Design and engineering team that delivers
STRV is a software design and engineering company. Launching 70+ digital solutions every year, we stand out not with a wordy promise, but with a bulletproof track record.
We’ve had 25+ apps featured in app stores and have won over 20 design awards. Since 2004, we’ve built digital products for pioneers such as Boosted Boards, The Athletic and ClassDojo. Our first-class talent has been plugged into companies like Microsoft and Rich Uncles. And both Deloitte and the Financial Times have placed us on their fastest-growing companies list - twice.
We currently work out of Los Angeles, San Francisco, London and Prague - providing our clients with an international team of 200+ experts that always deliver.
Our experienced product managers, designers, engineers and QA testers -
- create digital products that consistently wow users, such as:
- Mobile applications
- Websites
- Backend infrastructure
- Internet of Things
- Augmented & virtual reality
- Machine learning
- Blockchain
- solve complex problems by offering services that:
- Bring your vision to life (Strategy)
- Fill gaps and enable rapid growth (Scale)
- Provide digital expertise (Skill)
- possess expert skills in modern technologies, including:
- Swift
- Kotlin
- React
- Node.js
- Go
- Cloud infrastructure
- DevOps
headquarters
other locations
Focus
Portfolio
Microsoft, The Athletic, AiFi, ClassDojo, Opkix, Rich Uncles, LegalZoom, Eaze, Hallmark, Songclip, Boosted
AiFi iOS App
AiFi brings a white label solution for cashier-free checkout. To automate stores worldwide, the team was looking for a longterm partner to help them dominate the global AI market.
Joining AiFi’s experts, our engineers, QA and product manager came in with a three-month deadline. With four of our engineers on the job, we hit the ground running. STRV delivered everything on schedule, including the first version of a consumer application that manages the entire customer interaction with the AiFi system—granting access to all AiFi locations, hosting credit card payments and receipts, tracking the number of customers in the stores and more.
Following this three-month run, we cemented our partnership by bringing in four other STRV engineers to support AiFi’s core development team and DevOps, as well as our designer to help design and implement a second version of the app.
Microsoft Azure DevOps
Microsoft’s Developer Tools Division is responsible for developer-focused products, including Azure, Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code and App Center. These cloud-based services enable organizations to build, manage and deploy first-rate software for their customers on a massive global network.
The biggest set of tasks presented to us involved improving the user experience for Azure’s cloud services, as well as designing new interfaces to integrate with Microsoft’s DevOps services. With STRV able to jump in with virtually no lead time, Microsoft could move faster and with far greater clarity on possible products, with no increase in its overhead.
OPKIX iOS App
OPKIX cameras give users the freedom to both live in the moment and capture it, thanks to a compact, thoughtfully designed hardware solution. To complete the package, it needed an app that would enable seamless video transfer, editing and sharing.
In just a few months, our team delivered the results OPKIX’s previous partners had tried to achieve for two years. After fulfilling our initial assignment of building middleware that connected the OPKIX device to the iOS and Android apps, our designers got to work on revamping the design, while our developers revised two years of sporadically defective code and at times built from scratch.
LegalZoom iOS App
LegalZoom is an on-demand, web-based platform that provides families and small businesses with easy, low-cost professional solutions for most legal needs.
STRV’s team of skilled iOS and Android engineers joined the in-house group at LegalZoom’s headquarters and created a bulletproof mobile solution that serves as a solid foundation for future iterations to address the constantly evolving needs of LegalZoom’s users.
Rich Uncles webdesign
Rich Uncles is a crowdfunded real estate investment platform that gives more people the opportunity to take advantage of commercial real estate investments.
We delivered a streamlined interactive investment platform, an admin panel for managing the business processes along with a reporting system and an online payment system with ACH.
ClassDojo iOS App
ClassDojo connects millions of users around the world in support of better classroom communication and experiences. So their apps had to be top of the class to make the grade.
The code our iOS and Android engineers designed side-by-side with the ClassDojo team formed a rock-solid foundation for the platform’s mobile experience; a foundation that continues to drive—and support—ClassDojo’s tremendous growth.
Feeln by Hallmark iOS App
Feeln is one of the largest video streaming-services in the US. It offers family-friendly content, including original TV series as well as Hollywood blockbusters and classic movies, on almost any device for a low monthly subscription.
The results of our collaboration were apps for Amazon Fire, Android TV, Kindle, Chromecast and new versions of iOS and Android apps. Thanks to the sleek new designs and improved functionality, the mobile and TV apps were featured several times on the iTunes App Store and Google Play shortly after release as well as on the Amazon Store and on all Sony Android TVs in the US.
The results of our collaboration were apps for Amazon Fire, Android TV, Kindle, Chromecast and new versions of iOS and Android apps. Thanks to the sleek new designs and improved functionality, the mobile and TV apps were featured several times on the iTunes App Store and Google Play shortly after release as well as on the Amazon Store and on all Sony Android TVs in the US.
Eaze iOS App
Eaze is a software platform and marketplace connecting adult consumers with licensed cannabis dispensaries and products. Amazing user experiences in onboarding, check-out and delivery were critical to its success.
STRV's team of designers dove into the multiple challenges at-hand to thoroughly redesign Eaze’s onboarding experience and its entire check-out process.
The results? A highly responsive website design, an iOS app that gets Eaze’s drivers where they need to go and a robust Android app design that meets the needs of both drivers and customers. And to stoke Eaze’s continued growth, its platform can now be used by dispensary partners to perform a wide range of advanced activities, including predicting demand levels for each region, optimizing product mix, adjusting demand in real-time and providing logistics software with state-of-the-art GPS tracking.
The Athletic iOS App
The Athletic, savvy digital media startup relies on subscriptions as well as brand-name sports writers — not ad revenue — to fuel its growth. The business strategy has netted the company millions of dollars in VC funding as well as a rapidly expanding user base.
We built the app from scratch. We started working on the iOS version while The Athletic was still in the beginning stages of Y Combinator. Three of our senior iOS developers were quickly able to deliver a working MVP to the YC judges’ panel.
Boosted iOS App
Enhancing the original electric skateboard experience. Boosted makes fun, fast, simple transportation, but it needed an app experience equal to the joy of a ride on one of its boards.
STRV got to tackling the Android and iOS needs all at once. Our design team reimagined the iOS and Android UI. But we didn’t stop there. With the apps fully functional, we began expanding the user experience, adding new smart features like ride recording and ride modes.
Songclip iOS App
A byte-sized musical addition to modern communication. As the world's only patented messaging API platform, Songclip offers a vast database of fully-licensed music clips.
Having previously worked with the Songclip team, STRV was able to begin designing and developing the app after just a few meetings. Once we understood the potential user base and what business purpose it would serve, we set up the tech stack. This involved the development of production-ready backend APIs that covered the consumer iOS app and the admin interface. And to deal with the Sony agreement, we implemented a DDEX standard.
Reviews
the project
Mobile App Dev for Video Platform
"The scope of their abilities is exceptional."
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 founder and CEO of Cinnamon. We are building video streaming platforms and toolkits for creators. We offer mobile and desktop apps at the moment.
What challenge were you trying to address with STRV?
Right after receiving seed investments from our investors, we had to make a decision as to whether we wanted to build our mobile apps ourselves or choose an agency that could deliver the apps to us within a certain period of time.
What was the scope of their involvement?
As a startup, we have to move quickly. We picked them to do the work on our Android and iOS mobile engineering as well as on the emotion detection AI.
What is the team composition?
There were 10 people that we worked with, including three Android developers, three iOS developers, one QA, one project manager, one AI specialist, and one backend developer.
How did you come to work with STRV?
Our engineering team is based in the Czech Republic. STRV is based in multiple locations, but they started off in the same city. Their track record made them pretty well known in this industry across the country.
We had a couple of options, but after a few calls and the technical specifications, we ultimately chose STRV for this project.
How much have you invested in them?
We have spent exactly $275,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in April 2020, and it is an ongoing relationship.
Most of the work had been completed by the end of August 2020. Now, we are only using their AI engineer for our needs and purposes because we managed to hire our own mobile engineers in-house.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
They have a sharp team. Not only are they eager and energized to commit to our projects, but we also admired how they proactively requested specifications from us.
They have been very helpful in guiding us through Apple and Android requirements for store approval. The entire team that has been working with us has remained focused on the quality and delivery of the solutions. Overall, we are super excited that we have had this experience–it has been educational for us.
How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?
I think the job has been done pretty well. Anytime they needed something, they communicate immediately without friction points. We've slowed them down a few times.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The scope of their abilities is exceptional. They know exactly what clients need and can adjust anything to adapt to those needs. The team moves companies from point A to point B.
Are there any areas they could improve?
We once gave them a challenging, vague request that we thought should've been completed more quickly. However, we should have been more clear about our needs from the start to avoid the resulting misunderstandings.
At the end of the initial project, I forgot we had any issues because our success overshadowed those negative feelings.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
I would definitely choose STRV because they shape ideas into functioning solutions that convert customers. They have the experience to advise and guide companies on the way. They've built hundreds of apps, so their expertise speaks for itself.
the project
App Development for Dating Platform
"STRV really took on our project as their own, approaching even the smallest tasks with great care."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I’m the Product Development Lead of heybaby. heybaby is the first dating app that puts the kid conversation front and center. Whether you see children in your future or have them already, heybaby helps family-minded people find each other.
For what projects/services did your company hire STRV?
We partnered with STRV in the very beginning, armed with little more than the concept and a basic wireframe. STRV was brought in to help bring our vision to life by shaping it and giving it direction.
We needed them to take us through their Discovery Phase, which means that they worked with us to define heybaby by establishing the foundation of what we wanted to make and where it would fit in amongst the competition. From there, the team tackled the design and development of the entire app, all led by their product managers, who worked with us to make sure no decisions were made without our own team.
What were your goals for this project?
We wanted to create a dating app that would breathe life into the dating game. There are tons of niche dating apps, but we felt there was nothing out there for family-oriented people who didn’t want to waste time with empty conversations or casual meetings that may not lead to anything.
How did you select STRV?
We were looking for a company that has made beautiful dating apps in the past and could bring unlimited expertise to the project. And we needed someone who had a set, proven process for bringing an idea to life from scratch. STRV was the clear choice. Because STRV has tons of experience with dating apps, we knew that the team was skilled and creative enough to help our app stand out.
Describe the project in detail.
Once STRV joined the project, we set up regular meetings, defined everyone’s role and scope of involvement, and worked together to analyze the user experience, crucial features that would cater to our target audience, etc. When everything was defined, STRV’s designer and developers got to work.
Apart from a detailed onboarding experience, the main focus was on security. Thanks to their prior experience, STRV knew which data analysis tools needed to be implemented to keep user information and the entire community safe, and we began working on eliminating scammers during the verification process.
What was the team composition?
We’ve had STRV’s product managers, developers (iOS, Frontend, Backend) and a designer all working on the project.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The project and cooperation are still ongoing. The app has been available in the App Store since March 2020, and the launch campaign is focused on the San Francisco Bay Area region in California - USA. So far, the reception from the users and the media has been very positive, and the app will gradually be promoted across all USA, and hopefully internationally.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
communicate everything clearly, with zero delays, is something we found incredibly valuable. From design aspects to the next steps in development, we always felt that our input was heard and taken into consideration.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
STRV really took on our project as their own, approaching even the smallest tasks with great care. They wanted to understand our motivations, our goals, our worries...everything. In terms of design and development quality, they’re absolute experts in what they do. The product manager is always thinking many steps ahead and evaluating each detail from all angles.
Designers take great pride in their work and aren’t satisfied with “good enough”. And engineers are clear masters of their craft. From day one, you really feel that your product is in safe hands. But despite all this know-how, they always ensured that every decision was a conversation. That’s a rare find.
Are there any areas for improvement?
The price is relatively high compared to some competitors. But of course, we knew this from the get-go and always felt that the quality coincides with the price. So it’s less of an “area for improvement” and more just something that inspired us to ask additional questions before closing the deal.
the project
iOS & Android Banking App Development for Fintech Startup
“They don’t just do the work; they go above and beyond and provide suggestions to make the product even better.”
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 startup. We focus on offering digital banking to smaller credit unions and banks.
What challenge were you trying to address with STRV?
We needed someone to help us develop a mobile solution for our next-generation platform.
What was the scope of their involvement?
STRV developed our mobile banking app. It includes all of the features you see with digital banking, such as login, transfer functionalities, and transaction history. They used Swift and Kotlin to develop the app, which is native iOS and Android.
They do have good designing sense, but we had hired a designer before we handed the app over to STRV for development.
What is the team composition?
We hired two senior iOS developers and two senior Android developers.
How did you come to work with STRV?
They were recommended to us. We used them before for our first-generation platform, and now we’re doing the second generation. They have the expertise.
How much have you invested with them?
We’ve spent $300,000.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in March 2020, and the work is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The quality of the code is really good, and the team is very good and experienced. They care about their work. They don’t generate sloppy code.
How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?
I manage the project. We follow an agile methodology and use Jira to check on the progress. They deliver on time and are very well structured. They know how to prioritize things. We have daily standups and use Slack to talk regularly. We use email occasionally.
What did you find most impressive about them?
They’re more experienced than I am in mobile development. They don’t just do the work; they go above and beyond and provide suggestions to make the product even better.
Are there any areas they could improve?
They did a really good job. We’re very happy with them.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Make sure you check the developers’ resumes for the experience level you’re looking for. Work with the manager to lockdown the scope of the project and make sure it can fit into your budget.
the project
iOS App Design & Development for Travel Platform
“They’re really thorough and know what they’re doing.”
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 Daytrip, an online platform. Our users can book private drivers for leisurely trips all over the world.
What challenge were you trying to address with STRV?
We needed someone to develop our iOS app. We also wanted a company that could master project management and development and really deliver on the product, as opposed to hiring cheaper competition or doing it in-house ourselves.
What was the scope of their involvement?
We initially hired STRV to design our app. Then, we were choosing between different agencies to develop the app after the design phase, and there were benefits to having the same company develop it.
They developed our iOS app, and they may develop an Android version in the future. Our customers will be able to use the app to book trips, manage bookings, find inspiration about tourist destinations, and get information during their trip. The app will have various safety features, such as enabling users to share their location with friends and family.
During the design phase, they shared the designs with us through InVision. They used Swift to program the app.
What is the team composition?
We had one UX designer and a project manager during the design phase. For the development phase, we had the same project manager and three assigned iOS developers.
How did you come to work with STRV?
We really wanted the final project to be full-service and to stay on budget and schedule. We trusted that STRV had the process in place to make this happen. They had the experience to give us a clear expectation of what we could expect for the 3–5 months of development, what the final product would look like, and how much it would cost. We chose them because of this. Their portfolio also showed us they could deliver really nice and functional products.
How much have you invested with them?
The design was €20,000 (approximately $22,500 USD), and the development was about €180,000 (approximately $203,000 USD).
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working together in October 2019, and the main part of the development was finished in May 2020. Now, we’re finishing up some details on our part, such as supplying the backend and making sure that APIs fit well together. The app isn’t released yet, but we’re testing the beta product and finishing up the API communication with the app.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
We got a nicely designed and working product within the scope and budget. They fulfilled the expectations we had for them.
How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?
Project management is one of their biggest strengths. We don’t have it in-house, and it’s important for an external agency to have. They were very proactive in communication. We had frequent meetings. We communicated with the team through Slack, and they also used a project management tool.
We knew what they were doing at all times. The project manager was there to step in if the developers weren’t on the same page or needed something. When the project manager sensed that the communication between our developers and their developers wasn’t ideal, she’d step in. They’re really thorough and know what they’re doing.
What did you find most impressive about them?
STRV really cares about the product as a whole. They want it to be usable. They pay attention to detail so that the end-user can enjoy using it. They work on it as if it were their own.
The project management is really good. The communication was very open, and we could quickly go through any questions or concerns on either side.
Are there any areas they could improve?
The project manager changed midway through the project. It would’ve been better if the new one didn’t have to come up to speed on the project. Our developers had to get used to working with a new person. However, the new project manager did successfully take over, so it wasn’t a big problem after all.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
Have really clear goals in mind when you start the project. Know what the project should achieve, and give the designer a lot of freedom in getting the design to a state where it can achieve those goals. They’re really good at designing mobile apps. It’s very beneficial to give them freedom in designing the user flows and the UI.
the project
Referral System Dev for Community Media Platform
"I can say STRV totally stands apart from any other vendors I have worked with before."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the co-founder and COO of a community-based media company at the intersection of pop-culture and entrepreneurship. We produce monthly events and create tailored content for our subscribers and members, the next generation of creative leaders across entertainment, music, media, tech, fashion & art.
For what projects/services did your company hire STRV?
Referral programs are one of the best ways to increase organic conversions at a low cost. These systems must be extremely frictionless and fun to use which makes developing them and designing the UI rather challenging. STRV developed everything from UI/UX design to frontend and backend development.
What were your goals for this project?
Our goal was to develop and easy and fun to use referral program.
How did you select this vendor?
We had heard great things from people we trust in the tech community. We reached out and felt really good about STRV after our initial call with one of the co-founders. We considered three companies and STRV was selected based on own internal vendor ranking rubric.
Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.
STRV developed the referral rewards system to allow frictionless sharing and earned rewards. Key. functionalities included multiple layers of transactional emails, a web app, and a database. The STRV team was responsible for end to end development including implementation into existing web properties and Saas services.
What was the team composition?
Account Manager, Project Manager, Designer, and engineers.
Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?
It's too early to be sure but so far we've seen really promising results. Increased engagement and organic referral behaviors have led to higher quality users jointing our platform and at a fraction of the cost.
How was project management arranged and how effective was it?
Our teams linked together via a shared slack channel. This is were weekly standup where conducted. A shared channel was easily the best way to keep this fast-paced project on track. Especially since slow feedback from clients is usually the reason for most delays. We were able to respond nearly in realtime with live feedback.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
The entire team from start to finish went out of their way to ensure that all our concerns had been addressed. They aired on the side of over-communicating which was really helpful. They keep us updated on completed and upcoming tasks almost daily and reminded us of their needs from us. I have worked with very many vendors and this is an area where I can say STRV totally stands apart from any other vendors I have worked with before.
Are there any areas for improvement?
Sometimes the team moved too quickly. We found ourselves trying to keep up with needs and requests for information that we as clients were expected to provide. I wouldn't have had it another way but this the only aspect of the project that was particularly challenging.
the project
App Development for B2B Payment Solution Provider
"It felt more like a partnership than a one-sided relationship."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I'm the VP of Product & Engineering at Teampay, a business-to-business payments solution for SMB businesses. We have hundreds of clients across multiple industries.
For what projects/services did your company hire STRV?
Our company had been around for several years, but had not developed a mobile application. Additionally, we had developed several products that would be well-served by a mobile app. Since we did not have any mobile development expertise, we decided to engage a third party to build our solution.
What were your goals for this project?
We wanted a robust mobile application on iOS. We wanted it coded cleanly so that we could eventually take it in house if needed.
How did you select this vendor?
We talked to at least five different vendors to understand their workflows, philosophies, capabilities, and prices. After much consideration, STRV seems like the best fit to us because of their ability to work within our existing tools and processes in a timely fashion.
Describe the project in detail.
We started with some basic discovery using the existing mobile web application as a guide for v1 requirements, and then STRV's designer took it from there. We had weekly calls to review designs and make sure progress was moving to schedule.
Once we moved into development, we continued the weekly calls. In addition, STRV was on our slack team, and we saw the results of their regular developer updates. The development team used our Github account, so we had full access, and they coded in Swift.
What was the team composition?
We had a project manager, a designer, and two iOS/Swift developers. As the project moved into development, the designer resource went away.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
We had a well functioning application in our hands within a few months.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
The workflow between our teams was seamless. Because they were on our Slack team, we were able to rapidly provide feedback. They always resonded in a timely fashion.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
I really liked the feedback we got from STRV on UX and design best practices on mobile. They provided great reasoning for why they made the choices they did, but we also willing to compromise if we had compelling reasons for wanting changes. It felt more like a partnership than a one-sided relationship.
Are there any areas for improvement?
Nothing comes top to mind.
the project
UX/Design & Android Development for Cosmetics App
"We haven't found any weak points during the cooperation. Third, perfect communication."
the reviewer
the review
The client submitted this review online.
Please describe your company and your position there.
I am the Manager Global IT CoE Online at a company that supported the global IT service in the cosmetics corporate. Our IT CoE is headquartered in the Czech Republic and it has about 200 employees. I oversee the development of our digital products on websites and mobile apps.
For what projects/services did your company hire STRV?
Our company decided to redevelop the current shopping mobile app with an ambition to build a basic digital platform for our customers. That's why the focus is primarily on the best UX/design experience and modern technical architecture. We needed to increase the experience in that area and we supported our team by experts from STRV.
What were your goals for this project?
The first goal of the project is a prototype where we can consider the UX/design quality and technical architecture. The next steps will follow.
How did you select this vendor?
We searched for a vendor in our region (Central Europe) to be able to meet personally at least time to time. We evaluated STRV as the best option based on their experience and excellence in the area of designing and development of mobile apps.
Describe the project in detail.
Once we selected this vendor we set up two streams of the cooperation. In regard to UX/Design, we started with an intensive workshop with our corporate designers and the project owner to be aligned in an understanding of the project, expectations, and basic rules. After that, the STRV designer elaborated and consulted the design of particular areas in regular iterations. In regard to development, we more profited from a mentoring role of the experienced developer.
What was the team composition?
In general, there were a product owner, a designer, frontend/backend developers and QA in the team. As mentioned, we hired just the UX/design position and a senior developer/architect. The project management was on our side.
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The project is still in progress. However, we can already predicate that the result of the phase of the prototype will be successful. Especially we can highlight very positive feedback on the design where our designers appreciate the experience in mobile apps. As well the developers bring the knowledge and experience that was expected.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
The hired experts were in almost daily contact with the product owner. The communication was perfect and the cooperation was smooth.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
First, what was already mentioned several times, the experience in mobile apps development. Second, the stability of the high-level skills and knowledge. We haven't found any weak points during the cooperation. Third, perfect communication.
Are there any areas for improvement?
The price is relatively high compared to the competitors. On the other hand, the quality is high too.
the project
Native Development for Legal Services Company
“The experience we’ve had while working with them has been great.”
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 mobile engineering manager at LegalZoom. We allow entrepreneurs, people who want to start a business. We offer easy, digital legal solutions for our customers.
What challenge were you trying to address with STRV?
We’re creating an app that will help out clients form an LLC, incorporation, or other classifications.
What was the scope of their involvement?
The app is a post-order product we use to finalize customer orders, users can ask questions, and they can track the status of their order, digital files about their company, chat with an agent or a chatbot. We wanted to build a modern mobile app that ties into our secure APIs, and other toolsets.
They built it from the ground up. Working with our internal teams, they created the architecture, engineering, design, and the product.
On the iOS side, they used Swift, and on Android they used various toolsets, SDKs, and native plug-ins to build a native experience.
What is the team composition?
We had a total of nine people on our team, including four iOS engineers, four Android engineers, and one UI/UX designer.
How did you come to work with STRV?
Someone on our team worked with them in the past and had a great experience. They loved that they were able to scale up quickly and still deliver a robust, clean code, that created the experience to the customers.
How much have you invested with them?
We spent between $5 million–$10 million
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in April 2017 and the project is ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
As time goes on, STRV continues to build the right product. They’ve been ahead of the curve in ensuring a great product and customer experience.
On the product side, we use Google Analytics to optimize leads and track metrics. We ensure that our customers are getting a great experience—whether that’s finding different defects or resolving confusion. We also track metrics on the hours each developer spends on a project and their impact. They’ve been overachieving on several levels. The experience we’ve had while working with them has been great.
How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?
From a project management standpoint, they’ve done very well. Communication has been amazing. We have monthly stand-in meetings, but if I need additional information, they’re always available to answer questions. Their door is always open.
There’s a ten-hour time difference between our team and theirs, but they still get back to us in a timely manner.
What did you find most impressive about them?
First, the ability to scale developers at a rapid pace. Second, they customize the development process. I’ve worked with other offshore teams in the past, and it’s been very difficult.
Their team had gone above and beyond. They actually sent a developer here to work out of our office. That’s a big deal. They’re able to join meetings, interact with us, and get to know what we really need.
Are there any areas they could improve?
At the beginning of our project, we had a few communication issues when rotating developers into our project. We had a few gaps between developers that would stall productivity. But, we’ve figured out the right process and are able to transition between developers smoothly.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
You’ll get high-quality engineers that work quickly and efficiently. They’ll definitely bring your business new customers. We had a great experience.
the project
iOS & Android Dev for Sports Media Company
"Our iOS developer cares deeply about our app, as much as any of our full-time employees."
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.
The Athletic is a subscription-based sports media company, and my position is CEO.
What challenge were you trying to address with STRV?
I was the only engineer at the time when we hired STRV, and we needed some engineering support for our mobile offering.
What was the scope of their involvement?
STRV built our initial iOS app and our initial Android app. They developed both from scratch while I created the API.
We were primarily responsible for the design, although STRV did come up with some great ideas. We had a separate design team at that point. They delivered an app that lets users subscribe to our service, read articles, favorite articles, and personalize their experience based on whoever teams they follow.
Now STRV is integrated into much larger teams. We still have them on board, but they work with our full-time developers who are based in San Francisco. We treat them as additional engineers.
What is the team composition?
In the beginning, it was two iOS developers and two Android developers. At one point, we reached three of each. For the majority of the engagement, though, we’ve had one iOS develop and two Android developers. We also have a project manager, but they are very hands-off with our project.
How did you come to work with STRV?
I have a friend who worked for SRTV doing sales in North America for them. He’d talked them up to me before, and I eventually got to know them and liked some of the work they’d done.
How much have you invested with them?
At this point, we’ve spent about $1.2 million.
What is the status of this engagement?
We started working with them in October 2015.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
The initial apps that they created were successful and enabled us to raise $100 million.
How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?
We haven’t experienced any problems. All of their engineers are experienced, and we have project managers on our side.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The personal ownership of the product stands out. Our iOS developer cares deeply about our app, as much as any of our full-time employees. That level of commitment makes a huge difference.
Are there any areas they could improve?
There was a short period back in 2017, where we had a few issues with an Android developer. STRV had a few folks leave their company, and, although it wasn’t their fault, we did feel the impact in terms of a lack of continuity. For the last two years, though, we’ve had the same person, and it’s been wonderful.
Do you have any advice for potential customers?
If you’re looking for a premium partner who’s focused on creating an app or a website that lasts, STRV is an excellent choice. I can’t comment on their ability to deliver MVPs or rapid prototypes, but I would put them in the highest end of partners who work in the capacity that we’ve hired them for.
the project
Platform Development for Real Estate Investment Company
“They’re there to help us and make our products as successful as possible.”
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 product finance controller at Rich Uncles, a company that sponsors multiple real estate investment trusts (REITs). Rich Uncles has developed an investment platform where investors can purchase REIT shares. The share proceeds are then used to purchase commercial real estate that have creditworthy tenants. Our REITs receive rent from the tenants and distribute that rent to shareholders in the form of monthly dividends.
The platform is quite complex and has multiple backend integrations with web application services to facilitate the capture of funds and the issuance of shares. Investors have a dashboard on the platform where they can manage their accounts, purchase additional shares, access their investment history, set their dividend selection, redeem shares, process transfers, update banking information, manage user security settings, etc. The platform not only gives users a point of reference to their investments but also to the REITs that the investments are in, the status of those REITs, and the assets that they’re purchasing.
What challenge were you trying to address with STRV?
When I came on board in 2015, Rich Uncles was working with a local vendor that had developed the first version of our website. However, we needed something a bit more sophisticated and robust. We were looking to integrate more web applications.
What was the scope of their involvement?
STRV redeveloped our platform and built new features. As we implemented more third-party applications, they took what had been previously developed and evolved it to what it is now. They helped us transition from a LAMP stack environment to a full JavaScript stack.
What is the team composition?
We have a pretty extensive team over there. It varies depending on the project, but we consistently interact with 4–5 individuals. If we need to add more developers, we’ll ramp up to 8–10 team members.
How did you come to work with STRV?
A business associate suggested that we reach out to STRV. We liked their products, and they had a robust team of front and backend developers who were well-versed in current technology. They seemed innovative and capable of catapulting us to the next level.
How much have you invested with them?
My company has spent somewhere in the range of $1–$10 million.
What is the status of this engagement?
Our work with STRV began in May 2015, and it’s ongoing.
What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?
Our projects are very event-oriented, so as long as they’re completed to our specifications, it’s been a success. STRV’s work has been well received by our internal team.
How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?
They’ve been great. Our current project manager is very thorough and looks at the past, present, and future. One of the things we appreciate is that they communicate very well. They’re also very realistic, and they’ll push back on timelines if our go-live dates are too aggressive.
STRV’s team is forthcoming and honest in the work that they provide for us. They’re there to help us and make our products as successful as possible.
What did you find most impressive about them?
The team is pliable, innovative, and creative, and they deliver on-edge technology. When it comes to development, they’re willing to ride the wave with us and make constant changes. For instance, if there’s a new regulation and we need to switch gears, they’re right there with us.
Are there any areas they could improve?
In everything, there is always room for improvement. Throughout my time working with them, I’ve seen STRV take strides to better not only elements of the platform but also our business relationship. As a young company, we’ve gone through lots of change that pushed and challenged us to hone the quality of our product. I can’t say I’ve experienced a period of time where we’ve seen any degradation in their work as a result of our fast-paced growth. STRV has been consistent every step of the way. Even anticipating certain changes and making adjustments resulting in favorable outcomes for us and our investors.
Any advice for potential customers?
Our experience is that STRV is the engine that will catapult you. Know what you want before you go to them, because they’re an open canvas and can create whatever you want. If what you want isn’t pretty, the picture they sketch won’t be either.
Remaining proactive throughout the engagement, the skills and demeanor of the STRV team have impressed the client. They have gone beyond the normal scope of developers' responsibilities and have guided the client through the requirements that must be met to publish an iOS or Andriod app.