure that the technology handoff ran smoothly. I’m excited for them to work on the Android version of the app in the next few months.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The only thing I would improve about our experience overall, is it’s sometimes hard to communicate over the language barrier, especially with more technical questions. Our project manager is great at stepping in and being the conduit between our team and their tech team. It’s something we got used to because an American company would’ve charged us $450,000–$500,000 project. I’m willing to save 80% and live with that tiny language hurdle.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to ask a lot of questions and clarify things. Hold each other to a good business understanding, and things will go well.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder of a digital payment company. We work in the digital payment and software sphere, promoting e-wallets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Intellica?

We’re building several brands in order to promote e-wallets and we needed to hire a company to build the websites.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Intellica developed a few websites for us. For each, we explained our exact requirements to the project leader, who then assembled a team. We provided feedback along each step of the way and they made corrections accordingly. On these sites, one of which was built on WordPress, their team implemented infographics, online calculators, and other features.

What is the team composition?

We had a project manager and talked to several project leaders, designers, and marketing teammates. There were around 10 people on their team total.

How did you come to work with Intellica?

We interviewed a few companies that we found on LinkedIn and selected Intellica.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from February–May 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve heard feedback that our sites are very modern and attractive. Users are really happy with how the platforms look. 

How did Intellica perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated via Skype and email; they were very responsive. Sometimes, their team worked 14–16 hours per day, so they were always available to answer our questions.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Overall, we were delighted with their work.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It could’ve been helpful if they were a bit faster. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They have the resources to do several tasks. If you want to utilize them in the best way, you have to explain exactly what you’re looking for and they’ll find the right people to execute it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

CEO

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Intellica?

To code a visualization tool

What were your goals for this project?

A Visualization tool

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Knowing one of the Founders of Intellica

Describe the project in detail.

Visualization tool for geolocation

What was the team composition?

coder + manager + project director

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are not using the tool at this point.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Intellica performed the work on time

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The team was cost-effective and efficient.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Clients should be able to vet better the project manager