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For Big Kids and Daredevils

4.8
6 reviews
SILVER VERIFIED

Slingshot is a software and app development company specializing in taking your vision from idea to launch. Our unique 4-step process puts an empathetic focus on the user, allowing our strategists, designers, and developers to personalize the app specifically for your business.

 

Whether you're a fortune 50 company wanting to streamline your process or a small organization needing to create a mobile app, our daredevils would be happy to help. Our goal is to create a lasting relationship so that we can guide you confidently into your future.

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$25,000+
 
$100 - $149 / hr
 
10 - 49
 Founded
2005
Show all +
Louisville, KY
headquarters
  • 700 N Hurstbourne Pkwy Suite 120
    Louisville, KY 40222
    United States
    5022721123
other locations
  • 6339 Charlotte Pike #781
    Nashville, TN 37209
    United States
    5022721123

Portfolio

Key clients: 

MetLife, Churchill Downs, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, PetFirst, Xooker, Kenmark Eyewear, Texas Roadhouse, Tellennium, Kentuckiana Law Enforcement, American Press Institute, Louisville Metro Government, Aperture Credentialing, Heaven Hill, Tellennium, New Roots

PetFirst Web App Image

PetFirst Web App

PetFirst, acquired by MetLife in 2020, is made up of everyday heroes, seeking to remove the financial worry from loving pet owners. They are one of the fastest-growing in their field, but their lengthy internal process to handle claims was holding them back. As an animal and earth-loving company, they hated the fact that they were wasting over 7k pages of paper per week; that’s a whole tree! They needed tools to streamline, and

…
came to Slingshot full of dreams and ideas for a more efficient future.

Visit our case study to learn more: https://www.yslingshot.com/work/petfirst/

 

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Derbygives.com Image

Derbygives.com

Churchill Downs Inc. came to Slingshot seeking an online 50/50 raffle solution to benefit several charities, including Thoroughbred Aftercare, Arts and Education, and Breast and Ovarian Cancer Research. The goal was to launch the solution for the Kentucky Derby and capitalize on the spirit of the event.

Visit our case study to learn more: 

…
https://www.yslingshot.com/work/churchill-downs/
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Decision Support Tool Image

Decision Support Tool

It’s heartbreaking to think of how child abuse victims are often undiagnosed or mis-diagnosed by clinicians due to a lack of knowledge of high-risk signs or symptoms. If there is one area where we shouldn’t make mistakes, it’s with the most helpless among us. Although research in the field of detecting abuse is abundant, it is largely unknown. Dr. Mary Clyde Pierce, a leading expert in the field alongside Ann & Robert H.

…
Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago saw an opportunity to provide clinicians access to leading child abuse data at their fingertips.

Visit our case study to learn more: https://www.yslingshot.com/work/lurie-childrens-hospital/

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New Roots Mobile App Image

New Roots Mobile App

New Roots is a non-profit organization that brings quality produce to underinvested neighborhoods by holding “fresh-stop” markets and distributing “shares” of fruits and vegetables. Their goal is for all people to have access to affordable, organic food year-round throughout Kentuckiana. Previously, New Roots was directly calling each individual shareholder to remind them of upcoming markets in their area. This process was

…
laborious, and shareholders often forgot orders. Additionally, New Roots wanted to show shareholders the true cost of shares and provide a donation option.

Visit our case study to learn more: https://www.yslingshot.com/work/new-roots/

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KLE Booking App Image

KLE Booking App

Kentuckiana Law Enforcement is a leader in connecting off duty officers with clients in need of security, and has secured such events as the Kentucky Derby, the Balloon Glow, and the Forecastle Festival. Their site, built 10+ years ago, was not mobile-friendly. Officers in reality are on the move, and were accessing the site from mobile devices. This combined with a cumbersome experience to view and apply for shifts as well as

…
an administrative section that lacked necessary functionality meant the platform was ready for an overhaul.

Visit our case study to learn more: https://www.yslingshot.com/work/kle/

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University of Louisville Leadership App Image

University of Louisville Leadership App

The University of Louisville’s College of Business offers positive leadership courses to its graduate students. They wanted to create a way to teach positive leadership while allowing users to work on their skills in an everyday and practical way. A mobile app could provide such a solution; but in order to be sustainable, it

…
would need to be simple, easy to use, meaningful, and fun.

Visit our case study to learn more: https://www.yslingshot.com/work/university-of-louisville/

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Louisville Metro Government Image

Louisville Metro Government

Waze is a well known GPS navigation app owned by Google. Waze enters into agreements with cities across the world to exchange Waze traffic-pattern data for city street closures and other traffic-related events. The data cities receive is delivered in a raw format that is not easily digested or utilized. This data is incredibly powerful, but hard to work with. The City of Louisville had a vision to make this data usable and

…
actionable but also wanted to make the solution open-source and shareable to cities across the world.

Visit our case study to learn more: https://www.yslingshot.com/work/waze/

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Z Control Image

Z Control

Zoeller is one of the largest manufacturers of pumps, systems, and controls for moving and treating water. Before working with Slingshot, they had built 2 separate mobile apps: one for Android, and one for iOS. The apps themselves could control and test installed water pumps. Each app had their own unique set of headaches, and managing the development lifecycle of both required significant management overhead as well as

…
increased development costs. Zoeller came to Slingshot seeking a re-do of the app, desiring a single code base and improved ease of use that would properly embody the Zoeller brand.

Visit our case study to learn more: https://www.yslingshot.com/work/zoeller-pump-company/

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American Press Institute Image

American Press Institute

American Press Institute (API) is a non profit organization that works to advance and innovate the news industry through research, training, and tool-creation. They had created an advanced online analytics and reporting system called Metrics for News, which provided media companies with insight into which stories brought the most readers. The product was extremely successful, and demand was outpacing their existing

…
infrastructure. This posed potential problems in the future with scaling popularizing the service to larger customers and greater volume of users.

Visit our case study to learn more: https://www.yslingshot.com/work/american-press-institute/

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Reviews

4.8
6 reviews
Sort by

Dev Support for Entertainment & Gaming Company

"Their team was professional and excellent to work with."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Jan. - May 2016
Project summary: 

Slingshot developed a website for an entertainment and gaming company’s raffle website. They ran testing efforts on the platform and incorporated features to enable live draws and raffle functionalities. 

The Reviewer
 
1,001-5,000 Employees
 
Louisville, Kentucky
Chief Technical Architect, Entertainment Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The services supplied from Slingshot were reliable and impressive. The client was pleased with the UX and graphics from their team. They consistently hit the goals set for them and were a solid, friendly team to work with. 

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the chief technical architect for an entertainment and gaming company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We were looking for a development partner to develop a raffle program for us so that we could take it online. This would allow us to have patrons enter into the 50/50 raffle during some of our races. It’s a charity program where the other 50% goes to charities.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our website for a raffle that would enable certain people and states, by geolocation, to purchase raffle tickets online via PayPal. They ran testing efforts with people using mockups and that proved to be pretty worthwhile. 

For the site, there could be several different campaigns running on different days or the same day, and people can do guarantees and seeds that are normally in raffles. The platform shows the winning ticket result and it essentially turns off at the designated time to buy new raffle tickets. It shows the total pool to the patrons when they’re looking to purchase a raffle ticket. Then we print the raffle tickets on the backend at the facility and do a live draw while putting the tickets in a drum.

What is the team composition?

I worked with five people, including the CEO, the CIO, developers, and UX people. The CIO managed the project. 

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

I was introduced to them via some people I work with at another company. I received three different quotes. Slingshot wasn’t the cheapest but they were in the right ballpark and were actually across the street which helps.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $70,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from January–May 2016.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They had elaborate UX design skills. They had some really good graphic expertise. All the people I worked with were very good. Their team was all professional and excellent to work with.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

Project management was excellent. We did sprint retrospectives with them that went well. The relationship was very good. Communication was prompt and clear. They weren’t scared to ask questions or bring up any concerns or troubles. They worked in a scrum methodology. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re easy to work with. As a team, they were solid and delivered what they set out to do. They stay within budget and are excellent people to work with.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We had a really good experience with them and they delivered what we needed. There was one little bug we found later on but that’s just typical in development. I don’t have any criticism.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Trust them and work with them — you’ll get good results. They’re smart.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Cross-Platform App Dev for Positive Leadership Platform

"Slingshot was great at blending technical expertise with personalized communication."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
Jan. 2019 - May 2020
Project summary: 

Slingshot designed and built a cross-platform mobile app for a positive leadership program. It includes social networking and event planning tools. They based the functionality on an existing web app.

The Reviewer
 
5,001-10,000 Employees
 
Louisville, Kentucky
Ryan Quinn
Associate Professor of Management, University of Louisville
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The app is finished but has yet to launch on app stores. The code only had one major bug that Slingshot fixed quickly. The team’s flexibility, responsiveness, and willingness to go above and beyond stood out throughout the partnership.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m an associate professor of management at the University of Louisville. I’m also the academic director for the Project for Positive Leadership.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We were developing a package of education materials related to positive leadership for executives and students. As part of the package, we wanted to build a leadership development application for mobile phones. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Slingshot built the mobile app. It integrates with calendars and helps users select events to plan for so that they can practice leadership. The app then walks them through the planning process to help them exhibit leadership in the event. Each user also gets placed in a community where they can share plans, get feedback, report on how an event goes, and give insights to others forming plans. The purpose is to help people exhibit exceptional virtue through an activity and to inspire people around them.

The app is for both iOS and Android; Slingshot used software to build it once for both platforms. We already had built a web app for a similar purpose and had been using it for a number of years. It worked well, but I still wanted to improve some things about it. Slingshot still did the normal process of lean development: they interviewed people, led a design phase to come up with different ways to visualize the app, and built a prototype. However, the web app also informed their process.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two designers and a project manager. He had design and development expertise and managed an outsourced dev team. I also talked with the president to contract the app.

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

We did a competitive bid, and three companies submitted proposals to our RFP. We selected Slingshot because they had the best proposal and were highly recommended in our community. It was an easy decision.

How much have you invested with them?

It was a $150,000 contract.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January of last year. The development is done; Slingshot is now doing finishing touches, putting the app on AWS, and uploading it to apps stores for approval.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

I’m afraid I can’t give any numbers. I’ve have shown it to a few other people, and they like the design, but they haven’t tested it out as fully as I have.

The development process had a constant cycle of feedback; Slingshot would send me an iteration, I’d give feedback, they’d incorporate my thoughts, and then we’d go through there. There was only one time in the process where a bug affected functionality, and Slingshot fixed it within a day or two. I’m sure they caught others along the way. Overall, I’m pleased with the product and process.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

From the parts I saw, they were very responsive and quick. In all cases except one, they were ideally responsive. In one case, they were too responsive. I think they maybe should’ve pushed back on me more in the case. Otherwise, Slingshot did push back when needed. 

They also adapted to our cost structure. Slingshot is used to working hourly, but our organization uses contracts instead. Slingshot probably worked more than they agreed to and did the rest of the work for free. They were extremely responsive to the customer.

Slingshot kept me more informed than I needed to be as well. We used to meet weekly until I pushed to have updates every other week; we didn’t have as many pressing updates, and I was confident in their abilities. We communicated mainly through Zoom meetings, but we also sent ad hoc emails and texts. I tried to visit their team in person as often as possible before the coronavirus hit; their office was conveniently located for me.

What did you find most impressive about them?

It’s hard to pick one thing. Slingshot was great at blending technical expertise with personalized communication. I also liked the lean process; it worked well for the project.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There were some minor things along the way, but I wouldn’t change much. One thing I’d change was my fault; I pushed for market research but we probably shouldn’t have wasted our time on that. That was on me, not them.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Platform Development & Coordination for Mobile Platform

"We wish we had found them much sooner."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Slingshot provides ongoing support to a mobile application platform, including game development. They've utilized a variety of coding languages including UNITY.

The Reviewer
 
2-10 Employees
 
Lexington, Kentucky
Conrad Carney
CEO, Xooker
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The team at Slingshot regularly exceeds expectations. They are flexible and responsive, making them among the best in their field.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of Xooker, a mobile rewards platform for local businesses to interact with and reward customers through games and loyalty programs. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We wanted additional support with the development of our mobile application.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

When we brought Slingshot on to the project, the app was already developed, but we wanted assistance overseeing the programming and engineering. They facilitated the development of a multiplayer game on our app with UNITY and Amazon Game Sparks. 

What is the team composition?

We worked with a team of around five people from Slingshot, but had one main point of contact who managed the project. 

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

We were introduced to them through a referral. Their previous clients spoke very highly of them which is why we decided to work with them. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent a little over $200,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

Our ongoing engagement with them began in mid-2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The application has been well-received by users. We aren’t getting negative feedback which shows that it works the way it’s intended to. They’ve delivered on what they promised and even exceeded our expectations.  

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

Since much of the work is happening remotely, we use Slack so everyone can remain up to speed. However, it’s easy to pick up the phone and have a conversation with their team. For example, if there’s ever a glitch in the system, they start working to fix it immediately, even if it’s after hours on the weekend. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They deliver products on time and do what they say they’ll do. They’re great to work with. We wish we had found them much sooner. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they’ve been the best developers we’ve worked with. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

Communication is key. The team at Slingshot is flexible and receptive to different project management styles. 

5.0
Overall Score We’ve been overly impressed with them.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Software Development for IT Services Company

"They have a breadth of knowledge in the marketplace and find new methods that can apply to our environment."

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5.0

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
Jan. 2011 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Slingshot provides ongoing software development for an online platform that manages IT expenses for medium-to-large organizations. They continue to add functionality and provide support.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Louisville, Kentucky
CEO, Telecom Consulting Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The platform has improved markedly since the engagement began. Expertise and meticulousness are hallmarks of their work. Slingshot corrects bugs quickly and responds just as promptly to other concerns. They also offer useful tactical advice that has been subsequently implemented.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there. 

I'm president and CEO of a company that manages IT expenses for medium-to-large organizations. We have a software platform that assists with that process.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We originally brought them on board several years ago to rewrite our platform’s software. We wanted to rewrite it because of technology changes and new things we wanted it to do. Once we found out how good they are, we decided to keep them on full time to do our software development work and to continue to advance our product.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

Slingshot continues to add functionality to our platform. It’s a very complex software platform. We have a new release every 4–6 weeks, and they're fully engaged in that process. They not only help us think through everything, but we've also completely outsourced the actual development and support work on our platform to them. 

Our platform uses SQL and .NET environment, so Slingshot utilizes C# and other coding techniques. Our core functionalities are processing, monitoring, correcting, and auditing IT expenses. We're tied into our customers’ accounting systems as well as via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) to most major carriers. Slingshot has assisted with the majority of that development.

What is the team composition?

Typically there's one full-time employee, and we add additional resources as needed. Just about everybody in their company has worked on our platform at some point. We used to have an account manager, but now we meet with David (CEO and president, Slingshot) a couple of times a year. Otherwise, we're consistently working with their project managers and developers.

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

One of their sales people called me every month for years. When we ultimately decided it was time to rewrite our platform, I asked him to come on in and talk to us in person. That's how it got started. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $250,000–$500,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 

We first started working together in January 2011, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

They’ve added a tremendous amount of functionality. We’re now light years ahead of where we were before we started working with Slingshot. They do a good job of managing the platform, keeping it fresh, and upgrading it all along the way.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint? 

We wouldn't continue working with them if they weren’t a pleasure to work with. There are less expensive developers out there, but cheap isn’t what we're looking for. They're an excellent group. 

What did you find most impressive about them? 

We most appreciate their knowledge, processes, and efficiency. We like that they work on other projects. They have a breadth of knowledge in the marketplace and find new methods that can apply to our environment. We also like that they're located in the U.S. so they're reachable and we can meet with them in person. 

Are there any areas they could improve?

I’d like them to cost less. Nothing else comes to mind. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to stay engaged. Software development isn’t a one-time project. You're always going to have another idea or thought of what else you want done. Go into it understanding that it's a longer engagement as you continue to think of new ideas and concepts. They’ll help to continue to change it and keep it fresh.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They're generally spot on but sometimes extend beyond the due date.
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    I'm a tough critic but their quality is excellent.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’ve recommended them and absolutely would again.

Sofware Development for Pet Insurance Company

“They’re committed to excellent service and take time to understand our business as a whole.”

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4.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
Nov. 2016 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Slingshot updated an existing web app, redeveloping the payment and renewal processes. They also developed a new claims processing feature. Plans are in the work for another project.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Jeffersonville, Indiana
CEO, Pet Insurance Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Slingshot is highly communicative and requires minimal oversight. Their work is consistently high quality, resulting in increased retention rates and decreased claims processing time. They could provide more pushback when needed, but the team does phenomenal work.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a pet health insurance company. We service pets across the U.S. from start to finish, including issuing policies and paying claims.

I’m the CEO of a pet health insurance company. We service pets across the U.S. from start to finish, including issuing policies and paying claims.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

We had a proprietary software platform we’d built in 2004 and needed to rewrite some of the code and core processes. We needed a partner to identify pivotal points of efficiency, and we thought we’d need to rewrite the whole platform. However, Slingshot helped us realize that we only needed to change a few components through an iterative process.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a discovery phase so that Slingshot could identify the most critical functions they could work on; we didn’t prescribe any solutions or areas of work. They outlined small projects we could build, test, and launch iteratively to consistently get value from our partnership. 

They’re working on a web-based app that we use internally and externally. It provides quotes, issues policies, and performs all aspects of customer service, including payment processing, reporting claims, and renewing memberships. It’s our primary tool used by both employees and customers.

The app was written in .NET, and Slingshot kept some features and changed others. For example, they rewrote our payment processing platform, transitioning to a new payment processor and updating how our software engages with it. For the next phase, they revised our renewal process, making it smoother and more accessible for the customer to understand. 

The final project was our claims processing feature, which we ultimately decided to pull out of the primary app and put into a new tool that’s built in Angular. The first two projects were redevelopment, and the last one was dev from scratch.

What is the team composition? 

We worked with three developers and a strategy planner.

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

We’d been connected with Slingshot for several years but weren’t ready to financially commit to an investment in our infrastructure. They maintained the relationship and, when we decided it was time for this project, we hired them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $250,000–$500,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We partnered in November 2016, and the work is ongoing. We’re starting a new engagement soon.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We’ve increased how many failed payments we’re able to recollect on and also seen a significant improvement in our retention rates. Additionally, the processing times for our claims has dropped considerably, year over year, as a direct result of changes to our IT infrastructure.

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

We know where the project is headed and what’s coming up.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re committed to excellent service and take time to understand our business as a whole. Unlike other firms, we’ve never had to clean up their work once they’ve delivered it. They’re more expensive than similar agencies, but their work is phenomenal.

Are there any areas they could improve?

We’re strong willed and move fast, and they could probably push back more if they think something we want to do isn’t the best idea. However, they’ve gotten better at doing that.
 
Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Make sure your larger team is on board with the partnership. If so, you’ll get better input and a more productive engagement.

4.0
Overall Score
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Software Development for Pediatric Hospital

"They are more concerned with what you’re trying to accomplish than with forcing their own ideas."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
2009 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Slingshot develops software and mobile apps to serve the research efforts of a pediatric organization. They have coordinated HIPAA-compliant platforms that collect and display rich data sets.  

The Reviewer
 
1001-10,000 Employees
 
Chicago, Illinois
Mary Clyde Pierce
Physician Researcher, Pediatric Organization
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Slingshot has proven to be a reliable development partner during a decade-long engagement. With a focus on client needs and high-quality products, they remain flexible to changes and mindful of all deadlines. The team succeeds because of confident risk-takers and inventive thinkers.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am a physician and researcher at a pediatric organization. I am an attending physician in emergency medicine, and I am also a researcher in the child abuse division. My work over the years has focused on trying to develop better ways to differentiate abuse from accidental trauma in young children. To conduct that research, I have to collect rich data to have those tiny details that allow me to see the difference between abuse and an accident.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Slingshot?

I hired Slingshot to develop the software I needed to be able to collect detailed research data.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The first steps of our engagement included building a web application that would be HIPAA-compliant and meet all National Institutes of Health (NIH) requirements so that we could access patient data that were entered by investigators across the country. The web app also allowed us to take physical examination findings and code them in a way that could tag them to various research questions. Taking photos isn’t allowed, so we had to find a way of researching the nuance findings of a physical exam. In doing so, Slingshot developed a database of questions linked to data points entered in real time while enrolling a patient. All of that information was then connected to a larger data center so that all data could be collated in one place. Once my team received permission, Slingshot came on-site and shadowed us in our work environments to learn more about the clinical flow of patients. It was exciting to work with them in that way because they were willing to attempt something innovative and create something within the clinical sphere.

During our 10-year project, my staff and I have developed a data set that includes about 18,000 children. Slingshot still supports that initiative.

We are currently in the middle of an app development project for Android and iOS. Instead of relying on scientific publications, we hope that the apps can make our data more accessible to anyone working with these specific patients. The apps are being built so that it’s easy for anyone to answer a few questions and document injuries. The algorithm underneath will help them understand what the best next steps are. I am excited that we are developing the apps for the international market as well, meaning we’ll be helping and researching across the world.

What is the team composition?

We primarily work with three people: David (CEO, Slingshot), Chris (CIO & Chief Product Owner, Slingshot), and Rachel (UX Design Lead, Slingshot). They bring others into the project as necessary.

How did you come to work with Slingshot?

I interviewed many companies for the first development project before being introduced to Slingshot. Their team was committed to taking on the challenge and making it work. After we moved our operation from Louisville to Chicago, we started interviewing firms for the mobile app development work, but nobody quite understood our needs like Slingshot. After several members of the hospital staff vetted the Slingshot team, we selected them again for our latest project. They were by far the most engaged vendor, and they were more willing to take some risks than any of the other companies we met with.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent close to $1,000,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in 2009 and remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

Other NIH researchers have expressed a keen interest in the software and the application. I speak all over the world about this research, and when I present, the audience recognizes that this data is unique and doesn’t exist anywhere else.

The software has proven to be intuitive and accessible for users that are not particularly familiar with technology. I’ve also received feedback that the software and the data have had such a profound impact on other physicians that they have changed many of their practices.  

How did Slingshot perform from a project management standpoint?

I continue to work with Rachel and Chris each week to iterate the project. Slingshot has been a steady presence in my research efforts for the last 10 years. They’ve met every deadline in that span, which is crucial when being considered for grants. Slingshot has always come through for us, though.

They have been very adaptive. We enroll patients around the clock, and if something doesn't work in the evening, I can contact them, and they will address the issue. I’m unsure of how they manage to do that with their small company, but they’ve always been reliable in that sense. Further, if we want to do new things with the data, Slingshot will write the code necessary for us to view the data from a different perspective.

What did you find most impressive about them?

If you are trying to do something no one has ever done before, they want to hear your ideas and learn your vision. Slingshot wants their work to reflect your vision—as opposed to their perception of what the product should be. They are more concerned with what you’re trying to accomplish than with forcing their own ideas.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Slingshot has already made strides in this regard, but I’d love to see them add more gender diversity to their staff. I became much more enthusiastic about the company when they added women to our project. I’m a strong proponent of having women in problem-solving roles because they think differently than men. I think their company will continue to grow as they further incorporate women in all levels of their team.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Make sure that while working with Slingshot—or any other company—that you break everything down into the most basic elements because your project’s developers can’t be making assumptions. What might be second nature to you needs to be said. You can’t assume that anything is already known.

5.0
Overall Score They have fostered a transparent and stress-free relationship.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They have exceeded my expectations.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They charge a far more reasonable price than any other company we interviewed.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The product we ended up with was better than I had imagined.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I have recommended them to others, and they are all just as pleased with Slingshot's work.
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