Vinnove

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a small tech startup that operates in the community development space. Our tool empowers individuals to meet and get plugged into their communities. We target the young adult population with the 21–40s demographic in mind.

What challenge were you trying to address with Vinnove?

Vinnove has supported us with product development. We had a prototype ready to go, and we brought Vinnove on to transform it into a full-fledged product.   

What was the scope of their involvement?

Vinnove deepened our initial prototype to develop web and mobile apps. They laid out their technical action plan before building out the apps from scratch.

The project is still underway. We’ve worked with them for every step of the way, and we’ve given them some creative flexibility. They’ve provided us with recommendations, which have really benefitted us.

They used InVision for the prototyping process and Flutter for mobile app development. I’m not sure what they used for the web component.

What is the team composition?

We’ve worked directly with two people.

How did you come to work with Vinnove?

They were recommended to me by a friend. We’d talked to several other developers in the area, but we were drawn to their strong portfolio and their kindness. They seemed to quickly understand what we wanted.

How much have you invested with them?

At this point, we’ve spent over $5,000. The total amount will be a little higher.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around September of 2019, and it’s an ongoing engagement.

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

While our project is too early to have yielded metrics, they’ve been phenomenal to work with. They strike the delicate balance between achieving our desired end product and laying out all the different options we have. They’re communicative in allowing us to pick what would be best for us.

How did Vinnove perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re fantastic. They’ve been incredibly responsive and proactive about reaching out to us and providing us with status updates.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re fun and easy to work with on top of being very effective in their delivery.

Are there any areas they could improve?

Everything has been very smooth so far, so no, I can’t think of anything.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

They handle themselves and their relationships very well, so I can’t imagine there being any problems for anybody.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the president of Carpet Management, a commercial floor covering company.

What challenge were you trying to address with Vinnove?

We were interested in creating an app to help our business. We wanted to have a download of every project that we had going on. It needed to list all the correspondence, purchase orders, plans, proposals, and invoices. It was also important for us to see everything out in the field while we were on a job site.

What was the scope of their involvement?

They developed our iOS app from scratch. It’s an app to be used internally.

What is the team composition?

I work with the owner directly. I don’t know how many people were working on it.

How did you come to work with Vinnove?

They were recommended to us.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent under $50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from summer through fall 2019.

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

It’s gone very nicely. They’ve been awesome to work with and very responsive. If I’m out on the field, I can pull the project up and look at everything right then and there. It’s a virtual file. If I’m in a meeting with a contractor who's asking questions, I'm able to provide immediate answers.

How did Vinnove perform from a project management standpoint?

Everything was handled via email with the owner.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They’re very responsive. Whenever I’ve needed anything, it’s been a quick response. I don’t have to wait a day or two or follow up with them about communication.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, it was a wonderful experience. We’re going to use them on several other projects in the future.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Think about what you need ahead of time. That way, they won’t have to figure out what you want. Having your ideas set will make the process a lot easier.

When we told them how and what we wanted, they were able to adapt and build solutions we didn't think of before. Having a full grasp ahead of time really helps things move along.

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m one of the founders of a startup called GroundUp. We’re involved in the creation of a  technology-based communication platform geared toward buyers and suppliers for construction material purchases. 

What challenge were you trying to address with Vinnove?

I was looking for a company that could help us create buyer and supplier side apps. We also wanted a partner that could help us with marketing the product after launch.

What was the scope of their involvement?

We’re developing an app used by buyers and suppliers. The two separate apps, one for each party, were created using a hybrid approach to make them available for iOS and Android users. On the app, buyers can make lists of construction materials they need to purchase, and it will be sent out to the suppliers in the area.

After receiving that material request, they respond with pricing. Then, the buyer can sift through the pricing options and select an option that best suits their needs. They can complete the final transaction in-app, too. 

The logo, colors, and basic designs were provided by our team. However, the end designs, layout, and code is entirely their work. 

How did you come to work with Vinnove?

We originally found them on Clutch. After talking to several companies about the development, it was difficult finding a local company within our budget. Vinnove was on Clutch and seemed like a perfect middle ground. I reached out with them from there. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them In May 2019, and the project is ongoing.

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

We have a finished prototype that our salespeople have been showing to suppliers. In order for this model to work, we need to get them on board first. Of the 80 companies we’ve engaged with, the vast majority are fully on board with the idea and are excited about the launch. They’re signed up for updates, so they’re notified when we’re ready.  

How did Vinnove perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re actually pushing us to complete tasks, which is exciting. Seeing the constant progress being made and their level of commitment has been encouraging. We meet weekly and discuss our progress between teams. That’s been phenomenal. We meet in-person for the most part, but use Skype as a remote option. I can’t say enough good things about their ability to communicate. 

What did you find most impressive about them?

They showed initiative and a willingness to go above and beyond. We have a contract that details what they’re offering us. They’ve greatly exceeded what was proposed in their offerings and services. They’re willing to go outside the scope of work and make the extra effort to be successful. For instance, they research, get physically involved, and meet with people on their personal time. We appreciate all of that.  

Are there any areas they could improve?

I can’t think of anything. We’ve been very happy with the experience so far.