STRV

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

It’s difficult to assess the accuracy of need finding and problem validation in their early stages. However, six months removed from the project we found that many of their hypotheses were correct. Their process helped ensure that we didn’t diverge too far from our plans, which saved us time and money.  

How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?

Our teams worked well together. Our product manager even came from the Czech Republic to visit for a week, and we had a chance to work together in person.

Our project manager took a lot of responsibility and leadership in running the project. Because they were in Europe, we’d go to sleep with discussion notes, and wake up with an outline of what was worked on, with next steps. It was impressive that they managed the process so efficiently; it allowed us to focus on other aspects of our operations, such as technology development and fundraising.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We felt we were getting great value for what we were paying, which is important to us as a small business where every dollar is so precious. The team understood our financial constraints and helped us to craft a plan and realistic milestones. Outsourced teams usually charge as much as they can, but it felt very different with STRV. They reflected the same level of efficiency with our resources that we would expect from ourselves, internally. They made sure we had a successful outcome, even though it didn’t necessarily translate into more income for them.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It took us a little longer to familiarize their team with our industry. It would have been better if we could’ve gotten them up to speed quicker, but I don’t know what we could have done to help that process.

There was also a period where we needed to change designers, which was actually a great shift for us. Unfortunately, there was some time wasted with the first iteration of designers. We would certainly work with them again, even with some of those challenges.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

In general, it’s best to be clear about desired milestones and to have check-ins to remain on track. It’s definitely easy to have someone else come in and manage the process, but it’s important to keep a close watch on how much work should be outsourced and how much should be internal. I would suggest assessing what stage of competence your company is in; sometimes it’s crucial to the learning curve of your business and your team to keep certain responsibilities and jobs inhouse. Finding that balance with STRV was key, even though they were providing high-quality services for us.

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

Our primary goal has been to deliver the beta iOS SDK and to fix bugs across both versions, and they’ve been successful there.

How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly manage the project from our side, working with their engineers in daily stand-ups in a large team format.

What did you find most impressive about them?

The quality of the engineering is excellent, and their staff is very engaged with our project. Rather than telling them what to do and expecting a final product, we share a real collaboration. They work with us to figure out the best approach and provide a lot of suggestions when tackling engineering problems.

In terms of business logistics, I appreciate that they’re willing to work within our budget and timelines. That sort of participation has been very proactive from their side.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The toughest part of working with them is navigating the time zone differences because they’re based in the Czech Republic. Occasionally, their engineers have visited for a few weeks so that we could work on projects side by side, and the team is pretty flexible about our schedules. But having more in-person meetings would be great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?
 
There’s a huge number of engineering companies out there, but STRV has high-quality engineers. If you’re looking for good work, they’re the ones to go to.

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

Everything STRV has created has been really well received by our team. The quality of the code is excellent, and they’re involved in the process from start to finish. Their team is always able to execute on time and really understands the task at hand. 

How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?

STRV is fantastic at project management, bringing my team into the fold. They have high standards for how the process works. Our product development director was very assertive. She has a very extensive background and it made our collaboration successful.

Our teams communicate through Slack and email. Despite the distance, they’re exceedingly responsive. The speed of their response time is unwavering. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

STRV is all about the relationship and the partnership. They’re good at achieving because our product matters to them too. It doesn’t feel like they’re outsourced, it feels like they’re part of our team. That isn’t something that’s easy to achieve in this space.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything they could improve on. 

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The instinct, especially if you’re in the startup business, might be to find a team who can get it done for the least amount. I’d advise against that. If you’re spending a little bit more, you’ll actually save in the long run. That has been my experience with STRV.

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

Our team spent weeks trying to figure this out, and STRV finished the full project in five days. I can count on them to get the job done and get it done quickly. For example, at one point we had a hard two-week deadline on a task that could have a huge impact on our company. It required the STRV team to work on code they’d never seen before. Long story short—they came through. They’re dedicated to getting the job done. Confident and competent, STRV strives to deliver what’s necessary for our projects, and they don’t get caught up in frivolous details.

How did STRV perform from a project management standpoint?

They were great. We held standups with developers at the end each day, so I could track their progress, and I had two meetings per week with the project manager. We were in touch on a daily basis, and I was always able to chat with the team if needed. I appreciated that latitude.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They took on our project as if it were their own, and working with them has been easy. We have great experiences with outsourced vendors from time to time, but it’s really rare for me to find a company that stands out as much as STRV has. On top of their knowledge and commitment to our project, they make me feel like I’m their only customer. They’re not concerned with money; they genuinely want to deliver a solution that fits our company’s needs.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s not a single thing that I would change about working with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Hire STRV—don’t look anywhere else.