Launch Theory

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the former CEO & co-founder of Topos Labs, a natural language processing (NLP) technology company. Our company was acquired.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Launch Theory?

We were a software startup seeking a partnership with someone who could bring strong website development capabilities and incorporate aspects like web advertising and software development expertise. Overall, we needed a wide range of skills that were hard to find in a single company.

At the time, we had engaged with an end client and had the technology but not the professional service skills to take on the project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Launch Theory provided web development, online advertising, and custom software development services. On our first project, we provided Launch Theory with baseline information about our situation to see if there was a cultural and technical fit. We explained what our end client needed, the skills we lacked, and other process attributes. 

Launch Theory worked on our end client’s legacy system using Ruby on Rails, Python, and HTML. The team brought in some database expertise to work on a SQL database. Additionally, they provided digital advertising services to our end client. Our end client also needed senior-level strategic support and consulting, and Launch Theory provided these services. 

After that project, Launch Theory provided us with continuous support for various projects. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with 1–3 teammates from Launch Theory at different stages, depending on which skills we needed. Greg (Founder) was our key point of contact. 

How did you come to work with Launch Theory?

We found them through a recommendation from another company I worked with. After a quick conversation with Launch Theory, we recognized that we had strong synergies, so hiring them was a quick decision, and we were off and running within a couple of weeks.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent around $200,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from December 2019–September 2021. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Thanks to Launch Theory, we were able to get market validation and traction. We brought one of our first customers because of Launch Theory's responsiveness. 

How did Launch Theory perform from a project management standpoint?

They delivered on time and within the budget and often came in under budget. Launch Theory recognized when we asked for things we didn't need and worked proficiently. As a result, their project management was one of the strong points of this engagement.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Launch Theory's versatility and professionalism were remarkable. We needed a partner that wore many different hats, and there were many specialists in the world. Greg had a versatile skill set and could find people with particular qualities and bring them together. I appreciated Launch Theory's ability to get multiple skill sets under one small company that was easy to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Early in our engagement, Launch Theory was just starting, so it took some time to get invoices from them. However, this was a minor issue that happened early on. Overall, there wasn't anything they needed to improve. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be as open and transparent about the requirements as possible from the start. Launch Theory has a lot of integrity and is upfront when they can't provide a service. Therefore, giving them a good understanding of what you want is important. 

However, if you need help getting started, you can count on Launch Theory to help you think that through. Don't hesitate to get a conversation going because you don't have all the answers. One of Launch Theory's best values is their consultative nature; they'll help guide you through key decisions. Bring them as much information as you have, and they'll help you sort it out.