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    Marina del Rey, CA
    424.465.2525

Never outsourced. Unmatched execution and design.

5.0
12 reviews

Swenson He develops high value, high impact mobile app solutions that are never outsourced, with unmatched execution and design.

Our firm was founded in 2014 by two MIT alumni, Nick Swenson and Chao He, seeking to fulfill the increasing need companies and organizations have to build sophisticated, robust mobile apps. As a full-service firm, Swenson He brings ideas from conception to completion – projects that are otherwise impossible internally or with 3rd party developers accustomed to routine designs.

Our key to success is based in our engineering team, which fields some of the most talented young developers in the world, with experience and degrees from top technology companies and academies. Every project we undertake is staffed by a dedicated, vertically integrated, in-house team that is specialized to meet the unique demands of each endeavor. 

Swenson He engineers tackle every step in the build as an individual problem, with a sheer focus on intelligent design, precision & efficiency. As a firm, we have institutionalized a ‘final 1%’ method – with every step, our engineers ask themselves what more they can do to ensure a superior result, contributing to our commitment to a best-in-class level of quality and sophistication.

Ultimately, we are driven by the philosophy that strong mobile technology changes lives in meaningful ways, and it is our goal that each one of our projects advances this cause. We are dedicated to constantly pushing the cutting edge forward, always questioning the limits of what an app can achieve.

READ MORE...
 
$25,000+
 
$150 - $199 / hr
 
10 - 49
 Founded
2014
Show all +
Marina del Rey, CA
headquarters
  • Swenson He
    13274 Fiji Way, Suite 140
    Marina del Rey, CA 90292
    United States
    424.465.2525

Portfolio

Key clients: 
  • simplehuman
  • Stanford Medicine
  • SharkNinja
  • Rest Devices
  • Hitch Radio

 

Reviews

5.0
12 reviews
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Native Mobile App Dev for Online Cashback Rewards Program

“They’ve treated us like we were their only and most important customer.”

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
Dec. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Swenson He designed and developed a native mobile app for both iOS and Android. The largest feature they implemented is a character recognition system that automatically reads user receipts and issues cashback.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Los Angeles, California
Brandon Castaneda
CEO, WaBee Inc.
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

They revitalized a previously failed project. Providing more tools and integrations than previously thought feasible, Swenson He is developing apps that impress with designs that excite. Their professionalism stands above industry standards and qualified staff offers a hands-off management approach.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the founder and CEO of WaBee Inc. We’re a mobile app that functions as a rewards/customer acquisition platform that gives users cashback on purchases.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

We initially developed the app with a freelance approach. A project manager here recruited freelance developers from overseas. Unfortunately, the build they created was terrible. When starting this project we had to consider if it’d be feasible to salvage what we already had or completely start over. Either way, we needed to add new features to facilitate working with nonprofit organizations.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Swenson He was involved in early stage project planning and design. We spent about a month planning the project and another month designing the app with all its features and functionalities. We chose not to use any of the existing code because it was done in .NET. Also, the apps were built on a hybrid platform that's not supported anymore. We decided to completely redo the app’s backend to enable future scaling of the business.

They developed native apps for iOS and Android. They advised that native apps would best utilize the capabilities of each device and provide the experience we wanted. It's a massive project, but the main feature they're adding is an optical character recognition (OCR) software development kit (SDK) into the app that allows the system to start reading customer receipts. This is a vital component because it enables customers to claim their cashback by scanning the receipts and uploading them into the app. Before engaging with Swenson He, someone had to manually read every receipt and input that information to issue cashback. The OCR currently reads the date, time, and amount. However, they're already integrating technologies to get the process completely automated.

Other integrations include Google logins and an extensive amount of third-party apps for data analytics and other functions. Such additional integrations include Stripe, Paypal, Twilio, Plaid, and Pushwoosh. Pushwoosh allows us to send out notifications to users on both platforms and can even target notifications to specific areas. One of the more significant integrations is with Algolia, which is a search API that gets plugged in with storable data and creates high-speed search capability.

Swenson He is also developing our backend dashboards for merchants, organizations, and our sales team, account managers, and corporate administration staff. This allows organizations trying to raise funds through the app to log in and track how much has been raised and who donated. They developed around 125 admin dashboard panels, individually.

What is the team composition?

About 14 people work on the project. We communicate directly with the project manager.

How did you come to work with Swenson He?

As a result of our previous experience, we were very hesitant about letting another vendor take over development. We interviewed 20–25 local development companies and laid out the state of the project. We wanted a firm that had insight into new technologies and could give us feedback to further improve the app.

Swenson He was found via Clutch and they were the second group we interviewed. They exuded a pleasant atmosphere and intended to do everything in-house. It was hard to compare everyone else to them because they were on every point we needed.

How much have you invested with them?

The whole project is costing about $540,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2017 and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

The apps are still under development and set to go live in April of 2018. Swenson He’s team has made great progress and presents all deliverables on time. The difference between what they’ve developed versus the original version is night and day. We're going to have so many tools in the app that weren’t even on our radar before. Also, we gave them creative freedom over the designs we had and they delivered awesome stuff. Now, everyone seeing the new app is very excited and they love the whole look of everything. Swenson He took an app without any real uniqueness or character and created something that stands on its own.

How did Swenson He perform from a project management standpoint?

We communicate in several ways like Slack, email, and phone calls. We do weekly check-ins and if I need something, I call or email them and they get back to me right away. But what's really great is their hands-off approach. They give us the chance to know important things and update us if something needs our attention right away. Other than that, it almost feels like no one is working on the project from our side because we usually only hear reports once a week.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We’ve been to their office several times at vastly different hours and there are always people working. Everybody looks like they enjoy what they do and dresses nice. No one just comes in flip-flops. Seeing that level of professionalism put my mind at ease. Additionally, both owners are MIT graduates and have severely vetted the entire staff. They highlighted their hiring process and introduced some of the developers working on our apps. That experience is what sold them to us.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They’ve treated us like we were their only and most important customer. I don't have much feedback on things to improve. They've been doing a great job.

5.0
Overall Score Everything's been great. The team is super helpful.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    So far, they’ve completed everything on time.
  • 4.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    It cost more than we would have liked, but the value is certainly there.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    We’ve learned to prioritize working with professionals over saving money.

iOS Dev for Mobile Camera App

"There is a really close connection between them and our project, which makes our relationship more compelling."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
June 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Swenson He is developing an interactive camera and video sharing iOS app with e-commerce capabilities. The team provides full-service development of frontend, backend, UI/UX and product architecture.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Los Angeles, California
Derek Siegel
Founder, Mav Farm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The product has not yet been launched, but has attracted investors and partners due to the high-quality work of Swenson He. The team consistently demonstrates a passion for the projects they take on. They communicate well and inspire confidence in their abilities.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the founder of Mav Farm, an interactive mobile camera and a shoppable video sharing e-commerce platform.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

We needed help to develop our platform.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement? 

We did some UI/UX designs before bringing them on board, but they helped fill in the design gaps and then applied architecture, and planned the product build for launch. Right now, the app is only on iOS. There is also a web portal for businesses.

It’s a social platform, with both social features and video sharing. They integrated it with the e-commerce capabilities. It is a 3-pronged product with commerce, video sharing, and social media. They took care of all three components, building it from the backend to the frontend, and there is some open-source software as well as APIs/SDKs.

What is the team dynamic?

For the first three months, we had a part-time project manager, who will be full-time moving forward. We started off with two people from their team, and now have an additional four full-time resources working on the project including developers and designers.

How did you come to work with Swenson He?

We found them on Clutch. We are a start-up and need a lot of counsel and support in many different ways. On top of that, we were looking for long-term partners, although we currently have a finite relationship defined by an agreement. Even if it something that isn’t set out officially, that is always the goal when you work with anyone, and it ended up being the decision maker in working with them.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent $300,000—$600,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in June, and the project is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We are still pre-launch, but our biggest success has been that we have been able to work with businesses that sell products, as well as media companies who help those brands advertise in their media content. We have been able to lock down some high caliber businesses as both customers and partners, even before the launch. We can credit Swenson He for much of this, as they allowed us to demo our product to those partners.

How did Swenson He perform from a project management standpoint?

I couldn’t have asked for more. They were always on top of things. I am a huge fan of communication, and I think the project manager is amazing at that. Even the directors of Swenson He were in close contact when needed. It makes me feel a lot more comfortable since we do  have that good communication. We use Trello for communication, as well as phone calls and emails.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Overall, they have a passion for the projects they take on. They made it apparent, even before we started with them, that they wouldn’t work on just any project. They showed deep interest in what we were working on, and that passion has only grown. There is a really close connection between them and our project, which makes our relationship more compelling.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Overall, I am really happy with everything that has happened and is currently happening. I have a lot of confidence in working with them into the future.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When you work with another team, you have to compromise some of the ideas you had before engagement. I think it is always a good thing to find a partner who’s feedback you revere. Be open to that feedback from very passionate and experienced people.

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

iOS Mobile App Dev for Acting Social Media Platform

"If I ever need anything, it is addressed immediately, which is incredible."

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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
 
Jan. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Working from a detailed requirements document, Swenson He developed an iOS social media video sharing mobile app. Swenson He will remain on the project through beta testing, official launch, and maintenance.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Los Angeles, California
Stuart Alexander
Founder, Scenebot
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Thanks to Swenson He’s high-quality development, the first week of beta testing attracted 200 engaged users who created 1,000 videos within the app. Swenson He’s dedicated resources are engaged and responsive, providing answers to all requests immediately and even on weekends.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the CEO and Founder of Actually, Inc. and Scenebot, which are two apps geared towards the entertainment industry.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

The first app, Scenebot, was already released. We thought the scope for the second app was bigger and more labor intensive, so we needed a different group to develop the app. We wanted a company that does everything in-house; we didn't want them farming out anything to any other contractors or subcontractors or going overseas.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We came in with a very detailed requirements document. I recommend always having a detailed document when you approach a developer because that will lead to an honest quote. We learned this previously, so our document was very detailed and the quote was very accurate. Nick Swenson [Founding Partner, Swenson He] and Genesan Kim [Client Services Director, Swenson He] were our two contacts. Genesan was phenomenal and acted as the liaison between us and the development team.

The app has been developed for iOS. In early 2018, we will be developing for Android. It is taking longer to develop than the first app because this one is very intense – it is more than your average app because it is very interactive and it is connecting people across the world. Swenson He is delivering more than we thought possible, which is very impressive.  

The app is a social media video sharing app. People interested in acting can do 30-second movies with friends or strangers around the world and have it all cut together into one piece. You can share the videos across YouTube, Instagram, or within the app itself, which is a social media platform where you can gain fans and followers. The app has options to do preset movies that we do or options to do your own content in an independent format.

What is the team dynamic?

We had a designer at Swenson He doing the design and outline of the look and feel of the app. We originally had a three or four person team doing the frontend and backend development; now that we are a month into beta testing with 400 people in the app, we have a two person team. We don't have anybody on our end doing development because all of the development work has been done by Swenson He.

How did you come to work with Swenson He?

We met with eight different teams that we found on Clutch. We interviewed all of the companies and were most impressed with what Swenson He had to say and what they put together for us, which made us excited us to go with them.

When comparing the eight companies, a lot of the previous work was equal across the board; all of their finished products looked great. One thing that stood out about Swenson He was that when we first met with them, they had their developer build a rough version of the app to present to us with their concept and vision for the app. We had a working demo when we came in for the initial meeting which was very impressive.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent around $600,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2017. We just engaged them to do a second app for us, which they just started.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

In the first week of beta testing, there were 1,000 videos made and 9,500 videos viewed by 200 users. Those numbers were beyond anything Swenson He had ever seen which is pretty impressive.

We're still refining the app. The look and feel are off the charts and that was our mandate. The app has facial recognition filters like Instagram or Snapchat, and our mandate was that it needs to look on par with these apps. Swenson He has accomplished all that we have required within our budget and our timeframe, which is impressive.

How did Swenson He perform from a project management standpoint?

Fantastic. Our point person keeps me updated daily and on weekends. If I ever need anything, it is addressed immediately, which is incredible.

They have project management tools. However, I prefer our weekly meetings and our daily phone calls. If I need an answer to something, I pick up the phone or I send an e-mail and I have an answer immediately.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They are full service without going overseas or farming out to subcontractors. Because of this, you know that your project is safe and secure. They provide one team and that team stays with you. Even as people dropped off of some of the other projects, there has been one specific developer that has been our point person throughout the entire project, and he will stay with us throughout launch and maintenance. It is important to have the same team dedicated to you so you never have to figure out who to contact; you have your team, they're solid, and you can rely on them. That's really important to me. They have been fantastic collaborators and perform more like partners on the project than a dev shop.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can't think of anything.

5.0
Overall Score I have not had one issue with anything since we started working together in January.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They have met every single deadline. Every single meeting has been on schedule. Even when I add something last minute they turn it in on time.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    We are getting our money's worth. I don't have a broad wealth to compare cost to what other companies offer, I am getting value for every dollar spent.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The quality of the product has met or exceeded expectations every step along the way.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    We hired them for our next app as well.

Mobile and Web Development for e-Commerce Platform

"Swenson He is able to meet our deadlines faster than the other companies we’ve tried."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
2014 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Swenson He first developed a mobile app for an e-commerce retail platform. Currently, they are working to build out extensions and features on the e-commerce website, mostly working in Magento.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
Los Angeles Metro Area
Web Developer, e-Commerce Platform
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The high-quality and success of the mobile app has led to additional projects and a long-term, valuable partnership. Swenson He’s team works quickly and meets all deadlines. They are easily accessible and responsive to queries, and their team constantly works to fully understand all requests.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We sell high-end household wares and goods including trash cans, mirrors, shower caddies, dish racks, etc. I’m the senior programmer web developer primarily focusing on the e-commerce website.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

Originally, we hired Swenson He to build our mobile app which involves liners/soap and subscriptions. Customers who buy our cans and pumps can receive liner and soap that goes with it. We have a subscription program for this that works mainly through our mobile app. Since they were involved with that and it was integrated into our Magento e-commerce cart, they also helped us with some Magento development work. Swenson He is helping to build out extensions and features for our website.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Swenson He built an IoT [Internet of things] app that can be downloaded from the App Store and that links our product with the type of liner code that it’s for. Then it will send off the subscription. The user can set how often they want to be reminded about buying a new liner. Swenson He helped build the ability for the app to interface with our e-commerce web store such that orders are handled seamlessly on the backend. Swenson He also helped with our new sensor mirrors which are Wi-Fi capable. You can control lighting through a smartphone. In the future, we want to incorporate a more mobile friendly payment like Apple Pay on our website.

Magento is built on PHP, so Swenson He is developing using that and HTML, SQL, jQuery, JS, and CSS. I also use them as a resource for database and server optimization and troubleshooting for both of those. They’re knowledgeable in both architects, so I lean on them for second opinions. They also help interface with our managed hosting company. We use GitHub, and we’re going to be switching over to a more streamlined deployment through Capistrano which they already use for their stack. They seem well-versed in the latest technologies. I communicate with 3–4 team members from Swenson He.

How did you come to work with Swenson He?

I wasn’t involved with hiring Swenson He for the app side. We have recently gone through a couple of companies on our system integration side for our e-commerce cart for Magento, and none were able to meet all our needs. Swenson He has now taken on more of the load for e-commerce development, and they’re ramping up their staff to accommodate us. We look forward to continuing our relationship with them. One of the reasons we continue to work with them is they’re very accessible and responsive. Their team is very smart, and they are very flexible in doing research if there’s something they don’t understand. They’re very friendly and good to talk to. They talk to us in a way that we can understand and explain anything we don’t understand. I really like that about Swenson He.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in 2014. The work is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

I don’t make the decisions of who we hire, but I know if we don’t think Swenson He's team is doing a good job, we wouldn’t keep using them. They did a good job with the mobile app as the first project, and then we moved into other projects including the e-commerce side. We like their speed and quality of work. They seem to have fewer hoops to jump through to get work done compared to other companies. That’s a testament to our close relationship with Swenson He as well.

How did Swenson He perform from a project management standpoint?

Swenson He is able to meet our deadlines faster than the other companies we’ve tried. We communicate through Slack on a daily basis and use GitHub and Asana for project management and weekly meetings.

What did you find most impressive about Swenson He?

I’ve been impressed with how smart they are. Anything that Swenson He's team isn’t expert at, they find a way to learn or hire the right people to get it accomplished. When it comes to the things that they are well-versed at, they know what they’re talking about. They’re always striving to get better and willing to learn new things. With development of new technologies, various issues will arise, and so one needs to be able to rely and depend on their developer team to resolve them. If a developer leaves you hanging, it’s not a good feeling. Swenson He not only has accountability for the things they’re building, but they also help interface with other third party developers as well to get the support we need. We’ve worked with many firms who don’t provide support once the project is complete.

Are there any areas Swenson He could improve?

One thing we noticed is that in their effort to stay highly efficient, they are on rare occasions too quick to deploy certain features. For example, we might see something on our test server that’s not where it should be, or they jumped ahead of where we thought it should be. While we appreciate the gusto of getting things done, that can cause some confusion. Swenson He has already recognized this, and they are working to improve it.

5.0
Overall Score Our experience with Swenson He has been great.
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Swenson He is good with timelines unless there are extenuating circumstances where they need to help with something else. If I need a deployment late at night, they help out.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Swenson He provides a good value for the amount of work they do. They take accountability if they’re fixing a problem of their own. They don’t overcharge.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I would highly recommend Swenson He.

Mobile App Development for Stealth Startup

"The Swenson He team worked fast and well. The UI/UX for the mobile app was simple yet functional."

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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
 
Nov. 2016 - Jul. 2017
Project summary: 

Swenson He designed/developed a responsive, user-friendly iOS app to control an IOT massage chair. They also built a website to manage customer support and optimize backend engineering capabilities.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
Los Angeles Metro Area
VP of Product, Stealth Startup
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Swenson He offered technical expertise paired with confident project management. The team implemented effective design strategies, delivering a solution that would scale with a growing company.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a venture-backed startup in stealth mode that is planning on selling internet connected, high-end massage chairs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

Our internet connected massage chairs needed an app to control, schedule, and customize massage programs. We also wanted a website with a management dashboard to be able to offer customer support and simplify updating processes for our engineers. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?  

Swenson He handled app design, graphics, and functionality (UI/UX), and interfacing with Centurian’s hardware team. They developed all the iOS/Android software. The apps are designed to control, schedule, and customize massage programs. Currently, Swenson He is building out a website management dashboard for customer service agents to help customers fix problems on the phone as well as for engineers to update their products. 

How did you come to work with Swenson He?
I met Nick when we were students at MIT and we have stayed close since. This was a great opportunity to mix business and personal life.

How much have you invested with Swenson He?
After 4 months, our billable to date amounts to $300,000 - $350,000.

What is the status of this engagement? 
We started working with Swenson He four months ago. The full length of the project is expected to be 8 months. We're currently engaging in building the website management dashboard.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement? (key results, successful metrics, or notable achievements)
The Swenson He team worked fast and well. The UI/UX for the mobile app was simple yet functional. For the backend part of this project, they provided a custom solution based on their Zip Network, a fast, reliable, customizable, and scalable network that determines which server is closest to our customer so that they can connect to their device no matter where they are. This will allow us to provide a long-term, reliable solution as our business grows.

How did Swenson He perform in terms of project management?
Throughout the project, onsite meetings between the engineering teams and project managers ensured quality development, follow-up, and management. We interfaced using JIRA and other project management tools. 

What did you find most impressive about Swenson He?
The most impressive/distinguishing factor is that they never outsource their work: the entire team is in the LA office. Not only that, but the team is highly qualified with experts in best practices and the ability to deliver a simple but highly functional mobile app paired with a custom backend solution.

Are there any areas where Swenson He could improve?
Swenson He did a great job owning the project, but that sometimes meant that we weren’t always aware of project status in real time. Swenson He was always responsive when we asked, but they could communicate more consistently and proactively.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Swenson He?
See above: make sure to proactively communicate with Swenson He.  Swenson He is also very receptive to feedback throughout the development process, so don’t hesitate to engage with them here.

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

App Development for Iot Massage Chairs

"Swenson He was always responsive whenever we had questions ..."

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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
Project summary: 

Swenson He partnered with an internal hardware team to deliver app design, iOS/Android development, and UI/UX functionality. The apps are designed to control, schedule, and customize massage programs. 

The Reviewer
 
1-10 Employees
 
Los Angeles, California
VP of Product, IoT Startup
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The Swenson He team is complimented for working fast and keeping all of their development capabilities in-house. This client also highlights the UI/UX of the mobile app was simple yet functional.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a venture-backed startup in stealth mode that is planning on selling internet-connected, high-end massage chairs.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

Our internet-connected massage chairs needed an app in order to control, schedule, and customize massage programs. We also wanted a website management dashboard to be able to offer customer support and simplify the update processes for our engineers.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Swenson He handled app design, graphics, and UI/UX [user interface/user experience] functionality, interfacing with our hardware team. They also developed all the iOS and Android software. The apps are designed to control, schedule, and customize massage programs. Currently, we’re engaging in building out a website management dashboard for customer service agents to help customers fix problems on the phone as well as engineers to update their products.

How did you come to work with Swenson He?

I met Nick, the founder, at MIT and we have stayed close since. This was a great opportunity to mix business and personal life.

How much have you invested with Swenson He?

After four months, our billable to date amounts to $300,000–$350,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Swenson He four months ago. The full length of the project is expected to be of eight months since we’ve currently engaged in more work for the website.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

The Swenson He team worked fast and well. The UI/UX for the mobile app was simple yet functional. For the backend part of this project, they provided a custom solution based on their ZIP Network, which is a fast, reliable, customizable, and scalable network that determines which server is closest to our customer so that they can connect to their device no matter where they are. This will allow us to provide a long-term, reliable solution as our business grows.

How did Swenson He perform in terms of project management?

Throughout the project, onsite meetings between the engineering teams and project managers ensured quality development, follow-up, and management. We interfaced using JIRA and other project management tools.

What did you find most impressive about Swenson He?

The most impressive or distinguishing factor is the fact that they never outsource their work: the entire team is in the LA office. Not only that, but the team is also highly qualified with experts in best practices and the ability to deliver a simple but highly functional mobile app paired with a custom backend solution.

Are there any areas where Swenson He could improve?

Swenson He did a great job owning the project, but that sometimes meant that we weren’t always aware of the project status in real time. Swenson He was always responsive whenever we had questions, but they could communicate more consistently and proactively.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Swenson He?

Make sure to proactively communicate with Swenson He. Swenson He is also very receptive to feedback throughout the development process, so don’t hesitate to engage with them here.

5.0
Overall Score They were fast, great at meeting deadlines and efficiently managing the project. Their team is composed solely of experts in various fields and entirely based in LA which means that we had no bad surprises.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They not only delivered on time, but they were actually very efficient and faster than expected.
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    The quality of their work surpasses our expectations in terms of quality and functionality.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    They delivered high-quality, customized solutions and worked with incredible speed.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    Their expertise and work practices will enable them to take on any project and deliver the best solution possible with the highest quality.

iOS App Development for Mobile Startup

"Swenson He communicated well, answered all my questions, and was helpful in every respect."

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5.0

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

Swenson He was hired to develop an iOS app for the client, who had a specific technical challenge of pairing two phones cross-platform. Work just began in September 2016 and is ongoing, which includes initial design and beta as well as the final App Store-ready version.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 employees
 
Dover, Delaware
Mascha Moore
President, MM Mobile
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

So far, the client is extremely pleased with the work done by Swenson He, which was very quickly able to present the client with a functional proof-of-concept. The client has appreciated how responsive, helpful, and timely Swenson He has been and looks forward to continuing the work relationship.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the owner of a company that is developing a mobile application.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

I have a creative background, but I was trying to venture into the tech space and needed developers. I worked with 3 different teams and had 2 prototypes built, the latter of which was functional but didn't live up to my standards. I was looking for someone who could understand the product and build it to perfection.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

I had worked with another UI/UX [user interface/user experience] designer previously, but Swenson He suggested that there may be a better way to approach it and thus consulted their designer. We came up with a much more beautiful outcome. Swenson He is now developing the beta version of my iOS app, and then we will refine it to its final App Store-ready version.

How did you come to work with Swenson He?

I was working with a company in Silicon Valley and wasn't happy with the results. I talked to a few people and also visited angel.co. I came across Swenson He's profile on the site and was attracted by their claim of making builds that are 99% perfect. Although not that complex, my app needs to work without a flaw, or people won't use it. I need the ability to connect users within a matter of 2 or so seconds. If this isn't achieved, then there will be a big drop in usage.

How much have you invested with Swenson He?

The total cost of the app development will be in the $50,000–$200,000 range.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with Swenson He on September 2016, and we're within the first stages of the project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or the impact of the engagement?

After some initial visits to their offices, Swenson He was able to show me working examples of the app. Having previously built 2 other prototypes with other teams over a period of 9 months, I was impressed with Swenson He's speed.

They also suggested ways of improving my designs. I was hesitant at first, but in the end, the app turned out much more beautiful.

I'm pre-investment, and I appreciated Swenson He accommodating my budget and allowing me time to raise money.

How did Swenson He perform from a project management standpoint?

Swenson He communicated well, answered all my questions, and was helpful in every respect. Everything has been delivered fast and on time, which I found to be uncommon after working with other developers.

What did you find most impressive about Swenson He?

I appreciated that Swenson He showed me an example upfront of what would be built, which gave me confidence. I had a very specific, technical challenge of pairing 2 phones cross-platform, and I wasted almost a year trying out other companies in the US and abroad. Swenson He presented me with a functional proof-of-concept very quickly.

Are there any areas Swenson He could improve?

There's nothing that I would improve on so far. It's been a great experience.

What tips or recommendations could you share that might increase the likelihood of success with Swenson He?

I have no specific advice. Swenson He has been professional since our first conversation and guided me through the process.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    Swenson He is slightly more expensive, but I have wasted my time with cheaper options in the past.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

App Development for Smart Product Company

"The Swenson He team ... continually impressed with their keen thought process and outstanding quality work."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
n/a
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
Project summary: 

Swenson He was hired to do user interface design, storyboards and wireframes, and architecture mapping for an app to manage the client's smart product. The client will continue working with Swenson He to build the complete app.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 employees
 
San Francisco Bay Area, California
Founder/CEO of Smart Product Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Swenson He greatly simplified the app's setup process, the number of screens needed, and the architecture, thereby creating the framework for future scalability. The client highlighted their precision, quick understanding, and great listening skills as key strengths.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are a smart consumer goods company for people on-the-go. I am the founder and CEO.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

The project is still in active development, but basically we needed to build a complete app with which users could interact to manage their smart product. The first part of the project involved mapping out the architecture, user storyboards, wireframes, and feature set.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our goal was to understand the main user needs and create a high-level flow for the user interface. The biggest challenge was simplifying the setup process of the product and deciding the best way to build the app so that it remained incredibly easy and intuitive to use.

How did you come to work with Swenson He?

Their work with Simplehuman impressed me. I had worked with larger organizations before, and it would often take four weeks to get to a place that the Swenson He team got to in about 30 minutes. They are sharp, focused, and incredibly capable.

How much have you invested with them?

Sorry, this is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

The first part of this project was completed in less than a week. The team delivered on time and presented with precision. Overall, it was the equivalent experience of having all the pieces of your business puzzle cosmically line up. The Swenson He team intuitively understood what we needed and continually impressed with their keen thought process and outstanding quality work. We will continue to work together for the next part of the project, where we build out the app entirely.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any evidence that would demonstrate the productivity, quality of work, or impact of the engagement?

We achieved many things: (1) the architecture for the app, including a complete understanding of the steps to build the intelligence component and the backend; (2) a user interface flow for the app, including content, navigation, hierarchy, and the basic functionality of each screen; and (3) fully developed storyboards with a feature set summary.

Furthermore, the Swenson He team: (1) reduced the setup process from an average of 20-25 steps to simply 2 steps total; (2) clarified the way the user interacts with the app, thereby creating the framework for scalability, for future aspects that we intend to introduce; (3) streamlined the user experience by implementing a 50% reduction in the number of screens we had proposed; and (4) dramatically simplified the architecture by >90%.

Overall, the simplification of the user interface, experience, and architecture inevitably led to a dramatic improvement in every aspect of the app. It became an easier app to build with an undoubtedly easy-to-use interface and beautiful experience.

How did Swenson He perform from a project management standpoint?

They outperformed on every level. The project manager staffed to my project was a transparent and timely communicator; he worked around my needs for communication to make sure I received updates and information only as needed or only when I could act on them. This built a high level of trust and allowed me to focus on areas where I could add value.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their precision and quick understanding, not to mention their brilliant insights and intelligent questions. They are great listeners, which I believe is the foundation to their success.

Conversely, are there any areas of improvement?

No. I am completely excited to continue working with Swenson He. The reduction in stress I have from working with their fully competent team is exactly what every founder/CEO needs when building their company.

5.0
Overall Score A sincere pleasure and incredibly fun! High bandwidth communicators and precise, very high-quality delivery of items.
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    No delays, and dates given verbally were followed accurately. The Swenson He team also accommodated me in my last-minute travel.
  • N/A Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Outstanding and beautiful delivery of work, not to mention passion and precision when presenting.
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    Very likely. If I could acquire their team internally, I would.

App Development for Modern Homeware Manufacturer

"I've worked with a lot of developers, but Swenson He stands out from the average."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
4.5
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
2014 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Swenson He created a mobile app for the client, assisting with strategy and brainstorming and building wireframes, storyboards, and intial sketches. They currently provide internet-of-things maintenance and feature updates.

The Reviewer
 
51-200 Employees
 
California
Director of Creative Services, Modern Homeware Manufacturer
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The app is easy to use, has received good user reviews, and has had a steady increase in downloads and sales conversions. Swenson He is very motivated, proficient, and eager to help.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

We design trash cans, sensor mirrors, soap dispensers, and other high-end modern homeware. Our products are shifting towards connectivity; e.g., our mirrors and other products are Wi-Fi connected.

What is your position?

I was the e-commerce manager while working with Swenson He. I am now the director of creative services. Our relationship has pretty much stayed the same in terms of communication on new initiatives.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

We never had an app and definitely wanted one. Swenson He had experience in this area, and we were familiar with the brand that they'd built.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

Swenson He has built wireframes, storyboards, and initial sketches for us, as well as taking part in new advancements. They also helped in terms of strategizing and brainstorming. Whenever we reach a new challenge, we will include them in the open discussion. They're very good at giving us best-practice approaches and fresh ideas. Along with that, they're very good in terms of project management. I worked directly with them in making task lists and getting updates. We work on small projects within projects, which they organize for us.

How did you come to work with Swenson He?

One of their partners initially approached our company for another project. We had existing company ties through one of our employees. Swenson He reached out to us with a cool idea that they had for our website. It involved placing widgets on the site with which site users could share and ‘like’ a particular page. It wasn't exactly necessary with our brand, but we liked their proactive energy and skill, so we reached out to them three months later when we needed an app. We were confident in their skills, and they were excited to work with us.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

Sorry, this is confidential.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2014. We maintain an active relationship. Swenson He helped us launch the app on iOS. We also wanted to make it available on Android, so they helped us with that. We keep in constant communication for new app features and also for maintaining the internet-of-things side of our product.

The iOS app development took a little under a year. The Android version took two to three months to complete.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Our app is unique in the sense that it offers subscriptions not available on the website. We weren't expecting to see an extraordinary amount of sales coming from it, but we've seen a good amount. The ease of using the app has helped it grow. Users have given us good reviews for it, and our app downloads have been rising constantly.

How did Swenson He perform from a project management standpoint?

Swenson He is a very professional and highly motivated team. They're well-versed and knowledgeable within the app world, constantly documenting and educating themselves. I can't stand having to tell developers about a particular advancement in their own field, so I've appreciated their level of proficiency. They're also friendly and willing to help making quick fixes. Whenever we have a rush project, Swenson He will be in it alongside us. They don't fixate on hourly estimations and other details, but rather get on top of things.

What distinguishes Swenson He from other providers?

They're motivated, willing to help, and knowledgeable. I've worked with a lot of developers, but Swenson He stands out from the average.

Is there anything Swenson He could have improved or done differently?

For the most part, no. They're growing as a company, so more manpower would help at this point so that they can take on more projects simultaneously. When we wanted to expand to Android for example, they didn't have someone immediately at hand. It is completely understandable, given that their focus is iOS. It took a while to finally start the Android project because they wanted to find a good developer.

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

Web/Cloud Development for Broadcast Radio Startup

"There were some technologies that we didn't understand well, so Swenson He supplied the right expertise for these cases."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Oct. 2014 - Jan. 2015
Project summary: 

Swenson He provided web and cloud development services to help the client migrate from Parse to Google Cloud, since the old platform was experiencing difficult issues with the backend.

The Reviewer
 
1-10 employees
 
Los Angeles Metro Area, California
Mohamed Kamal
CTO of Broadcast Radio Startup
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Based on Swenson He's skilled analysis and planning, there was actually no need to migrate the entire infrastructure. Instead, Swenson He built a smaller and more targeted component that significantly increased user retention. The client was particularly impressed by Swenson He's technical and project management skills.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your organization.

The company that I was a part of when we worked with Swenson He was a tech startup offering live broadcast radio sharing.

What is your position?

I was the chief technology officer. I was in charge of managing all technological aspects within the company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What business challenge were you trying to address with Swenson He?

We'd had a huge issue with the backend part of our platform and wanted to migrate to Google Cloud from Parse. The main issues were performance, reliability, and scalability.

SOLUTION

Please describe the scope of their involvement in greater detail.

We hired Swenson He in order to get help migrating from Parse to Google Cloud. They helped us build a scheme for our database in order to understand how our app could function within its new location. They did an analysis of our current infrastructure, getting an image of exactly what we needed and picking out the right technology for us. We had a choice between using MongoDB and other technologies which would have worked for our current situation.

There were some limitations for our app, given that we're a radio streaming service. There were some technologies that we didn't understand well, so Swenson He supplied the right expertise for these cases, from streaming to encoding and so forth. They gave us a detailed plan on a weekly basis. We were assigned a project manager and two engineers for the work. I felt that their team became part of ours, integrating well.

How did you come to work with Swenson He?

We used to work in the same building as their company in a shared office space. I didn't know exactly what they did at the time, but we happened to talk to some of their team about our problems, and they gave us free information. To me, doing this means that the person I'm talking to knows their stuff. They eventually suggested starting a deep-dive relationship to find out what the ideal situation for us would be. We had a couple of meetings but also shopped around, looking at two other development shops. We decided to go with Swenson He.

Could you provide a sense of the size of this initiative in financial terms?

The total project cost was between $30,000-35,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started the project in October of 2014. The work completed in January of 2015.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Could you share any statistics or metrics from this engagement?

Based on the resources we were able to shift, we decided not to move the entire infrastructure. Swenson He built a small component for our project, which took 4 months to develop. It allowed to us gain significantly more user retention.

How did Swenson He perform from a project management standpoint?

I look for two things in hiring a team: project management and technical skills. Swenson He receives a 10/10 in terms of technical skills. Our project manager was always available for us, even though they were probably swamped with other projects at the time because they were smaller back then. Their project management and technical skills have been great.

What distinguishes Swenson He from other providers?

Their technical ability is off the charts.

Is there anything Swenson He could have improved or done differently?

When we worked together, their company had only been active for about a year. I've met with them recently, and it seems that they're expanding, so they've already solved their own problems.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They were expensive, but worth it.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I've already done it.