Tepia Co

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the creative designer and co-founder of ArvzApp Inc. We’re a mobile device startup.

What challenge were you trying to address with Tepia Co?

We were looking for a new vendor to finish developing our app.

What was the scope of their involvement?

I was in charge of creative design for the app, and our previous developer had built an MVP. The Tepia Co team developed and coded the solution, implementing features that hadn’t been functioning properly, including active push notifications.

The app allows businesses to communicate with customers in real-time for a “know before you go” experience. It’s a digital marketing app that uses live cameras. It’s available on iOS and Android.

What is the team composition?

I worked daily with Dustin (Project Manager). I also interacted with another person from their team frequently and occasionally with Abraham (Founder).

How did you come to work with Tepia Co?

We found them through a Google search. We liked Abraham when we met. In the end, they won the contract because they offered fair pricing, and we liked what we saw and heard.

How much have you invested with them?

We invested between $45,000–$65,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from May 2019–September 2020.

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

The app went live about a month ago. We’re fixing bugs and things that don’t work properly now. We’ve had positive feedback from everyone who has seen the app.

How did Tepia Co perform from a project management standpoint?

They went above and beyond to make us happy. We communicated via email, text, and Trello.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They did well at understanding, following directions, and developing the intense structure our app had to follow. We worked together effectively to overcome all the hurdles we encountered.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

The more prepared you are, the better they can work for you. If you can work with Dustin, do it.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I'm the VP and operations manager of an engineering company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Tepia Co?

We have had an issue with document control and construction documentation. It seems to be pretty fragmented across a bunch of different platforms and templates.

Each one required a unique training session with those that were going to use it - a lot of whom were out in the field. Coordination was difficult because those inspectors at construction sites were working under a BYOD set up to bring your own device.

We had to figure out the model number they were using, what type of software they had, and whether or not it was a current version. We were really looking for a way to streamline and organize that.

We initially contracted a different, non-US based company, but we weren’t seeing the results we wanted for various milestones. We decided to move ahead and work with Tepia Co instead, so they started with us when everything was just a thought. 

What was the scope of their involvement?

Tepia Co actually took this project from its very early stages. It started off as one module, which was the main construction daily report module and then eventually transformed into seven modules. Now, I'm working on a couple more in version 2.0.

We're in the warranty phase right now that expires around March. We've already got a list of things we want for version 2.0 and version 3.0.

We had a very long wireframe phase and then design phase. Then, we moved on to Alpha, and now we're a little past beta testing. Where we actually have practical applications of it happening right now on different construction sites.

What is the team composition?

Our primary contact is Dustin (Project Manager) and they have some developers that are actually on Trello. They don't have direct contact with us, but they are there and we can see them respond to certain questions and concerns. 

The other person is Abraham (Principal) and he's more on the admin side. Whenever we want to enter into something new, or do a change order, or some additional work he's the one that contacts us and goes through that.

How did you come to work with Tepia Co?

We interviewed them and Abraham really presented the company well with a responsive team. Coming from just hiring someone who wasn’t local, I liked the fact that Abraham was local and promised a project manager who would be, too. I knew there wouldn’t be any time issues, communication barriers, or different time zones. 

Abraham seemed to understand our vision and was flexible, knowing we were still in the early stages. We really felt they would tell us when something is wrong or not right from a UX perspective. The things they were used to when developing other apps made me feel like they were thinking it through and couple apply that experience in other forums. 

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent in the ballpark of $125,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We’ve been working together since November 2014 and it’s ongoing. We're in the warranty period now, and we're already kind of working through what we want to develop next as part of this platform. There's a couple of other modules that we’re actually working through.

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

We haven’t rolled it out to the masses yet, but we do have one individual who is currently using it. He has been presented with different reporting tools in the past, but always resisted moving away from paper and pen. Now that he’s using our product, he is glued to it and says he’ll never go back. He says our tool goes beyond anything he’s tried. 

That feedback, coming from someone so adamantly against digital construction documentation, is a big measure of success for us. 

How did Tepia Co perform from a project management standpoint?

It’s been pretty excellent. We use Trello and whenever something on Trello starts going back and forth a little too much, Dustin sends in his availability and asks to get on a call to wrap things up faster. 

When they don't hear from us they're always checking in on us to get things moving. When it comes to us proposing extra things, they’re always warning us. There are no hidden things, there are no surprises. We know what's going on.

A couple of times, they agreed to do things on an expedited basis because they really needed to. They’ve even done work for us and found a way to do it without charging. They're definitely not the team that's going to nickel and dime and hold things over your head.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I would say Dustin is the most impressive part. He's really good at communicating his thoughts and even working in the background, trying to come up with different solutions to some problems, and presenting those. 

He’s also very good as a middleman between us and Abraham. When he knows that we really need a feature, he's willing to talk through that issue and figure out a way that we can do it so it isn’t as expensive or detailed. That's been a pretty big help because he has that experience whereas we don't.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I think everything has been pretty good.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Take their advice. They sometimes give you a list of things and they'll tell you there are three options but will recommend one for you. You should usually listen to them.

If you say something they think is not a good idea, take what they're saying. They're trustworthy, so they’re saying it for a reason. It's not so that they don't have to do the work or because it's going to be difficult for them to figure it out - they actually embrace that challenge. 

But when they say something is not a good idea, there's a reason behind it. Something that they know based on their application, based on the development of other applications means they know this is going to be difficult to implement or is going to confuse the user. 

We've gone the other way a couple of times and it turns out that they were actually right. We wish we had gone with them with their recommendation the first time. Just trust that process and it should be a good experience.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We’re a faith-based organization that operates a B2B, B2C, and donation-based business. All the entities are nonprofits, and I work as a pastor there.

What challenge were you trying to address with Tepia Co?

We had an iOS and Android app for a podcast that airs on many stations throughout the US. The platform was developed before I joined the company and was not in good shape when I started. The original developer was going to charge us an arm and a leg to correct it, so we looked for a new partner.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our main goal was to develop a functioning mobile solution quickly. Essentially, our requirements were to implement an RSS (RDF Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication) feed that would include a picture, inspirational scripture, and a blog post along with the audio. The app needed to be updated on a daily basis, with new audio and text. They prioritized speed and quality in the development, managing the project management as well.

What is the team composition?

I had a main point of contact but worked with about three people. 

How did you come to work with Tepia Co?

After going through a cold Google search for service providers, I found good reviews about their services on Yelp. I liked that they were local, and they were the strongest company I interviewed. They quickly understood our situation and truly approached the project with our best interests in mind. 

How much have you invested with them?

We probably spent about $20,000 on the project.  

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from about January–March 2019.

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

They pulled us out of a crisis moment very quickly, getting us a functioning app very quickly. Our customers and donors were ecstatic with the app as well, praising it through reviews. That impressed and satisfied our team.   

How did Tepia Co perform from a project management standpoint?

The truly excelled with project management. Our team had several other projects occurring at the time, so we needed someone on their end that would drive the development. They handled project management professionally, conducting reviews after every iteration. We appreciated that they documented the entire process, so everything that was spoken or completed could be referenced later. The project turned out great because of their project management skills. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

The ease of their process was spectacular. They made it quick and easy to collaborate.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they even followed up with me to answer questions our reviewers were asking about the product. They were always proactive.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the executive director of Destination Lancaster. We’re a destination marketing organization of the Visitors Bureau for the City of Lancaster in California.

What challenge were you trying to address with Tepia Co?

We needed a more cost-effective website that also met our needs. At the time, our website was expensive to maintain and complicated to use. It was built for a larger destination marketing organization.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Tepia Co created a website including a new backend. While their team pulled in aspects from the old website, they built the platform from the ground up. We had weekly meetings when our teams presented ideas and reviewed changes from the past week. The frontend design was a team effort too. We relied on their expertise, so the engagement was more of a partnership. Their team also built a mobile app that features different categories for visitors to load and access a quick guide on their phones. Their team also created training videos. If we need to complete a task, we can reference a video.

What is the team composition?

I worked with two people from Tepia Co.

How did you come to work with Tepia Co?

We brought Tepia Co onboard before I started at the company.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent between $50,000–$200,000 on their services.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began collaborating around March 2019 and their work’s ongoing. When users have comments or ideas, we reach out to Tepia Co and their team completes the project within days.

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

They created a user-friendly website with a backend that’s easy to navigate. We get great feedback from people who describe how fabulous the new site is. We requested a few tweaks that Tepia Co enacted quickly. For example, we wanted a submission form in the middle of a page for people to find easily. Their team made the change immediately. As well, their team completed an integration with an RSS feed of a museum and performing arts center within days of us asking.

How did Tepia Co perform from a project management standpoint?

We had weekly meetings via phone and after every call, their team provided a recap. There was never a delay in their work. Ideas we discussed in the calls were completed the next week. They kept on track and gave great feedback, so the engagement was easy.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their customer service is second to none. We can reach them easily and talk to a person on the phone directly. We don’t have to leave messages or follow-up several times

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, there’s nothing that comes to mind.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I recommend them highly. Everything I’ve asked them to do, they’ve researched and been able to do. They’re easy to work with and cost-effective.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of a company that prequalifies contractors for school districts. We’re located in California. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Tepia Co?

We needed assistance in developing our SaaS product.

What was the scope of their involvement?

Our product is a self-scoring automated system for contractors to streamline the prequalification process for school districts. This also assists all the California school districts in getting qualifies contractors. This web app solution removed the need for an expert to assist a district in obtaining prequalified contracted assistance. They developed the solution. 

What is the team composition?

I only had to deal with one point of contact who managed the project on their end. 

How did you come to work with Tepia Co?

Our team was working with another partner in northern California that ended up being a pain because of distance. We liked that they were a local business because that would eliminate some of the unnecessary back-and-forth over email. If we had a problem, I could drive over to them and discuss the issue face-to-face. At this point, he’s done a few projects for us. 

How much have you invested with them?

Our spend with them in near $100,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in 2015, and our teams always have an ongoing effort of some kind. We’re always trying to make things better.  

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

The product that he ultimately provided was excellent. Our final solution is fantastic and functions well.

How did Tepia Co perform from a project management standpoint?

The whole process was very smooth. They answered our questions as quickly as possible to ensure that we were always making forward progress. It was nice to have a designated project manager because I only had to recieve updates from one person. When we couldn’t meet in-person, we communicated through emails and phone calls. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

Their ability to understand and showcase my vision after starting from scratch was notable. He has great insights on how to build a successful mobile or web app. That’s helped me out tremendously.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’ve had a good experience with them.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

I’d highly recommend working with them. They can help you visualize your goals, and they’re easy to work with. Their artistic vision has helped get our product out there.  

Please describe your company and your position there.

We are an educational non-profit organization that promotes science and astronomy. We conduct out reach events at many schools and public parks every year by bringing telescopes and educating students and the public about the night sky. We also promote science education.

For what projects/services did your company hire Tepia Co?

Our original website was completely outdated and becoming unusable with current technologies. It was written in a programming language no longer supported, we hired Tepia to redesign and implement our website and bring it up to be compatibility with current technologies while maintaining an ease for future additions and improvements.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to make a completely redesigned website that was easy to use, compatible with current technologies. An important feature was did not want to lose any of the old data which provided a lot of background and history of the club. We had archives of user images and articles that were no longer able to be replaced. So we needed to get old data retrieved and placed into a current formats that also made it easy to be archived and presented and still allow new data to be uploaded. We wanted something that was open source and maintainable, and with the capacity to be updated easily as technologies change.

How did you select this vendor?

After checking many reviews, a field of possible vendors was determined, each was to submit a proposal and pricing. We tried to provide as much detail as possible as to our needs. We considered originally 8 vendors, after the interviews and contacts with them the proposals were received. The field was narrowed down to 3 vendors and more contacts and interviews were made before a decision was made. Our complete Board of Directors was involved in the final choice, a summary of the evaluations and a copy of the proposals was made a available to the Board and there was a unanimous decision. We selected Tepia, as they seemed to have the best grasp of the goals and understood the old technologies and realized that this was not a small or trivial project.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

The project started with the original specification notes that were provided for the proposal process. We had described the functionality of what was desired and they made the choices for the software and utilities used to implement the project. We had a dedicated point person to make the day to day decisions and be the contact point for the implementation team. They came through with a design and starting point and progress was monitored closely with emails and weekly conferences to discuss any issues or questions that had been discovered. It was a difficult task to retrieve the old data because of broken database links but it was accomplished with great success.

What was the team composition?

On our side, it consisted of a single point of contact, which was the Secretary of the club and the person responsible for the original contact and throughout the proposal and decision phase. Status and updates were delivered to the Board as necessary. On the Tepia Co. side, original contact and important decisions were made by their team, which consisted of Dustin, the project manager and programmers and designers. That was the main point of contact was with the project manager. Dustin was easy to work with and provided constant updates and answered questions promptly and the weekly meetings were very productive.

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

We were not in a hurry with this project and we had realized before we sent out requests for proposals that this was going to be a long project that was very complex and require a lot of work. We limped along with our old site as best we could before changing to the new site after it was completed. We have a had a large impact, the site is more interactive and easier to use and the feedback as been very positive. There are features now that were never available and site is very user friendly and mobile device friendly. Tepia Co. met all of our expectations and exceeded them.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

The Tepia team was very responsive to any questions and concerns. Weekly meetings were done with Google Hangouts and documents were generated with Google Docs with question and answers as needed. The site was developed in a staging site and progress was as expected. There was never any concern of problems and responses not completing in a timely fashion. Response was beyond expectation.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Tepia Co certainly had a good grasp of what we might need and the extent and size of the project. Their team was responsive and very detailed. There were no delays, at no time did it seem they had moved on to another project. Their response was rapid and informative. Customer service is excellent. The provided excellent documentation as well as informative videos on how to use the system and train users and other content providers in the organization on how to use the site.

Are there any areas for improvement?

We had absolutely no issues with Tepia, they provided excellent service and a quality product. They are continuing to answer questions and assist while we are transitioned to our new environment.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a spine surgeon and run my own practice.

What challenge were you trying to address with Tepia Co?

We needed resources to create a website with a customer portal that linked to our internal electronic medical records (EMR) software.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We did the project in stages. Initially, they designed an attractive website, providing front- and backend development. The site enabled new patients to read about me, find common medical information and tests, and learn more about our services. They also added online medical forms as well as after-surgery care instructions for existing patients.

Once they finished the site, they created a patient portal and integrated it with our EMR software. Rather than calling the office to schedule an appointment, patients could use the portal to see the available times and set up the appointment themselves.

What is the team composition?

I primarily worked with Abe (Co-founder and President, Tepia Co) and a project manager.

How did you come to work with Tepia Co?

I found them online and considered them with a few other providers. I described the project, and they gave me estimates on costs and timelines. I also met with Abe and felt comfortable working with him.

How much have you invested with them?

In total, we spent about $12,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

Their work lasted from 2017–2018. They completed the website fairly quickly and added the portal later on.

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

Our site traffic has steadily increased over time, and patients are using the online scheduling function. As a result, we’re receiving fewer phone calls, which allows my staff to focus on other tasks. Tepia Co helped push us in the right direction, and we’re happy with the outcomes.

How did Tepia Co perform from a project management standpoint?

They were wonderfully responsive and took the effort to accommodate my schedule. As a surgeon, I often couldn’t get to my phone or computer during the day, so I’d have to ask all of my questions after hours. Despite that, they were always willing to work around my schedule, whether it be meeting with me in person or answering my emails and calls.

In terms of sticking to estimates, they never missed a deadline. We went through several iterations before launching the site because I would ask for little tweaks. Whenever I asked them for an end date, they would give me a time frame and meet it.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When I first met Abe, I was impressed by his demeanor. He’s a personable, hardworking guy. Anytime I asked him to make a change, he would do it quickly. I also appreciated his responsiveness; he replied to all emails and never missed a thing.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing comes to mind. It was a wonderful experience, and they exceeded all of my expectations.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m a system engineer for a semiconductor company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Tepia Co?

I wanted to make a mobile app for a personal project.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They helped me develop two mobile apps. The first one was exclusively for iOS and the second one was cross-platform. Before we began the project, I met with them to workshop my ideas and outline my requirements. They came back to me with a summary of project expectations and notes on all the features they anticipated I would need. Once I approved everything, they broke each project into phases and assigned a team to work on it.

What is the team composition?

I worked with their CEO and with a project manager, who also interfaced with the developer.

How did you come to work with Tepia Co?

I found them through Yelp. I had contacted about half a dozen potential providers and interviewed them over the phone, and Tepia stood out as the best choice.

How much have you invested with them?

The total cost for both projects was between $50,000–$55,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

I started working with them in 2015 and we finished up in 2017.

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

They successfully met my original requirements and delivered the final apps in a reasonable timeframe.

How did Tepia Co perform from a project management standpoint?

I met with our project manager at least once a week to discuss our progress. His communication through email and instant message was also efficient. He would also advise me on the feasibility of ideas or offer additional feature suggestions, which was helpful and made the experience very collaborative.

What did you find most impressive about them?

When I was choosing a partner for this project, I considered past work, cost, and motivation to engage in the work. Tepia stood out because they were willing to undertake a small project like mine and performed well on it, which is what motivated me to hire them to build my second app.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It would help if the developers were in the US.  I recognize that they might hire developers elsewhere to reduce their costs, but there were some communication delays because of the time differences.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of corporate branding and marketing for Omnicia. We are an FDA regulatory submissions and publishing company. We do all the regulatory paperwork for new drugs around getting submissions approved by the FDA and introduced to the market.

What challenge were you trying to address with Tepia Co?

I was brought into the company to refresh the website, the designs, and how they were talking about it.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They did a lot of backend work. We had them build search features and a password protected area. We also had them convert the entire site to HTTPS. They did the front- and the backend for us. It’s all in of a WordPress template that they customized for us.

What is the team composition?

I met with Abe [President, Tepia Co] and told him what we were trying to do. He listened to everything I was saying and we came up with a temporary plan of action. He put me in touch with their project manager, Dustin [Project Manager, Tepia Co]. Dustin was the middleman between me and their team of developers.

How did you come to work with Tepia Co?

A friend of mine, who we hired as our designer, recommended them. He met them at a networking event and chatted with them about what they’re doing and their philosophy around how to do it. I chose them because they had a portfolio that I really liked of modern web design. They were very eager to talk and willing to listen when I had requests.

How much have you invested with them?

$14,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from December 2017 until February 2018.

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

We had a hard deadline three months after we started development for a live version of the site because of an industry event we wanted to be ready for. They were really quick and worked really hard to get it ready for this event and di so successfully. It was very impressive.

It’s extremely readable and looks very modern. A lot of people commented that it fits the feel of the company a lot more than our last site. They went out of their way to make sure they were listening to me when I was asking them to represent us, instead of just making a bland website.

How did Tepia Co perform from a project management standpoint?

They built full spreadsheet schedules. They had goal points and deliverables, and a really well thought out schedule. They were extremely responsive to all my questions and any of our concerns, and were communicative and professional. They also had a tiered pricing scheme, which was very flexible.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very committed to making sure that we’re happy. If I had concerns or if they weren’t sure they were doing exactly what I wanted, they would stop, check, and listen until I was happy. They always made it work.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Our organization is a software development company, developing software for college students. I’m the COO.

What challenge were you trying to address with Tepia Co?

I don’t have a technical background, but I had to manage this project. We wanted to have a low-cost development team that could explain things in a context understandable to someone who is not a developer. I also needed to be able to manage that development project myself.

What was the scope of their involvement?

It’s a web-based app. We had it mostly on smartphones, but it was also possible to access through desktop on a web browser. Their work was a full stack of both frontend and backend. Tepia Co used a web-based system that worked across platforms, not a native app for iOS or Android. They used a lot of existing plug-ins and frameworks. We used PubNub for the messaging part of our app and used existing pieces from plug-ins rather than mostly raw code. I assume they used a mix of different languages. This way, we could bring the cost down. Their team was made up of one project manager and two engineers, with one being on-site.

How did you come to work with Tepia Co?

One of my friends recommended Tepia Co to us. At the time, we were looking for a local developer, and they were in Orange County, which is where we are too, so that was great. We went to their office and sat down with Abe, the founder of Tepia Co. He gave us a very thorough road map to how this could be done, and he seemed the most competent and professional out of all the options that we had. The fact that he was nearby and he had an office was great. Their website was also very well done. I also feel like they positioned themselves best image-wise. Many engineers don’t care about how their website looks or aren’t trying to advertise as much, but Tepia’s image was very good. That’s why we thought they’d be a good partner for us.

How much have you invested with Tepia Co?

We have invested $15,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Tepia Co in September 2016 and had a few stages during our engagement. By January 2017 we had the app on our phones.

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

From our standpoint, the managers of this project delivered very quickly. Once we gave them the design, they gave us a raw app quickly. We ended up doing all the designs ourselves. We built the UIs [user interface] and mock-ups, and then they worked off of that. It was a collaborative effort. That’s how we were able to save costs.

Feedback-wise, their work was solid. We gave Tepia Co a breakdown of edits, and they would return with all the completed edits the next day. That was very good. Once the app was up and running, we got feedback from our customers that the app was slow at first because of bugs, but Tepia Co fixed those very quickly. It’s running great now.

How did Tepia Co perform from a project management standpoint?

Tepia Co was well above par. They did very well. They worked very quickly in their turnaround time. Tepia Co worked overnight because one of their engineers is in a different time zone, so it worked out very well. Their project managers are able to enroll very well, which is good.

What did you find most impressive about Tepia Co?

I found that Tepia Co's ability to explain complex technical issues to non-engineers was notable. They’re very good at that. Their project managers have a good understanding of the technology and can translate that into basic English, which is great. They’re very responsive. Our project manager would respond within two hours all the time, which was great too.