Utility

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

Bleacher Report is a leader in online sports content. I am Director, Creative Strategy, focused on building partnerships and making ideas come to life for Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and brand partners through content, e-commerce, and experiences as part of our in-house creative agency, Playmaker.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

A stealth project we were working on with a major sponsor to build out a Mobile App based Sports Trivia game.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to launch a sponsored new mobile app media property that could be monetized through sponsorship and other means. With a robust sales and sponsorship team here, and heavy distribution, we knew that a new mobile venture like this would be the right project for us to embark on.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Someone who used to be an EVP here knew one of their founders, so we vetted them against other providers, and they were the best fit cost and skills wise.

Describe the project in detail.

Bleacher Report was launching a sports trivia mobile app game. It was built in a reactive web-based environment which allowed us to not have to build two native applications, but rather spin up iOS and Android applications in one shot. We went through UX/UI design, platform systems planning, and heavy engineering on both backend, frontend and admin portal.

What was the team composition?

$150,000

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We ended up building exactly what we said we would, and our team’s stakeholders were happy. And our brands and media company partners were building confidence as well. We didn’t end up launching the app on schedule because of reasons outside our control, but that wasn’t Utility’s fault.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

All good, they were very easy to work with we had a great rapport. Can’t say a bad thing really.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

What was most impressive was probably their speed and skills -- they were able to move very quickly even though our team had a lot of opinions and changes, like most bigger brands. They seemed not to mind, didn’t nickel and dime us, did some extra work, and were very pleasant throughout.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They were really good, and did what they said they would.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the CEO and am a co-founder of Demand Roll. We are a digital PR firm deploying best-in-class organic search, content marketing, and other digital PR strategies to build growth and revenue for clients.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

Utility worked with us to design and develop the entire Demand Roll web/mobile-web property including other internal digital properties that help us run our growth engagements for clients.

What were your goals for this project?

Goal was to build a web application that was mobile-optimized, to showcase our services and the work we do, but also to build some proprietary internal tech that we needed to run our business growth practice.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We got introduced to the leaders at Utility and were really impressed. They really had their stuff together, and we had heard they did great work for another client we knew about. We also really liked their design aesthetic and thought they understood our projects well. They have a great, open office in midtown which was really convenient too.

Describe the project in detail.

We wanted to design and develop the entire web platform from scratch for our marketing web portal, as well as some IP we were constructing. Some of that is proprietary to discuss, but the work done consisted of: Strategy, User Experience Design, Visual Design, Backend Engineering, Frontend Develpoment, QA Testing, Launch Strategy, Launch Execution and maintenance.

How much did you spend with this vendor?

150K

When did the project begin and end?

Feb 2019 to July 2019

What was the team composition?

We had a product manager leading the show, and all other designers and developers around too. They all worked out of the NYC office and we were able to interface with some of the if/as needed.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We launched on time, and have gotten rave reviews about our products. We also had our own internal IP working as expected and we continue to use it. Our business has been growing so all the pieces on the digital side came together nicely.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Totally fine, we didn’t have any workflow problems. So I’d say very effective. We had regular meetings, ad-hoc meetings, and everything in between. Utility is very collaborative so it works well.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to be so available, never disappear, and to give us the attention we always were hoping for. And their attention to detail, making sure the final product ends up the same as what was planned and designed.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not for now :)

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

My company is TableMe, and I am the Founder.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

We hired Utility for mobile app building services. To design and develop the entire TableMe platform end to end (as well as an admin portal).

What were your goals for this project?

To launch a new iOS that was designed well, and built to be stable, and we could launch it in a reasonable amount of time and get feedback from users. 

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

I was looking around and there are so many firms out there, it’s daunting. But when I talked with Utility, it was really natural and I felt like it was going to be an educational experience, and that they were going to care. That meant a lot to me.

Describe the project in detail.

TableMe is meant to be a new way to experience nightclubs you’ve always dreamed of attending, but couldn’t afford to buy an entire table. You can create your own table or join one from the available ones with an opening, and find people to join you in co-funding that table. You can chat with your group and plan your night. 

How much did you spend with this vendor?

The MVP cost was $100K.

When did the project begin and end?

It started in July 2017 and ended in September of 2018.

What was the team composition?

We had a product manager who led the project from start to finish, and we had a design team of UX/UI designers who did a great job on the aesthetic I was going for. The CEO was also involved and helpful on the business end. The engineers were in the Utility office, but I wasn’t interfacing with them that much.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We were able to build out what I was looking for, and it came out just how the designs are specked out, so that was really reassuring. We also did it within the MVP budget, which was also a really important factor for me. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everything worked pretty seamlessly. I was in Florida most of the time, and they’re in NY, but that never seemed to be an issue, and any time I was in NY they always invited me into the office. They were communicative and easy to work with. If anything, I was usually hearing from them before I needed to reach out.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their attention to detail was really impressive, not just on the design end, but on matching the designs during the engineering process. I was also pretty young when I started the project, so I was impressed that they were able to treat me like one of their peers and work with me through the entire process.

Are there any areas for improvement?

I don’t think I have any specific areas of improvement that come to mind at the moment. One thing I did wonder was whether or not they could have helped me understand how the post-MVP launch phase might require more budget to keep the project alive.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the CEO of Weegan, an LA-based delivery service.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

We hired Utility to design and architect the Weegan mobile and web applications, as well as the design branding from scratch.

SOLUTION

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to get a proper MVP prototype designed out, so we could then build and launch in the LA market, and expand from there. We wanted to partner with dispensaries and other organizations so we could serve as their professional delivery arm.

How did you select this vendor?

We knew one of the designers at Utility, and he connected us with the rest of their executive team. We were super impressed with all the work they had done in the mobile space before, and we loved their design aesthetic. We looked around at a lot of firms, but Utility felt right from the start, plus we had a level of trust there.

Describe the project in detail.

We needed to build out a prototype that was gorgeous and functional at the same time. The prototype was going to be used by us for various purposes, including user testing, viability, investor relations, and partnership sales.

When did the project begin and end?

We began in early 2019 and finished later in 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

Everyone we ever showed the prototypes too was super impressed and people took us really seriously right out of the gate.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was honestly really good, never had an issue and we really enjoyed working with their team. They were always available and they went above and beyond.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their design capabilities and strategic counsel for mobile and web applications (not many can do both at the same time). We were in a heavy e-commerce situation too, which needed someone who really understood the hurdles around that space.  

Are there any areas for improvement?

For the project we worked on, we have nothing to add here in this department.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was a creative lead at Amusement Park Entertainment, working with Mondelez International’s Stride Gum brand on a major rollout of a new media property (Heaven Sent) and its accompanying mobile app game.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

We hired Utility to design, plan and build out the entire Mobile App Game for the “Heaven Sent” event, which was a companion to the Live Event on FOX, where Mondelēz’s Stride gum brand-sponsored Luke Aikin in executing the first complete skydiving jump without any parachute.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to build a mobile app game on iOS and Android that would mimic the real-life experience of skydiving through the air without a parachute, just like Luke Aikins. We also needed to make sure it was not only engaging and sticky, but also scalable so that millions of users coming to our app would have a positive experience.

SOLUTION

What were your goals for this project?

Our goals were to build a mobile app game on iOS and Android that would mimic the real-life experience of skydiving through the air without a parachute, just like Luke Aikins. We also needed to make sure it was not only engaging and sticky, but also scalable so that millions of users coming to our app would have a positive experience.

How did you select this vendor?

We had mutual contacts that referred them to us, through Mondelez International’s team. We had a bunch of conversations and decided they were a perfect fit based on their previous experiences in not only mobile app development, but game development as well on a primetime level. 

Describe the project in detail.

The project consisted of collaborating with creative leads on our side, mapping out all the app’s architecture, wireframing and detailing all the game’s mechanics, and then of course building out all the art pieces and the game code itself, on both iOS and Android. They also needed to set up the App Stores with us and submit for approval / get approval from the App Stores.

How much did you spend with this vendor?

Over 100K

When did the project begin and end?

Mid 2016 to 2017

What was the team composition?

They provided us with a lot of people, but there was always a lead Producer on their end that was in charge of making sure everything was getting done. There were a lot of groups involved so there was a lot of coordination. We also of course had designers and developers that were on board to execute the entire project, and we also had access to the executives at Utility who were always gatekeeping quality control.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The Live Event was a big success, with millions of viewers tuning in on FOX to watch the spectacle. Stride ended up getting tons of positive brand exposure from both the programming as well as the mobile application. The usage of the app was also really impressive, people loved it and it was really sticky. There were also like really no bugs at all once we launched, so we were really happy about that.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Everything was smooth. They were really in control of the project and we all worked really well together.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to “make it look easy” was really impressive. We were able to spin up this entire game up in just 3-4 months, which is really hard to do for any mobile product, especially a mobile game with many levels, characters, gameplay, etc.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Nothing we can think of, they were even really fair in terms of being affordable so we can’t even complain about costs!

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Director of Pediatric Pulmonary & Asthma Program within New York City Health + Hospital/ Kings County. In addition to clinical matters, I am also in charge of overseeing special asthma-related projects as well.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

We hired Utility to design and develop the entire Asthma management application that we had incubated at NYC Health + Hospitals. The project was to design the entire application and then build both iOS and Android native applications to be released to our constituents for testing.

What were your goals for this project?

The idea of the "Ask Me, AsthMe!" suite of applications was to help children and families increase knowledge of pediatric asthma and its management especially those families with low health literacy.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We found them online, and they stood out because of their graphics which is a very important aspect for our application.

Describe the project in detail.

We wanted to help families get a more organized approach to personal tracking of daily life with asthma, with a wide set of mobile tools to make this as easy as possible for non-technical patients. The goal was to build a robust v1.0 product we could bring to clinical tests to measure efficacy.

How much did you spend with this vendor?

Around $225,000 to date, and we continue to work with them.

When did the project begin and end?

We began in early 2019, finished in mid to late 2019 and then released the v1.0 in 2019, and now we continue to work on updates to the product.

What was the team composition?

Utility had a full staff of people we have been able to interact with, including a lead Project Manager, a head of Project Management, a Product Strategist, multiple US/UI Designers, and of course a team of Engineers, all local right here in NYC. Also, the CEO has always been very available to us for anything that ever came up.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

First of all, we were able to launch the asthma suite of apps on time, which is a big deal in our world (most projects in the medical-tech are usually delayed by many months at times). Just as important, we were able to roll out our test studies and gather valuable information about people’s usage, behaviors, etc.

We were very happy to see that the app was effective in getting children to take their medications more regularly, and helping families stay ahead of any worsening asthma symptoms in a more efficient way. In asthma emergencies, the app allowed families to directly dial 911 by following the instructions provided by the app. Overall, we have had really positive results, and the children really enjoy using the app.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We never experienced anything but great attention and intimacy from the Utility team. We have great project managers, and our questions were always answered quickly. We are naturally the experts in the field of content and science that was needed to help craft the product, and we were always woven in throughout the process to help give our recommendations about how the features would evolve.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We didn’t have anyone super technical on our side, so we were able to trust them for owning this part of the equation. They carried this project from start to finish and were extremely accommodating to any revisions we requested especially as we started using the app with a pilot group of families.

Are there any areas for improvement?

It is hard to find a dark spot, as the experience was overall really positive. The only thing we can think of is we could have been better educated on our at first to know exactly what we would be expected to do, especially with App Stores and testing, but the Utility team did assist and make this easy for us along the way so it really didn’t hurt us.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I am the Co-Founder and CEO of i-Function, Inc. I work closely with my two co-founders who are both industry-leading research professionals from top medical institutions (Weil Cornell Medicine and University of Miami Miller School of Medicine).

We help people gain confidence and live more productive lives by providing tools that 1) facilitate early and accurate diagnosis of cognitive problems; 2) access and train everyday functional skills. We do this by applying a research-driven and technology-based approach to everything we do.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

We wanted Utility to help us build the 2nd generation functional skills assessment and training software. The focus populations for this project were healthy older adults and older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment as well as individuals with different types of mental illness such as schizophrenia. The software needed to have both a user-facing digital interface, as well as administrator portals to manage the entire platform and capture important analytics.

What were your goals for this project?

The goal was to build a fairly large first release of the software that could be used by different types of research organizations and commercial institutions to assess and train functional skills related to technology. The goal was to get enough data and input to continuously improve the software and prepare for the next generation software build.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We were introduced to Utility through a contact at the University of Miami who had used Utility for a project and provided really good feedback with respect to their experience. We met several times, discussed the project and ended up feeling very comfortable with Utility as our main design and technology partner.

Describe the project in detail.

i-Function’s was founded to help restore and improve the capacity of individuals to do everyday technology-related tasks, and enhance the quality of life for older adults as well as for people suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Severe Mental Illness (SMI), Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). i-Function bridges the “real world functioning skills gap” between daily life, functional skills and technology. We needed a software solution that would assist us in accomplishing our objectives.

How much did you spend with this vendor?

We have spent appx. $150,000+ on this project since starting with Utility.

When did the project begin and end?

We started working together in 2017, and after a few product releases we are still working together. 

What was the team composition?

Quite a few people have been involved in this project over time (strategy, design, engineering, more design, more engineering, etc.). Especially the Project Manager has been a key person for us in getting things done. We have though through the project also kept good contact to the more technical people as well as the senior people (CEO) whenever relevant.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We have managed to conduct a clinical trial using the software and also introduced the product to several commercial clients with very positive feedback. We have had a lot of interest in the further development of this product from various sources both public and private and expect the interest to continue and accelerate.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

We have had an amicable and friendly relationship with the people at Utility. From top down, everyone have been pleasant and tried to be helpful. The two Project Managers that we have interacted with over time (our main contacts) have taken a real interest in our product and been good communicators, something which has been critical for the collaboration and the successful development of the product.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

We chose Utility partly because of their size; we didn’t want a large company, but we also didn’t want a very small company. What especially worked very well was their ability to understand what we wanted and use the design process to visualize this in a way that was reflective of our ideas and objectives.

Are there any areas for improvement?

As mentioned, the process of creating the software went very well and produced a product that could be used both for research and commercial purposes. If anything, one area that potentially could be improved was for us with a medical/a business background (and not IT specialists) it can be quite challenging to understand the nuances of why certain parts of the development process may take longer than we like. That said, Utility never charged us for things taking longer - they honored their quotes.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

LeagueApps is a sports technology company that is the operating system for the youth sports industry. We’ve been working with the NBA since the relaunch of the Jr. NBA five years ago. I am the President at LeagueApps, and I am in charge of making all decisions for vendors we bring into our partnership with the NBA.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

We hired Utility to partner on the Jr. NBA World Championship digital platform. Their role was to design and develop all web and mobile experiences for the NBA’s new global youth championship program (which source talent/teams from around the world in a multi-month tournament style competition).

What were your goals for this project?

To serve the global you basketball community with digital tools that make it seamless and easy to learn about the event, register/sign up, manage team information, follow news and results, engage with our growing community, and to highlight the best young athletes from around the world.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our CEO used to work with their CEO at another company, and we knew Utility was very adept at creating digital web and mobile products. We also knew of their track-record in sports and experience-related projects.  It was helpful that they were in NYC too.

Describe the project in detail.

The project was to build a tournament web property that allowed both types of users (athletes/coaches, and fans) to interact on an ongoing basis to engage with, follow the tournament. The project entailed: UX/UI design, branding design, web development, mobile-web development, various third-party integrations, tons of testing, a full-fledged Content Management System, and a whole lot of close collaboration with the NBA’s executives.

How much did you spend with this vendor?

The entire value of the project was more than $125,000.

When did the project begin and end?

The project began in November of 2017, and continued through the summer of 2018. 

What was the team composition?

Utility’s project manager was our lead contact, and there were also technical strategists who were brought to the table as well. There were also Sr. graphic designers and Sr. engineers assigned to the project, some of whom were required to work directly with the NBA’s engineering team.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We saw huge success with the entire program as a whole, and the NBA was very happy. Hundreds of teams signed up and participated from around the globe, and there were almost no digital glitches at all. We got a lot of compliments from Sr. executives that the product buildout was super impressive, and the client quickly started talking about the next year.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

It was seamless working with Utility. We communicated daily, sometimes multiple times a day. We got together in person when needed, without much advance notice, and our teams gelled well together on all aspects of design and development. 

What did you find most impressive about this company?

The workflow between our team, Utility, and then NBA, required a lot of understanding, patience and creativity with proactive solutions. Utility always rose to the challenge and was able to move quickly, with deadlines always fast-approaching. They also always kept a level head and never freaked out over any changes that ever came up -- always calm and proactive about keeping on task. They were also super clean with all their code, as the NBA’s code reviews were also super positive.  

Are there any areas for improvement?

No one is perfect, but Utility does truly seem to have their act together. They even were extra fair with pricing when we needed some flexibility as the project evolved. They also recognized the importance of our relationship with the NBA, and went above and beyond to exceed their expectations and ouors.  We have no complaints and would work with them again, and encourage others to do so.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I was the CMO of Cirrus Fitness, what was the premier manufacturer and distributor of authentic branded fitness equipment. This was a fully funded venture by the folks that were behind Avion Tequila, Marquis Jets and Wheels Up.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

We had partnered with Utility to design and develop a complex e-commerce website and mobile application (iOS) for custom branded exercise equipment, with as many college and pro league or teams’ branding available for custom production and delivery.

What were your goals for this project?

Our goal was to get a brand new e-commerce portal up and running to facilitate the business operations of selling our branded gear, across many product SKUs and many more branded team options. We needed it to be performant and sturdy, with all the dashboard tools that allow us to manage the workflow, inventory, customer management, etc. We also needed a way for people to order highly custom orders as well.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We knew of Utility from a former colleague that put us in touch with them. We had some good talks about the plans for the project, and they were helpful in thinking through all of it even before signing and beginning the project. 

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

(1) Full UX/UI design for new e-commerce portal on web and mobile app. (2) Full website and mobile app buildout for the e-commerce experience for end-users. (3) Full dashboard portal to administer the operations.

What was the team composition?

We had a lead project manager who was managing everything from start to finish, and there were various design and tech resources that were in and out of the project when needed. We also definitely had access to the top management at any time if we wanted to talk overall strategy.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to launch in under half a year and we were able to accomplish the main functions of the business, and grow from there. It was a pretty modern and slick design, and people were really having a seamless experience. We were able to come out of the gate with sales instantly, and we were also able to make more and more deals with sports leagues (NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, etc) as well as fitness celebrities to promote the brand.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Great, we had a good chemistry with their team. Each team had a PM that would handle the day to day, and everyone was able to collaborate as needed. We also had a chance to reivew and QA everything before it went live, so we were always in sync.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

E-commerce platforms have many moving pieces. It was impressive to see Utility juggle so much in a short time period.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not really, the project was smooth.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m a Co-Chair of Babies Heart Fund, which is part of Columbia University Medical Center. We are devoted to supporting vital research initiatives that will allow all children suffering from heart disease to grow up to be heart-healthy, strong adults. Our group plays a pivotal role in making this life-saving research not only possible, but attainable.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Utility?

We hired a utility to re-design and develop our charitable website.

What were your goals for this project?

To launch a new site that was cleaner, more modern, with a really good CMS so we could have more control over everything, and to highlight the really great work we do in a more friendly way, that was also accessible and fully usable on mobile devices.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had worked with Utility before during another e-commerce project that went really well, so we came back to them for their help on this project.

Describe the scope of their work in detail.

We wanted to refresh our brand, and to more effectively highlight our mission and the work that we do, as well as our content and events that can all be controlled by a central CMS that’s easy to use. Given our direct association with Columbia University Medical Center, we needed to make sure that was obvious, but subtle enough not to take over the brand essence.

What was the team composition?

Comprised of a Project Director as well as designers and engineers working on the website and the CMS.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

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

We were able to launch in good turnaround time, and the site was really much better than what we had previously, so it was a big upgrade all around. We were able to update everything as expected and it’s been used for 5 years now, so we have no complaints (in fact, we plan to hire them again to do yet another full redesign and refresh soon). We got a lot of accolades from other folks who saw the new re-launch, so that was really good to see too. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The workflow was good, they never dropped the ball even when we were busy and they stuck through the project despite a lot of stakeholders needing to be involved. We never had communication issues, and people on the Utility team were always friendly.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their ability to traverse across different mediums. We know they are most known for Mobile App development ,but they seem to really understand Web too and really excel at design and development of web portals and CMS systems. They also got our vision and extrapolated our brand really well into something more modern, which wasn’t simple.

Are there any areas for improvement?

Not that we can think of at the moment, it was a while back but it was a positive experience.