NOVVUM

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I lead product marketing at a Series C Fintech start-up.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We were introduced to Novvum by a vendor that we were considering working with. Our goal was to rebuild our website using our current tech stack and in house designs but we needed to be sure the site was integrated with the vendor that we wanted to use to serve as a visual editor overlay that we could use once the new site was live. Our primary goal was to be able to deliver the new website as quickly as possible so we were looking for a web developer who could iterate with us as things moved along.

SOLUTION

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

The vendor we were working with introduced us to 3 web developers - Novvum being one of them. What set Novvum apart was the extra time that they took to walk us through the process, educate us on our current tech stack and the strengths of continuing to use it, and overall impression that they left with us during initial meetings of being empathetic to our situation and willing to accommodate our needs throughout the process.

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

Develop a new website using in house designs using our current tech stack (Gatsby/Contentful) and integrating with a vendor provided visual editor overlay (Stackbit) Scope was approximately 6 weeks of work.

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

We had two assigned developers who were hands on throughout the entire process We had a senior developer/partner decked against some of the key deliverables that required additional coding We had a dedicated account manager to help run the project and keep us on track.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Novvum did an incredible job of meeting aggressive deadlines. They were able to bring Figma designs to life with very little deviation which is incredible. Everyone is thrilled with how the site came out and that is a testament to how the developers were able to code so closely to the designs.

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

We could not have asked for better partners for this unusual project. We had so little understanding going into this of the tech stack we were using and Novvum was with us every step of the way explaining how things work. Going above and beyond what would be expected of a dev agency. They were responsive and we never had to wait more than a few minutes to hear from someone when we had a question or when something was not working.

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

Novvum felt like an extension of our marketing team which is rare to find with an agency. It felt like they were with us every step of the way and were as invested in the outcomes of the project as we were. I have worked with many agencies and that is exactly the partnership I look for but they are hard to find. Really rare and I'm so thankful that we found Novvum.

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

Novvum bring such a unique approach to their projects which I love. It's hard to think where things could have gone better on their end. I think we could have done more on our end to make their lives easier. To that extent maybe something they could have done MORE of is ask questions when they felt like we were missing something or not doing something a certain way. More often than not it was simply that we didn't know what we were doing. Novvum was already going above and beyond in helping us on that front so hard to ask more more but I think it's just advice that when you work with people who don't know exactly what they are doing and something seems odd- don't assume that it's deliberate - just confirm if you can with the client that they are making a decision or taking action consciously vs. unknowingly ; )

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am a cofounder of JAXXON (jaxxon.com) a luxury jewelry brand primarily for men.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

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

We hired NOVVUM, led by Trevor Heath, to turn our website into a customizable, controllable rocket-ship.

SOLUTION

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

Their pristine reputation, consistent of their customer care and work-ethic made it an easy decision.

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

Trevor and his team led us down a path of a headless website, taking us out of a soon-to-be archaic, one-platform Shopify website and into a world of customizable, multi-tool performance. They held our hand through a complex process and performed daily. We went from a single platform that held our checkout, customer info imagery, content, data, into, essentially a custom car, with the best kind of engine, best kind of tires, best kind of body kit, if you will. What I mean to say is, they enabled us to use best in class tools, from hosting, to content management and deployment, to Google Sheet data hosting.

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

Trevor, lead developer, brought an account manager, junior developer, and C-level oversight to our project, in essence a full 360 approach to the project that let us feel at ease.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our conversion rate, or in my eyes the most impactful, trackable metric in terms of site performance, has gone from a 1% to 2% which I suspect is most impacted by Novvum's work to our store. There are many other metrics including bounce rate, time on page, and ability to see the customers journey, that were positively impacted.

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

We were led through a smooth process without communicative barriers.

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

Their ability to act as a team, with a unique and precious skill set. They understand our minds from a creative and marketing perspective.

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

I don't believe so.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are a technology company that helps organizations with their technology acquisition strategies. I am the interim Product team manager.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire NOVVUM?

We are building a custom application and needed help assessing our development process and team.

What were your goals for this project?

We wanted to get a third party to help assess our current status, so that we could better plan for necessary resources to speed up time to launch.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We did a simple google search as well as a review site search and found that Novvum had many positive reviews.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Novvum, sat down with us to fully understand the current situation around our application. We kicked off with a full demo of our current system and walked them through the vision of the product.

They then met with each of our developers and dove into our systems to understand exactly where we were in the project. Novvum then provided a detailed assessment of their suggested actions and open feedback on the project.

What was the team composition?

We interacted with 3 different individuals, 2 developers and one account manager.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Since our project was simply a technical assessment, we used the information provided to make appropriate staffing changes and adjustments to our processes that have improved overall execution.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Timelines and expectations were consistently communicated and always met.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Novvum really worked as part of our team. Parts of their interactions were sensitive in nature, and they handled everything with a great level of professionalism.

Are there any areas for improvement?

None, that I can think of.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm a founder and the CEO of Raizzz, LLC, a fundraising technology company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with NOVVUM?

After years of plastic discount card fundraising for schools, we wanted to create an app that would allow our customers to utilize the benefits, convenience and popularity of digital community discounts and coupons.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

NOVVUM took our basic ideas and concepts and designed a mobile app for iOS and Android that replaced our plastic discount card fundraising program. Our app combines the benefits of a discount card with the convenience of a smartphone.  It's a great upgrade for the sellers, the buyers, and the businesses that support it with community discounts.  

What is the team composition?

NOVVUM has provided us with a network of capable developers throughout our build, but we probably work with about 3 or 4 people closely.

How did you come to work with NOVVUM?

We spent 10 weeks searching for a developer, including looking on Clutch, and interviewed a dozen dev shops globally. We chose NOVVUM because they understood our vision and they were the best fit for our company.

How much have you invested with them?

We've invested over $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our relationship with NOVVUM started in February 2017, and they continue to provide us with maintenance and support.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Even though our company has been in the fundraising industry since 1997, our new program is still very new, so we don't have many metrics to report as of yet. That said, we do have close to 10,000 downloads across iOS and Android platforms and the feedback from our end-users has been mostly positive. Our customer base has grown over 100% since the inception of the app and we are happy with the trajectory of the company. NOVVUM continues to do an excellent job of responding to our feedback and will be a major contributor as we start the process of building out version 2.0 of our app.

How did NOVVUM perform from a project management standpoint?

They're very responsive, organized, and instrumental in helping us achieve our goals.

What did you find most impressive about them?

In addition to being competitively priced, I like that one of their offices is only an hour away from our offices. The ability to meet with key members of their team from time to time really helped our collaboration. We've also had direct access to their top developers when needed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Nothing significant. They are a motivated group of talented minds and I am glad we found them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Yes, make sure to interview as many developers as you can and then contact NOVVUM. You’ll be glad you did.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CTO of HyreCar, a car sharing platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with NOVVUM?

When our company transitioned from a full offshore team to a fully onshore partnership, we didn’t have the internal resources to renovate our legacy platform. We hired NOVVUM to convert our legacy system and build a new code base.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

NOVVUM spoke with our customers to identify missing pieces on the frontend. The team aimed to adjust the user experience and upgrade backend functionalities from scratch. They then developed a custom backend on GraphQL and admin screen, which we used to manage customers alongside a third-party CRM. The team used React for the frontend and then migrated all data on to the new system.

What is the team composition?

We worked with four people including the project manager.

How did you come to work with NOVVUM?

We considered multiple vendors, but NOVVUM stood out. The team understood our business needs as a startup. They also possessed an impressive degree of technical knowledge.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in September 2017 and the partnership ended in December 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

NOVVUM eliminated nearly all the outages we experienced on the legacy system. Downtime is now almost nonexistent. We also received positive feedback from users and internal stakeholders.

How did NOVVUM perform from a project management standpoint?

Rather than jumping in blind, NOVVUM dedicated time to learn about our business. This strategy enhanced the team’s performance.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I have worked with a few agencies, but none has cared about the customer as much as NOVVUM. The team successfully took on challenges that our business team hadn’t initially thought through because they understood the nature of our product.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

NOVVUM is a small team that uses cutting-edge technology. They are up to speed on the latest trends in mobile development.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the founder of College Path, a two-person company that provides college admissions advice to middle and high school students and their parents in preparation for the college admissions process.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with NOVVUM?

With Novvum, we were trying to figure out how to create a product that takes human interactions, that are very expensive for people to acquire, and open it to many more people while still providing the same great advice that we're used to giving in person.

I wanted people to understand my business and to create something that was efficient but engaging.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were responsible for creating a software program that is transforming our business from person-to-person interactions to a program that provides some of the advice.

They also help with search engine management and search engine optimization.

Together we built a program that's is the first virtual advisor of college admissions advice. They created a program that delivers custom admissions information to subscribers based on their own unique interests and goals. They used my existing content to create a program that guides students and parents through the admissions process.

What is the team dynamic?

I worked with a team of approximately four Novvum staff. We would communicate either in person or over the phone for one extended conversation per week with e-mail, text or phone call support as well.

Novvum created the team but they worked with me to make sure that it was a good fit.

How did you come to work with Novvum?

I started from scratch with them.

I scoured the web. We are both located in Orange County, California, so that's how I came to know them. I interviewed probably a dozen development firms throughout the world and ultimately decided to work with Novvum because they understood my business and what I was trying to accomplish. That meant a lot to me.

It was hard to find someone that I could trust apart from them and that understood what I was trying to create for the end user. They really had an appreciation for the user as the driver of success for this product. I can't say how appreciative I am for that perspective

How much have you invested with them?

Approximately $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

It’ll be December through July 2017.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Our feedback on the user interface has been extremely positive. I cannot stress that enough, that the feedback has been very positive.

How did NOVVUM perform from a project management standpoint?

They were satisfactory. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

I think it was their ability to get to the purpose of why we're building a product and that's I think their greatest skill, that they understand the business.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, at this point, I'm satisfied with the process.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

My company is an early stage software as a service platform focused on food and beverage incentives for salespeople. I’m the founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Novvum?

I needed a vendor to develop an MVP [minimum viable product] launch of my platform so that I could grow the idea and turn it into a successful business venture.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

It was 99% development. There was a small amount of design work that we paid for, but mostly it was development. We’re using Algolia, Zapier, and GraphQL. Those are the types of services that we are using in the backend. We’re building a top, next generation web services to bring it to market as cheaply as we can.

How did you come to work with Novvum?

I met them at a co-working space, and we talked. I got competitive bids from a more standard app development company and talked to them too, so I didn’t go in totally blind. But as far as how I met them, it was a handshake, and then I went and did a little bit of research to see, from a cost standpoint, how they’d fit in.

How much have you invested with Novvum?

We’ve spent about $50,000 with Novvum.

What is the status of this engagement?

The timeline is roughly 6 months. They’re no longer the lead, but we’re still working on a piecemeal basis with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

It’s early days so not really.

What did you most impressive about Novvum?

What is unique about them is they are very good at taking a concept that is not fully hashed out. They’re very good at taking an idea and bringing that idea to something that’s real and that I can actually touch. I think Novvum has done a good job on that. That’s what I think their skill set is.

Are there any areas Novvum could improve?

I would be more critical to them than it’s fair for review because, in general, I think they have done a very fantastic job. It’s my nature to nitpick on that type of stuff. If I had to give them one high-level piece of advice, they are very good developers, but when a business is coming to them, part of what they are looking for is making sure you are comfortable with the people you’re working with. Part of that is having proper management in place. I’m not sure how to say that without coming off overly critical. I think they have done a nice job as far as being the young, entrepreneurial type of people, but I do think they need to shore up the project management side of their business.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Novvum?

Put some time into a well-crafted project brief.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a co-founder of OpenCastings, an app that allows actors and actresses to self-tape and self-submit their audition tapes using iPhones. We are a startup in the film, media, and television markets. Our target market customers are performers and casting directors. We have 10 people in the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Novvum?

We originally had a broken product in the marketplace. It was built in a framework that we were excited about and had invested a lot of money in. The original challenge was, “Can you get this thing that is broken working again?”

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Novvum had to go into the codebase of the original product and make some adjustments. Their first goal was to fix the existing product. That required them to have a fairly sophisticated knowledge of the codebase along with understanding our business case and business goal. They built patches we never anticipated in the first place because the original team did not do a very good job.

As we developed as a company, we realized that we had the wrong target market and pivoted away from HR and our original concept of video interviewing. We developed a new vision for the product. Novvum developed it based on the old product, but completely rebuilt. They are now working with React to build our MVP as an iPhone app. It will also be available on Android. Novvum also built a responsive web app for casting directors.

Novvum’s involvement has many facets. One would be platform reliability and consulting for our already existing platform. Another is bug fixes and performance improvements of the existing platform. After we pivoted, we worked together in product planning by outlining a scope of work. We retained them on an ongoing basis to begin to build these features we had scoped out in a very Lean and Agile way. Novvum developed our tech stack and its strategy, including our infrastructure, managing the backend and developing the front-end. We provided wireframes, but when where there are gaps in our product, they fill those gaps themselves. They are helping us through the process of customer development right now.

Our core value-creating activity is self-taping, and that happens with the iPhone camera. Raj and Rohit built a Native React component that allows for video capture, which is pretty straightforward on the iPhone, as well as review and redo. This allows the user to capture video, play it back before uploading it to our Amazon database, and then decide whether or not they want to submit or redo an audition. Since there are no Native React components that can do this, they had to build it from scratch. We’re one of the only companies now on the market that has that specific feature for React. Rohit built a web app that allows casting directors to review the auditions submitted for each production. It’s a split screen where half the screen is headshots that have come in and the other half populates with the video audition for that person as you click on each headshot. If you get 50 submissions per role, you can watch all the video auditions individually as you click on headshots. Novvum also built actor profiles similar to IMDb for the Native experience, but we have not pushed that codebase live yet.

How did you come to work with Novvum?

We shared an office wall with Novvum for months and were on informal terms with each other on a daily basis. As happens in co-working spaces, we talked about our projects and they wanted to take a look. Out of all the people that we interviewed, I could tell they had a legitimate interest in our product and not saying that only to get our business. They were also honest and transparent in their pricing.

How much have you invested with Novvum?

We have spent roughly $50,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

They became formalized in the project last September 15. We are increasing our business relationship with them. We recently implemented a process called macroplanning regarding organizational priorities. I see the beginnings of a team forming between us. We are encouraging some more broad strategic conversations with them relative to the future of their company.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The metrics I would use to judge my satisfaction with them is development velocity—how many days it takes to get work done. I have been developing software as a project manager for about 8 years, and their development velocity is so high. It is awesome. The turnaround time is in days, not weeks, which is amazing. Raj will build things that we never even asked for because it improves the product. It is faster than what I have ever had before, which is nice. Raj does a good job of being proactive. Sometimes, he fills the gaps in our product better than if we would have offered him our solutions. Anytime there is a bug, Raj fixes it usually within a day. It’s great that he built things in React since it is a straightforward framework that also works for Android. They have a surprisingly keen eye for design as engineers and we discuss our design influences. They will go to IMDb, Workpop, or other competitors to use them as a guide if we have not already provided mockups of what we want. We are trying to convince these guys to quit their agency and come work with us full-time because they are so good.

How did Novvum perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management is something that we are pretty good at. One of the things that their principal has done for us is force us to take a strong look at leading startup mentality as it relates to project management and product management. As to the project management process, we review all the high-priority open items every Monday. Anything that is not prioritized or in the backlog is reassessed. We do daily wrap-ups Monday and Tuesday to make sure we are on the right track for the week. On Friday, we have what we call "stand down," which is a review of what we accomplished in the week.

What did you find most impressive about Novvum?

Novvum is reasonably priced and has a fair pricing system. They are honest. They are gifted engineers and are outperforming in that regard. The majority of the people I have worked with are a bit shifty and boisterous on what they can actually do, but Novvum is the opposite. They never overpromise and are always able to deliver on what they say they can do. I appreciate the fact that they believe in the product. They had a conversation with us in the very beginning saying, “We don’t take all the clients who approach us. We only take clients who we believe in.”

Are there any areas Novvum could improve?

They should consider growing their team. I do not know how they would handle scaling up their service to us.