MindSea

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

DZ: They were able to deliver an MVP along with blueprints and user testing within the time frame we outlined. We’re happy with the result and how it looks, and we’ve already talked with them about building the next versions.

How did MindSea perform from a project management standpoint?

DZ: We didn’t use a specific system; we developed a timeline in the beginning, and we followed that. We used Zoom and email for communication.

They were all in coordination, and they maintained the momentum, which was key for us. They were collaborative and proactive in what they did. They knew what to expect, as we worked through the process, and they worked well together. We could set up additional meetings with the CFO in order to determine valuations and go through some Excels.

What did you find most impressive about them?

SS: I initially wanted to incorporate everything I could into the app, but they kept us level-headed and helped us go through the journey of creating the MVP, so that we’d have a good structure to build on in the future. I found that helpful and I appreciated the constant communication. They sent us feedback and shared documents, giving us all the information necessary to understand the startup tech world. MindSea went above and beyond, and exceeded my expectations.

DZ: One of the things that attracted us to them was that they’d developed apps that sold on the market, and by a large number. Their experience is evident: they’re strategic and competent, they have a good project management mindset, they’re process-oriented, and they know what their objectives are.

As entrepreneurs, we don’t necessarily think within those areas, but MindSea is good at keeping us focused. The process can drag on, and there are roadblocks a lot of the time, but we were able to find solutions for the ones we encountered.

Are there any areas they could improve?

SS: They did go over the timeline for the initial kickoff and I had to ask them about our status. It would be good to have had updates throughout the process and using a scheduling tool might be useful. I don’t have any other comments; I think they did an excellent job and there isn’t much I would’ve changed.

DZ: I like their personalities, ideas, and the scheduling process. However, I would like the ability to make paper copies of our blueprints. I’m more old-school and I’m new to many of the modern communication tools, so I need to print the material, which is sometimes hard to do because of how it’s formatted.

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

Our app hasn’t been live for too long, but we’ve just hit 1,000 downloads and that’s only on iOS. 

It’s been getting some great responses so far. We’ve been out at trade shows and tech events showing our product and getting lots of feedback. One of the things that we hear consistently is that the app is very nicely designed and looks aesthetically pleasing. The app has not had any bug issues. 

We have learned that there are some things that we didn’t anticipate and that we need to change. There are some things that weren’t as obvious to people as we thought they would be. We have to make some changes to some of the components.

How did MindSea perform from a project management standpoint?

We have weekly meetings. They are agile and very open in their communication. Those were the things that really stood out to me about the way that the process was going to move forward. They have totally delivered on that every step of the way.

They are very organized. Everyone works either on a Trello board or Slack to help keep people communicating all the time. The project manager will give me a list of things that I need get back to her on, such as a decision about a feature, color, or button. She also has her list of things to do and then we just update each other accordingly.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They really were and are rooting for us to succeed. They’re not such a huge firm that you get lost in the mire of it. You matter to them as a client. There’s a feeling that they really want you to be successful and they’re there for you. I think that’s something that I look for in employees and in people that I work with. I’m not just a paycheck to them. I know that they really want the app to look as great as it can and they work hard to make sure that happens. Every time when we have had any issues, they have fixed it right away or made sure that it was a top priority. I have to praise them for being consistent with their amazing customer service.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If they were a bigger team, we might be able to move faster on a few things. They don’t have a huge staff and good developers are so hard to find. Every client would love to see things move faster, especially now that things are going well. But I understand that this is their size, and this is what we’re working with, and they’re not a factory.  

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

Our rating in the iOS App Store has gone from 2 ½ stars to almost 4 stars. There were some minor bugs, and MindSea had two updates out in within a week of publishing the app. They’ve worked extremely hard to learn about the rigid iOS rules concerning streaming apps. We use the feedback we’ve gotten to learn about data, and Bill and Joel from MindSea are working on how we can decrease data for our users. The reviews are showing that we’ve come up a more reliable stream and our ad impressions are up. Our time in the app is almost double what it used to be. We’re getting nearly six minutes per user per session, and those users are logging in twice a day. So we’re getting anywhere from 12 to 15 minutes a day out of each user, which is much higher than we were seeing before. We started integrating our radio ad spots and social media platform marketing which is resulting in a doubling of our new users each day.

How did MindSea perform from a project management standpoint?

We have a Slack channel that they set up for us which is a 24/7 feedback loop that includes Bill and everybody on their team. I can ask a question and have it answered right away.

What did you find most impressive about MindSea?

The team is awesome and they’re willing to do anything, including staying up late to work on the project. Their lead developer re-coded the entire app in his Jeep when we were having bugs with the radio player. When one of the developers stepped away from the team Bill took on the project and we would talk several times a day. I’ve never had another vendor work as hard as they did.

Are there any areas MindSea could improve?

I’m really happy with how they handle everything. They have a very talented team.

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

One thing that impressed me about Mindsea was how detailed the blueprint and layout was. It wasn't just a set of wireframes. It started as sketches, moved to wireframes, and then to high fidelity. MindSea asked to be able to talk to our customers, which was great. They were able to send the prototype to our customers and have them test it and get user feedback. They made changes based on the feedback. The presentation at the end was great. They were able to do all that in three weeks. 

What distinguishes MindSea from other providers?

Even though they had a project manager involved, it was the UX [user experience] designer leading the project and being the point of contact. That was great because we were able to talk directly to the individual doing our work.

Is there anything MindSea could have improved or done differently?

I was happy with the results. Maybe it would have been nice to have had more interactive prototypes, but that's minor.