Shakuro

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a tech startup that operates in the art market.

What challenge were you trying to address with Shakuro?

We needed help finishing our concept and putting together a prototype.

What was the scope of their involvement?

At the beginning of our project, we only had some wireframes and an idea for our mobile app. The first thing Shakuro prepared was a small market study for us using personas. Then, they helped us put together better wireframes and designs for our app that we could use for funding. We have our own developers that built the actual app.

They also designed our website that’s in the beta phase. Additionally, they designed our logo and all of our branding.

What is the team composition?

We had an account manager, a project manager who also doubled as a designer and an actual UX specialist.

How did you come to work with Shakuro?

We found them online. We went through about 20 other designers. Some turned us down because they thought the project would be too complex. Shakuro was very interested and supported us from the very beginning.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $25,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in November 2019, and they finished the initial design in December 2020. We plan to work with them again to publish our website.

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

They met our expectations from the first market study. The branding also helped solidify my confidence in them. It was really high quality.

How did Shakuro perform from a project management standpoint?

Anytime we gave them things to fix, they were really responsive. We had a Slack channel, and I was also able to leave them comments in Figma. They always had a fast response time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were able to understand the full concept and bring it from just an idea to an actual product. It was impressive that they were able to bring it across the finish line.

Other vendors said this project would be too difficult but Shakuro was able to pull it off. The product ties all of our ideas together and it’s very user-friendly. They got it right on the first try.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Initially, we had some issues with communicating with a particular account manager. There have also been a few surprises with billing since their pricing estimates weren’t big enough. It turned out to be manageable. The product itself is such high quality that we didn’t mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to try them out and see how you like them. Give them a challenge to execute and take it from there. You can be confident that they’ll deliver quality work.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of Proko LLC. We make educational art videos on how to draw.

What challenge were you trying to address with Shakuro?

Our previous website was just a WordPress platform but it got to a point when it wasn’t cutting it anymore. My community on YouTube was growing so I wanted to create a custom website that’d allow us to have more control of our features and build more of a social network.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Shakuro built the platform using Ruby on Rails. We just launched the beta version last month, that was the first deliverable that’s gone to the public. The platform is an online school that allows users to watch videos and keep track of their progress. Working and designing from scratch, they’ve built a database as well as handled front- and backend development. They also redid my logo.

On the frontend, they built a social network. All of the commenting and discussion features are accompanied by the ability to add images, tag other users, and follow accounts. There’s a news feed that’s tailored toward every user. There are also gamification features involved where people get credit for everything they do on the site including watching videos, helping others, and completing assignments.

What is the team composition?

The exact number has changed according to the development stage but at any given time it’s been around six. Michael (Project Manager) is our main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Shakuro?

I found them through a recommendation. I talked to the founder of a website that’s similar in scope and in our same industry. He put me in touch with Kostya (Founder & CEO). We had a meeting, and I really liked everything he said so we moved forward.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested about $750,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement started in July 2017.

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

We launched the beta version of the platform and invited a few hundred testers so hopefully, we’ll be able to receive some metric-related feedback soon. Shakuro has been running my WordPress site, and we haven’t had a single issue or bug since they took over. Their ability to manage the server and keep it running has been way better than what I had before.

How did Shakuro perform from a project management standpoint?

I have meetings twice a week with the project manager. We usually communicate over Skype but will instant message throughout the week. During these meetings, we discuss features we need to work on and ones they’ve already done. We also discuss questions and how we’ll go about them. They use Jira for their scrum system; I have access to it and will occasionally take a look at it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their organization and skill level are excellent. Shakuro hires very skilled developers who know what they’re doing so they don’t waste time. They always bring up very good concerns before starting. Their team members know exactly what questions to ask as well as any problems that need to be figured out before they begin.

The whole team is experienced in the workflow so the process is efficient and organized. I always know what to expect and how long it will take. It’s a pleasure doing it because I never find bugs or get frustrated.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Have trust in them, they do what they’re doing. It’s important to have a good project manager. Make sure to communicate regularly with them; it makes their job easier as well. Provide feedback and stay focused on the goal of the project without bombarding new features all the time.

Please describe your company and your position there.

At Builddie we use the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help you lower your monthly bills and protect the planet through lower carbon emissions.

For what projects/services did your company hire Shakuro?

We hired Shakuro to design the Builddie platform.

What were your goals for this project?

The goals for the project was simplicity, emotional connection to the users whilst at the same time encouraging them to take action such as sign up.

How did you select this vendor?

Prior to hiring Shakuro, we had spoken to a lot of design firms about Builddie. Unfortunately, non of them could grasp the idea per our vision. They either had their own ideas or were totally lost on what a smart home ment. The team from Shakuro on the other hand got the concept as soon as we spoke to them. We saw great alignment in our collective visions and were blown away by the depth of knowledge of their team. To us selecting Shakuro is one of the best decisions we made .

Describe the project in detail.

The goals for the project was simplicity, emotional connection to the users whilst at the same time encouraging them to take action such as sign up. The team from Shakuro discussed the technical aspects of the project with us and afterwards did their own research to get more insights in the industry. Whats surprised us was their eagerness to learn. They took a complex idea and made it simple.

What was the team composition?

The team was comprised of a project manager, a UX /UI designer and illustrator.

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

The team designed our company website, designed our smart home automation app and designed our smart IoT hardware. The results have been out of this world. Amazing!

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

There is a lot of collaboration both in Shakuro and with their clients. From our experience, this has been really useful in getting different perspectives on ideas and thoughts. Shakuro has a really streamlined and efficient team .

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their depth of knowledge is second to none, their ability to simplify the complex is exceptional and most importantly their humility to ask the right questions is their greatest strength

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that i can think of. I will encourage them to keep being the pacesetters they are and not rest,. Great team

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the co-founder and sales director of our start-up. We provide an alternate to influencer marketing and market research by empowering consumers to advocate brands they know and trust. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Shakuro?

We needed to create a project management portal and a corresponding mobile application. We wanted the user-facing app to be sleek and elegant.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We presented our basic ideas to their team, mind-mapping what we wanted to see created. It was a new concept, so Shakuro provided input on the infrastructure. They told us which statistics and metrics to consider.

Their team provided the wireframe and built the UX/UI for us to tweak and approve. From there, they built the project management portal with an internal dashboard.

The platform allows us to manage every stage of a project internally. They built functions for us to create projects, direct payments, and manage contracts. The portal also allows us to send vouchers to users who downloaded the app, which Shakuro created for iOS using Swift.

What is the team composition?

We worked with about 12 people from their team.

How did you come to work with Shakuro?

We looked at several companies’ reviews and narrowed down our options to three agencies for serious consideration. When we interviewed Shakuro, they provided a level of customer service that the other contenders lacked. They communicated clearly and openly. Their team also negotiated their price to accommodate us as a startup. We also liked their experience and positive reviews.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $50,000—$100,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working together in August 2019, and it’s an ongoing partnership. We’re projected to finish the final tweaks from the soft launch at the end of May 2020. After the official launch, they’ll continue to maintain the portal and app.

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

The purpose of this tool was to allow users to have a smooth experience while we manage their projects internally with just two people. The platform’s efficient and accurate. The hard launch is projected for next month. 

How did Shakuro perform from a project management standpoint?

Their project manager does a wonderful job of managing expectations. Their team communicates well and verbalizes ideas clearly. They’re also quick and flexible. When we wanted to have small sprints, they managed the last-minute tasks well.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re skilled at translating the client’s vision into a reality. We didn’t find that ability in other remote companies. Shakuro has also been consistent throughout the entire process, from initial contact to the end.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be open and listen to their ideas. They use their expertise to give opinions and input to optimize outcomes. 

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of SELECT. We’re a membership card and mobile app that connects people with exclusive events, prices, and perks at over 1.6 million locations and online.

What challenge were you trying to address with Shakuro?

Our dated designs across our website and mobile applications were our primary challenges. We were in dire need of a design and brand refresh.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Initially, Shakuro focused on design and branding. They created a new logo and color schemes. Then, their team redesigned both our iOS and Android mobile applications as well as our website. Once we got into the iOS designs, our lead developer and Shakuro recommended that we refresh the app. Their team redid our iOS app in Swift and manages monthly updates.

What is the team composition?

We have a main point of contact for design and a second main point of contact for iOS development. We’ve worked with probably 4–5 people in total.

How did you come to work with Shakuro?

I found them on a website where I looked into their work. On that website, they were ranked within the top 50 companies. They completed projects for high-end brands and created modern designs. That’s what made me decide to partner with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $39,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started in June 2019 and our partnership’s ongoing. Their design work and the iOS project are complete, but they’re our go-to iOS development agency.

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

Our members loved the new iOS app. It looks and functions better. It’s seamless and rarely crashes. With our previous app, we got bad reviews on the App Store. Our ratings shot up in both the App Store from a 3.8 rating to a 4.8 rating. That’s a combination of Shakuro's designs as well as the quality of their development.

They’re good critical thinkers, so if our existing logic didn’t make sense, they told us. Their team put a lot of time and energy into optimizing our platforms. Our customers also loved our new branding elements. We couldn’t be happier.

How did Shakuro perform from a project management standpoint?

Our main mode of communication’s Slack. We’re based in the US, so the time difference can be challenging. However, they’re always available in the mornings to coordinate details. Their team notifies us well in advance of their national holidays.

They’ve stayed on deadlines. It was important for us to get the iOS app out by the end of the year. There were initial conversations that the deadline didn't look good. But they completed the project when we wanted it. Every time there’s a product that we want ahead, they hit our goal.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Shakuro has a clear focus on quality. Their design and branding work’s outstanding. They did a fantastic job with the iOS app. They’re an obvious stand out for design and branding services. There’s plenty of data and information to reference in support of that claim. Shakuro’s our go-to for design, branding, and iOS development. They’re also great at UX design.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I don’t think so. Anytime there’s an ongoing engagement, it can be tricky to synchronize timelines. In all honesty, they’ve met our deadlines every time. Their team’s willing to reprioritize, which is an advantage of being an ongoing customer.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them your opinions and guidance but let them do their work. When we received the initial branding elements, we were surprised but loved them. Keep communication open as with any design and development relationship.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO and a shareholder of Fourpicapital. We are the creator of a financial analytics product. We work with offices and professionals involved in the stock market.

What challenge were you trying to address with Shakuro?

I needed someone to create a website for our business.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Shakuro created our website. Their team brought their design expertise to the project and managed the whole project.

What is the team composition?

We worked with around five people from their team.

How did you come to work with Shakuro?

I had several conditions and requirements. Shakuro said they could meet these, so we decided to work with them.

How much have you invested in them?

I spent around $30,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from June 2019–April 2020.

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

This was my second experience with this type of project. Shakuro provided us with the highest quality end product.

How did Shakuro perform from a project management standpoint?

I have enjoyed the results. They had good project management skills and delivered on time. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

It was interesting to have a relationship with Shakuro. I didn’t prepare technical tasks or specifications. I spoke with the manager and several members of the team. They analyzed my final goal, and they let me know what they thought based on their experience. They were able to develop a site that met all my needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The IT industry is new for me and it would be better for me to have them in the office, but the result has been excellent despite that.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

It was a very good experience. They had a deep understanding of my company. I think in the future they can successfully provide financial technology solutions.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I look after HR OMD Worldwide, a subsidiary of the Omnicom Media Group. We’re a global media services and digital marketing communications company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Shakuro?

We wanted to enhance employee engagement. Our goals were to make our relationships with employees more dynamic and engaging. We thought creating a mobile app platform for internal use that would solve that.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Basically, they created and developed the mobile application. That includes the front- and backend work. The app is available on iOS and Android. They currently manage the app from a development standpoint. As we find ways to improve the app, we have them on retainer for maintenance and overall development.

What is the team composition?

There were at least four people who worked on the app. We have one point of contact that acts as a project manager.

How did you come to work with Shakuro?

Someone who had worked with us previously recommended them. It was purely recommendation-based.

How much have you invested with them?

Since inception, it’s reached about $90,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

The project began in November 2015 and is still ongoing.

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

Our employees have received the app positively. They use it quite frequently. Shakuro added many features to the application and presented our content in an attractive way. It’s gotten to the point where global markets have expressed interest in the app.

In terms of our vision, we had things in mind and they executed what we wanted. Obviously, there’s an initial feeling-out phase is going to be there, but they did well. The app world always needs constant refactoring and development, so we understand that and have them on retainer. It’s generally been smooth.

How did Shakuro perform from a project management standpoint?

They were highly responsive. If there were any issues, they were on top of it. We got responses quickly; they were good from that perspective. We didn’t have a set project management tool.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to take on challenges was impressive. If you wanted to have more information from an analytic standpoint, they would more often than not find a way of bringing it to life. We didn’t get too many negative responses—they would always give it their best shot.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Not much, to be honest. This might not be fully in their hands, but there were a couple of times that the refactorings were a tad late. Maybe a bit of proactivity early on to highlight some issues. But beyond that, nothing really.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

This would be applicable for any developer, but making sure that you have a dedicated and communicative project manager from your side is important. There needs to be two-way dialogue. Don’t leave that aspect hanging—make sure you have a point of contact for them.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a manager at an advertising agency.

What challenge were you trying to address with Shakuro?

We hired Shakuro to build an internal mobile application for employees of our company.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We relied on Shakuro to design and develop all elements of the mobile app for Android and iOS. We wanted the application to serve as a hub for employee information, where they could find our company newsletters and any relevant articles that we share.

What is the team composition?

Our project team consisted of just one person from Shakuro.  

How did you come to work with Shakuro?

We learned of Shakuro through a referral from our sister company.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent approximately $10,000­–$15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in May 2017 and remains ongoing, though the app has been completed.

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

Once we received the application, we saw a promising level of employee engagement with the product. That figure has since dropped since our internal manager of the app left the company. We have been unable to remedy that solution and provide higher-quality content, but the fact remains that Shakuro delivered a functional app that we’ve been happy with.

How did Shakuro perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicated well through phone calls and emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They were quick to respond to all of our queries.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They might have been able to add more metrics that allow us to track engagement.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Future clients can expect a supportive and helpful team.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of production marketing at Altium, a software company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Shakuro?

Our company has been on the market for more than 30 years, so we had a pretty traditional way of handling the business. Our flagship product was a desktop application, and we were looking to modernize by creating new ways of delivering to the end user. Consequently, our team hired Shakuro to build an iPad app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Shakuro designed the UX/UI based on our web app’s prototypes and then matched the solution’s beta set to our engineering software. The team developed the iPad app and connected it to the desktop version via the cloud.

What is the team composition?

The 5–6-person team includes one project manager, one UI designer, a web developer, and a backend developer.

How did you come to work with Shakuro?

I received a recommendation from colleagues.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in August 2018 and the partnership is ongoing.

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

Outsourcing development work never went smoothly until we partnered with Shakuro. As a company with a firmly established way of doing things, we're not the easiest to work with. However, the Shakuro team has maintained an active role and delivered great results.

How did Shakuro perform from a project management standpoint?

The team is organized and possesses strong project management skills. They have led the partnership without compromising or interfering with our internal processes. We communicate via phone, email, and Jira.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are proactive and take the lead on projects.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I cannot think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Verbalize the scope and expectations to ensure timely deliveries without unnecessary changes or costs.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO and founder of CG Master Academy. We are an online digital arts school for the games, film, and animation industry.

What challenge were you trying to address with Shakuro?

In a previous engagement with Shakuro, we needed help developing a platform for CG Society, an online community forum for computer graphic specialists and artists. The CG Society was using an outdated version of vBulletin and lacked a strong team of developers to fix the problem. 

Most recently, we hired Shakuro to develop our core product offering, a virtual classroom platform. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

For the CG Society project, Shakuro migrated the entire database to their proprietary platform. They continue to provide maintenance and support.

In my current work with them, Shakuro is helping my company develop a web-based platform for our virtual classroom. They utilize Ruby on Rails.

What is the team composition?

We worked with a project manager and 8–9 teammates assigned to our project.

How did you come to work with Shakuro?

Based on their platform development experience, Shakuro has garnered a reputation for being the best web development firm for larger-scale platforms. They also have experience developing community sites and marketplaces.

How much have you invested with them?

The project budget is $100,00–$150,000, and we have spent about $60,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I worked with them on the first project in November 2016. The virtual classroom project commenced in early 2018 and is ongoing.  

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

Overall, feedback has been amazing.

How did Shakuro perform from a project management standpoint?

Shakuro's team is very responsive. We meet once a week to discuss the status of the project. They provide a comprehensive hours breakdown, so we can see exactly what individual team members are working on and how much time they put into it. We communicate via Skype. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Shakuro is a full-service development house that delivers on time and on budget. The team's timely, cost-effective, and consistent high-caliber work sets them apart.

Shakuro’s competitors charge higher rates for the same quality of services. It’s unusual to receive so much value for Shakuro’s prices. We will continue to work with them for as long as they continue to deliver on this. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

We have had some technical issues, but technology is very difficult to control. The initial establishment of our workflow and communication caused some minor problems, but this is to be expected at the beginning of any project.

Any advice for potential customers?

Adjusting to the remote services can take time and might not be appropriate for all companies. However, Shakuro provides regular updates and makes all content and materials readily available.