MessApps

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a founder and CEO. I have built many businesses and building a custom app from scratch was my largest challenge yet.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

I hired Messapps to develop a health and wellness app. I had a strong vision for what I liked and wanted; something that wasn't on the market. I wanted special tools with high quality functionality (tools such as an audio player, meal planner, grocery list builder). I also wanted the app to be aesthetically pleasing.

SOLUTION

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

I researched many companies before settling on Messapps. And I truly couldn't have been happier. They are so professional, timely, build QUALITY technology. They exceeded my expectations.

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

We created an IOS model app from the idea / concept to a functioning and successful app.

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

I worked with Messapps's project manager and the owner, Vasily himself.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Within 1/2 a year we launched the app. I was blown away by the outcome. They honored my timeline, the app worked beautifully and they were beyond supportive.

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

Project management was top of the line. Best I have experienced to date.

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

Their app development skills were top-notch. Quality work. Timely work. Super kind people, too.

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

None.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a senior manager for an international consulting firm. We cover business consulting, taxation, international planning, and expansion abroad.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Messapps?

We were offering business strategy consulting for a large bank, and one of our tasks was to build something that would bring their business to another level and make it more client-oriented. We decided to build a client banking app that would be usable from anywhere in the world, and we started looking for a company that could help do it.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The client had a general vision about it, and they communicated all their ideas through us. Messapps developed the app from scratch, and they proposed different architectures and ways of structuring it to make it easy for clients to use their accounts. The app was developed for Android and iOS.

What is the team composition?

I communicated strictly with their project manager.

How did you come to work with Messapps?

We approached around 10 companies and had them send us proposals. Based on those, we decided Messapps would be the best choice. The human factor was also key because the person we spoke to from Messapps was very professional and knew what he was talking about.

How much have you invested with them?

The project cost around $500,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started looking for companies around June 2019, and we wrapped up the project in January 2020. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The bank expanded its client base significantly, and they’re very happy with the decision to make an app. They were a bit old-fashioned before, but they’re up to date now, and they have more services to offer.

How did Messapps perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project manager was very polite and client-oriented. He was always available, including on weekends, and he answered questions quickly. He got all the necessary information from us on the first couple of calls and started the work after that.

We used Slack and email for communication, and everything was done online. There were a couple of delays, but they warned us about it in advance. Everything was delivered perfectly in the end.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were always on time, and they delivered what they promised. I appreciated their way of talking to the client and presenting themselves. It’s something we didn’t see with the other agencies we contacted.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

The process could’ve been faster, but I think this is just the standard process. My experience with Messapps was great, and I don’t think it’s something for them to improve.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

The client should make a summary of what they want and communicate it clearly to the agency.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Vola is an online financial education and credit building platform. We help our users gain financial freedom by advancing their paychecks and preventing overdraft fees. I'm one of the co-founders at the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Messapps?

We hired Messapps from the get go, from developing our MVP to a full fledged android and iOS app now.

What were your goals for this project?

The main goals were to keep the entire platform dynamic and allow us to scale easily.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found Messapps through NYU and had our first meeting with Vasily at their office in Midtown. Vasily was quilt able to grasp the idea and product that we wanted to develop. This and his commitment to a project irrespective of the size made it easy to select Messapps.

Describe the project in detail.

The project entailed conceptualizing the idea, building a customizable backend and a user friendly app. This included bringing in a lot of analytics, integrating with various 3rd party API's and putting fraud controls in place given the nature of our business.

What was the team composition?

We were assigned a project manager, who was our main point of contact. There were designers, developers who were assigned tasks by the project manager based on our requirements.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Vola has come a long way since the early days. We now have a fully functioning platform, including iOS and Android apps. The platform works seamlessly and we have been able to scale up easily.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Messapps has several processes/ tools they have set in place to keep the workflow smooth. Most of the communication happens on slack and apart from that, they have project management tools that we have oversight of as well.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to adapt to the needs of the customer. They have impressive developers who are great at what they do.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am CEO of paradigmapps LLC, dba Ganza (Previously EventX)

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Messapps?

We needed a mobile app developed that can cater to the vision and perplexity of algorithms we had to establish out software.

What were your goals for this project?

Main goals were to establish a simple, easy to use mobile application with a back end that incorporated all elements of our event-related application.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Messapps has proven time and time again to develop wonderful applications with efficiency and clarity. As they did for us, they involve their clients fully throughout the development process. Their dedication and ingenuity in engineering have allowed us to resolve any bottlenecks that may have arisen during our development workflow. Too, their graphic designers are amazing!

Describe the project in detail.

I prefer not to provide further detail for legal reasons, bound by an internal NDA in our company.

What was the team composition?

Initially, we were assigned a project manager, and the CEO himself worked with us directly during algorithm and software development. Then, we were able to coordinate with our graphic designers, and the PM communicated directly with the developers after breaking things down with us.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have recently been able to gather upwards of six-figure funding from private investors based off of previous built version by messapps, and are ready to take our application to market. We have also placed as finalists in several competitions at the U of M and MSU.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was extremely effective and seamless. We used slack as our development channel for communication. Any questions or issues we had were resolved in a timely manner. Everyone on the team was highly proffered but warm and welcoming at the same time.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to work so dynamically and cover a wide range of development components. From front end to back end and graphic design/marketing.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They are doing a great job and deserve more high profile, dynamic clients as they are made to handle this! No, nothing to improve right now.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Founder and CEO of a space-sharing marketplace that connects people with space to the people that need it.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Messapps?

We hired Messapps to do the wireframes, design, and prototype for our mobile applications (ios and android) and website.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal for this project was to visually and conceptually understand our vision when translated to an app and website. We wanted to work with seasoned professionals in mobile/web application development, but also had experience working and communicating with a less technical audience.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We selected Messapps after three weeks of receiving several quotes, conducting in-person and phone screenings, and reviewing countless online portfolios and customer reviews. We chose Messapps due to their beautiful portfolio, diverse team, execution structure, and affordability (comparable to others in the market).

Describe the project in detail.

Initially, we provided Messapps with a number of materials (pitch deck, business summary, and vision board) to ensure they understood our business model and our desire for what the mobile app and website should be.

Immediately following we had a discovery call to answer any questions they had and for them to bring up any recommendations or considerations. Next, they completed the wireframes in order to map out the flow and function of the app.

After walking us through their wireframes and gray scaled layout, we then chose the color scheme and style we were interested in. Lastly, they presented a prototype which was followed by a few additional meetings to make minor changes.

What was the team composition?

The team composition consisted of two to three design engineers who were working around the clock. Initially, I spoke directly with the owner to understand the costs, how the team was structured, and to coordinate times for communication and follow up since we were all on different schedules.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We have yet to launch our platform, but we are transitioning into full-on development with an expected launch of January 2020. We are excited to continue working with them and see what the final product brings.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow between Messapps and my team was exceptional. They were extremely responsive, used platforms like Slack to enhance communication and organize additional meetings, and also conducted video chats to create a more personal experience.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What I found most impressive about this company was their speed. They were able to make adjustments when requested, and deliver the designs and prototypes ahead of schedule.

Are there any areas for improvement?

n/a

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am an associate and a project manager for a leading insurance company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Messapps?

Our company's mobile app was outdated and couldn't satisfy our growing digital focus. Messapps helped us by developing a state-of-art app and providing consulting on actionable ways to enhance our digital presence.

What were your goals for this project?

We needed to create a top-notch app that would positively influence our digital reputation. Additionally, we wanted to triple the app’s weekly downloads to increase popularity and establish a strong communication channel with customers to drive loyalty and satisfaction.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We chose Messapps from among seven other companies. We liked their hands-on approach, willingness to exceed our expectations, and readiness to deliver within tight deadlines. Their experience impressed us, as they have established one of the most trusted brands on the market. Their price point was also competitive.

Describe the project in detail.

After holding a joint kick-off meeting in early 2016, Messapps prepared a few mockups of the app in a matter of weeks. Once we selected specifics of the desired product, Messapps focused their efforts and continued to work in that direction. As a part of the project management process, we held biweekly steering-committee sessions in addition to many informal catch-up meetings along the way.

What was the team composition?

Messapps explained their team’s composition transparently at the start of the project. Although I only interacted with our project manager, four more people worked on the team, including several software developers and a designer. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were happy with the comprehensive app and appreciated our interactions with Messapps. The team acted in accordance with the highest professional standards. We especially liked their readiness to act on our feedback along the way. Their knowledge of digital branding and promotion really benefitted us as well.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow went smoothly. We appreciated the professionalism of the project manager.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I genuinely liked their ability to grasp our industry specifics quickly and prepare a solution that fit our needs in every dimension.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As with every project, we retrospectively understand that few things could have been done better. But, overall, I have no immediate concerns. 

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My company will help people locate craft beer where ever they happen to be at the time.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to develop an app that works in multiple countries to help the beer lovers of the world find the best local beers.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did a Google search for app developers in New York and Messapps came up. I called them and gave them a general overview of what I want to do and they gave me a rough price and timeline. I met with Vasily [Owner, Messapps] and was very impressed with him. He had boundless energy and I felt like he cared whether or not I succeeded.

Describe the project in detail.

The app will have the ability to locate microbreweries near any user's location. It will then indicate what beers are available and what others thought of the brewery itself.

What was the team composition?

They assign project managers for each project they take on. I dealt a lot with Vasily because got along so well.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The project is still in the development phase and I'm hopeful we'll be able to launch soon. Defining microbrewery locations in a county like Germany is difficult.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It's been smooth. I won't say it has been flawless but generally, when I have asked to change something, it has been on difficult things to change.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their responsiveness is hands down the most impressive thing about them. I've literally received emails at all hours of the night.

Company Responses

CONTENT QUALITY = B

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the founder and CEO of a company whose core product is a mobile app.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what reason(s) did your company hire Messapps?

I had the idea for an app which would require several app/API integrations in order to be executed successfully and was looking for a company to help build it.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to design and develop an entire mobile app in the fitness/music space.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I contacted 10 or so vendors, many of whom were unable to confirm that their developers had a working knowledge of the necessary music APIs. Messapps was one of the only firms who said they could do this without making me commit to paying for an R&D phase. They quoted me in the middle of the range I'd seen across the other development firms, which I felt seemed like a fair price for what they were being asked to do. They are NYC based, so I could meet with them in person.

Describe the project in detail.

We started with wireframing, which took about a week, then moved onto a clickable prototype. I had quite a bit of feedback on this - and the Messapps team incorporated everything I asked for within a reasonable time period. After I signed off on the prototype, I was given a few design themes, which I provided feedback on. They'd already started development by the time we were finished with the design. They had a functional shell application up and running within weeks! We are in the final stages of development now, and the team has been extremely responsive. Impressively, they've stuck to the timeline and have sent me multiple releases/builds per week incorporating bug fixes, etc.

What was the team composition?

I worked closely with my project manager who liaised with the designers and developers. The CEO was also involved throughout the project to ensure everything was going smoothly.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Not yet! However, the app has turned out even better than expected from both a design and functionality standpoint.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was extremely effective. We scheduled a few in-person meetings but communicated via Slack most of the time. It was rare if my project manager took more than a couple hours to answer me.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I found their UX knowledge to be extremely impressive. Sometimes I had an idea that they didn't think would be effective from a UX standpoint. They would never just shoot down an idea of mine without providing a clear explanation backed by articles, research, etc. This gave me the confidence that I could lean on them to make certain decisions.

They weren't stingy with incorporating new features or improvements over the course of the project. I was worried that every little new thing would cost extra, but there were no surprise costs. They really just wanted to build the best version of the app possible.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Looking back on the project, I can't complain about much! I didn't think I'd find a developer at a reasonable price that could accomplish everything we'd set out to do. Messapps proved me wrong and was the perfect fit for my project!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

Unimash is a mobile app that allows college students to interact with one another using a platform, such as our app, which targets only college students. If it's a mutual "mash," then they can message each other and meet up with each other. It brings students together from different colleges nationwide and, in the update, it will be monetized and users can opt to see only people in the same state. 

What is your position?

I'm the copresident and cofounder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Messapps?

It's only me and my partner we have limited technical knowledge. We reached out to Messapps to try to find the best quote to develop our app. 

SOLUTION

How did you come to work with Messapps?

We reached out to other agencies, but their price was ridiculous and did not meet our requirements. Messapps gave us the best quote, and the best outline of development phases.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

This project was between $20,000 and $40,000.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Our app is launching in the next couple of weeks. We don't have any users yet, but we do have beta testers. We're feeding off their feedback, which has been good so far.

What distinguishes Messapps from other providers?

Messapps's CEO [Vasily Malyshev] is great. He answers emails within 10 minutes. His team is great. There was a little back and forth between one of the graphic designers, but we got through it, and everything was fantastic.

Is there anything Messapps could have improved or done differently?

I don't have much experience with app developers but, as my first experience, Messapps was great. There were things where I had to repeat myself but, besides that, everything I asked for I got in a timely manner. They always did it within two to three. They're a great team to work with.

BACKGROUND

Our company, LIT, is a mobile application startup that allows college students to maximize their nights out by connecting with friends and saving time and money using user-generated real-time party stats. I am the cofounder of LIT. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

We were looking for a company that could guide us through the process of design and development while refining the specifics of the application down to the most trivial-seeming details. Messapps was able to do just that. 

We came to Messapps with an exciting idea and general outlook as to how we can make an impact on the market; however, we lacked any programming knowledge or capabilities within our team. We had a tight timeframe to design and develop the app.

SOLUTION

Messapps handled conceptual ideas, design, development, and testing, although we were greatly involved and had our input taken into account throughout. We discovered Messapps online as part of a list of many application companies we compiled in order to ensure we found a company that was a good fit for us.

We chose Messapps because they were a young, energetic, and ambitious company that was in New York City, and we were able to come into the office to meet with them before commencing the process. Messapps helped us do minimal work and have minimal worries while always staying in close contact with us and providing updates daily. The project duration was from August to December 2015, including design and complete development.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Messapps has given us all we could ask for and more. Messapps had an excellent team and were friendly, genuine, and down-to-Earth people who we got to become close with on a personal level as we've worked through the development process. They are always reachable and keep excellent communication with the customer. 

All our requests were tended to immediately, and they are always looking to improve the app throughout the process, not stopping anywhere short of perfection with regard to sleek aesthetics, quickness with lack of bugs, and effectiveness. Messapps has assisted us in maximizing our idea and bringing it to life in ways we could have never imagined. We have a beautiful app on the way that we truly feel has been put in a prime position to succeed and disturb the market, and we could not have done it without the Messapps team. 

They are unique in the sense that they are a small, young company yet are able to produce an outstanding application with regard to UI/UX [user interface/user experience] and effectiveness across the spectrum. We could not be more satisfied with Messapps and would absolutely refer to others and use again.