Thunderrise

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We offer analytical services. Our company started out by providing social media R&D [research and development] and behavior prediction based on patterns of data. In particular, we try to predict offline behavior by using online interactions, which is a difficult task. We have been developing our own retail platform. I am the chief executive officer of the company. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Thunderrise?

We needed help developing a mobile client for our platform. It would allow people to make searches based on qualitative attributes. At the moment, the focus is only on fashion.

A year and a half ago [in 2015], my girlfriend at the time was looking for a summer dress that wasn't floral. We spent the day wandering from shop to shop, but she found nothing. At the fifth shop, I asked if she could do this online, which gave me the idea for the app. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Thunderrise has developed an iOS application for our company.

How did you come to work with Thunderrise?

I found Thunderrise on Upwork. The selection process had more to do with talking with the team, giving them a small task, and seeing how reliable they'd be. Finding a remote company that's reliable in terms of communication, competence, and delivery is rare.

How much have you invested with Thunderrise?

The cost of our project with Thunderrise is expected to be between $8,000 and $10,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Thunderrise at the beginning of 2016 [January] and have an ongoing relationship. The app has been launched in the United Kingdom, and it will be made available in the United States shortly. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We're still working with Thunderrise, so I'd say we've had a good relationship. The app has only been out for a week and a half [as of October 2016], so we don't have any metrics for it.

What did you find most impressive about Thunderrise?

There's nothing in particular, but I liked working with Thunderrise. They're quite good.

Are there any areas Thunderrise could improve?

One of our issues has been that it's hard to pay partners in Ukraine. We've found ways around this. Thunderrise is above the skill levels found elsewhere but, because of the banking system in Ukraine, they've struggled to acquire new clients.

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

It's difficult to get specs exactly right when developing consumer apps, so communication is key. When working with a client company, the process is a bit easier, and doesn't come with as much responsibility. In the case of consumers, the work needs to be very specific, especially in the case of a remote company.