Your expectations, lifted.
Serokell is a software research and development company, focused on high complexity tasks in the area of computer science. Since its founding in 2015, Serokell bridges the gap between business and computer science.
Our team consists of more than 50 professionals from all over the world. Many of them, apart from being brilliant programmers, are engineers and have Ph.D. in mathematics, algebra, game theory.
Service lines of Serokell are:
⦁ Research - our team of math and computer science academics uses respective skills to analyze whitepapers, find an opportunities to realize a bravest customer's ideas and come up with solutions that are non-generic and attuned to the needs of customers.
⦁ Development - architecture, protocol, implementation: offering full-cycle development we make sure that our software has a neat dependency structure and is fail-safe.
⦁ Auditing / Consulting - by auditing the technological and business processes of the company, we find opportunities to optimize it and build a list of actions to improve.
headquarters
Focus
Portfolio
POA
Serokell worked on the systems audit of POA, a large-scale decentralized finance platform for Ethereum-based networks. We conducted an independent audit of their software and their software development practices and managed to alleviate a critical bottleneck.
The bottleneck in question was the indexing of transactions in POA. Since it took a longer time to index them than for them to happen, the explorer was not able to register changes in real-time. At the start, users had to wait 30 seconds for each transaction to become visible, and the delay was growing. At one point, it would have taken a year to index all of the transactions.
Serokell, as an external auditor, analyzed the solution created by the team to find a way to decrease the delay in indexation. We analyzed documentation, code, business demands, and user expectations. Finally, we found a solution that made the indexing orders of magnitude faster.
Instead of indexing transactions individually, they needed to be indexed, grouped by block. This speeds up the indexing and provides the client with a fast and convenient tool to control blockchain operations.
As part of the audit, we also participated in daily meetings and integrated with the development team. In addition to the technical detail, we also analyzed development practices, communication practices, and other soft skills of the team to find ways to improve them and help incidents like these never happen again.
We recommend a third-party audit for projects of all sizes and complexities. This way, you will be able to secure software and find bugs and vulnerabilities before the release, as well as improve the performance of your software.
DISCIPLINA
Some time ago, Serokell developers worked on a blockchain project called Disciplina.
Our task was to build a domain-specific, decentralized blockchain platform that would have a special regard for the participants’ privacy and proper data disclosure.
The project needed to have facilities for storing, structuring, and uniting data from different educational institutions in a united database. It would build a search engine for HR managers, enabling these institutions to monetize their data. It would also develop a mechanism for comparing institutions, which would allow them to automatically rank student education.
It would unite all the wishes of students, universities, and recruiters, enabling the recruitment and education markets to work more optimally.
Serokell designed a solution that answers the demands of all the target groups. The multilayer decentralized network works as a secure system with convenient infrastructure for data exchange, verification, and monetization.
Particular features that we developed:
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Ecosystem. System design and architecture: private and public nodes with APIs, data disclosure protocol, and consensus algorithm.
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Infrastructure. Block explorer, wallet, faucet and applications (FairCV checker, Student app, Educator app).
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APIs. APIs for each of the layers and the integration of all the components across different systems.
To create the distributed ledger, Serokell engineers combined the elements of public and private ledgers. Public nodes (Witnesses) verify parts of the private chain and manage the public chain, while all the data is securely handled by education companies and other private parties.
We also managed to unify detached data into one aggregated database and integrated our solution with the infrastructures of different companies and universities. The end result is fast, scalable, and secure.
ARIADNE
Ariadne is a flexible multi-currency and multi-account wallet, designed by Serokell for the Cardano and Disciplina blockchains.
Blockchain platforms frequently need to provide users with wallets to store their cryptocurrency. Our goal was to create a customizable open-source product that developers would be able to adapt to their needs.
Since modern blockchain platforms are constantly changing, we needed to provide a product with a stable API that could be quickly modified according to the blockchain platform updates.
To solve that, we developed a custom command language called Knit. It lets developers create their own widgets (plugins) and creating a handy API for third-party services.
Around it, we built a terminal user interface for developers and a graphic user interface for macOS and Linux users that makes use of the Knit command language but improves the experience of the regular user.
To build the app, we used Haskell and Qt, a multi-platform framework that provided a good balance of resource usage, safety, and flexibility. The app could also be easily extended with a web interface if necessary because of the versatility of the Knit command language.
By choosing the right tech stack and using the available blockchain standards correctly, we made a flexible technical solution that can safely operate with valuable assets of users. Through the efforts of our in-house design team, we also arrived at a graphical user interface that is easy to use and stylish.
At the time, the wallet was cutting-edge, providing support for multiple currencies and accounts and easy integration with third-party services. It is a versatile tool and can be easily adapted and upgraded to match the needs of any blockchain project.
STAKERDAO
StakerDAO is a platform where crypto-token holders launch and manage their financial assets. Its community builds and manages products for on-chain governance, cross-chain synthetics, and tokenized real-world assets. Serokell developers design and implement a technical solution for StakerDAO.
For the platform, we built the following features:
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a portfolio token ecosystem on Ethereum
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a governance token on Tezos
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CLI tooling for contract administration
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a web app for governance monitoring
In cooperation with the customer, we designed BLND, which is a basket of PoS tokens on Ethereum, and STKR, a governance token on Tezos, using technologies such as Haskell, Morley (our test framework for Tezos smart contracts), and Solidity.
BLND
Blend (BLND), a synthetic ERC-20 token, tracks a governed, fully collateralized basket of PoS tokens and offers the easiest way to go long on Proof of Stake networks. BLND provides both opportunities to invest in these blockchain projects and access to the staking rewards these networks generate through a buyback-and-burn process.
STKR
STKR is a governance token that resided on the Tezos network. It is a smart contract on the Tezos network that allows holders to maintain an up-to-date summary and review of Staker Operations team actions and conduct council voting for the proposal of new StakerDAO policies.
All in all, we managed to build a self-governing cutting-edge blockchain solution according to the best practices of the blockchain industry. We continue working with StakerDAO , creating new assets for BLND.
We also continue to work with other teams on the Tezos blockchain to build smart contract solutions for various use cases.
Telegram Open Network (TON)
Telegram Open Network was a blockchain platform from the creators of Telegram.
To give new blood to their project, they regularly organized contests for blockchain developers.
The goal of the competition was simple. There was a list of five different smart contracts:
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multi-signature wallet
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simple TON DNS Resolver smart contract with automatic registration of new subdomains
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synchronous two-party payment channel
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simple TON DNS Resolver smart contract with manual registration of new subdomains
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asynchronous two-party payment channel
Out of these, the developers needed to develop one or more, after which they would be rated by their peers and a jury.
Serokell competed with almost 70 teams and managed to get the first prize in the competition. We created two fast and reliable solutions that were integrated with the TON ecosystem. We used the languages that TON provided and also created our own embedded domain-specific language (eDSL).
Asynchronous payment channel
One of the solutions was a payment channel that allows users to send payments to each other off-chain saving money and time. To make a transfer, it is no longer necessary to wait until the new block will be issued. This allows users to send payments as small and frequent as needed, for example, to pay for the morning coffee or pizza, or do microtransactions.
This is done by creating a contract where each party contributes shares, with special IOU messages for the verification of the current debt.
The contract was implemented in FunC and, according to the requirements of the competition, the command-line tool for interacting with it was in Fift. It was granted first place in the blockchain competition.
In the end, Telegram received a solution that allowed TON users to transfer payments off-chain fast and securely and guarantee their final settlement.
We were very proud to contribute to the development of one of the most promising (at that time) blockchains, and are ready to do work on projects like these in the future.
CARDANO SL
Cardano SL is the cryptocurrency layer of Cardano, a blockchain platform created by IOHK.
When they contacted us, the goal of the company was to build a peer-reviewed blockchain system that provides the users with transparent access to financial services. Serokell helped IOHK to implement an innovative Proof of Stake (PoS) algorithm in order to provide customers with a basis for a reliable financial platform.
We built the layer using a Proof of Stake protocol. Instead of mining with their computer power, participants use their cryptocurrency. Unlike preceding attempts of designing a PoS algorithm, Serokell's development was based on Ouroboros, an algorithm that was formally verified and created by a team of researchers.
Working together with researchers from IOHK, the University of Athens, the University of Connecticut, the University of Edinburgh, Aarhus University, and Tokyo Institute of Technology, Serokell managed to turn it into a functional software system. Our cooperation created a Haskell project at the intersection of blockchain, mechanism design, and cryptography.
Among the features that we implemented were:
- a blockchain, based on a new PoS consensus algorithm;
- a ledger that allowed safe transactions for user funds;
- embedded scripting language support
network implementation, CLI client for Cardano network;
- web backend for Daedalus, the wallet of Cardano;
- a block explorer for the Cardano network (in collaboration with IOHK);
- web application for delivering the ADA tokens sold during ICO.
Since then, Cardano has become one of the safest and most scalable cryptocurrency platforms on the market. At launch (2018), the platform was recognized #7 in the top of 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Reviews
the project
API Development & R&D for Fintech Company
“The developers at Serokell have done something that has never been done before.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the COO of a fintech company. We’re exploring the opportunities in Bitcoin. Our purpose and aim are to make Bitcoin transactional.
What challenge were you trying to address with Serokell OÜ?
We came very open-ended and approached them with ideas of things we want to get done. They were accommodating to the fact that we didn’t have a 100% clear goal of what we were trying to accomplish. It turned into an outsourced R&D engagement.
What was the scope of their involvement?
I can’t get too specific about the details because of an NDA but essentially, they helped us build an API that connects our Bitcoin exchange directly to other partners. We sat down with them on video and conference calls in an effort to help Serokell understand what we’re aiming to do. We did workshops, and they helped us map the terrain as we were walking it.
What is the team composition?
We’ve been serviced by 4–5 people throughout the engagement, and I’ve worked directly with Roman (Chief Business Development Officer).
How did you come to work with Serokell OÜ?
We heard that the developers at Serokell were extremely avant-garde in their field. We needed the best and most advanced people for what we were trying to do; that’s why we engaged with them.
How much have you invested with them?
We invested about €600,000 (approximately $700,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
Our engagement ran from October 2019–December 2020.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We didn’t really know where we were going while we were completing the project, so it was difficult to set a clear goal. We had to understand when we reached the goal. Everything we’ve done up to this point came together, and we can directly tie it into some of our core products.
Nevertheless, the developers at Serokell have done something that has never been done before. They’ve shown extreme competence and instilled trust in us as a company that we tied things together in a way that’d ultimately be beneficial for all of us.
How did Serokell OÜ perform from a project management standpoint?
I would urge them to improve their project management skills. However, I understand that part of their success formula is to let the developers develop rather than having strict project management KPIs. Having worked with a lot of developers on a lot of projects, that’s an approach that I can get behind.
However, being a customer of a consultancy like Serokell puts me in a bit of a difficult position because they’re not always great at saying what has been accomplished the last two weeks, where we stand according to our road map, and so on. I pushed them pretty hard on that because we came to a head where we needed to make some returns on our investments.
I’ll also add that they were very accommodating in trying different approaches to broaden my knowledge of where the different projects were at and if we were hitting mile markers. They showed a lot of effort trying to let me know we were getting our money’s worth. Both of our organizations were performing in strides. We used Notion for project management.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I'm most impressed with their competence in very new and cutting-edge technology. What they’ve delivered in the form of tangibles are second to none.
Are there any areas they could improve?
I’ll reiterate what I said about project management. As I mentioned, I know why they did what they did but at the same time, we were on a tightrope.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Having a clear spec of what you want to accomplish is very helpful. It’s a good idea to come in sharp and agree on project management tools.
the project
Backend Development for Healthcare Startup
"The most impressive thing about the team was the immense technical expertise the employees and managers showed."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
We are a tech startup that helps users create an individual training program based on different human parameters and lifestyle factors.
For what projects/services did your company hire Serokell OÜ?
We hired Serokell OU for backend development services.
What were your goals for this project?
We wanted to release our individual training app. While we had a great design and frontend, we realized that our backend was lacking and wouldn’t be able to support our users’ needs in the long term. Therefore, we sought an experienced team to research and implement superior recommendation algorithms and handle the backend.
How did you select this vendor?
We did market research, asked for references, and sent an RFP to about 15 firms. Serokell was among the first to respond.
Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.
We wanted to create an app that could provide our users with an individual training program based on several personal variables such as human attributes and lifestyle data. The team handled all the backend development, implementing a fast and reliable backend in Haskell to quickly process our users’ data.
What was the team composition?
Their team consisted of a project manager and several backend developers. They also appointed a QA resource and staff to overview the project. During the development process, I worked directly with the project manager that they provided.
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
It's been a pleasure to work with Serokell. They assisted us with backend development and have successfully accomplished the initial goal. One of the highlights was that they managed to create an awesome algorithm to save resources and give maximum results. They showed great standards of technical knowledge and competence as well as flexibility in order to reach the intended outcome.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
Serokell offered highly-organized daily catch up meetings, weekly summary reports, and end of sprint demo reviews. I would say such workflow processes have hugely contributed to the successful realization of the project's goals.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
The most impressive thing about the team was the immense technical expertise the employees and managers showed in their respective areas. Each technical decision was clearly communicated and explained to us in a manner unlike the development firms I have encountered before.
Are there any areas for improvement?
I wish we had a bigger project team so maybe we could have finished the development a bit faster.
the project
Blockchain Dev for Finance Governance Platform
“They were experienced developers who needed very little ongoing guidance.”
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m the CEO of StakerDAO, a cryptocurrency-focused company that delivers financial products.
What challenge were you trying to address with Serokell OU?
We hired them for software development.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The original scope of work was to develop a smart contract — a software program on a blockchain. It would provide the infrastructure for our business. It would allow token-holders to make decisions about how the business operates. That software, built on Tezos, was the first project. Subsequent to that, we’ve hired them to do some additional engineering projects for us.
The software allows for decentralized governance. The decisions that token-holders make are made visible on the blockchain, the transparency of which was critical.
What is the team composition?
We had a primary point of contact, George (Lead Software Developer). He played the role of a product leader. He had a team of three other engineers under him.
How did you come to work with Serokell OU?
Serokell OU has a great reputation in the blockchain community. We knew that they had experience on Tezos, so we knew that they had the technical skills necessary for our project. We talked to several other engineering teams but ultimately decided to go with them on that basis.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent somewhere around $200,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We began working with them in September 2019 and the collaboration is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We followed a phased-deliverable approach, where we expected certain deadlines to be hit to enable our launch in January. They were able to fulfill all of those expectations. The product definitely functions as specified. They’ve been very accommodating of solving emerging issues and implementing adjustment requests.
How did Serokell OU perform from a project management standpoint?
They were very good in terms of delivering within the needed timeframes. They used a project management tool called Notion, which was effective for them. It was useful for us to track project progress. We had ongoing video-based meetings on Zoom or Google Hangouts.
They were experienced developers who needed very little ongoing guidance. They checked in with us and gave us updates and insights.
What did you find most impressive about them?
Their expertise in blockchain and the ability to deliver a high-quality, functional product are both hard to find.
Are there any areas they could improve?
We would’ve appreciated more thorough documentation of the solution they built. It took them a while to rebuild sufficient guidelines which would enable users to effectively use the product.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Make sure you have thorough specifications of what you want to build first before you kick off your project. They’re great at taking requirements and executing upon them.
the project
Software Development for Info Tech Company
"They have a very high-quality team that is extremely talented. They’re very precise and very discreet."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I am the co-founder of a tech company.
What challenge were you trying to address with Serokell OÜ?
We wanted a team with deep functional programming expertise to support our dev projects.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They helped us with software development. They built user-facing and B2B applications for us using Haskell and TypeScript.
What is the team composition?
I worked with eight people, including a project manager.
How did you come to work with Serokell OÜ?
I looked for a team with experience in structural programming.
What is the status of this engagement?
The project began in January 2019 and work is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They have a very high-quality team that is extremely talented. They’re very precise and very discreet. Users are happy with the product, too.
How did Serokell OÜ perform from a project management standpoint?
They used Slack, GitHub, and their own internal tool called Mint. It was nice to work with them.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They have unique expertise in Haskell.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They can work to better anticipate my needs. They could care more about practicality and client needs over functional programming, but they’re phenomenal at delivering to precise specifications and guidelines. They’re extremely high-quality executors.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
If you have a specified project plan, you’re likely to see really strong results.
the project
3D Modelling Software Dev for Planetarium
"They are really smart and they speak Russian..."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm CEO of a company that makes 3D solutions for business, such as virtual tours: Google Street, Yandex Street, and etc.. Also we developing and installing projection systems for cinemas, shopping malls and other.
For what projects/services did your company hire Serokell OÜ?
They implemented algorythm of 3D rendering for specific needs of our customer based on our possibilities.
What were your goals for this project?
We got in trouble: it was an additional feature which wasn't described in technical issue that we've got. It was exciting to meet guys who could help me in very short terms.
How did you select this vendor?
We was looking for R&D company and then one of my friends told that he know guys who could do exactly what do I need. It was kinda luck, because we find them in just one week.
Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.
We had a deal about to install projection dome in new planetarium. Everything was fine before customer's CEO did decide to make a 3D scanning room, that could make 3D projection on a walls.
Unfortunately, we had no technical solution for 3D real-time scanning and imagging, that became a reason to find a vendor of custom software development that able to perform very fast calculations.
What was the team composition?
I had a direct contact with their CEO - Arseniy, and both developers. At the start it was only one developer - Ilya, but later there were two of them, after Chris joined.
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
Well, we finished this contract, and the subcontractors did not let us down, so nothing special. And our portfolio has replenished with the restart of the St. Petersburg planetarium: http://planetary-spb.ru
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
They invited me and my assitant to their Slack and YouTrack (still don't know for what last one is), but honestly I was following only the result - rendering performance of the algorythm.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
They really smart and they speak Russian, don't know what to sey else.
Are there any areas for improvement?
Cost could lower, but rest is fine.
the project
AI Development for a Goverment Agency
"Everything is always completed on time."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your organization and your position.
I’m an advisor on information privacy in a ministry of citizenship protection and also the product owner of the facial recognition system.
"Z." is an artificial intelligence that is being developed for a public-private partnership. Our main goal is to create a system of facial recognition for the local Olympic committee and the ministery of sports to deter crimes in stadiums.
What business challenge were you trying to address with Serokell OÜ?
Local laws don’t allow anyone to collect personal information without user permission. Serokell OÜ is developing a distributed system for collecting stored personal data.
What was the scope of their involvement?
They’re performing turn-key development, in which I would note the following stages:
- Research and proof of concept: Implementation of Gaussian processes and latent variant models on Haskell
- Back-end AI core development
- Building distributed computation systems for the needs of AI
- Development of a personal data security system with multiple uses
- Hardware soft integration
- DevOps
What is the team composition?
At the moment there are 8 people working on the project.
How did you come to work with Serokell OÜ?
At the first stage we discussed the scope of work with several vendors, Serokell OÜ made a proof of concept, and that closed all of our questions and doubts.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our contract is from July 2018–July 2020
How much have you invested with them?
At the moment, we expect it to be around €800,000 (approximately $881,000 USD).
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Their proof of concept and MVP were really exciting. They proved that can achieve an accuracy rate of face detection of up to 99.75%.
An AI core is already developed, and the next stage is training the facial recognition system and collecting information for its correct operation.
How did Serokell OÜ perform from a project management standpoint?
The development process isn't entirely transparent, in my opinion. Sometimes our technical overseers criticized them for weird work prioritization. But they do well now. Everything is always completed on time.
What did you find most impressive about them?
I don’t have a lot of experience with companies like this, which why I can’t tell a lot. However, the Serokell OÜ team seem almost like geniuses to me. They have very extensive technical expertise.
Is there anything Serokell OÜ could have improved or done differently?
I would like a little more attention paid to the indirect wishes of the customer, as well as greater transparency of development, with timely updates of the current program code on Github. It would also be nice to have a little more direct communication with the developers.
What advice would you give to potential customers?
Their choice of technology makes the starting price of development high. I am sure that lowering the bar of the offered services would give them the ability to earn much more. Don't hesitate to try to bring expectations (and price) lower than what is offered at the start.
the project
Blockchain Development for an Education Company
"We have a great relationship with Serokell OÜ. We understand one another, and they’re very flexible."
the reviewer
the review
A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.
Introduce your business and what you do there.
I’m a business development manager at DISCIPLINA, a blockchain solution to verify students; academical history and skills of students, such as their grades, exams, courses taken, and achievements throughout their life. It provides the opportunity for head hunters and companies to find specific students with specific skills and verify their field.
What challenge were you trying to address with Serokell OÜ?
We searched the market looking for different technical solutions to realize our ideas. There weren’t any working solutions for us that were flexible enough for us, especially since we’re working with private data. it became clear we needed to create our own solution from scratch.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We started with the technical documentation and business requirement specifications. We ran an ICO together and raised some funds before the development. We’re not developing the blockchain. We did the frontend development for our side, and Serokell OÜ did the whole backend.
We have 6–7 nodes running on Amazon. People can use it, but they can’t install and download the node. We did some testing, and now we’re working on the maintenance to allow people to download the node and start maintaining the network.
What is the team composition?
There were 6–12 people depending on what we needed to create. It’s an average of 9–10 people on the team. The CEO is responsible for all their improvements in development, and we have a team lead in charge of the technical teams. The CTO is in charge of architecture and all technical solutions.
How did you come to work with Serokell OÜ?
I researched companies and we chose Serokell OÜ. I found them on their GitHub.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent $400,000–$450,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in September 2017, and the work is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We couldn’t be happier with our business development director who sets up the roadmap. We are always following our roadmap. We aren’t only partners in business but have become friends. We love the way Serokell OÜ works and their approach, and we are happy with the results.
How did Serokell OÜ perform from a project management standpoint?
We use Jira and Slack to communicate, and we have weekly sprint planning as well as online and in-person meetings.
What did you find most impressive about them?
We have a great relationship with Serokell OÜ. We understand one another, and they’re very flexible. We have the opportunity to meet in person as well.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They have developers from all around the world, so sometimes we’ve had the problem when we need to contact someone from their team but they’re sleeping, for example.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Stop configuring and start working.
The partner is happy with the deliverables and the way in which everything came together. Serokell OÜ is an extremely competent team that couples innovation with their knowledge of cutting-edge technology to develop never-before-seen solutions. Accommodation is a hallmark of their work.