NaNLABS

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and CEO of Loquatree Ventures. We are a recently launched parenting website for parents with kids who have a range of issues that need assistance and support. The site is to connect parents, practitioners, and educators for these children. We have 5-10 employees and are based in Oakland, California. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with NaNLABS?

We wanted help developing our platform. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a rough idea of how we wanted the site to look and feel. We had built a functioning prototype. Along with my partner, who is a design expert, we rebuilt the site based on preliminary feedback. NaNLABS did a redesign and complete overhaul of the web design.  We outsourced the entire project to them. Building the site, maintaining the site, operating the site, and they could do it all. It wasn’t just a little module.

It’s a relatively complex site with user log-ins, credentials, accessing other members, reading data reviews, articles, etc. They also helped the site be accessible and responsive to mobile devices, email services, reminders, and other tools. They essentially were our project manager for the site development, as well as the engineers that developed it over the 2+ time frame.  We just launched the site with all the necessary features we had wanted. We plan to continue expanding other capabilities such as a downloadable app next year with them. 

What is the team dynamic? 

We had a project manager and 1-2 engineers depending on the project’s phase. 

How did you come to work with NaNLABS?

We found them through a referral from another small startup we knew through a friend. They felt their experience was quite positive based on a short-term project they had used them for. So, I reached out to NaNLABS and the founder, Matias [Creative Solutions & Co-founder, NaNLABS]. We started discussing our project. Even though they were a very early stage company, they seemed like a group of smart people who could do an impressive job. 

We were looking at various development alternatives. We didn’t want to hire an in-house engineering team. We wanted to keep our staff focused on design, outbound communications to our customers, and marketing. We were looking for an outsourced company. We looked at several locations across the globe mainly for a lower cost structure and experience building similar sites. We looked at options in southeast Asia and eastern Europe. We eventually picked Argentina because of the minimal time difference. It was only a 4-hour time difference from the California, where we are based. We looked at a few firms in Argentina and quickly honed in on NaNLABS. They were the best fit for what we were trying to do. 

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $150,000-$200,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in October 2014 and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They were much more than an engineering team. They really engaged with the project. When we came back with designs and requirements, they would offer us multiple alternatives. They gave us feedback on why they thought something might work better than what we had envisaged. They were collaborative, which is one of the reasons we really enjoyed working with them and will continue to do so. It was really better than I ever thought it would be.  They’re an impressive team overall.

How did NaNLABS perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated on GitHub, Jira, and Slack. The team is very efficient on each platform and we communicated daily. We were doing sprint based developments. Every 2 weeks we would have a new release. We knew exactly what was going to be in every release. We also knew what the next releases would include. We worked with one project manager, Sabine [Business Development, NaNLABS]. I can’t speak highly enough of her; she’s incredibly organized, with top-notch communication skills. She’s detailed, thorough, and gave weekly updates. When she took over as project manager, she ran a very tight project. It was really impressive. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were flexible when we had different ideas for implementation. They did a really good job of researching tools online. Even if they weren’t aware of a certain kind of toolset or engine or library, they researched them quickly and were able to incorporate them. They have a very high learning skill level. When we came across something they had not done before, it wasn’t an issue. They covered the gap within days.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing stands out. They’re based in Argentina. It’s a foreign country and for payments, you have to do an international wire transfer. It’s little details like that. That’s not a problem, but if they had a U.S. entity or some sort of mechanism to work within the U.S., that would be a little easier.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a company that makes virtual reality tours for real estate.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with NaNLabs?

We needed outside engineering help across a broad spectrum of skills, but especially for full stack web app development. Instead of hiring 5 different people in-house, it made sense to go through an agency.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did a cross section of backend and frontend engineering. They used HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Ruby on Rails was the backend. They also used WebGL.

What is the team dynamic?

I've spoken to at least 4 different folks. Our needs have gone up and down over time, and they've adjusted to it.

How did you come to work with NaNLabs?

An agency in Los Angeles we had worked with highly recommended them. They suggested NaNLabs because they'd worked with them and one of the lead developers was well known in the development community.

How much have you invested with them?

Around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January of last year, and the work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We still work with them. I can’t speak more highly than that. They’ve been an integral, essential, and appreciated partner in our everyday workflow. It was a complete success, and we're continuing to build this company. I couldn’t be happier with their service.

How did NaNLabs perform from a project management standpoint?

The communication is good; they use Asana. They've been willing to work evenings and weekends as deadlines have demanded it. Any time I’ve wanted something changed with the project management, they've done so. It’s been great.

What did you find most impressive about them?

What we wanted was very non-standard. It was a combination of a technical and specification challenge. If you’re doing something that hasn’t been done before, its specifications tend to be loose and dynamic. We now have the best web-based VR tour player on the planet, and we have them to thank for that.

Are there any areas they could improve?

If I could have them for the same price but with the client-facing perks of a larger agency, I would. But that's one of those tradeoffs. It’s not a product they sell, and they price accordingly. I’m quite happy with it.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am an executive of LI Folders

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Chrome Extension to save and organize your saved posts on LinkedIn.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire NaNLABS to accomplish?

• Build MVP

SOLUTION

How did you find NaNLABS?

Referral

Why did you select NaNLABS over others?

• High ratings
• Pricing fit our budget
• Great culture fit
• Good value for cost
• Referred to me
• Company values aligned

How many teammates from NaNLABS were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

• Building a Chrome extension that allows users to easily save, tag, and organize LinkedIn posts and comments. 
• Creating a user interface (UI) that could live within the limited real estate of LinkedIn's interface. 
• Designing an "observer engine" that could track changes within LinkedIn and inject the LI Folders functionality seamlessly. 
• Setting up a development environment for rapid and effective local testing. 
• Developing a backend system to manage the complex data structures. 
• Integrating a communication channel between the Chrome extension and LinkedIn's interface. 
• Integrating Stripe to handle future subscriptions and payments. 

Key deliverables included a fully functional MVP Chrome extension that allowed users to save, organize, and find LinkedIn posts and comments.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Even before the extension was fully launched, we built up a waitlist of over 70 interested LinkedIn users. The positive response from the market confirmed that we had identified a real pain point and that LI Folders could be a valuable solution. That was only possible because we built a great product quickly. This fast time to market was essential

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

We had an initial meeting to discuss my vision for the Chrome extension, and soon after NaNLABS created a detailed project brief. This made sure we were aligned from the start. Once we got going, they assembled their team quickly and kept me in the loop the entire time. Communication was clear, and I always felt like they understood my needs and were working hard to meet them. After the MVP was complete, they even helped with the launch and gathering initial user feedback.

What was your primary form of communication with NaNLABS?

Virtual Meeting

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

What really stood out about NaNLABS was their focus on the end user. They didn't just take my ideas at face value; they listened carefully and made proactive suggestions to improve the overall experience. It was clear they weren't just building a product for me, but one that would truly be useful for LinkedIn users. That kind of dedication and user-centric approach is what impressed me most.

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

We worked very closely together throughout the project, and any suggestions or adjustments were made collaboratively. It felt like a true partnership, so the idea of needing something done differently doesn't really come to mind

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Markting Supervisor of an agricultural company

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Agtech

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire NaNLABS to accomplish?

• developing a digital product

SOLUTION

How did you find NaNLABS?

• Clutch Site

Why did you select NaNLABS over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location

How many teammates from NaNLABS were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

The development of a digital product enabling users to verify if their work equipment is compatible with our product. This development involved defining the database structure and the interface logic aimed at the end user.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

To make the product operational online.

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

They worked in sprints and met the deadlines and deliverables.

What was your primary form of communication with NaNLABS?

• Virtual Meeting

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

They made sure that we understood everything, including the technical aspects, even though we are non-technical.

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

No.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the CEO & Founder of DeepCast

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Audio intelligence for the next generation of podcasting.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire NaNLABS to accomplish?

• Supply full-stack dev and design resources to help launch an MVP

SOLUTION

How did you find NaNLABS?

Referral

Why did you select NaNLABS over others?

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

How many teammates from NaNLABS were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

This is a soup-to-nuts engagement, from 0-1. We had zero code, and we're launching a limited public alpha of the product in January '24. We picked the stack (Django/Python & React/NextJS), hosting/IaaS (Heroku, Vercel & AWS), instrumented systems architecture, FE & BE development w/ appropriate API agreements, etc.

The bulk of the work is collaborative product engineering with some DevOps associated with CI/CD (though the bulk of AWS architecture is not a NaN Labs resource).

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Ongoing in the same agile fashion as managing any other individual contributor resource.

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

N/A

What was your primary form of communication with NaNLABS?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Great near shore resources with no ESL challenges (vs. SE Asia, Eastern Europe, etc.), and they have deep familiarity with Next.js and great product thinking.

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

N/A

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and position.

I am the Founder of Zoetrope, Inc.

Describe what your company does in a single sentence.

Sales process consulting and software products to make B2B sales people more effective

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What specific goals or objectives did you hire NaNLABS to accomplish?

• Build an MVP of a B2B sales application

SOLUTION

How did you find NaNLABS?

Online Search

Why did you select NaNLABS over others?

• High ratings
• Close to my geographic location
• Pricing fit our budget

How many teammates from NaNLABS were assigned to this project?

2-5 Employees

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

We came to NaNLabs with an initial product concept. They created a very appealing visual design and implemented it as a working, deployed web app taking advantage of Twilio voice recognition capability. It included user and admin UIs. We were able to test the MVP with users.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to test our MVP for product market fit for <$100K.

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

Yes. They delivered on time. Their project manager did a good job keeping us on track for the deliverables we owed the project as well.

What was your primary form of communication with NaNLABS?

• Virtual Meeting
• Email or Messaging App

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

Creativity, visual design, good technology decisions.

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

No

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Propersum is a SaaS B2C startup headquartered in Silicon Valley, CA providing a marketplace of vacation rental homes for sale, and I am the CEO and Co-Founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire NaNLABS?

We needed advisement on modern front-end development, and it's relationship with semi-decoupled architecture, specifically single page (and multi-page) modern web applications.

SOLUTION

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

We wanted a reasonably sturdy MVP in 60 days. We also sought staff augmentation for the development of our web application.

What was the team composition?

4 team members

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

Excellent company, team, and caliber of work

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

They had very well-organized project management with enjoyable communication and task-oriented planning.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Communication, speed, price, transparency

Are there any areas for improvement?

None